Lottie Moon

Lottie Moon - the namesake of the international missions offering - has become something of a legend to us. But in her time Lottie was anything but an untouchable hero. In fact, she was like today's missionaries. She was a hard-working, deep-loving Southern Baptist who labored tirelessly so her people group could know Jesus. Why was the offering named for this early missionary? Throughout her career, Lottie Moon wrote numerous letters home, urging Southern Baptists to greater missions involvement and support. One of those letters triggered Southern Baptists' first Christmas offering for international missions - enough to send three new missionaries to China.

Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child Since 1993, more than 100 million boys and girls in over 130 countries have experienced God’s love through the power of simple shoebox gifts from Operation Christmas Child. Samaritan’s Purse works with local churches and ministry partners to deliver the gifts and share the life-changing Good News of Jesus Christ.

Georgia Barnette

Georgia Barnette moved to Louisiana in 1901 to serve as missionary for the First Baptist Church of New Orleans. Beginning in 1905 until her retirement in 1929, Miss Georgia tirelessly promoted, encouraged and nurtured missions in Louisiana.In 1905 there were few strong "societies", as WMU organizations were called. Sunbeams was the only children's work and associational WMU was barely existent. Miss Georgia had a vision of developing interest in missions and WMU organizations in Louisiana in order that people might come to know the Savior. "Giving" is a word that describes Georgia Barnette. She gave her time willingly and her resources generously. Overall she gave encouragement and love. "With compassion and genuine interest in each individual, she loved people into God's kingdom and led them to want to serve." Miss Georgia wrote hundreds of letters of encouragement, along with materials, pamphlets and stories about the needs of the French in South Louisiana. Receipts from a state missions offering have been recorded in Louisiana since 1878; in 1936 this annual offering was named the Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering, honoring this WMU and missions leader who "loved Louisiana missions, loved people and had a passion for lost souls." The Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering surpassed $1,000,000 in 1998. Meeting the 2013 goal of $1,850,000 will be the highest offering received.

Annie Armstrong

Each year, we honor the life and work of Annie Walker Armstrong (1850-1938) when we give to the annual offering for North American missions named after her. As a tireless servant of God and a contagious advocate and supporter of mission efforts throughout the world, Annie Armstrong led women to unite in mission endeavors that ultimately led to the formation of Woman's Missionary Union, for which she served as the first corresponding secretary. Annie believed in Christ with all her heart, but it was her hands that expressed that belief in tangible ways. She spent a great amount of time typing and handwriting letters in support of missions. Many of these letters were quite lengthy and all were filled with conviction that more could and should be done in our mission efforts. In 1893 alone, she wrote almost 18,000 letters! Annie also never hesitated to use her hands to reach out to hug a child or distribute food and clothing and the Word of God to those in need. Her hands held her own Bible as she studied to know how best to share Gods love with others. And, most important, Annie was a woman of prayer, folding her hands in prayer to intercede for the missionaries and for those they were helping discover Christ. Annie rallied churches to give more, pray more, and do more for reaching people for Christ. As we continue to unite to make her vision a reality in North America today, we can be confident that her legacy will also be ours.