Ode to Lottie

2,800,000,000…This is the staggering number of people throughout the world who have little to no access to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are called to “Go…and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19) with the gospel of Jesus Christ, but how can we possibly achieve this overwhelming task? Throughout the month of December, we are being challenged together to prayerfully support the International Mission Board through the Lottie Moon Mission Offering. Some of you may be familiar with this offering, but many of us have only heard of it in passing. As a Southern Baptist church, we partner together with thousands of other followers of Jesus Christ in supporting and sending the largest missionary force in the world for the gospel. Every penny of this once-a-year offering goes toward this ministry. In the coming weeks, we will be hearing the stories of some of the missionaries whom we have sent and how we are partnering together with them in the Great Commission of Jesus.

But how did this offering get its name? The following information shares a brief history of one woman who audaciously chose to be obedient to God and passed upon us a legacy to do the same.

When she set sail for China in 1873, Lottie was 32 years old. She had turned down a marriage proposal and left her job, home and family to follow God’s lead. Her path wasn’t typical for an educated woman from a wealthy Southern family. God had gripped her with the Chinese peoples’ need for a Savior. For 39 years Lottie labored, chiefly in Tengchow and P’ingtu. People feared and rejected her, but she refused to leave. The aroma of fresh-baked cookies drew people to her house. She adopted traditional Chinese dress, and she learned China’s language and customs. Lottie didn’t just serve the people of China; she identified with them. Many eventually accepted her. And some accepted her Savior. Lottie wrote letters home detailing China’s hunger for truth and the struggle of so few missionaries taking the gospel to the 472 million Chinese in her day. She also shared the urgent need for more workers and for Southern Baptists to support them through prayer and giving. In one letter she wrote, “Why should we not ... do something that will prove that we are really in earnest in claiming to be followers of him who, though he was rich, for our sake became poor?”

As a result of the power of God working through her vision, the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering in 2015, supporting 3,596 missionaries, reported:

• 1.9 Million hearing the gospel

• 175,290 New believers

• 15,058 Trained pastors

• 6,138 New churches

Our church has set a goal to raise $5000 toward this missions offering. When you consider that the average American will spend $700 on Christmas gifts during the holiday season, what is our capability and responsibility toward sending the gospel into all of the world? Please consider how you will be a part of meeting and exceeding our goal.

Until all of the world has heard of Him,

Jason