Annie Armstrong (1850-1938)
Annie Armstrong was born in Baltimore at a time when women were not expected to lead. She served, challenged churches to action and rallied support for missionaries. Ultimately, Annie was recognized as a national Southern Baptist trailblazer renowned for visionary missions leadership.
Annie’s Contributions
-Started Bay View Mission for Baltimore’s poor and addicted
-Served as the first executive of Woman’s Missionary Union, the largest protestant women’s organization in the world
-Led the formation of missions’ organizations for children
-Raised support for missionaries to Italian and Jewish immigrants
-Handwrote over 18,000 letters in one year advocating for missions
-Refused a salary because she would never give to the Lord “that which costs me nothing.” (2 Samuel 24:24)
-Initiated fund-raising “brick cards” to build churches in Cuba
-Gained support for the first black, female missionaries
-Secured funds to relieve China missionary, Lottie Moon, who had served for 11 years without a furlough
-Advocated for Native Americans and impoverished mountain people
-Honored in 1934 when The Home Missions Offering was re-named for her to encourage more to follow her sacrificial example
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.
For more information go to: https://www.anniearmstrong.com/
