A Message from the Convention President
Rev. Gregory J. Jackson
August 2020
Dear Lott Carey Partners,
I recently read an article in Men’s Health entitled, “The Heroes and Healers in COVID 19 HOT ZONE”. Although this article was about the first responders working in hospitals in “hot spots” in the United States, it occurred to me that this title could apply to what Lott Carey has been doing for over one hundred years in various “hot spots” around the world. Our mission partners, supporting pastors and laypersons have indeed been our Heroes and Sheroes, healers and helpers, on the battlefield against both natural and spiritual foes around the world, as we served on the front lines.
Lott Carey, because of your prayer support and financial support, we have been engaged on
the front lines in 2020, in the same manner we were in past years. We joined hands with our
mission partners to fight the Ebola pandemic and the HIV/AIDS pandemic; water-borne diseases that continue to kill God’s people around the world. While the world rightly is concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic, this is just one among many global crises that Lott Carey and our mission partners struggle with every day. We are fighting for millions of people around the world that struggle daily with human trafficking, extreme poverty, malaria, and other incurable life-threatening diseases.
No one could have predicted that we would have started this year confronted by a global pandemic. No one could have predicted that our churches would be worshipping virtually throughout our nation. No one could have predicted that our economy would be virtually shut down for months. And, no one could have predicted the tremendous hardship that many of our churches are experiencing. As has been said by others in years gone by, “when the Black Church gets a cold, Lott Carey gets pneumonia.”
The fourth quarter was extremely difficult for Lott Carey. Financially, we were operating in a
danger zone – struggling to keep our doors open and to be faithful in our commitment to our mission partners. Thanks to the strong leadership of our Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Rev. Emmett L. Dunn, our Executive Committee and Board of Directors, our firm faith in God, and the mission of Lott Carey, we managed to pull through. Countless hours were spent on the phone with hundreds of pastors around the country informing them of our plight. They, like you are our HEROES AND SHEROES. They heard our Macedonian call and came to our rescue. They not only received our telephone calls, but they prayed for us as we attempted to navigate this “OLD SHIP OF ZION” through turbulent times. Thank you so much for your help and commitment to Lott Carey: you are indeed our Heroes and Sheroes, healers and helpers! You strengthened our organization with your financial resources, and more importantly, you reinforced our HOPE in what was at times, an almost hopeless situation, through your prayers.
For the health and safety of our constituents, we will not gather in-person in Washington, DC for the 123rd Lott Carey Annual Session. Instead, we will convene August 11-13, 2020 for Lott Carey’s FIRST Virtual Annual Session Experience! Morning Prayer, Plenary Sessions, Mission Education Classes and Evening Worship Services have been planned not only to inform and inspire investment in foreign missions, but also for your spiritual growth and development. Information on “How to Connect” appears inside this letter.
The all familiar President’s Night, where the Lott Carey family gathers to hear the President’s Report, Vision for the Lott Carey Convention, and Evening Message, will be LIVE STREAMED Thursday, August 13th at 7:00 PM. All are welcome to attend! Pastors, delegates, and other attendees are each challenged to give a special offering towards the work of foreign missions via Givelify, PayPal or Check. That is right! I am issuing a challenge – a Macedonian call for your support. 300 Pastors/Churches are challenged to give $1,000.00 each, while 1,000 individuals are challenged to give $250.00 (e.g. the equivalent of, AND/OR a portion of the monies you would have spent for an in-person meeting). These expenditures include personal registration fees, ticketed events, accommodations, meals, travel and of course the “must-haves” you would have purchased to stimulate the economy in the Nation’s Capital! Our goal is $550,000.00. Please prayerfully consider making a sacrificial gift.
As of this writing, we closed our fiscal year ended June 30, 2020 in a much better financial position, however, we are still very far from where we should be at the start of a new fiscal year. Collectively, we have power! Please help me to fulfill our obligations to staff and our mission partners around the world.
I am sure that God can turn our “midnights into day” even during these trying times. Thank you for your anticipated support.
The Reverend Gregory J. Jackson |
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