Annie Armstrong is a name often heard about Easter time in Southern Baptist life. There is a special missions offering named after her.

Around the turn of the 20th century, Annie Armstrong looked out of the bay window in her Philadelphia apartment and saw thousands of European immigrants streaming in from abroad. the experience of seeing all of these people led her to write in her diary.

She noted there are two ways of winning the world: One is to go abroad and evangelize them. The second is to win them when they come to American. She sensed God’s leadership to attempt the latter and became instrumental in establishing “Home Missions.” Eventually a Home Mission Board, headquartered right here in Atlanta, was established and Southern Baptist embarked on a Home Missions journey.

Not too long ago the Home Mission Board morphed into the North American Mission Board, headquartered right in our back yard in Alpharetta.

Today, immigrants continue to seek the vast opportunities America has to offer. They no longer come from just Europe, but from around the world. Our potential for global missions is far greater than it was during the time of Annie Armstrong.

We may need to revisit Matthew 28:18-20…”And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (NASB)

In the 21st century some are still being called to go to foreign lands. However, many more are being called to do as Annie Armstrong did and look out their windows and see the many that God has placed in our own backyard.

This is my story…