Lottie Moon aids those on missions
By Staff
RICHMOND, Va. – Aubrey Brown is a “Hands On” type of person.
The graduate of Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar and a member of First Baptist Church, Raymore, was one of more than 40 student missionaries who participated last spring in the International Mission Board’s Hands On program. A portion of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Cooperative Program helped the Hands On students offset some of the costs of food, lodging and transportation. The program, which gives seminary and college students a semester of missions experience in Africa, will expand to other countries in January.
While participating in the Hands On program, Brown learned about sacrifice and the importance of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering while working in Tanzania. Living in the mountains in a mud hut with concrete floors and no electricity or running water, Brown taught English in a small school. The only existing supplies were chalk and a chalkboard. Through the offering and reading supplies donated by her home church, Brown and her team ministered to the children in their English classes.
She came away with an education of her own. “The great thing about [this missions experience is] it gives you a better idea of what missionary life is truly like,” said Brown “I’m going back,” she said. This year’s Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goal is $170 million. Last year, Southern Baptists gave a record $150.4 million to the offering, but fell short of the $165 million goal. In addition to helping with the Hands On program, the offering and the Cooperative Program also provide support for more than 5,500 missionaries.