The President of the Women’s Ministries for the Assemblies of God in Samoa, First Lady Litia Pagaiali’i, says churchgoing women must prioritise their family because when their family is strong so too is the church itself. 

As the country prepares for Mother’s Day on 9 May, hundreds of A.O.G. women and their leaders from across Upolu packed the Apia Harvest Centre Church in Lotopa on Thursday for their annual service of worship and fellowship.

Presiding was Ms. Pagaiali'i, President of the A.O.G. Women’s Ministries that includes women from 78 congregations in Upolu and Savai’i. She is First Lady at the Faleula A.O.G.

Her husband is Pastor Dr. Tavita Pagaiali’i, General Superintendent for the A.O.G. in Samoa.

“We have to build our families and make them strong because when our families are strong then we are stronger for God’s work and for our churches,” she said during an interview with the Samoa Observer.

“As we prepare for mother’s day, remember that the mother is the lifeline of the family. We have to give life to our families with our words and the work we do within our homes. 

"So in getting ready for Mother’s Day, I pray that all mothers of Samoa may receive God’s blessings so that we may in turn bless our families, villages and our churches.”

Ms. Pagaiali’i explained that the A.O.G. women from around the country gather several times a year – in April for their annual service for worship, where assignments are issued and donations and tithes that fund the Women’s Ministries are collected.

They also gather in May for their annual meeting of the A.O.G. and in November for seminars on Upolu and Savai’i.

Early this week, she was in Savai’i where the women gathered for their annual service in Tafua where the Bible College is located.

“The church service we had today is held each year. It’s an annual service where we come together and fellowship and worship God and do our items," said Ms. Pagaiali’i.

Our committee gathers in Savai’i where we have a service and we did that on Tuesday….today is when we gathered Upolu."

"We hold this every April and then in May we have our meeting where we submit our financial reports…November is when we have seminars, when we go around the island to host seminars in Savaii and Upolu.

“Not all our women were here because some of them live very far away… but they are represented here by the wife of their pastor…when the women have to sing or present an item then you will see large numbers from that congregation in attendance. 

"I think when we count the women in our ministry there are over a thousand…if they all came they would not all fit in this hall…some are working and some are tending to their children who are in school but this is how it looks every year – it is always packed.”

Like mothers in all churches across Samoa, the women of the A.O.G. in Samoa are preparing for Mother’s Day next Sunday 9 May.

Each ministry is in charge of their own Mother’s Day program, she added.

“A woman is so important in her family. Sure we have fathers, but the mother, she is the one who overlooks the family," emphasised said Ms. Pagaiali’i.

"A mother must be alert and must have the spirit of God in her. She has to know all avenues to manage and develop her family not just caring for her family physically but spiritually as well – most especially with the children.

“When we have seminars we urge our mothers, our women to focus on their families. We say your priority is your family. It is true, God and the work of God are important but you must tend to your family and care for your husband and children first. 

"That is your responsibility, your priority because if your family foundation is strong, the foundation of the church is strong. 

"The word today was ‘the mother of time.’ After we are gone we will be remembered by the work we have done at this time. It will live on in your children, in your churches and your families.”

For all mothers of Samoa, she says: “Don’t think lightly of your role. You are so important. You are a unique creation of God. May you all be blessed on Mother’s Day."