Each year my denomination (the Southern Baptist Convention) asks its member churches to take an offering for International Missions. Each year the 45,000 churches affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention give over $150,000,000 for missions around the world. This year the convention hopes to reach the $175,000,000 mark. Along with their giving on a weekly basis, Southern Baptists fully fund several thousand missionaries and their children who serve globally.

The name of the offering is the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

What is this strange name and what does it do?

The strange name comes from a Southern Baptist missionary from Virginia named Charlotte Moon. Her family called her Lottie.

Lottie Moon knew God had called her to take the gospel to the people of China. In 1878, she sailed from Richmond, Virginia, down the James River to make the long trip to China.

Lottie Moon faithfully cared for the children of China for forty years. She served in incredibly difficult situations.

She returned to the states only because of failing health. During her years in China, Lottie Moon saw firsthand the sorrow of so many people, especially of starving children.

Though she had plenty, Lottie Moon couldn’t eat. As long as others did not have enough, she could not make herself eat. For her health’s sake, she had to return to America.

She never made it. She died of the effects of starvation in the port of  Kobe, Japan on Christmas Eve, 1912.

Southern Baptists were so moved by the life of this remarkable woman that they named the missions offering after her. They saw her dedication to God and her love the Chinese people. Southern Baptists have given hundreds of millions of dollars to fully support missionaries in her name.

I want to encourage you to give through your church for the purpose of making Christ known. In a day when we have so much, let us give our best for God and His work.

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