The nation’s unstable economy may have many Alabama Baptists reconsidering their church offerings and donations, but it hasn’t slowed contributions at First Baptist Church, Birmingham. Not only did the congregation meet its Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goal, they exceeded it by more than 25 percent in just one day.
On Dec. 15, the church hoped to collect $52,000 for international missionary support and by that Sunday’s evening service, they had already received $67,000 from its members. Usually reaching their goal in March or April, First, Birmingham, had received more than $72,000 as of Jan. 28.
“Many of us who were closely involved knew the goal was ambitious,” said Todd Howard, minister of education and administration. “Considering the state of the economy, it just adds to the reality of God’s power working in the hearts of His people.”
To show the congregation the importance of donating to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, ministers of First, Birmingham, kicked off an awareness campaign more than a month before the offering date. Through a dramatic monologue and mission study, church members were shown “the reality that unreached people are sinners and will be held accountable for sin,” Howard said.
“The church was challenged by our interim pastor, Randy Overstreet, to find ways to cut back in order to free up monies that could be given to the cause of the unreached peoples of the world,” Howard said. “We must be faithful to give, go and pray for their conversion.”
On the offering date, the church was presented with a sermon by Donny Barger, a career International Mission Board missionary, on the importance of the local church’s involvement in missions through prayer, giving and sending people into the missions field.
“We made it clear what was at stake— people’s eternal destiny,” Howard said. “It is heaven or in many cases hell for the 7.4 million unreached people in China who are slated to die this calendar year.
“Our church was very excited and praised God that He would move among us in such a profound way,” Howard said. “God alone deserves the credit, glory, renown and fame. Any wealth any of us have is simply on loan from Him.”
Prior to this year’s campaign, the church’s highest goal was $50,000, which wasn’t collected until February 2002. In some years First, Birmingham, did not reach its goal.
According to Howard, the church staff plans to make the need for Southern Baptist missions efforts around the world crystal clear to the congregation.
“Our people feel God is calling First Baptist to truly be a global priority church,” he said. “We think that means placing a priority on giving to world missions.”
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