It’s a new record that’s reaffirming an old commitment: $137,939,677 – that’s what Southern Baptists gave to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions in 2005, making it the single most successful year in the offering’s history.
A Bambara woman glows with pride as she lifts her child into her arms in Mali, West Africa. Thanks to faithful giving to the Lottie Moon Offering, many of the 4 million Bambara are hearing the gospel.The $137.9 million marks a 3.03 percent increase over 2004’s $133.9 million Lottie Moon offering, not to mention a 1.28 percent gain over the old record set in 2003 – $136.2 million. More than 5,100 International Mission Board missionaries depend on the annual offering, of which every penny is used to support their work of sharing the gospel around the world.
“This historic level of giving will enable us to send an increasing number of God-called missionary candidates moving toward appointment,” IMB president Jerry Rankin said. “It will enable us to push forward in fulfilling the vision of bringing all people to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. At a time of economic uncertainty, and a year in which massive amounts of funding have been directed toward hurricane relief and recovery, it is gratifying to see God prove his faithfulness through Southern Baptists.”
Clyde Meador, IMB executive vice president, echoed Rankin’s sentiments and acknowledged the critical role of the Woman’s Missionary Union in the offering’s success.
“The IMB wouldn’t be able to do any of this without the faithful support of our state and national Woman’s Missionary Union partners,” Meador said. “Long ago, WMU laid the foundation for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering because they understood the eternal significance of sharing Christ with a lost world.
“Today, they remain committed to international missions as they promote the Lottie Moon offering on a grassroots level to more than 42,000 Southern Baptist churches.”
“We are grateful that Southern Baptists continue to give sacrificially to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering as evidenced in the record offering totals for 2005,” said Wanda Lee, executive director of national WMU. “In partnership with state WMU offices, WMU leaders in churches and the International Mission Board, it is a joy to see our churches embrace the Great Commission.”
Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta, Ga., took the No. 1 spot on the list of 2005’s top 100 giving churches, adding $656,951 to the Lottie Moon offering. Among the top 100 churches, Mount Vernon Baptist Church, Boone, N.C., gave the most per capita. With 827 members, the church contributed an average of $243.74 per member, totaling more than $201,000.
Billy Hoffman, IMB director of development, said giving is a fundamental way for churches to encourage their congregations’ active involvement in missions.
“We must never forget the vital role we all have in sending missionaries to unreached people,” Hoffman said. “Every level of giving through Southern Baptist churches to send short-term and career personnel represents a ‘mutual fund’ investment in God’s kingdom enterprise that will surely yield eternal benefits.”
Changed lives
While $137.9 million is an impressive figure, Rankin believes the numbers that matter most reflect changed lives. It’s important to remember that Lottie Moon isn’t about money, he said, but about the world’s 3.7 billion people with little or no access to the gospel.
“Southern Baptists are impacting the world in tremendous ways,” Rankin said. “In 2005, your giving has resulted in 137 newly engaged people groups. You have directly supported thousands of missionaries as they and our overseas partners baptized more than 459,000 new believers and started some 17,000 new churches.
“What a privilege it has been to serve you and your church as we take the good news of Jesus Christ to people who have never had access to the gospel. God has truly blessed our joint efforts.”
Donor fatigue
The record-breaking offering put to rest reports in the secular press over so-called “donor fatigue,” which many feared would limit Lottie Moon funding. In fact, the opposite has proven to be true for Southern Baptists, said David Steverson, IMB vice president of finance.
“Now, unlike many other organizations, Southern Baptists have shown with this record Lottie Moon Christmas Offering where their hearts and their checkbooks really are – in missions! They are being on mission with God to see that all the people of the world have an opportunity to hear about Jesus Christ. We are grateful to God for Southern Baptists and their generous spirit in supporting missions around the world.”