Lottie Moon Christmas Offering 2020
Week of Prayer or International Missions
November 29 – December 6, 2020
National Offering Goal: $175 million
The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® is an annual offering collected by believers around the world to support international missions. The offering was officially named in 1918 by Woman’s Missionary Union in honor of the missionary to China who urged churches to start it and give sacrificially.
This offering is unique from other mission offerings in that 100% of gifts provide for missionaries all over the world. It is a valuable part of Southern Baptists’ 175-year history of reaching the nations with the gospel and vital to reaching the vision of a multitude from every language, people, tribe and nation knowing and worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 7:9).
The LottieMoon Christmas Offering® is a registered trademark of Woman’s Missionary Union.
Week of Prayer
The Week of Prayer is annually observed by SBC churches to pray for missionaries, their ministries and their families. Prayer is the fuel for spiritually sustaining missionaries in places where the gospel is greatly needed, but often opposed.
The official dates are the last Sunday in November through the first Sunday in December. Your church can choose this date or another time during the Christmas season to participate.
In addition to downloading these items, if you church needs additional prayer guides or envelopes, please contact us at the Helpdesk at helpdesk@brnunited.org.
Day One
Missions on and off the Street
Naivasha Children’s Shelter, Kenya
Hundreds of thousands of boys sleep on the streets in Kenya. These children are marginalized, beaten, sexually abused and arrested. Many Kenyans regard these children as worthless and not to be trusted. Kenyans call these boys “trash eaters.”
PRAYER REQUESTS:
- That Frances and others boys like him will find new life in Christ.
- That as the boys are reconciled with their families, the families will also find hope in Jesus.
- That God will bless the work of the shelter’s staff as they reach out in love to boys who are hurting.
Day Two
Gospel Fills the Airwaves
Zagreb, Croatia, radio ministry
After living in Croatia for more than 22 years, missionary Eric Maroney understands why some people describe life and ministry as difficult in this part of Europe. He has witnessed the reluctance of people to believe the Truth of the gospel and has endured the skepticism toward evangelical churches. Only one Baptist church stands in western Zagreb—an area of 250,000 people—where Eric’s team lives and works. Read The Story
PRAYER REQUESTS:
- That more national partners will choose to be a part of sharing the gospel across Croatia.
- That more church plants will result from the radio broadcast ministry.
Day Three
Medical Missions Leads to Church Planting
Doug Derbyshire in Thailand
Doug Derbyshire goes to many places in Thailand with no Christians and no churches, and it troubles him deeply. But the lack of a gospel witness in Baan Po troubled him the most. Derbyshire is a medical doctor with the International Mission Board who serves in Thailand with his wife, Cheryl. He’s doing what Jesus did: taking care of the sick and preaching the gospel. Read The Story
PRAYER REQUESTS:
- Pray non of the new Christians would fall away from the faith.
- Pray those who have yet to decide will choose to commit their lives to Christ.
- For the formation of healthy churches in Baan Po.
Day Four
Reaching the Hard-to-Reach in the Amazon Rainforest
Peru
The small group of men boards a single-engine Cessna. After a little more than a two-hour flight, they land on a small airstrip deep in the Amazon rainforest. From there they board a boat and settle in for the ride. Their destination, an isolated village of a tribe called the Akawa*, is still more than seven hours away.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
- For Joe, Edwin and their teams as they share the gospel with the Akawa.
- That many members of the Akawa will come to faith in Jesus.
- That new Akawa believers will gather into groups and start churches.
Day Five
Remembering Lives Given
Persecution
Throughout its 175-year history, Southern Baptists have maintained an uninterrupted witness among the nations, in spite of famine, war and civil unrest. This commitment has not come without sacrifice.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
- THANK GOD for the men and women who, with their children, have traveled to the ends of the earth to share the gospel with those who have never heard.
- THANK GOD for the uninterrupted witness of Southern Baptists among the nations for 175 years.
- ASK GOD to continue to protect missionaries and their families serving in cross-cultural and often difficult areas around the globe.
Day Six
Bringing the Hope of the Gospel to Italy
Worthys in Italy
The Worthy family recognizes the importance of investing in relationships in the Italian culture. For more than 17 years, Charlie and Shannon Worthy have invested their lives and ministry in Italy as IMB missionaries.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
- That the Worthys will continue to build strong relationships in Italy.
- That many Italians will come to faith in Christ as a result of the Worthys’.
- That new Italian believers will gather into churches to reach the people of Italy with the gospel.
Day Seven
Committing to Reaching the Unreached
UPG from South Asia
Twenty years is a long time. That’s how long it took to establish a gospel presence among a Muslim unreached people group of 10 million in South Asia.
Ministry among the people group stalled for a number of reasons. IMB workers attempted to move to the region but were unsuccessful. Other families moved to the area, but they too had to leave for various reasons.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
- Local Christians would be bold in sharing the gospel with the Khaleela.
- For discernment for the Adairs and the Serranos as they share the gospel and train local Christians.
- That the Lord would send more Christian workers to partner with the Serranos and Adairs.
Day Eight
Together
Thank you to Southern Baptists
Every day is appropriate to say “thank you” to Southern Baptists who give generously so that the gospel spreads to all nations. In this season of giving — the Lottie Moon season in many churches — showing appreciation seems especially meaningful. This year missionaries have met unique challenges, as you also have, from the global pandemic caused by the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). Even as the world continues to find a new normal, our missionaries want to say a special word of thanks to you for remembering them, for praying concertedly, for giving sacrificially.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
- PRAISE GOD for the continued work of Southern Baptists who have remained committed to reaching the lost for more than 175 years.
- ASK GOD to send more individuals and churches who will be committed to the vision of reaching all nations and all peoples with the gospel.
- THANK GOD for sustaining the work of missionaries through all circumstances, including the most recent global pandemic.
