Lottie Moon Christmas Cookies
These cookies are not only easy, yummy, and budget friendly - they have a precious origin and message, too.
Lottie Moon was born in Virginia on December 12, 1840. Her given name was Charlotte Digges Moon, but everyone called her “Lottie.” She grew to be a cultured and educated woman and in 1873, she obeyed God’s call to go to China and share the gospel.
When Lottie Moon first arrived in China many of the Chinese children were afraid of her. So Lottie made them cookies to help win their trust. At first, they would not eat the cookies but finally, the children could not resist. They discovered that the cookies were delicious! Soon the children wanted Lottie to be their friend. They began calling her “the cookie lady.”
Lottie spent most of her years in China, she wore Chinese clothes, lived like the Chinese people, and they respected Lottie. Her missions work won many Chinese to Christ. Lottie loved the Chinese people and she often made personal sacrifices to help them. When there was not enough food for the people, Lottie gave away hers. She ate so little that she suffered from malnutrition and became very sick. A missionary nurse was bringing her home to the US for medical care, but sadly she died on board a ship in a Japanese harbor on December 24, 1912. She was 72 years old.
While she lived in China, she wrote letters to the Foreign Mission Board and Baptist women asking for more missionaries. She also asked for more money to continue and grow mission work among the Chinese. Because she was so determined, the WMU collected the Christmas Offering to give to the Foreign Mission Board. At the suggestion of Annie Armstrong, the offering was named for Lottie Moon in 1919.
Every year, Southern Baptist churches collect an offering to send and support missionaries to be steadfastly present among those who have never heard the gospel. 100 % of your gifts to the Lottie Moon offering enable gospel transformation among the unreached.
