Lottie Moon and the Children’s March

On the Porch

Onishe Ellis

Sunday, Baptist churches across the nation began their 2020 annual Lottie Moon Christmas offering drive. Each year a goal is set by the International Mission Board, then individual churches set their giving goal.

Here is an excerpt from the International Mission Board website

“Well over 100 years ago, a single missionary named Lottie Moon, while serving in China, began writing letters challenging the American church to send and support more workers to go there. After her death on the field, her challenge was heeded in the formalization of an offering in her name. Even if you’re not a Southern Baptist who has given to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, her life is a reminder of why we must give to send and support missionaries serving among unreached peoples in unreached places.“

As a child, the stories of Lottie serving the people of China, facing depravation, even starvation, stirred my heart. I wanted to grow up and help children the way Lottie did.

Our North Carolina church has a sweet children’s tradition during December. It is called the Children’s march and each Sunday children even as young as toddlers are given small buckets to collect change from the congregation. At the end of the “march” they return to the front and pour the change from their buckets into a larger bucket. The pastor praises the children as he explains how they are helping share the Gospel to the world.

As the march began, the cutest little guy came toward me and I held out my hand full of change to him. With a sweet smile, he reached into the bucket and handed me some change! I thanked him and then suggested that I should now give him some change. He thought that was an ok idea and held out his bucket. I wish I had a picture of him to share.

I do have a picture from church, though. Due to my husband’s heath issues we have not been to services inside the sanctuary. Sunday was my first time for in person worship service and I got a kick out of this sign. “I have prepared a place for you” But not in this pew.