MARIETTA, Ga. (BP)–Southern Baptist Convention 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 a website, 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, the Pray4SBC.com website features a daily devotion written by Wright, as well as the opportunity for church leaders to join Wright’s prayer team.
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Compiled by Michael Foust, an assistant editor of Baptist Press.
