Whitworth shares IMB statistic: Over 166,000 people die without Christ every day

Baptist Resource Network Executive Director Barry Whitworth shares about this year's Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® and Week of Prayer for International Missions for the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board.

December 4, 2025
Barry Whitworth

Hello BRN Family! It’s great to be with you today!

The Christmas season marks the annual Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® and Week of Prayer for International Missions for the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board. This annual offering is collected by believers all around the world to support over 3,500 (3,577) international missionaries and their work. 100% of these gifts go straight to the mission field!

Consider these IMB successes last year. In 2025, IMB engaged 155 countries and over 1.6 million (1,609,869) people heard presentations of the Gospel. Nearly 145,000 (144,964) indicated they believed in the Gospel, nearly 69,000 (68,628) people got baptized, and over 282,000 (282,682) were discipled.

That’s great news! But it is not enough.

IMB reports that every day, over 166,000 (166,338) people die without Christ. Every day. That is why your generous donations and prayers matter!

Southern Baptists observe a Week of Prayer for International Missions each year before the annual Lottie Moon offering emphasis. This year’s week of observance is November 30–December 7.

IMB has a long history of reaching the nations with the Gospel and is vital to reaching the vision of a multitude from every language, people, tribe and nation knowing and worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ. Will you join your heart with others to pray for missionaries around the world who are faithfully sharing the Gospel?

This Christmas, may our Southern Baptist missionaries sense those prayers. As always, please let our Help Desk know how we can help you at [email protected] or 717-652-5856. Thanks for listening in today, thank you for praying for international missionaries and giving to the Lottie Moon offering. God bless you!

Barry Whitworth

Barry has been in ministry for over 30 years, serving as a mission pastor, associate pastor, church planter, pastor, interim pastor, transitional pastor and planter, church planting strategist, lead church planting catalyst, church planting director, and now executive director. Before his calling as Executive Director of the Baptist Resource Network in February 2017, he was a church planting missionary and served the Multiplying Churches Team Leader for the BRN.