Taking the Good News of Jesus Christ to every language, every tribe, and every nation is why we join in partnership to support full-time, fully-funded missionaries across the globe.
Just over 40% of the International Mission Board budget is funded through our SBC Cooperative Program, while just under 60% of their budget is supported through our annual Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions.
Our goal for this year’s Christmas Offering for International Missions is $175 million. This goal can be—and should be—reached.
Every church has a role to play in reaching every nation with the Gospel. That is why, since 1888, our churches have given more than $4.7 billion through the annual Christmas Offering for International Missions.
For 175 years, our churches have sent missionaries internationally. That is why we want to see our churches give $175 million in this year’s offering. Last year, our churches gave more than $159.5 million to this offering. This is a tremendous testimony of what we can do together.
I believe we can do more.
Last year, only half of our 47,500 churches gave anything to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. Think of what we could do if every church at least gave something to this offering and then the churches who participated last year increased their giving over last year’s offering.
Why should every church give? This $175 million goal is our first step to increase our full-time, fully-funded missionary force by 500 missionaries over the next five years. Think of the people we have the potential to reach for Christ with these increased missionaries.
I appeal to every pastor and church, plan now to communicate about this offering and its value over the next several weeks—all the way through the end of the year.
I believe there are four key ways to communicate with your church:
- Set a financial goal for your church to give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions and present it to your people weekly. Do this while communicating to your church what all of our churches are trying to do together: Give $175 million in order to take the first step to see our international missionary force increased by 500 full-time, fully-funded missionaries over the next five years. Dollars follow vision; therefore, set this clear vision before our churches to help us increase our mission force across the world. As you do this, share updates regarding where your church is in giving each week.
- Utilize video resources to communicate regarding this offering to both in-person and online worship services. Additionally, through any weekly communication with your church, use one of these videos. They are informative, convicting, and compelling. This will move your people to give to missions and to your church. You can find these video resources here.
- Lead your church to pray through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering Week of Prayer. Go here to find out how to lead your church daily through this Week of Prayer. In addition, lead your people during your prayer time in worship services to pray for our international missionaries and for our Christmas Offering for International Missions.
- Call upon each person and family to give through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. This is great for teaching your children and grandchildren how to give to support missions.
In the midst of this global pandemic, we understand the urgency before us to reach every person for Jesus Christ in every town, every city, every state, and every nation. We move toward reaching the nations when we give sacrificially to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions.
This is why I am asking each of you to give to this offering sacrificially.
This is why I am asking each church to give to this offering sacrificially.
This is why I am asking all of us, TOGETHER, to give sacrificially to the 2020 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions.
Thank you for giving. You cannot out give God. Remember, God’s promise to all those who give to missions and to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ:
“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
Now is the time to lead.
This was originally sent through the Baptist Press newsletter, which can be found here.