Facilitator, Communicators' Collective Retreat, Myrtle Beach, SC

Sue is participating as a facilitator for guided conversations and altar ministry at the Communicators’ Collective Retreat, a revitalizing retreat designed for Christian women who write, speak and lead. The retreat is a platform-free, quiet retreat for female leaders to gather for collaboration, inspiration, and connection.

Author Reading, The Preschool at West End

Sue will do an author reading of some Bible stories from her new children’s Bible, The Compassion Storybook Bible. Children will take home information about how their parents can purchase the Bible.

Author visit, Westminster Academy

Sue will teach a writing lesson to a middle school writing class at Westminster Academy on Nov. 13. Students will analyze and plan a micro-fiction story. She will answer questions and talk about the writing and publishing process with students.

Event speaker, Gather, West End Assembly of God

Book Launch

The Compassion Storybook Bible launches Nov. 5 online and in stores. Order or pre-order here: https://www.endgamepress.com/store/p/compassionstorybookbible

When we become more like Jesus, we have compassion for others.

This is the heart and soul of the Compassion Storybook Bible. This book will walk young readers through some of the most well-known stories in the Bible.

Readers will engage with accessible prose about people such as Daniel, Esther, and of course, Jesus—learning that the ultimate story is God’s love for us, written throughout the pages of the Bible.

For the best primer to introduce your young one to the Bible, dive into these pages and read along with them.

Author book reading, The Preschool at West End

Sue will do an author reading of some Bible stories from her new children’s Bible, The Compassion Storybook Bible. Children will take home information about how their parents can purchase the Bible.

Leader, Mission trip to Romania 2025--TBA

Early September are the tentative dates for Romania missions trip, 2025.

Pulpit Speaker, WEAG Church

Sue preached a Mother’s Day sermon on Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon, and the eighth wife of King David, who sexually assaulted her, killed her husband, and made her his wife. This riveting and relational unpacking of an often misunderstood story shows God’s redemptive love and compassion. Bathsheba’s life shows us that we can rise above trauma and be a godly mother.

Keynote Speaker, "Take Heart, Daughter" Women's Conference, Brookside Church, Middleton, VA

Sue will be the keynote speaker at the Brookside Church Women’s Conference in Middleton, VA. Sue will speak on content from her book Soulspeak: Praying Change into Unexpected Places. She will unpack the power of God’s presence and 7 simple prayers from Scripture that will unleash his power and presence into our ordinary and extraordinary experiences.

Book Launch of DEATH BY PASTORING

Over 40% of pastors are considering leaving the ministry today. Most of us won’t. Instead, we will work harder, determining that our overwhelming stress is an unavoidable part of pastoring. We will set unrealistic work expectations and live with unhealthy rhythms. And we will witness the gradual extermination of the peace that Jesus promised us.
If you’re a pastor or ministry leader, you likely struggle with anxiety, sleeplessness, or compassion fatigue. Your body may show symptoms of physical distress, like weight gain, high blood pressure, or heart palpitations. You tell yourself that if you work harder, grow your church more, or tweak your schedule a little, you can eventually alleviate your stress.
But that’s not how stress subsides or how God intended us to work. Death by Pastoring  (published by Avail) will help you identify and change the way you manage your stress by:

-Examining the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of stress

-Sharing personal stories and the hope that God promises-Addressing workaholism, expectations, and stewardship-Re-imagining the work of pastoring and being an intentional disciple-Providing resources, assessments, and questions for reflection.

Purchase at any of the following places:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Avail Publishing 

Google Books

Go to Deathbypastoring.com. Email the authors at sue@deathbypastoring.com or shane@deathbypastoring.com. You can find many leadership stress resources there:

• hardback book
• softcover book
• study guide
• masterclass–6 video classes
• leadership coaching
• leadership health retreats (TBA)

Guest, AVAIL podcast

Sue and Shane are guests on the AVAIL publishing podcast to talk about their book on handling leadership stress and redefining work. Release date coming soon.

Conference Speaker for Pastors' Conference, Cuba

Sue joins her husband Shane Schlesman and other pastors  to speak at the Assemblies of God Pastors’ Conference in Cuba. This will be her second visit to Cuba to encourage and support local pastors who minister under great restriction from the Communist government but miraculous empowerment from the Holy Spirit.

Guest Speaker, "Sisterhood" women's event, Trinity Life Church, Lutherville, MD

Sue is speaking at a Sisterhood event at Trinity Life Church in Lutherville, MD. This women’s event is entitled “Blank Canvas.”  We will explore our creative souls and encourage one another to dream God-sized dreams because the Creator has already prepared good works in advance for us to do. He has spoken his destiny and calling over our lives; we need to believe it.

Speaker & Event Director, SHINE, Richmond, VA

SHINE is a leadership gathering for women in ministry in the Richmond metro area. We gather to encourage, pray, praise, and support one another.

Staff Retreat Guest Speaker, Fairbanks, AK

Sue and Shane will cover personal health, boundaries, emotional and physical impacts of stress, spiritual self-care, and other topics related to leadership health in this 2-day staff retreat in Fairbanks, AK, for True North Church.

Guest, Assembly of God's Network of Ministers Connect

Lisa Potter, Executive Director of Women Who Lead for the Assembly of God’s Potomac District, leads a connection group for women ministers for the national office. She will interview Sue as a guest, discussing the topic of core self/inner health in ministry.  After a 30-minute conversation, attendees will divide into Zoom discussion groups.

Stress Test Podcast

Sue and her husband Shane host a bi-weekly podcast on leadership health and stress called “Stress Test Podcast: The heartbeat of a healthy leader.” They interview key leaders about pivotal moments in their stress management, traumatic transitions in leadership, and helpful advice for leaders in ministry and marketplace. Find Stress Test Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Guest Preacher, Mother's Day, West End Assembly of God

Sue shares a powerful message about Hannah’s identity, calling, and destiny. From an existence of distorted identity and abuse to her decisive prayer and selfless gift, Hannah models what godly mothering and godly faith looks like.

Breakout speaker, LEAD Conference

Join us for LEAD Conference ‘23, a 3-day life-changing experience for credentialed ministers, church delegates, and high-level leaders within our district of DC, VA, MD, WV, and surrounding areas. Held Monday-Wednesday, May 8-10th, this year’s event features an outstanding line-up of speakers, breakout sessions, and worship experiences, held in not just ONE, but TWO LOCATIONS!

May 8: Capital Turnaround in DC
700 M St SE, Washington, DC 20003

May 9-10: Christ Chapel in Woodbridge, VA
13909 Smoketown Rd, Woodbridge, VA 22192

Breakout Speaker, LEAD Conference

Sue and Shane spoke about leadership stress in this second breakout for the Assemblies of God Potomac District Network LEAD Conference.

Event coordinator, SHINE

Special guest speaker Pam Morrow will join us and speak on “For such a time as this” from the book of Ruth. Pam ministers at CrossWalk Church in Williamsburg, VA. SHINE is an oasis gathering for women leading ministries in Richmond and at WEAG. Prayer, worship, encouragement, and friendships are the priorities for this meeting for any woman who steps into the role of mentor, teacher, leader, or intercessor. We have dessert, coffee, tea, giveaways, and prayer to bless one another and “shine like stars in the universe.”

Speaker, Empowe{RVA}

Teacher, Resilient Study

We can develop resilience. To often, we allow hardships, fears, trauma, and un-forgiveness to diminish our faith and separate us from God’s people.  Resilience makes the difference between surviving and thriving after tragedy or trauma.  Using Elijah’s life as a template for growth, we’ll learn how resilience prepares us for God’s big calling.

Speaker, Parenting Workshop

Sue supervises Parenting Workshops twice per month on Wednesdays at West End Assembly of God. In January, we’re covering the topic of education. On Jan. 11, we will talk about how to choose the best school for your child with an equal presentation of public, private, Christian, and homeschooling. On Jan. 18, Sue will host a panel of parents and teachers representing the 4 types of schools for an interactive Q & A about the pros and cons of each.

Teacher & Tour organizer, Holy Land Tour

Sue and Shane will be participating in team-teaching on a tour of Holy Land, hosted by Crosswalk Church. The tour will cover 40 historical and/or Biblical sites relating to the nation of Israel and God’s redemptive story.

Co-Preacher, West End Assembly of God

Sue co-preached with her husband Shane during the Advent season on the topic “Hope Has a Name.” They unpacked the 4 names for Jesus from Isa. 9:6 on 4 Sundays: “Wonderful Counselor,” “Mighty God,” “Everlasting Father,” and “Prince of Peace.”

Communicators Collective Retreat

Myrtle Beach SC

Preacher, West End Assembly of God

Preached about God’s heart for the world–compassion. Promoted Compassion International during Compassion Sunday. Shared stories of her 8 Compassion children and how God has released them from poverty.

Speaker & Event Director

SHINE is a leadership gathering for women in ministry in the Richmond metro area. We gather to encourage, pray, praise, and support one another.

Staff Training/Seminar

Sue and Shane will inspire and equip the staff at Crosswalk Church in Williamsburg, VA.

Compassion Cup Convoy of Hope participant

From the article “Convoy of Hope offers back-to-back events in Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint” by Jani Gonzalez

Read here for more of the article or go to https://convoyofhope.org 

Creative Writing Class, teacher

Sue covers creativity and God’s design for us to be creative beings. Sue will lead students through basic poetry writing, journaling, and self-expression.

Team Leader, Missions Trip

San Jose, Costa Rica

Tuesday Night Bible Study: Guest Speaker at West End Assembly of God

Richmond, VA

Speaker & Director, "SHINE" women in Richmond leadership event

Richmond, VA

Speaker, LEAD Assemblies of God Potomac District leadership conference

Richmond, VA

Teaching Writing/Q & A with CINCEL

Zoom session with Missionary Training Center in San Jose, Costa Rica

Mentorship retreat with John Maxwell

Tequesta, FL

ROAR Assemblies of God Potomac District women’s leadership retreat

Rockville, MD

Pulpit Speaker, West End Assembly of God (Richmond, VA)

Richmond, VA

Event Host

Co-host of leadership event for kingdom-building in the marketplace; Host with Martijn and Amy VanTilbourgh and Shane Schlesman. Invitation only to Kingdom Builders event in Puerto Rico. Special speakers Martijn VanTilbourgh and Sam Chand.

Bible Teacher, LIFT

Richmond, VA