Weekly Update – December 7th, 202
Every year we collect an offering for international missions. Most of you should be fairly familiar with it since this offering has been a part of our denomination since 1888. What that means is that this offering is not a generational tradition started by an older generation or our parent’s generation, but instead it is a tradition that has been in our denomination and in our church since its early days. But why is this offering collected every year at Christmas? And then, when it is collected, does it really matter?
Before I answer those two questions, let me briefly explain what the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is. The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (LMCO) is a collective effort by over 45,000 Southern Baptist churches to give to missionaries in an effort to spread the gospel globally. The International Mission Board (IMB) which is an entity of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) describes the LMCO as follows: “The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering was established to empower the international missions efforts for Southern Baptists. After more than a century, the annual offering continues its steady growth. Your giving enables missionaries to be sent to make disciples and multiply churches among unreached peoples and places for the glory of God.”
Let me now answer our two questions. First, why is this offering collected every year at Christmas? The fact that Lottie Moon was born on December 12, 1840 and died on December 24th, 1912 really has nothing to do with it. Quite simply, the Christmas offering for international missions came about because it was Lottie’s idea. In her reading, Lottie learned about 3 Methodist women who set aside a week before Christmas to pray and to give. This sparked her to write this in a letter dated on September 15, 1887: Is not “the festive season when families and friends exchange gifts in memory of The Gift laid on the altar of the world for the redemption of the human race, the most appropriate time to consecrate a portion from abounding riches and scant poverty to send forth the good tidings of great joy into all the earth?” In other words, isn’t Christmas the perfect time to consider giving a gift so spread the good news of Jesus Christ across the world? A woman named Annie Armstrong got a hold of this letter, and beginning in 1888 the Christmas offering for international missions was promoted.
But then second, and even more importantly, does this offering matter? Or we might ask, does it really make a difference? Consider what is at stake. Nearly a million people are plunging into a Christless eternity every single month in China alone. Millions of Syrian refugees are more open today to hearing the gospel than ever before. There are people groups who are not only unengaged and unreached, but up until now have been totally uncontacted by the outside world. Gifts from Southern Baptist Churches provide means for men and women to penetrate our world with the gospel. Currently there are over 3400 missionaries on the foreign field with the IMB. These missionaries lead our denomination in planting churches, sharing the gospel, discipling new believers and more. Your gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering go straight to the mission field. So, does giving to the LMCO make a difference? Yes, it allows us individually and as a church to partner with thousands of missionaries in spreading the gospel all over the world.
Since 1888, over $5.5 billion dollars have been given to international missions through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Our goal as a denomination is $200 million. Our goal as a church is $10,000. Every penny raised through this offering goes to funding the work of the gospel all over the world. So this Christmas, as you buy gifts and anticipate receiving gifts from others, consider God’s great gift of his son Jesus to save sinners like you and me. And in response to God’s gift of salvation, may you fervently pray and generously give in order for others to hear of this gift and be saved through Jesus Christ.
Serving Him with You,
Pastor Michael Nelson
Written by Pastor
Michael Nelson
Fighter Verse for the Week
"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." - 2 Corinthians 5:21
Announcements:
Christmas Choir: Rehearsals for Christmas Choir are held on Friday evenings. Please contact Martin Maharas for details.
Christmas Cookie Exchange: All women of the church are invited to participate in a Christmas Cookie Exchange at the Nelson home on Saturday, December 9th. More details can be found HERE.
Members’ Meeting: We are planning to have a potluck lunch and members’ meeting following the morning service on Sunday, December 17th.
Advent Devotionals: There are three options for Advent devotions available in our Welcome Center. The first one is free and it is titled, Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus. The second one is $10 and it is titled, Gifts of Grace. The last one is also $10 and it is titled, Come, Let us Adore Him. Feel free to check these out and get one for this Advent season.
Christmas Caroling: On Wednesday, December 20th at 6:30pm, we will meet at the church to go out caroling to our shut-ins and our neighborhood.
Christmas Eve Service: Our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service will be held on December 24th at 6:00pm. On this evening, we will read the Christmas story, sing Christmas Songs together and hear a short Christmas message. Make plans to join us and invite your family and friends.
Lottie Moon Christmas Offering: Every year at this time, we raise funds to support missionaries all over the world who are serving with the International Mission Board (IMB). Our goal at First Baptist Church is to raise $10,000. If you haven’t already, will you consider partnering with us by giving, as we seek to support international missions? You can give on Sunday mornings through one of our offering boxes located in the foyer or the welcome center. Just mark your envelop as “missions” or “Lottie Moon.” Or you can give online HERE. Choose “missions” under the Fund tab. You can find more information about this offering HERE.
Befriend a Student: If you are interested in befriending a student from Longview Community College this semester, connect with Matthew Klika. You can find more information about befriend a student HERE.
Food Pantry: We are in need of pop-top and ready to eat items for our food pantry. These items are needed specifically for the homeless in our community that stop by the church building throughout the week looking for a meal.
Nursery Volunteers Needed: Nursery volunteers are needed each week during the 10:30am service time. Check the update or email the office for more information on how you can serve.
Year End Giving: By God’s grace, we are on tract to finish this year on a positive note for 2023. Thank you for being so faithful to give this year. Your giving goes to practical matters such as keeping the lights of the church on and taking care of our staff, but your giving also does so much more. It funds outreach to children in Grandview, it supports women who are recovering from sex trafficking, it provides benevolence for a needy family, it supports ministry all around the world, and most importantly it allows the gospel to be preached every single week. I want to encourage you to finish the year strong in this area. As long as checks are marked by December 31st or gifts are given online by December 31st, it will count towards 2023.
Equipping Hour
We have three classes held at 9:15am on Sunday mornings. “Firm Foundations” will meet in the Sanctuary, a biblical exposition of the minor prophets will meet in the Fellowship Hall, and a Ladies’ class studying the New Testament will meet in the classroom next to the nursery. You can find more information HERE.
Giving
To Give Online, Go HERE.
You can also mail your offering to: 1416 Main Street, Grandview, MO. 64030
Home Groups
Home Groups typically meet on the first and third Sunday of each month. Please contact Pastor Michael if you would like to join a Home Group. You can find more information HERE.
Prayer
An updated Prayer Guide can be accessed HERE.
Prepare for Sunday
Guide for Worship can be found HERE.
Wednesday Evening Activities
Awana, Youth Group, and Biblical Counseling are on Wednesday evenings. We will share a meal in the Faith Center Gym at 6:00pm before heading to classes at 6:30pm.
Worship Service
Worship Service begins at 10:30am on Sunday mornings. Nursery care for children ages 0-4 years is available during the worship hour.
Livestream
Continue to join us at 10:30am on Sunday mornings.
Facebook live: HERE.
YouTube: HERE.
Join us and invite a friend or family member to watch with you.
Sunday School
Children and Youth Sunday School take place at 9:15am on Sunday mornings.
Ages 0-4 meet in the nursery suite.
Grades K-3rd meet upstairs in U-5.
Grades 4th-6th meet upstairs in U-6.
Grades 7th-12th meet downstairs in the youth room.
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