On Saturday, May 16th, the sanctuary and Marjorie Joyner Banquet Hall on the 2nd floor of Cosmopolitan Community Church, 5249 S. Wabash Avenue in Chicago, filled with women dressed in camouflage — not for fashion, but for purpose.
The 58th Annual Women’s Day, spearheaded by First Lady Kyra R. Clopton, was a bold, Spirit-led celebration of faith, resilience, and spiritual warfare.
“During the 58th Women’s Day, I felt that many women were going through a range of difficult challenges this year—struggling with issues like depression, financial hardships, and the everyday burdens of life. It seemed fitting to have a gathering focused on these struggles. We organized a brunch that featured speakers addressing the issues we face daily,” provided First Lady Kyra.
The prayer brunch was made possible through the God given vision of Linda Ford, who shared with the leadership that the theme was birthed through prayer and faithful obedience to God’s direction.
The event was organized by Linda Ford, who described the theme as something she received through prayer and obedience to God’s direction. The theme of spiritual warfare was not chosen lightly — it was chosen in direct response to the very real battles modern women are fighting every day.
“It took a lot of prayer. It took listening to what God wanted me to do with the vision,” Ford shared. “We have to look at the Trump situation. We have to look at how they’re messing with childcare — and these are wars that we’re carrying that we don’t need to carry.”
The camouflage dress attire worn by attendees carried deep symbolism. For Ford, it represented the strategy of the spiritual soldier.
“The camouflage is when we go into battle. We can’t let the devil see us. So we have to disguise ourselves. That’s what they do in war.”
Pastor Dr .Eric Clopton, Sr. expressed, “Sister Linda Ford, thank you and your committee for your unwavering commitment and dedication. Your efforts have been key to the success of the great endeavor.”
The affair opened with a processional of flag bearers representing Cosmo Church — a striking visual that set the tone for the day ahead. A musical selection was performed by Tramaine Parker, and a powerful mime presentation was delivered by Claude Crowder and Sherita Broughton.
The Prayer Brunch was guided by First Lady Kyra R. Clopton, who welcomed attendees and introduced the guest speaker of the afternoon, Elder Walonza Lee of Fellowship MB Church.
Elder Lee’s message landed like a lifeline for every woman in the room. Speaking directly to the hidden weight that women carry — in their minds, for their families, for their health and finances — she named what so many feel but rarely say aloud.
“It represents the unseen battle women fight every day — in their minds, for their families, for their health, for their finances, their emotions, and their faith,” Elder Lee declared. “It’s a constant battle against fear, doubt, hopelessness, temptation, depression, and the attack of the enemy.”
She pushed back against the cultural pressure placed on women to always appear strong, always have answers, always hold everything together.
“People call us strong — but sometimes being strong can get a little heavy. Sometimes being the one everybody depends on gets exhausting. Sometimes being the one with all the answers means nobody notices when we’re falling apart.”
But she did not leave the room there. Her message turned with conviction:
“God is here today to remind every woman under the sound of my voice — you are not weak. You are not forgotten. You are not invisible. You are not defeated. You are a warrior.”
The celebration continued into Sunday morning with a service led by guest Pastor Angela Walker of God’s House of Divine Revelation Church. The Sunday theme — Next Level Faith: Standing Firm — drew from Philippians 3:13-14, calling women to press forward, reach higher, and refuse to be defined by what lies behind them.
From camouflage to conviction, the 58th Annual Women’s Day at Cosmopolitan Community Church was a reminder that the women of faith are not just surviving — they are standing firm, suited up, and ready for whatever comes next.
According to First Lady Kyra, the event turned out to be incredibly powerful.
“Many women experienced breakthroughs as they asked questions about the difficulties they were encountering and sought understanding for why certain things were happening in their lives. For many, this weekend served as an answer to their prayers.”
“The focus on spiritual warfare was intentionally chosen in response to the very real battles women face every day. At the same time, the success of this powerful event was a collective effort, made possible by the many dedicated volunteers, supporters, and members of the Cosmopolitan Community Church Women’s Ministry who contributed at every level, through planning, preparation, service, prayer, resources, and behind-the-scenes support, all working together to ensure the prayer brunch was a meaningful and spirit-filled success,” First Lady Kyra explained.
