JASPER, Ala. – Lottie Moon was a Southern Baptist missionary with the Foreign Mission Board who spent over half of her life evangelizing in China. She is commonly known as the person who laid the foundation for missions support among Southern Baptists all across the globe. 

Each year at Christmas time, churches take up the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering that helps support over 3,000 missionaries outside of North America. To date, the offering has raised over $1.5 billion. 

In conjunction with this yearly event, Cordova First Baptist Church in Cordova, AL, will host its Lottie Moon Auction on December 6. Lunch will begin at 12:30, followed by the Silent Auction at 1 p.m. and Live Auction at 2 p.m. This is the third straight year for the event. 

Minister of Music and Worship/Missions Randy Barnes is excited about the opportunity to give to this mission and believes the auction is a great way to raise money. “In past years, we have had as many as 50 items on the silent auction, with 10-15 items on the live auction,” said Barnes. 

He says that due to the current coronavirus pandemic, the church will follow all guidelines for social distancing and masks will be required. 

CFBC also supports local missions in Cordova and Walker County, along with projects throughout the state, and hosts national mission trips. In the past, the church has taken as many as 22 members to places like Montana and New Tazewell, TN, and in September 2019, a group of 9 church members spent a week in Leon, Mexico. 

This year’s national goal for the Lottie Moon offering is $175 million, and Barnes hopes that Cordova First, working with the people of Walker County, can do its part to reach that goal. 

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Photos: Senior Pastor Robert Blankenship and Cordova First Baptist Church. Photos by Al Blanton