Idaho, Utah churches support the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions

By Karen L. Willoughby

When asked which churches in Utah and Idaho were the biggest overall givers and biggest per capita givers, Business Manager Janice Trotter quickly responded with three for each category, in each of the two states.

“There is a chain of participants from the individual’s giving to spread the gospel, to souls being impacted on the mission field,” Trotter told UI Connections. “I am blessed to be a small link in this chain.” 

The regional convention’s online publication asked pastors of the top giving churches about the generous support for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

Not all the top-giving churches responded, but those who did showed the heart of Utah and Idaho churches.

“Our church truly has a heart to see the gospel reach to the ends of the earth,” Matt McGukin told UI Connections. He’s pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Idaho Falls, Idaho. “There have been several years recently where we have had a budget surplus and the church has voted to give extra money to Lottie Moon from that surplus.

“I truly believe the Lord rewards generosity,” McGukin continued. “Because our church is so generous in giving to Lottie Moon, Annie Armstrong, and 10 percent [of undesignated offerings] to the Cooperative Program, people see that most of the time we are talking about giving, it is money we are giving away for the purpose of mission, and that makes people want to give.”

In Salt Lake City, Hope Church Utah started 10 years ago, when a group of families arrived from Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina and Colorado. “We were convinced Utah needed church plants where less than 2 percent of the population is Evangelical Christian,” Pastor Ben Heile told UI Connections.

“These missional families make up the core of Hope Church. They sacrifice their careers, their time, their money, and their extended families to see disciples made and churches planted in Utah,” Heile continued. “So, there is an understanding of the great need for the gospel in the ‘less than 2 percent’ contexts overseas as well, making giving to Lottie a part of our DNA.

“Our leadership, core team, and missional families sacrifice to see the gospel spread here in Utah and around the world,” the pastor said. “We can closely identify with our missionaries ‘suffering the same things around the world’ – 1 Peter 5:9 – and so it gives us great joy to give to Lottie and know we will celebrate together for an eternity what God is doing in Utah and all over the world.”

Mike Palmer, pastor of Salmon Valley Baptist Church, leads the Idaho church to “constantly teach about our purpose and mission: to make Jesus known to the neighborhood and the nations,” Palmer told UI Connections. “We are mindful of and promoting all our mission partners throughout the year.

“Luke 6:38 says, Give and you will receive. When we give, God gives,” the pastor continued. “It’s not why we give, but it’s his promise that we will be blessed by our faithfulness. It doesn’t cost anything as a church to give offerings above our local church needs and ministry, but I’m pretty sure it costs us greatly when we don’t give.”

Mountain View Baptist Church in Layton, Utah, also is in the top three of overall givers in Utah to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

“First and foremost, generous giving comes because God provides the money for His people to give, and He moves on their hearts to give,” Pastor Charles Cutrera told UI Connections. “So all the glory goes to Him. Romans 11:36.”

“Leadership support is crucial,” the pastor continued. “If something is not important to the church leadership, it likely will not be important to the rest of the church. We have encouraged people to actually make it part of their budget and give year-round, not just make it an emotional response in December.

“Giving leads our hearts to value God’s kingdom over earthly treasure,” Cutrera said. “Giving helps a church stay outward focused on the advancement of the gospel, instead of turning selfishly inward. It helps teach our people the importance of missions and gospel proclamation. I hope it also helps us be a church that is faithful and well pleasing to our Lord and Master Jesus Christ.”

Tom Moore has been a volunteer pastor since 1982. He’s been at Elk City Baptist Church since 2008. About 20 people participate in Sunday morning worship because “Elk City is not a place where people come to join anything, “Moore told Baptist Press. “Elk City is a town of around 250 and is 50 miles up a river from the nearest larger town: Grangeville, Idaho, population around 3000. Yet they’re among the top per capita givers in Utah and Idaho.

“We stress missions giving and give as God has blessed us,” Moore said. “We think the IMB is the best large mission ministry in the world and we want to support its work.

“We never stop talking about mission work,” the pastor said. “We love missions and think there is valuable work to done, especially where the Christian population is less than 5 percent.

Layton Hills Baptist Church, where John Jamar is pastor, was among the top per capita givers in Utah in 2023

“Missions work and generosity in missions offerings significantly benefit our church by broadening our perspective of God’s Kingdom and our role within it,” Jemar told UI Connections. “These efforts inspire our members to think beyond our local congregation, fostering a deeper understanding of the global mission of the church.

“They also provide tangible opportunities for service, enabling us to actively participate in the Great Commission,” the pastor continued. “This focus on missions not only strengthens our faith community but also deepens our commitment to sharing God’s love with others.”

Utah’s top three overall givers to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions: Hope and Canyons, both in Salt Lake City, and Mountain View in Layton.

Utah’s top three per capita givers: Layton Hills and Mountain View, both in Layton, and Roosevelt Baptist, in 1944 the state’s first-ever Southern Baptist Church.

Idaho’s top three overall givers to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions: Central Valley Meridian, Calvary Idaho Falls, and Salmon Valley.

Idaho’s top three per capita givers: Bend Southern, Central Valley Meridian and Elk City Baptist.