Alabama Baptist, as you can tell, I’m coming to you by means of a format that we’ve all become acquainted with, during the course of the pandemic, that is Zoom. You probably have done forms of Zooming, or some other kind of online connection with people.

So let me take this opportunity to remind you, during this Christmas season, of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. It all began from the standpoint that we know John 1 reminds us, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. He was born in Bethlehem.

This year, Bethlehem’s going to not have many tourists. In fact, one writer and observer described it as Bethlehem was going to be dead. But we know Bethlehem is not dead. Bethlehem is really alive, because the birth of Jesus Christ not only happened, literally, in Bethlehem, it happens in our lives.

That’s been brought home to me recently, as my wife prepared for our grandchildren to come and enjoy a time with us. She dedicated a room, to calling it Bethlehem. She had the big size figurines, the characters of the Christmas story, and those children just enjoyed interacting in every way possible and enjoying what they could understand about the story of Bethlehem, of Christmas.

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering brings that home to us. We’re reminded that though we cannot be everywhere in the world, especially during this pandemic, we can support missions internationally, around the world, anywhere, anytime, every opportunity possible, through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, for international missions.

The national goal is $175 million. Our state goal is more than $12 million. I invite you to do what I plan to do, make Lottie Moon the largest single gift that you give this Christmas. Alabama Baptist, let’s stay true to what it means to be on mission with the Great Commission, by supporting missions and giving to Lottie Moon, making it possible that the gospel can be heard around the world.