Having never heard of her, I was unimpressed and considered her obscure.
My first impression was validated, as I found only minuscule bits of information about her in my library. However, my view was transformed as I began reading Southern Baptist online archives. Lottie was not obscure; she was a missionary hero!
Charlotte "Lottie" Moon was born on December 12, 1842 in Virginia. She was born into wealth. Her parents had a 1500 acre tobacco plantation with 52 slaves and Lottie had a full-time tutor.
At 14, she was sent to a female seminary in Charlottesville. She was an academic overachiever learning Latin, Greek, French, Italian, Hebrew and Spanish (Chinese later on). She was one of the first women in the south to receive a Master of Arts degree.
Lottie was as negatively disposed spiritually, as she was positively inclined scholastically. She skipped chapel constantly and claimed that, "wisdom is not found in Christ, but in literature and classical studies."
This all changed, when at the age of 16, kept awake by a barking dog, she had a remarkable conversion experience and received Christ as her personal Savior. Immediately, she was as aware spiritually, as she was astute academically.
Believing that the call of God was upon her life for missions, Lottie traveled to China as a Southern Baptist missionary and served there from 1873 – 1912.
Beginning her mission work as a prejudiced Southern Belle, her heart softened and she served faithfully and compassionately. At one point, Lottie said, "I would I had a thousand lives that I might give them to...China!"
Lottie's diary states that she "spent, long days of teaching, traveling, enduring poor wretched weather and verbal abuse, and uncomfortable accommodation, and nauseating food." Regardless, the 4'3" tall Lottie pressed on, proving that physical stature has little to do with spiritual prowess.
Lottie, impoverished and frail, endeavored to return to America. However, she died en-route on Christmas Eve, 1912. The attending physician noted that she had died of starvation.
Lottie's life reminds me that, just because I haven't heard of someone, doesn't mean that they are obscure. Incidentally, no one is obscure with God...especially, if they are serving Him.
The missionary whom I initially judged to be obscure, is considered by southern Baptists to "personify the missionary spirit for...many Christians." The Southern Baptist denomination has an annual "Lottie Moon Christmas Offering." This offering has raised $1.5 billion since 1988.
"I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord...they rest from their labors, and their works follow them" (Revelation 14:13).