Your missions funding questions answered
View or print a poster customized for your state convention
Why give through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering?
The International Mission Board uses 100 percent of Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® funds to support your missionaries and their ministries. This allows your church to join in a strategic global effort to reach the whole world. It also enables your missionaries to spend their time working to reach lost souls instead of raising their own support.
Can I trust how Lottie Moon Christmas Offering funds are spent?
The International Mission Board budget is based on strategic planning and strong accountability. Strategic planning is done by Southern Baptist individuals who give their lives to plan how best to get the Gospel to all people groups. They live among people groups, speak their languages and understand their worldviews. A budget based on their planning goes for approval to the board of trustees named by the Southern Baptist Convention. Also, the International Mission Board employs an independent accounting firm to audit the board's financial statements each year. A trustee Finance Committee oversees the audit, meeting with management and the board's independent accountants.
You may request a copy of the board's latest financial statement.
How is the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goal set?
After considering IMB leadership's recommendation, the Woman's Missionary Union sets the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goal at its annual meeting.
How often do Southern Baptists reach the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering national goal?
Southern Baptists exceeded the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goal in 2006. Before that, they had reached the goal only twice since 1981, resulting in unfunded ministry requests, capital expenditures and operating expenses - and limiting long- and short-term missionary numbers.
If we reach the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering National Goal, what will happen?
Reaching the goal allows the International Mission Board to sustain missionaries on the field and send more Southern Baptists who are called by God and ready to serve on the field.
What relationship does the Cooperative Program have with the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering?
The International Mission Board derives its budget income from both of these sources, plus the world hunger and relief offerings, investment income and designated gifts. Through the Cooperative Program, Southern Baptist churches provide vital year-round support to missions at home and around the world. To show your church how they work together overseas, order the Funding International Missions chart to display in your church.
How much does my state give to the Cooperative Program?
Print a personalized poster with your state's giving.
Who determines the budget of the International Mission Board?
Budget task force members include the executive vice president and one or more representatives from all the board's major offices: Global Strategy, Finance, Global Logistics Support, Global Personnel and Church and Partner Services. The 2009 budget will go to trustees for approval in their November meeting. You may request a list showing how Lottie Moon Christmas Offering gifts are budgeted.
Are there overseas needs that Lottie Moon Christmas Offering gifts cannot meet?
Yes, there are strategic needs that are part of our Lottie Moon offering budget but are beyond what the offering will provide. However, these needs can still be met. Browse these needs online or order the Lottie Moon Challenge booklet, which describes top-priority projects you can fund from among many others received from around the world.
What if I want to give beyond my Cooperative Program and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering gifts?
You can give through your estate, gift annuities, an IRA, a charitable remainder trust and more. Get more information.
Can I give online?
Definitely! You can give online now to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, Lottie Moon Challenge strategic needs, world hunger or general relief.
Still have more questions about missions funding?
Send them by e-mail or call (800) 999-3113.
