“God, here’s my Bible, my money, and me. Use us!” – Gladys Aylward
Category: China
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Mission Quote of the Week
“I believe that in each generation God has called’ enough men and women to evangelize all the yet unreached tribes of the earth…. It is not God who does not call. It is man who will not respond!” – Isobel Kuhn, missionary to China and Thailand
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A Visit to “Lottie Moon Country”
In May 2006, I had the privilege to visit Penglai, Shandong, China and see where Lottie Moon lived and ministered. In the photo above, I am standing next to a monument erected in 1919 (I think) to the memory of Lottie Moon by the members of her church in Penglai. After the cultural revolution, the monument was found in the yard of the church and was re-erected to her memory. The Red Guard had scratched out some of the characters, but it is still readable (all in Chinese characters, of course).
The picture above is of the church Lottie Moon attended in Penglai, China. (You can see the monument in front of the left window.) The church is still in use but is no longer large enough for the congregation. They have recently built a new facility just to the right of the building, but still use this church’s baptistry because the new church doesn’t have a water source for the baptistry. The pastor reported that in 2005, they baptized over 400 people.
The picture above shows the remains of the Girls School that Lottie Moon where taught. The building was torn down because of it’s condition, but the outline on the remaining wall can still be seen. In the pile of debris stacked against the wall are roof tiles from the original school. I was fortunate enough to be able to get one for my personal collection. I was told that those tiles were purchased with funds from one of the original offerings collected for China by Southern Baptists. Those offerings later became known as the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.
I hope this gives you a little bit of insight into the world of Lottie Moon. Please give generously to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering!
Bro Rick
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Who is Lottie Moon?
… and why are we still paying her?
Charlotte “Lottie” Diggs Moon was born Dec. 12, 1840, in Albemarle County, Va. she rebelled against Christianity until she was in college. In December 1858, she dedicated her life to Christ and was baptized at First Baptist Church of Charlottesville, Va. Lottie attended Albemarle Female Institute, female counterpart to the University of Virginia. In 1861, she was one of the first women in the South to receive a master’s degree. Edmonia Moon, Lottie’s sister, was appointed to Tengchow, China, in 1872. The following year, Lottie was appointed and joined her sister there.
Lottie served 39 years as a missionary, mostly in China’s Shantung province. She taught in a girls’ school and often made trips into China’s interior to share the good news with women and girls. Lottie frequently wrote letters to the United States, detailing Chinese culture, missionary life and the great physical and spiritual needs of the Chinese people. Additionally, she challenged Southern Baptists to go to China or give so that others could go. By 1888, Southern Baptist women had organized and helped collect $3,315 to send workers needed in China.
Lottie died aboard a ship in the Japanese harbor of Köbe on Dec. 24, 1912. She was 72 years old. In 1918, Woman’s Missionary Union named the annual Christmas offering for international missions after the woman who had urged them to start it. (From IMB.org website)
This year’s Lottie Moon Christmas Offering’s (LMCO) goal is $165,000,000.00. The LMCO funds 52% of the International Mission Board’s budget. The Cooperative Program funds 36%. The remaining funds come from investments and World Hunger donations. Our church’s goal is $750.00. We have raised $142.00 so far.
Pray for the generosity of Southern Baptists to give to the LMCO to meet the needs of missionaries around the world. Your support allows you to participate in the Great Commission as you support those who “go”.
You can find out more information about Lottie Moon here.
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Some Foreign Christians Expelled from China
The following news article was found on HotSpots Security Update.
China (Country threat level – 3): Media reports issued on 10 July 2007 indicate that the Chinese government has recently expelled approximately 100 foreigners from the country. The expulsion campaign, allegedly called “Typhoon No. 5,” was conducted in an effort to prevent the foreigners, who are suspected of being religious missionaries, from proselytizing during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The foreigners — from the United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Israel and South Korea — mainly worked in Beijing, Tibet, Shandong and Xinjiang. The Chinese government has not responded to the allegations; however, officials at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing confirmed that there have recently been some deportations. Although the allegations cannot be independently corroborated, it is important to note that the Chinese government has banned religious affiliations outside of the Communist Party-controlled church. Foreign travelers to China should never openly discuss religion.
Pray for those who desire to use the Olympics to share the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ with the lost people of China.
Immanuel Southern Baptist Church 