I grew up Episcopal, attended the Wesley Foundation in College, and found myself a Baptist when I graduated and came home, although it was much more complicated and beautiful than I described. But when I came back home, I heard we had Funds dedicated to foreign and domestic missions in the church. And all of the major ones are named after women: Dixie Jackson, Annie Armstrong, and Lottie Moon (there’s one more but the name escapes me).
I realized I knew nothing of these women who had been so influential in the church and evangelism. I’ve just read a bit about Lottie Moon on the web, and I think I should like to know more about her, perhaps by reading a biography about her life.
Lottie Moon was a missionary to China. She was a woman missionary when most missionaries were men. Most mission boards sent missionaries, but as Lottie Moon discovered (there was a greater need for missionaries) -Wiki
This echoes Jesus words when he said,” The fields are white (ready) for harvest. Pray for the Lord of the Harvest to send workers into his harvest fields,”
Now, mine is not a scholarly article. I attend no school at the moment and do not have access to the vast libraries and databases I once did. But there were several things that struck me from what I did read.
She noted that women were better equipped to minister to and evangelize other women. That makes sense. If a person is relatable, if they’ve been in your shoes, it is much easier to hear the Gospel from them.
Another, earlier note is that her missionary journey began when she attended revival meetings at her college campus. We’re having revival now at Asbury. Revival often begins with young people.
She was also influential in the structure of missions, arguing that furloughs (still practiced today) allow missionaries to be more productive. Think of it like “leave” for the military. Every once and while they get to come home and decompress for a bit. She also encouraged churches to raise their own money and send their own missionaries. Instead of having to donate to an organization, the money could be raised in a grass roots manner, going directly to missions.
Lottie Moon left her affluence, her family, friends, everything, to go almost as far across the globe as you can, to minister to women, Chinese women, and gave everything she had for the gospel. And there’s the rub. I think a lot of people, myself included, don’t have a hunger or burden for sharing the gospel with the lost. We have lost people in our neighborhoods. We don’t share it. It’s selfish, evil, and perhaps cowardly.
If we can find opportunities to meet people’s needs, as Lottie Moon did, we will find open doors to share the gospel. Furthermore, as it is written, ”In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Mathew 5:16)
Feminist groups like her because of her groundbreaking, barrier breaking work as a woman. And I know this is women’s history month, and that is why I wanted to write this. But it is also written,” There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal 3:28)
You see, Christ was the only person who was ever completely impartial. People would’ve considered Jesus to be very feminist, very liberal in his time. But that is of no consequence to me. Jesus is the Son of God, and in Him we find more than just a role model to live better socially or relationally. We find Him to be Truth, and many people, Lottie Moon in particular today, gave her life to His purpose, to love, to serve, and most importantly, share the gospel and make disciples.
Lottie Moon isn’t great because she was a woman. She’s great because she internalized the gospel call, and gave everything, including dying of sickness, to the glory of God.
People blessed Mary for bearing and nursing Jesus, but Jesus said,'“But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” Mary would be a great one to do an article on. But she isn’t great because she was a woman, but because she obeyed God in humility when it could’ve cost her everything, including her life.
People know about Esther, and Ruth, and maybe Deborah, and maybe Rahab. And those would be some great articles, too. After all, God often used women to further His purposes and it was through the Seed of the Woman that redemption would come. But I am impressed by women in this. Men go to high mountains, or sacred places to reach God. But in the bible women find Him often right where they are. Hagar did(twice), Manoah’s wife did, and so did Mary the mother of Jesus, just to name a few. It’s wrong to oppress men or shame them or exclude them based on their genes and anatomy. But it’s foolish to underestimate a woman who makes it her business to accomplish God’s will and further His kingdom.
Tremillian