Charlotte was born on December 12, 1840 in Charlottesville, Virginia. She was raised on a plantation that had over 50 slaves. Her mother believed that al girls should have as good of an education as boys. So Charlotte received a good education. She attended a Girl’s boarding school in Virginia. There she was known as a practical joker. One day she wrapped sheets around the bell in the bell tower, classes started late that day. She then attended Albemarle Female Institute in Charlottesville that was run by the Virginia Baptists. Charlotte wasn’t a Christian at the time. Many students became burdened for her soul. They began praying that Charlotte would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. She would scoff at these classmates, but one night she decided she would examine the Christian faith intellectually. That night he couldn’t sleep and spent the night in prayer. The next morning she decided to give her life to Christ. She immediately took a stand for Christ. Many of you know Charlotte, as Lottie Moon, one of the greatest Southern Baptist Missionaries of all time.
Many of you may know all about Lottie’s journey to China and her missionary work there. After all it is for that work and her example that we name our Christmas offering after her. What you may not know that long before she reached the mission fields of China she was a stout woman.
Immediately following her conversion Lottie felt called to the mission field. But before she could go, the Civil War broke out and Lottie was called home to help with the plantation. She tutored her sister “Eddie”. Her mother had converted all her money into confederate money, which was no longer useful once the war ended. After the war her mother had family troubles so Lottie took a job teaching in Kentucky.
Lottie lived among the Chinese people off and on from 1973 until her death in 1912. She made some return trips back to the state to raise funds. While in China she taught school and would make cookies for the Chinese people. During famines Lottie and her fellow missionaries frequently gave up their food so that the Chinese people could eat. Lottie worked hard to raise awareness and money for missions. In 1912 war broke out in China. Famine and plague once again ravaged the land. Once again Lottie and other missionaries gave all they had to relief groups. In December of 1912 Lottie was sent back to America in an attempt to save her life. She never made it back to America. She died off the shores of Japan on Christmas Eve.
Lottie’s story is too long for me to share here. Lottie Moon was a strong woman. She lived a life of love. She was strong willed and determined. She was bold. She was brave. She traveled to an unknown land to serve an unknown people. She poured her life into them. She gave her all to serve the Lord. Lottie stood up in a male dominated society. It wasn’t acceptable for woman to serve in the mission field if they were not married. Lottie pushed to allow single woman to serve in this capacity. She believed that the Lord called woman to spread the gospel just as he called men.
“Our Lord does not call on women to preach, or to pray in public, but no less does He say to them than to men, ‘Go, work in my vineyard.’” Lottie Moon
In 1918 the Foreign Mission Board (now the International Mission Board) of the Southern Baptist Convention named a Christmas offering after Lottie. The funds from this offering every year go to support international missions. Lottie has inspired many to serve the Lord with boldness and with all their heart. She has also inspired many to give whole-heartedly to missions.
This week my challenge is that we may become women who follow our passions. Who stand up from what is right. May we give of ourselves to those in need. May we have Lottie’s passion for those that do not Christ. May we reach this world from Christ from one corner to the next.
"How many there are ... who imagine that because Jesus paid it all, they need pay nothing, forgetting that the prime object of their salvation was that they should follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ in bringing back a lost world to God."
- Lottie Moon
Tungchow, China
Sept. 15, 1887
"Why should we not ... instead of the paltry offerings we make, do something that will prove that we are really in earnest in claiming to be followers of him who, though he was rich, for our sake became poor?"
- Lottie Moon
Tungchow, China
Sept. 15, 1887
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