Annie Armstrong (1850-1938)
Annie Armstrong was born in Baltimore at a time when women were not expected to lead. She served, challenged churches to action and rallied support for missionaries. Ultimately, Annie was recognized as a national Southern Baptist trailblazer renowned for visionary missions leadership.
“What a glorious thing it is to be a co-worker with God in winning the world for Christ.”
Annie’s Contributions
Started Bay View Mission for Baltimore’s poor and addicted
Served as the first executive of Woman’s Missionary Union, the largest protestant women’s organization in the world
Led the formation of missions’ organizations for children
Raised support for missionaries to Italian and Jewish immigrants
Handwrote over 18,000 letters in one year advocating for missions
Refused a salary because she would never give to the Lord “that which costs me nothing.” (2 Samuel 24:24)
Initiated fund-raising “brick cards” to build churches in Cuba
Gained support for the first black, female missionaries
Secured funds to relieve China missionary, Lottie Moon, who had served for 11 years without a furlough
Advocated for Native Americans and impoverished mountain people
Honored in 1934 when The Home Missions Offering was re-named for her to encourage more to follow her sacrificial example
Today, over $1 billion has been given through the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering®. All gifts—100%—support thousands of missionaries in church planting and compassion ministries across the U.S. and Canada.