Healthy Moms, Faithfully Supported

Dear Mothers of America,

THANK YOU!

The words "thank you" cannot encapsulate the gratitude we have, as people of faith, for the wonder, beauty, self-sacrifice, bravery, and endurance that being a mother entails. As a mother, you play many roles: nurturer, shepherd, teacher, provider, counselor, mediator, role model, coach, protector, just to name a few. The legacy of impact you have as a mother — whether biological, adoptive, bonus, honorary, or in-law — is expansive, stretching far beyond your own children, rippling through generations yet unseen — "a people yet unborn" (Psalm 22:31). This is truly a sacred calling.

We are writing today to honor the many sacrifices you make in answering this high calling. Because of what you give, we want to draw all Americans' attention to the need for more care and support during the crucial stages of motherhood, both before birth (prenatal) and in the first year after birth (postpartum).

The prenatal and postpartum stages are one of the most physically and emotionally demanding seasons a woman will ever face. Her body changes rapidly, multiple times. Her sleep fractures. Her identity shifts. She may struggle with pain, depression, anxiety, or grief she doesn't know how to name — even as she pours herself out for a new life. It is precisely in this moment that community, care, and spiritual grounding matter most. And it is precisely at this moment that too many mothers are left without them.

The consequence of ignoring these losses is too high. Too many families in America know the heartbreak of maternal death. In 2024, nearly 18 mothers died for every 100,000 births — the highest rate among developed countries, and in some instances, twice as high as other economically advantaged nations. For Black mothers, this risk is far greater, at a rate of 44 deaths per 100,000 births. There are also differences between states, with some midwestern and southern areas experiencing rates twice the national average.

So today, we must also remember the mothers that are no longer with us, who won't wake up to breakfast in bed or flowers or homemade gifts. To those who are grieving the loss of their mother or the mother of their children, we are deeply sorry. The mark that mothers imprint on our lives is profound and indelible. We feel that loss with you. Mothers not only sustain life for their children, but for their communities as well.

The encouraging news is that review committees have found more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. By improving care, identifying and treating complications earlier, and strengthening support for mothers after childbirth, lives can be saved. The Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies America initiative from Heartland Forward's Maternal and Child Health Center for Policy and Practice points to clear opportunities: healthcare systems can better detect and address treatable conditions and ensure mothers receive consistent, high-quality support — especially during the postpartum period.

The reason for our nation's high rate of maternal mortality is multi-pronged, but we believe our faith communities must be part of the response. While not every community has obstetric care, most have a house of worship or faith group. We can answer our sacred call to honor mothers during the inevitable vulnerabilities and sacrifice that pregnancy brings by serving as conduits of tangible support, particularly in the postpartum stage when the risks are the greatest.

To the mothers of America, your life matters. As people and communities of faith, we want you to be supported, loved, and cared for in all the ways that will make your life and the lives of your children flourish — physically, emotionally, and spiritually. To our communities of faith: let's work together to make that a reality for more mothers in our country.

In the faithful bonds of hope,

• Ben Watson — The Just Life, Atlanta, GA
• Bishop Angel Nunez — Multi-Cultural Prayer Movement, Baltimore, MD
• Bishop Garland Hunt — The Douglass Leadership Institute, Atlanta, GA
• Bishop Vincent Matthews — Tabernacle Church of God in Christ, Memphis, TN
• Carrie Sheffield — Healthy Faith, Arlington, VA
• Christine D'Clario — Artist/Worship Leader, Dallas, TX
• Dr. Phillip Fletcher — City of Hope Outreach, Conway, AR
• Edson Dos Santos — Southern Latin District the Assemblies of God, Greenville, SC
• Jedd Medefind — Christian Alliance for Orphans, McLean, VA
• Jim Wallis — Center on Faith and Justice, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
• Kathryn Lopez — National Review Institute, New York City, NY
• Kelly Rosati — Hope for Brighter Tomorrows, Monument, CO
• Korie Robertson — Duck Commander / Tread Lively, West Monroe, LA
• Libia Duran — Pastors Wives of America, Washington, DC
• Michael Wear — Center for Christianity and Public Life, Baltimore, MD
• Ndidi Nwuneli — Entrepreneur and Social Innovator, Alexandria, VA
• Nicolle Fletcher — Ujima Maternity Network, Conway, AR
• Pastor Herb Lusk III — Greater Exodus Baptist, Philadelphia, PA
• Pastor Luis Roig — Senate of Puerto Rico Faith Office / Igleasia Cristiana Casa del Padre, Trujillo Alto, PR
• Rachel Medefind — Christian Alliance for Orphans, McLean, VA
• Rev. A.R. Bernard — Christian Cultural Center, Brooklyn, NY
• Rev. Adam Taylor — Sojourners, Washington, DC
• Rev. Brian Cash — East Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Cleveland, OH
• Rev. Carlos Duran — National Hispanic Pastors Association NAHPA, Washington, DC
• Rev. Jennifer Butler — Faith in Democracy, Vienna, VA
• Rev. Joy Carroll Wallis — St. Columba's Episcopal, Washington, DC
• Rev. Samuel Rodriguez — National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, Sacramento, CA
• Rob Wilson-Black — Chatauqua Institution, Reston, VA
• Robbie P. George — McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
• Shannon Kiser — Fresh Expressions, Northern Virginia
• Toni Kim — Author, Charlottesville, VA
• Lauren Winn — Women's Health Assembly, Washington, DC
• Walter Kim — National Association of Evangelicals, Washington, DC

Organizational affiliation listed for identification purposes only, and does not imply endorsement by the organization.