The Methodist Church has honoured 77 mothers who have reached 70 years of dedicated service to God and the church in its 2023 annual women's conference.

Held at the main Methodist Church at Faleula on Monday, the 77 mothers were presented with medals and envelopes by the church's President, Reverend Faulalo Leti who also led the ceremony.

Iaeli Siopea, who is 70 years old and served the church through the Utuloa Methodist Church, was one of the mothers who were honoured and bowed to receive her honourary medal. The mother of eight acknowledged the support of her late husband, Vaai Samuelu for the years they've served the church together while raising their children, saying they grew fond of the church and continue their roles as loyal members of the church.

"I thank God first for guiding me and providing for me throughout these 70 years I have served his almighty name through the church," she said in an interview with the Samoa Observer. "It surely hasn't been easy but he has been with me all throughout and I am super proud to have come this far.

"My advice to the young ladies of the church is to never waver your faith in God by continuing to serve the church and God. Be faithful in your service. One of the main challenges, even in other churches that I know is once the church requires a lot in terms of money for church staff, they start to turn away from the church because they think God isn't about the money.

"Yes that's true but we as Christians should take that as a test and never let money take away our faith as Christians. Also, how will we be able to build a church to praise God if we don't want to give money?"

The church's women's annual conference – usually held a week before the Methodist Church's annual conference – was attended by mothers from across the country and Methodist Churches around the world.

One of the mothers and members of the church from abroad, who was also honoured is Sialafale Penelope Sau, who serves at the Nuuuli Methodist Church in American Samoa.

A mother to her one biological child and three adopted children, she flew all the way from American Samoa to receive her honourary medal from the church in recognition of her 70 years of service.

"Praise God of course for continuing to give me the strength to serve his name and the church throughout all these years," she said.

She urged young women of the church to serve faithfully through any position they're given by the church, saying there is no greater service than to be a blessing through their service.

"There is no greater blessing for your service than the one from up there in the heavens and that's what we should all be aiming for so serve with your all and never give up. Face the challenges and move forward," she said.

The women's annual conference was attended by over a thousand old and young women of the church ahead of the main conference next week.