TOMS RIVER, NJ (BRN) – When Pastor Winchester Hagans received posters for the 2025 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and Week of Prayer for International Missions, he promptly took the posters into his office and cut off the bottom of each one, specifically the blank box designated for an offering goal.
His actions were not fueled by malicious intent, but rather by a desire for the members of New Life Church of Toms River, New Jersey, to gain something more from giving than merely reaching a specific numerical goal: a heart for missions.
“We want our people to know what the IMB (International Mission Board) is, we want people to know what the Lottie Moon Offering is, and we want people to understand this is one of those reasons that we are an SBC church, and proud to be an SBC church,” said Hagans, who currently serves as the associate pastor at New Life Church.
Located halfway between New York and Philadelphia on the eastern side of New Jersey, New Life Church of Toms River is newly acquainted with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), officially joining the SBC family three years ago.
“[They are] new to the things that make up the SBC, but, you know, wanting to be a part of the denomination…both nationally [and] locally with the BRN,” said Hagans.
Although fresh to New Life Church, Hagans came to New Jersey in April 2025 well versed in SBC life. Growing up in Alabama, Hagans attended flagship SBC church Lakeview Baptist Church in Auburn, Alabama, and has actively pursued mission opportunities throughout his life.
Arriving at New Life Church prior to the 2025 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering presented him with the perfect opportunity to encourage his new church family to dive into SBC life, while also taking a new step towards supporting global missions.
“[I’m] someone who grew up doing a lot of missions, [and] who has really cast a vision for our church to be a church that has missions in the future,” said Hagans.
Intentionally not setting a fixed revenue goal for the 2025 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, last year quickly proved to be a pivotal year for New Life Church’s involvement in the SBC and becoming a missionally minded church as the 65-person congregation gave nearly $3,200 to international missions through Lottie Moon.
“They gave above and beyond what was even hoped or expected,” said Hagans joyfully.
He continued: “It was really beautiful, for the first time ever, to go that last step and be a part of, not just local and national SBC life, but international SBC life. To see the gospel go forward, to see unreached people groups become reached, [and] to see lost become saved,” expressed Hagans.
Defined by a mostly elderly congregation, Hagans knows that for many at New Life Church giving is going, and that most will never be able to go on a mission trip.
Pulling from the words of Paul in Philippians 4:17, Hagans reminded his people that as they give to missionaries on the field, what the missionaries accomplish will be credited to their account.
“This has reminded our people that retirement doesn’t mean being benched. There’s no retirement in the Kingdom of heaven…even though they can’t go, they are still on the team…they’re a part of that global gospel mission. Even though they look around and see pews that are empty, the Kingdom’s still full.”
Come December 2026, Baptist Resource Network (BRN) and Southern Baptist churches will have another opportunity to give to international missions through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.
Even sooner, BRN and SBC churches can give to North American missions through the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering and Week of Prayer, March 1-8, 2026. BRN churches can learn more at brnunited.org/annie.
