Each year, during the month of May, New Unity Baptist Church pauses intentionally to celebrate, honor, and give thanks for the sacred witness, labor, leadership, wisdom, and enduring strength of women.

Some may ask why we do not follow the more traditional path of observing Women’s Emphasis Month in March.

The answer is simple: while we gladly recognize the national observance, we have chosen a rhythm that more fully reflects the spirit and life of this ministry.

May is the season of blooming, nurturing, motherhood, emergence, and life renewed. It is fitting, therefore, that we devote this month to honoring those through whom so much life, faith, sacrifice, and sacred formation have flowed.

From the dawn’s first arising, women have fragranced the garden of life with their life-giving presence.

It is no small thing that the first woman of the garden was called Eve—mother of all living. Even the language of the coming day bears her echo, for before the morning breaks, there is eve-ning.

At New Unity, it has long been our conviction that women are fully equipped and empowered by God to serve with authority, dignity, wisdom, and spiritual power in both the pew and the pulpit.

We believe the gifts of God are not restricted by gender, but revealed through calling, character, consecration, and courage.

And history itself bears witness to the sacred strength of womanhood. Sitting atop the harbor in New York stands a woman—Lady Liberty herself.

How fitting that one of the world’s enduring symbols of freedom should be cast in the image of a woman.

So too, within the Church, women have stood faithfully at the highest places of sacrifice, service, leadership, prayer, prophecy, pedagogy, administration, compassion, and proclamation.

Here at New Unity, women serve with honor and distinction in every area of ministry, laboring alongside their male counterparts as co-laborers in the Kingdom of God.

This month also grants us the sacred privilege of honoring motherhood in all of its holy expressions—whether through biology, adoption, mentorship, caregiving, spiritual covering, or loving sacrifice.

We acknowledge the “Eve” within every woman: that divine capacity to nurture life, shape souls, hold families together, and carry hope through generations.

It is perhaps no surprise that the first official Mother’s Day celebration was held in a church on May 10, 1908 - exactly 118 years ago to the day.

The Church has always known, at its best, what the world sometimes forgets: that the hands that rock cradles, wipe tears, teach children, carry burdens, pray in secret, and endure suffering with grace are often the very hands through which God keeps the world alive.

To all the women of New Unity and beyond—we honor you, we thank God for you, and we celebrate the holy imprint your lives continue to leave upon this ministry, this community, and this world.