Utica Baptist Church, Seneca, set a new Lottie Moon offering record this year with $99,239.46 given. The previous high was just over $62,000.
Pastor Rudy Gray praised the congregation for their generous response and the church’s growing involvement in missions at home and around the world.
“About eight years ago, our Lottie Moon offering took a giant leap forward. From that time until now, our church has given very generously to this offering.”
The mission team at Utica, chaired by Dave and Barbara Hooper, is involved throughout the year in promoting the missions offerings, sponsoring mission trips, and developing awareness of missions opportunities through various educational channels.
Utica hosts a world missions conference each year. This year the conference is scheduled for March 17 and 18, with Jerry Rankin, president of the International Mission Board, as guest speaker.
Throughout the year, the men’s and women’s ministries are involved in building projects, home repair, benevolent support, a Good News club after-school program in an elementary school, and special missions projects connected with seasonal or holiday opportunities.
Church members also participate in jail, nursing home and prayer ministries, as well as evangelism and discipleship ministries. Each July, the church also sponsors a “God and Country” Day as a gift to the community.
In addition, Gray, who is a certified professional counselor, teaches a weekly class on relationships at Home With a Heart, a Christian rehabilitation residential treatment campus in Liberty.