MARIETTA, Ga. — Southern
Baptist Convention (SBC) President Bryant Wright is challenging individual
churches around the convention to set record goals for this year’s Lottie Moon
Christmas Offering.
Wright, pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in suburban Atlanta, was elected
SBC president in June and launched Pray4SBC.com where he is posting monthly
videos directed at SBC pastors and church leaders.
“There’s no doubt when we give more to missions we have a greater heart for
going on missions,” Wright said in his August video. “… No matter what size
church you pastor, think of what it will do for the Kingdom of Christ for us to
exceed the Lottie Moon Offerings that we’ve had in our churches in the past. It
will allow us to do more for international missions, as well as more for
missions, than perhaps in the history of the convention.”
Wright read from a letter from Kyle Waddell, pastor of Pine Level Baptist
Church in Early Branch, S.C. Several years ago Waddell’s church had a Lottie
Moon goal of $2,500, but Waddell challenged the church “to think about the
money they spent around Christmas” and to give a special gift to missions. That
year the church gave more than $10,000, an amount it has exceeded twice during
the past three years. Waddell said he hopes the church can give $20,000 this
year.
Wright’s August video, at eight minutes, also features an interview with
Roswell Street Baptist Church pastor Ernest Easley, who helped lead his church
to increase dramatically its offering to missions.
Roswell Street, in Marietta, Ga., has one missions offering each year which
funds the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for the International Mission Board,
the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for the North American Mission Board and
state missions.
By having a combined offering, Easley said, “we’ve been able to give more to
each one of those (offerings) annually than we’ve ever given before in the
history of our church.” In an example Easley cited, the church had a goal of
$150,000 for missions but gave $318,000.
In the video, Easley also gave
examples of how he and the church staff sparked members to give such a large
amount.
In addition to the video, Pray4SBC.com features a daily devotion written by
Wright, as well as the opportunity for church leaders to join Wright’s prayer
team.
(EDITOR’S NOTE — Compiled by Michael Foust, an assistant editor of Baptist
Press.)