Born in Virginia, (Albemarle County on a tobacco plantation called Viewmont Farm in Scottsville, VA). on December 12, 1840, Charlotte Digges Moon grew into a cultured and educated woman. A spiritual awakening came to Lottie at the age of 18 after a series of revival services by John Broadus at First Baptist Church, Charlottesville. She became a Christian and was baptized the next night at the revival right here, at First Baptist Church in  December 1958. During a sermon in 1873 at her church in Cartersville, Georgia, she heard her call to China to share the gospel. On July 7, 1873, the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention appointed her a missionary to China and in autumn of that year, she set sail for Tengchow. Lottie spent most of her missionary years in Tengchow and P’ingtu where she taught at mission schools and ministered to women. She eventually adopted Chinese dress and learned the Chinese language. Having immersed herself in Chinese culture, Lottie earned respect among many Chinese people and her missions work won many to Christ.

Lottie truly had a heart for the Chinese people and often made personal sacrifices to meet their needs. When famine struck the land, Lottie gave her food to the people, suffering malnutrition as a result. By the time those who were responsible for her welfare realized how serious her condition was, it was too late for medical help. A missionary nurse was bringing her home when Lottie died on board a ship in the harbor at Kobe, Japan, on December 24, 1912. She was 72 years old.

While in China, Lottie wrote letters to the Foreign Mission Board and Baptist women to plea for more missionaries and monetary support to continue and expand missions work among the Chinese people. From her persistent efforts grew the Christmas Offering, first collected by Woman’s Missionary Union and given to the Foreign Mission Board to fund missions in China. In 1919 the Christmas Offering for China was renamed the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for China at the suggestion of Annie Armstrong. In 1926 the offering was renamed the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for Foreign Missions.

The theme for the 2010 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is "ARE WE THERE YET?"

As a way to earn the trust of the people and show her goodwill, Lottie Moon made tea cakes for the children in her village in China. Once the children ate the cookies, they would take Lottie to their homes where she would share the gospel with their mothers. The children began calling Lottie "the cookie lady" instead of "foreign devil."

Plain Tea Cake
(As made by Lottie Moon)

Three teacups of sugar
One teacup of butter
One teacup of sour milk
Four pints flour
Three eggs, well beaten
Half a teaspoon of soda
Flavor to taste, roll thin, bake in a quick oven.

Adapted recipe:
2 cups flour
½ cup butter
1 heaping cup of sugar
1 well-beaten egg
1 tablespoon cream

Check out these books:

By Janet & Geoff Benge (great for kids)

Whole Gospel Whole World: The Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention by William R. Estep

A Journey of Faith and Sacrifice: Retracing the Steps of Lottie Moon by Jerry Rankin and Don Rutledge

Annie Walker Armstrong was the first corresponding secretary of Woman’s Missionary Union. Born on July 11, 1850, in Baltimore, Maryland, to a prominent family active in Baptist life, Annie accompanied her mother to the missionary meetings of Woman’s Mission to Woman where she learned the importance of giving and praying for missions. Having a heart for home missions, Annie worked with Indians, immigrants, Blacks, and children. In 1882, Annie helped organize the Woman’s Baptist Home Mission Society of Maryland. She was this society’s first president.

Missions work among women’s groups had grown as an endeavor in other states as well. In conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention of 1888, women from 12 states met on May 14 in Richmond, Virginia, and formed the Executive Committee of Woman’s Mission Societies, Auxiliary to the Southern Baptist Convention. Annie Armstrong was elected corresponding secretary, a position equivalent to executive director today. In 1890 the name Woman’s Missionary Union was adopted. Annie Armstrong served as corresponding secretary until 1906 and always refused a salary for the work she did through WMU to further the gospel. In 1934 the offering that was collected annually for the Home Mission Board was renamed the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for Home Missions. Annie Armstrong died on December 20, 1938, the year of WMU’s 50th anniversary.

WMU events that occurred during the tenure of Annie Armstrong:

1)    WMU recommended that churches adopt a graded system of missionary education with organizations for all age levels, beginning with Baby Bands. (1899)
2)    WMU began the process of legal incorporation. (1906)
3)    WMU began publishing literature for sale. (1906)
4)    The organization became officially named Woman's Missionary Union, Auxiliary to Southern Baptist Convention. (1890)
5)    WMU adopted Sunbeam work at the request of the Foreign Mission Board. (1896)
6)    The motto "Go Forward" was chosen. (1888)