Charlotte Digges "Lottie" Moon
I have been reading about Lottie Moon this morning. Moon began her career as a missionary in China in 1873. She was among the first of a long line of single women appointed by the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board.
We always think of her as a missionary, but if course, she had multiple duties in her work ministering the gospel in China. She was a schoolteacher, yes, but she was also an evangelist preaching and teaching the word of God as she sought to win souls to Christ!!!
Think of it, ... 4 feet 3 inches tall, and a woman. The most famous Southern Baptist in history! We honor her with our missions offering every year,The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for Missions, and she was a woman preacher!!! What irony!!! Today, even as in her day in the late 1800's and early 1900's, most Baptists are not encouraging of women in ministry, yet this dear woman dedicated herself to serving Christ in doing the work of gospel ministry.
I came across comments of a Baptist pastor in reviewing a biography of Lottie Moon.
Chuck Warnock wrote, "The historical record shows that Moon worked not only with Chinese women and children, but also preached to and taught Chinese men and boys when the situation demanded it. And here in the United States, at Moon's urging, Southern Baptist women organized themselves into the Women's Missionary Union, despite the opposition of many SBC pastors in the late 1800s. In short, Moon was an egalitarian when it came to women's service in Baptist life."
"The truth is that Lottie Moon started some of the schools in which she taught, and established and ran the Pingtu mission singlehandedly. While she did teach women and girls, she also taught and preached to men and boys out of necessity, and in defiance of SBC Foreign Mission Board rules for female appointees."
"But Moon's story is even more wonderful because she was a true pioneer. Lottie Moon was a woman who grew up in a family that educated its girls, expected them to excel, and gave them room to grow into intelligent, thoughtful young women. Moon's sister, Orianna, was the first woman in Virginia to study medicine and be granted a medical license. Moon's family encouraged their young women to find their own place in a rapidly changing society. Moon's sister, Edmonia, preceded Lottie to China as a missionary, and Lottie joined her and others there in 1873. "
(Chuck Warnock, "The Real Lottie Moon Story".
One of Lottie's male converts became a pastor, Li Shou-ting. He was credited with baptizing over10,000 people! At least two Chinese congregations she helped start continue today, and women figure prominently in their leadership. The pastor of the church in Pingdu is Wang Xia who traces her ancestry back four generations to a convert of Lottie Moon. The two associate pastors are also women. How appropriate for a church-planting movement that was started by a woman!!!
Psalm 68:11 tells how God gives the Word and the women who proclaim it are a great host:
American Standard Version
The Lord giveth the word: The women that publish the tidings are a great host.
New International Version
The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng:
English Standard Version
The Lord gives the word; the women who announce the news are a great host:
New American Standard Bible
The Lord gives the command; The women who proclaim the good tidings are a great host:
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Lord gave the command; a great company of women brought the good news:"
NET Bible
The Lord speaks; many, many women spread the good news.
GOD'S WORD® Translation
The Lord gives instructions. The women who announce the good news are a large army.
JPS Tanakh 1917
The Lord giveth the word; The women that proclaim the tidings are a great host.
English Revised Version
The Lord giveth the word: the women that publish the tidings are a great host.
Praise God for those women who are bold to proclaim the gospel of Grace! God grant us more faithful servants who will dare to obey the call of God in gospel ministry!