Thinking locally and globally

The Christian Index encouraged messengers to the Georgia Baptist Convention to evangelize by offering gospel tracts to those who would faithfully share the glorious story of redemption. Within three days we distributed 85,000 tracts to those who came by our booth. I believe that is a sign that Georgia Baptists are serious about sharing the Good News.

No one could have attended the Convention without sensing the desire of the leadership for revival. In fact, revival and evangelism reverberated throughout the halls of the Convention and in the hearts of the messengers. Mike Minnix, GBC vice president for evangelism, challenged his hearers to pray for a tsunami-like wave of revivals.

J. Robert White, executive director of the GBC, spoke at the pre-Convention rally on Sunday evening, and recounted the story of the recent adventurers who built a spacecraft and piloted it beyond the pull of gravity to a height of 100.12 kilometers. "Why would anyone want to attempt such a potentially perilous feat?" White inquired.

"Just because they could!" he answered. The executive director then urged his audience to possess the will to win the lost, to change our culture, and to make a difference for the cause of Christ.

Those of us who have experienced the grace of God and who know the peace of God have much to share with a world in crisis. Our sins have been forgiven. Our guilt has been removed. Our purpose has been revealed. Our joy has been restored. Our destiny has been secured.

We have something to share and must not hold it back. We must share it personally, deliberately, fervently, consistently, lovingly and locally. But during this season of the year, we must also think of sharing it globally. It is time for Southern Baptists to focus on International Missions and emphasize the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

Someone has characterized America as "an island of plenty in an ocean of need." Christians in America have so much to share and we need to open up our hands and hearts to a lost and dying world.

In II Kings 7 we read the story of the four leprous men who lived in Samaria in a time of terrible famine. They decided to enter into the camp of the invading Syrian army. At twilight the Syrians thought they had heard the sound of an approaching enemy and fled the camp, leaving behind their tents, flocks, silver and gold, clothes and an abundance of food.

When the lepers entered the camp and realized that it was deserted, they found all that had been left behind, sat down and gorged themselves to satisfaction with a smorgasbord of food.

After the leprous men had satiated their appetite, they suddenly realized that there were multitudes in Samaria starving to death. The Bible reports, "Then they said one to another, we do not well: This is a day of good tidings and we hold our peace" (II Kings 7: 9a).

God has smiled upon America with incredible favor. This is a day of good tidings. We must not hoard our blessings or hold our peace. Christmas is a time for sharing. The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering provides us the opportunity to spread the gospel to a world desperately in need of our Savior.

The International Mission Board website tells us all about Lottie Moon - the namesake of the international missions offering. Miss Moon set sail for China in 1873 where, for 39 years, she labored among the Chinese people. Lottie didn't just serve the people of China, she identified with them. Many eventually accepted her, and some accepted her Savior.

In 1912 the Chinese people were experiencing war and famine. Knowing that her beloved Chinese didn't have enough food, Lottie gave her meager fare to others and silently starved. She literally demonstrated her love by giving her life for others. On Christmas Eve - as her health deteriorated and she was being evacuated to the United States - Lottie died on a ship in Hong Kong harbor.

However, Lottie Moon's legacy lives on. Baptists are called upon to give to missions in memory of her ultimate sacrifice.

This year's goal for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is $150 million. Jerry Rankin, president of the International Mission Board, declares, "The ultimate purpose of missions is worship - all peoples glorifying God - and this is the reason for declaring the greatness of God to the nations."