Accra: The Women's Ministry of the Global Evangelical Church has utilized this year's Mother's Day as an opportunity to extend congratulations to mothers across Ghana, Africa, and the world, while also urging an end to xenophobic attacks in South Africa. The ministry highlighted the importance of addressing these issues to ensure the safety of families globally.
According to Ghana News Agency, the ministry issued an urgent appeal to end escalating conflicts involving the US, Israel, and Iran. In a statement signed on May 10 by Reverend Mrs. Patricia Akpene Tegbe-Agbo, the National Coordinator, the ministry described mothers as "the backbone of development" and "primary architects of a stable society," emphasizing their vital role in sustaining households and driving national economies.
The statement expressed concern over the unrest threatening global safety and condemned recurring xenophobic violence in South Africa, labeling it "a tragedy of our era that Africans continue to inflict violence upon their own brethren." It categorically condemned the distribution of dehumanizing and obscene imagery related to these attacks, which it argued strips victims of dignity and traumatizes viewers.
The ministry also addressed the global stage, calling for an end to the escalating tensions and wars involving the US, Israel, and Iran. It stressed that in every conflict, mothers, children, and the vulnerable bear the heaviest burden.
The statement was anchored on the ministry's theme for the year, "Christian Woman, Preach Christ and His Second Coming," reminding women that their mission is both spiritual and social. It urged them to advocate for Christ's peace and work toward a world free from war, tribalism, and hate, warning that women must actively build such a kingdom as they awaited His return.
The ministry challenged mothers and women's groups to move beyond celebration into active intercession and community building by fasting and praying for peace, practicing ethical media use by refusing to share violent or unverified content, and mentoring the next generation to value human life across borders.
"As mothers, we hold the power to shape the future through our prayers and our influence. Let us rise and ensure that our families and the global village we inhabit are defined by love, not conflict," the statement concluded.
Mother's Day, celebrated on the second Sunday of May, honors maternal bonds. The modern holiday was first celebrated in 1908 when Ann Jarvis, a peace activist, held a memorial for her mother, believing a mother has done more for a person than anyone in the world.