Some of you may completely understand what I mean by this.
Some of you may only remember hearing it somewhere.
Some of you may have no clue what it is.
Don't worry! To be quite honest, I had no idea what it was either until a year ago when I began the journeyman process. But now I do, and I praise the Lord for the LMCO!!!
Lottie Moon was a single female missionary to China for 39 years. She went to China in 1873. While there, she wrote many letters home pleading with people in churches back home to come and serve God alongside her in China or to send money so that other missionaries could go to reach the many in China who had not heard of Jesus Christ. A group of Southern Baptist women, by the year 1888, had gathered together and raised over $3000 for missions in China.
Eventually, the annual offering taken up around Christmas time in Southern Baptist churches was named after this amazing woman of God. It is called the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Most churches belonging to the Southern Baptist Convention collect this offering this time of year.
So nowadays, where does the money go? Well... let me show you...
About 57% of the money that goes to International Mission Board missionaries, like me, is raised from the LMCO!
Right now, there are currently 4,952 IMB missionaries all over the world.
Right now, there are currently 6,750 unreached people groups, meaning less than 2% are evangelical Christians.
Right now, there are currently 3,684 unengaged, unreached people groups, those where there is no church. Period.
I don't know if your church has this offering or not, but please take time this Christmas to think about Lottie Moon and her passion for those people who have not yet heard the Truth, those who have no idea who "The Reason for the Season" is or even what that phrase means. If you struggle, because you may not see the end result of money you might be feeling led to give, think about me. I would not be able to take people to the clinic without the car Lottie paid for. I could not encourage to a language helper to meet me to translate without the bike Lottie paid for. I would not ever have cold food without the refrigerator and solar power that Lottie paid for. I would not even be here at all without the money given to SBC churches for the LMCO and at other times by people like...you. Thank you!
And, I thank Lottie.
"How many there are ... who imagine that because Jesus paid it all, they need pay nothing, forgetting that the prime object of their salvation was that they should follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ in bringing back a lost world to God ... Why should we not ... instead of the paltry offerings we make, 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?"
- Lottie MoonTungchow, ChinaSept. 15, 1887
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