Christmas is a very special time of the year. I love the music, lights and decorations, time with family, baked goodies and gift giving. I really enjoy giving special gifts to those I love. But not just any gift, the perfect one. The one that is just what they needed or really wanted. But what do you give to the person who has everything?
Several years ago, my parents announced that they would no longer receive gifts from us at Christmas because they “had everything they needed”. Rather than give them a Christmas gift, they requested that we give to a ministry or charity in their honor. A meaningful tradition was begun that continues today. We have given animals for farmers in Haiti, transportation for pastors in Africa, shelter for the homeless in the US, and job training for the poor in eastern KY. Although these are good gifts that bless others and honor my parents, we consider the most important gift each year to be the one we give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. If you’re not familiar with this offering, it is collected by the SBC International Mission Board in December for the support of more than 3,651 missionaries sharing the Gospel in countries all over the world. Every single penny given goes directly toward the support and equipping of the missionaries because necessary administrative costs are covered by other means.
The missionaries supported by the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering are committed to giving themselves totally and selflessly toward reaching unengaged and unreached people groups who have nothing, because they don’t have Jesus, who is “everything”. So, if you’re struggling with what to get the person who has everything, why not give a gift in their honor to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. That way, instead of giving an unneeded gift to someone who has everything, you’re giving the gift of “everything” to someone who has nothing. For more information, visit www.imb.org/offering.
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