Last Christmas Southern Baptist gave a record 154 million dollars to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. The largest amount in the offering's 125-year history. First Baptist Moreland raised a record $3,535.79 this past Christmas. Did you know one billion people (1 out of 7 people on earth) will live their lives without ever hearing about the Gospel.
A small lady from Albemarle County, Virginia born in 1840 wanted to reduce the world's lostness.
Lottie left her affluent Virginia plantation in 1873 (she was 33 years old) and spent 40 years as a single adult telling the Chinese about Jesus. Lottie and her younger sister, Edmonia, spent their lives reaching Chinese women and children with the Gospel.
She wrote letters back home pleading for Southern Baptists to give towards missions. If there was more funding, then more missionaries could come join her work in China. She first suggested Southern Baptists collect a Christmas offering for foreign missions. In 1888, the first Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for foreign missions raised $3,315.26 surpassing the $2,000 goal. This was enough to send three missionaries. Lottie gave her life to the Chinese - she became sick when she was 72 years old and died on December 24, 1912 in the harbor of Kobe, Japan returning home for medical care.
Today China is experiencing spiritual revival - possibility 10% of the country is Christian. Many of the churches planted and seeds sown were originally scattered by Lottie.
Lottie reminds us that lostness is the world's greatest problem. It afflicts every city and country - there's people all around who do not love Jesus. As we leave for Lottie's land today, please pray that all four of us will be a witness for Christ. Southern Baptists have a great legacy and passion for taking the Gospel to China.