Sudena Sturgis
HOW SHE OVERCAME
story by NAKEISHA DAWSON-THOMPSON photos by SUSAN DELOACH
SHE OverCame, LLC is a faith-based ministry founded and organized in 2019 by Sudena Sturgis that focuses on women who have faced life’s challenges. Its mission is to create and implement coping strategies and mechanisms to “Dominate Circumstances” that were meant to destroy. The organization teaches women how to strive daily, heal from brokenness, and encourages them to love what they see in the mirror. “You are the reflection you see,” states Sudena.
Sudena was born in Warri, Nigeria, where she and her family lived for many years. She first came to the United States as a host student. Eventually, she and her family moved to the United States permanently. Sudena met her husband (whom she is currently separated from) and embraced her new life as a military wife for 14 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work and is pursuing her doctorate in business administration. She is an active member of The Prayer Lab International Deliverance Ministries in Beaufort, SC, under the leadership of Pastor Dave and Latoya Wilson.
Sudena explains that her ministry was birthed from pain and abuse. At the age of 12, she was raped and molested by her maternal grandfather. At the age of 18, she was sexually assaulted again, resulting in the birth of her eldest son. Though his conception was the product of rape, her love and commitment to her son was her priority. Life continued to deal her a hand that would break most; however, she expresses that the Lord touched her early and began to work in her heart. He allowed her to experience love, and extend grace and forgiveness to those who were influential in the pain and abuse she experienced. She has always believed that God never counted her out because she is needed. In the midst of all the darkness, there was love and hope that she couldn’t overlook.
Sudena is a mother of five amazing children, two daughters and three sons. She gave her life to Christ at an early age. She is fervently serving the Lord. She is no longer a victim of what was intended to harm her, despite the tragedies of life. She was chosen by God to be his daughter and to live the life he promised her. Every day, she abides by four principles: sacrifice, service, sowing, and submission (all of which are done in submission to God). In order to encourage other women in the kingdom to exercise “Queenship,” Sudena consistently creates a safe haven for those who are in need. She developed a way of life to help women find healing, forgiveness, and deliverance via biblical teachings and principles.
Sudena serves her community in many capacities. She believes that her experiences and the trauma she has overcome have led her to a life of service and sowing. Sudena is a prophetess of the Gospel; CEO and founder of SHE OverCame, LLC; founder of Empowering Queens; a behavioral, emotional and mental adolescent strategist for school-age children; a certified mentor and motivational speaker; a certified crisis/faith/leadership coach; blogger; survivor of rape and molestation; advocate for sexual abuse in women of all ages and races; two time survivor of Leukemia; and a certified notary and officiant. While she wears many hats, mother and child of God are the most important.
SHE OverCame, LLC provides group coaching alongside Empowering Queens, which allows women who have overcome to walk alongside women who are in pursuit of overcoming whatever life hardships they are facing. SHE OverCame, LLC also provides services to the special needs children in the community by providing nonverbal communication skills and techniques through the use of colors as a communication vehicle. They provide mentoring to women and young ladies as well as spiritual counseling and guidance. SHE OverCame, LLC has been committed to the community through services such as local toy drives, empowerment conferences, and quarterly virtual events that promote women networking with like women.
Sudena strives to continue being an example of love, strength, and faith to her children and those whom she has been called to walk alongside. She is grateful for the broken generational curses in her family as she sings praises to her oldest two children for graduating high school, recalling how she had to drop out of high school to become a mother. She continues to stand on her beliefs that sacrificing, serving, sowing, and submission are the cornerstones of her strength and blessings.
Sudena encourages anyone who has ever been a victim of sexual and/or physical abuse to seek help and healing. Healing can look different for others, but the end goal of self-love and self-worth is what healing will render. No matter how long ago or how recent, you deserve to count on you because God has not counted you out!
To learn more about the service and mission of SHE OverCame, LLC, visit their website www.sheovercamellc.com.
