Madam Deputy Speaker, the ACDP believes that we, as Christians and the Church, should be the biggest champions and the loudest cheerers and the most proactive supporters and protectors of women.
The Bible and the Christian worldview provide the most compelling reasons to cherish women across the world. Why is this? This is because women are made in God’s image. This is a breathtaking truth.
So, today we in the ACDP wish to honour and give thanks to all the women in our nation: the grandmothers, the sisters, the daughters, the granddaughters.
I, in particular, would like to honour my own mother. I would like to honour my dear wife Louise, without whose prayers encouragement, I would not be able to fulfil my God-given purpose and destiny in Parliament. She’s indeed a Proverbs 31 woman—a virtuous wife whose worth is far above rubies.
In our communities, we can applaud the women in our midst who are serving their families, their businesses, their nonprofits, their friends, and their churches for the good of their communities and to the glory of God.
At the same time, we need to look for ways to serve and uplift women who are oppressed and hurting—denied the opportunity to thrive. We can pray and we can seek justice for marginalised women.
A brief glance at global headlines reveals a bleak picture for women in many places. In many countries, there’s a preference for sons, limited access for girls to education and health care, physical and sexual violence against women, human trafficking, and the exclusion of women in politics and various cultural practices that put women and girls at risk.
Yes, there is much work to be done on behalf of the millions of women’s millions of women globally. Seeking their protection and honour is a worthy and biblical endeavour.
So, let’s celebrate this day not just because it’s catchy and a social trend, but because we have a reason and a fight to fight to uplift and protect our women.
Let’s honour the Creator of the world by honouring his daughters around the world by protecting and seeking justice for his daughters around the world.
I thank you.
