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In other words, if you gave $10 last year to global missions, you were giving more than the average S. Baptist. As Lottie Moon herself asked over 100 years ago, "Why this strange indifferences to missions? Why these scant contributions? Why does money fail to be forthcoming when approved men and women are asking to be sent to proclaim the "unsearchable riches of Christ" to the heathen?" I don't know, either, Lottie.
Every year Southern Baptist Churches in the United States collect a special offering in December for international missions. 100% goes for overseas work. The goal this year for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is $175 million.
Here is how the offering works:
Since we see first-hand and feel the direct impact of this offering, I would like to say to everyone who gave last year or is planning to give this year, THANK YOU. Maybe $10/year is all you really can give, and if so, God knows this and will multiply that $10 like he did the five loaves and two fish to feed the 5000. But there are others who really could give more.
Would you be willing to ask the Lord what he would have you give to make His Name known amongst the nations?
What follows is a list of things we have personally tried over the years or practice regularly as a family.
1) Decide what amount of money you will spend on your family this Christmas and give MORE than this amount to the LMCO. After all, it is Christ's birthday we are celebrating. Shouldn't He be getting more than us if it is his birthday?
2) Something we have done as a family for many years is set aside a monthly amount from our paycheck and have that amount automatically credited to the LMCO. This took a couple of email and phone calls to set up, but we haven't had to fool with it since, and are able to give to LMCO throughout the year.
3) A variation on the idea above would be to have a gift box that you deposit a set amount every week/month throughout the year. Then give this amount to your church when the offering is collected in December.
4) Sell tickets to a mother-daughter or father-son breakfast or brunch. Invite a missionary as a guest speaker. Proceeds go to missions.
5) Auction students to church members for a day of service, from cleaning house to raking leaves. Money members give for the work youth do goes to Lottie Moon.
6) One idea missionaries have done in the past is hold an auction where a volunteer team brings in "goodies" from the States and auction them off to the missionaries. A six-pack of Dr. Pepper went for $120 one year! My son paid $60 for a box of Double-Bubble gum. I myself have paid $35 for a jar of Jiff peanut butter! All proceeds go to the missions offerings. Might your church do something similar with imported foods purchased from your local grocery store?
7) Challenge folks to save money for the offering by giving up something small. Examples include a fast-food meal a week or a movie a month. Host a special ceremony for everyone to give their offering and share what God taught them through their sacrifice.
8) Double (or triple!) whatever you gave last year. Give sacrificially, not what is convenient.
9) As a church body, decide to channel funds to a lost world instead of to building improvements or beautification projects.
10) Watch this video by IMB President, David Platt:
Whatever you decide to give, please do so prayerfully. There are few offerings that make as much of an eternal impact on the world as the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Give online by clicking here.
Checks can be mailed to (gifts are tax-deductable)
Lottie Moon Christmas Offering
International Mission Board, SBC
P.O. Box 6767
Richmond, VA 23230
Lottie Moon Christmas Offering
International Mission Board, SBC
P.O. Box 6767
Richmond, VA 23230
2 comments:
"Imagine 6400 groups of people among billions who have never even heard..."
Imagine 60,000+ groups of people in the wealthiest country the world has ever known collecting billions of dollars every year for "the work of God" and then consuming 86% of that "giving" to buy facilities and staff to bless mostly themselves, the focal point being a weekly professionally prepared Bible lecture called teaching which is actually perpetual dependency oriented. In their generosity they allow 14% of their giving to be released to meet needs in the rest of the world beyond themselves. Imagine the leader on the video saying nothing about this tragic reality as he urges them to give one last offering at the end of the year for the rest of the world. O, Lord, what does it take to wake up these followers of yours to recognized the lie and deception of this routine that is being postured as love for you?
I just read your chapter in Simple Church. While, like you I respect the people who walk this path, my heart grieves for their blindness. I used to be one of them. I was so blind. I am working on a feeble attempt. I am writing a paper addressing all of Paul's statements on both the right to pay the preacher and refusing the right, ministering free of charge, and not being a "burden" on God's people. I am amazed and the horrible exegesis of the world's greatest Bible scholars on these texts.
Tim,
I hear what you are saying. As I point out in the post, last year the average gift per S. Bapt was $9.78 to LMCO. One of the reasons our family sets aside a budgeted monthly amount for LMCO is precisely so that when December comes with all the extra expenses, we will have already made sure we are not just asking others to do something we aren't personally highly committed to doing ourselves. I believe there isn't a higher cause on earth to which we can give than that of doing all we can to make His Name known amongst the nations.
Thanks for the kind words about my chapter in Simple Church. I would be interested in reading your paper once it is finished. Sounds interesting!
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