10 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ANNIE ARMSTRONG
- Annie Armstrong was born on July 11, 1850, in Baltimore, Maryland.
- From a young age, she went with her mother to the missionary meetings of Woman’s Mission to Woman. It was there she developed a heart for missions.
- Annie helped plant churches.
- Although her family was wealthy, she had a heart to serve those who lived in poverty and addiction, especially the impoverished who lived in rural areas.
Annie mobilized women to reach beyond the bounds of race by organizing missions to African Americans and Native Americans.
In 1882, Annie helped organize and became the first president of the Woman’s Baptist Home Mission Society of Maryland.
On May 14, 1888, Annie helped women from 12 states form the Executive Committee of Woman’s Missions Societies, Auxiliary to the Southern Baptist Convention. This organization would officially be named Woman’s Missionary Union, Auxiliary to the Southern Baptist Convention in 1890. She was elected as corresponding secretary.
In 1888, Annie was elected corresponding secretary of the organization and her motto, “Go Forward” was chosen. Annie wrote 100s of letter to raise awareness and promote giving to missions. It was in this year that a foreign missions offering was established to send a missionary to China to relieve Lottie Moon.
Annie Armstrong served WMU until 1906. During that time she never took a salary.
Annie died on December 20, 1938, the year of WMU’s 50 anniversary.
WHY IS THE EASTER OFFERING IS NAMED FOR ANNIE?
In 1895, an offering was first collected for the work of the Home Missions Board. In 1934, this offering was renamed the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for Home Missions to honor the work of Annie Armstrong as a tireless advocate for giving, praying, and going to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with those who did not know him.
THE ANNIE ARMSTRONG EASTER OFFERING TODAY
Today, the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering goes to train, resource, and send more than 5,000 missionaries across the United States and Canada. One hundred percent of gifts given to this offering goes directly to the missionaries for their use in the field. None goes to administration.
The Lakewood 2022 goal for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering is $1800. I have met many of our NAMB missionaries, and I even know some of them personally. They are people who are called by God and live by very modest means. Your gift toward the Annie Armstrong offering is directly used to help fund the sharing of the gospel with others. Please pray and give.