Despite difficult economic conditions, Southern Baptists gave $150.4 million to the 2007 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions to support the work of more than 5,300 missionaries worldwide.
After financial books closed at the end of May, the annual offering totaled $150,409,653 – more than $231,000 above the record 2006 offering of $150.1 million, but falling short of the $165 million goal.
“We are grateful for the strong commitment to the Great Commission exhibited by the generous giving of Southern Baptists to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering,” International Mission Board president Jerry Rankin said. “Although we’re disappointed by the failure to meet the goal of $165 million, we think it is significant in the context of financial challenges in today’s economy that we received the same impressive level of giving as last year.
“Many families are struggling with mortgages, foreclosures and the rising price of gasoline. Many churches are struggling to meet budgets. Yet missions continues to be the priority of Southern Baptists, as reflected in their giving,” Rankin said.
The 2007 total also brings the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering to a historic mark: Cumulative gifts from Southern Baptists to the offering, which has been promoted by Woman’s Missionary Union since 1888, have topped $3 billion. The 2007 offering brings the cumulative total to $3,034,234,033.
“We are grateful that Southern Baptists continue to make missions a priority, as evidenced by this record amount given to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions,” said Wanda Lee, executive director-treasurer of Woman’s Missionary Union.
“Since WMU first initiated this offering in 1888, more than $3 billion has been sacrificially given by Southern Baptists so that the name of Jesus may be heard around the world in every nation. We praise God for these resources and pray that he will continue to bless our efforts to fulfill the Great Commission.”
The entire 2007 offering goal of $165 million was anticipated to fund more than half of this year’s International Mission Board budget of $304.8 million, which calls for nearly $16 million more than the 2007 budget.