With the approaching of Mother’s day, Christian Holy Land Foundation Ministry held a celebration for mothers on Saturday March 16th 2013.

About one thousand women who came from various villages and cities of Galilee as well as from different places from the Palestinian Territories took part in the celebration. CHLF ministry presented a symbolic gift and a book for every woman who attended.

Rose Obeid opened up the celebration in welcoming the women who came from different places to celebrate this important occasion. She then she asked Andera Hanna to lift up a prayer of blessing for the celebration.

Rose Obeid

Later on, a video clip was shown in which Pastor Nizar Shaheen , Director of Light for All Nations Ministry, congratulated everyone who took part in this special occasion. He thanked CHLF Ministry for the mighty work that it does, and Rose Obeid who is responsible for the gathering. He also thanked Pastor Andrawos Abu Ghazalah as well as the special Praise and Worship team “The Lord is My Banner.”

Rose Obeid shared a short devotion about the importance of women and their significance in giving out to their children and their families. She said that mothers are one of the greatest characters who can influence the life of others, either for good or bad, and that they have an impact in forming their children’s life. She mentioned that the Bible talks about several great women including Hannah, Samuel’s mother who dedicated her son to be the Lord’s servant, and the mother of King Josiah who raised her son to fear the Lord and as a result he became a good king. Also, the mother of Moses had a great influence on her son and so he became a great leader. She concluded her devotion by sharing from the most beautiful chapter of the Bible, “the Woman of Great Worth.”

Another surprise was presented to the audience as singer Zyad Shihada congratulated the mothers in a recorded video, and there was also a recording of him singing a few songs in which he mentioned the villages and the cities of the Holy Land.

“The Lord is my Banner” team, under the leadership of Pastor Khalid Dalleh, sang a few encouraging songs and many women sang along. They concluded by singing a song by Father Maccary Yonan: “Oh God our Father.”

The Lord Banner Team

Pastor Andrawos shared about the joy that mothers bring to family, and they deserve to receive honor and it is only the Lord who can offer them what they deserve. The Lord himself, at the height of His sacrifice and through His ministry on the cross, took care of His very own mother. The Lord offers joy to all mothers, when mothers are happy; as a result the entire home is joyful. The Lord desires to give us everlasting joy. After all, He created us for this purpose.

Pastor Andrawos Abu Gahzali

He also said that our joy has to be connected to the Lord and not our circumstances. Just like Hannah’s prayed when Samuel was born: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies,for I delight in your deliverance.”

In order to obtain this heavenly joy, we have to accept Christ and thank the Lord who makes our hearts joyful. The joy of the Lord in our lives shouldn’t depend on our circumstances but on the Lord himself. He said that the devil would not choose to stay in a joyous house. He encouraged women to allow heavenly joy enter into their hearts and homes. At the end, pastor Andrawos called women to receive the Lord, and many women came forth to receive prayers of faith.

The celebration also included honouring elderly women such as: Soheila Geries-mother of Pastor Hatem Geries, Teacher Ablah Haddad- Ryad’s mother, Samira Da’eem- Mother of Aziz, Lamya’ Dalla- Mother of Pastor Khaled, Fida Hanna- mother of Salim Hanna and other teachers like, Rose Sakhneeny- wife of Pastor Fouad Sakhninee, mother of William Shufanee, (Rose Sakhneeny and mother of William shofany did not attend the celebration due to health problems) and Sabha Saliba.

At the end of the celebration, all women shared lunch together.

To see more photos click on the album “Mother’s Day Celebration”