Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

Sue Hodnett honored for ‘She Leads Michigan’

  • June 1, 2022
  • Carolyn Tomlin
  • Latest News, Michigan, Woman's Missionary Union
Elizabeth Doyle (left), executive director of She Leads Michigan, presents an award to Sue Hodnett.
(Photo courtesy of Sue Hodnett)

Sue Hodnett honored for ‘She Leads Michigan’

Sue Hodnett has been recognized by Michigan state representatives and the interfaith group She Leads Michigan.

On May 13, Hodnett was honored for her work as executive director of Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) and women’s ministries for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan.

“It’s an honor to be recognized for my ministry accomplishments in the category of Women in Christian Leadership,” Hodnett said.

She Leads Michigan encourages women to work together to offer faith-based solutions for modern-day challenges “during a time when the Lord is raising up women” in business, government, education, social issues, family, faith community, media, arts and entertainment.

Preparing to serve

“What really inspired me the most were the Christian influences in my life,” Hodnett said of her early life.

“My parents always stressed that I treat everyone with respect and love,” she recalled. “Integrity was taught through serving on leadership teams, working with coaches, teachers and mentors.

“As an adult, I still continue to. He puts me in places where there is a need and provides the resources to learn with compassion.”

Hodnett recognized God’s calling in 6th grade, she said. Raised in the Catholic church in Detroit, she began volunteering in a nursing home started by her grandmother. After graduation she gained experience by serving on the church council and as a certified recreational official with the Michigan Catholic Youth Association.

After marrying her husband, a Baptist, she started attending a Baptist church and within a few months committed her life to Christ.

“I served on every leadership position allowed for women to serve,” Hodnett remembered. “Because of OCD, which I consider a gift, I function better behind the scenes.”

Preparing for leadership

After serving on the Michigan WMU leadership team for more than 25 years, Hodnett was surprised in 2014 when she was recommended for the position of executive director. Within a year her duties included directing women’s ministries as well.

“I felt so underqualified, but God placed a volunteer team around me,” Hodnett recalled. “I read many books on leadership, took certification classes in leadership and received a certificate from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in church-based biblical counseling.”

Too often women are not encouraged in leadership roles, she lamented.

“I believe God wants women leaders in His church,” Hodnett asserted. “Women are needed to be the teacher, encourager, coach and a mentor to any woman who has a passion to serve.”

Encouraging volunteers

Hodnett noted women want to volunteer and serve others.

“I think the key to developing a volunteer team consists of sharing the stories of how our compassion ministries have helped someone,” she said. “Sharing the needs touches the heart of people. When they hear of the need, they are moved to help and provide resources. You motivate by affirming their calling.

“As volunteers, our passion is to come alongside women and help them … find Christ if they don’t already know Him, and just be there to encourage them. We know that if we touch the life of a woman, most of the time we’re touching the life of a whole family.”

Meeting challenges

“With the pandemic, we’ve had some bumps in the road,” Hodnett acknowledged. “Starting a ministry to women was a novel approach in metro Detroit.”

WMU opened in a small ministry in Shelby Township but had to change direction due to COVID-19. Just six weeks after opening, the center had to close its doors. Fortunately, much of the work could be continued through online video conferences, Hodnett said.

However, lessons were learned from the shutdown. One is that women have a real love and need for the Word. When they were confined at home, they wanted to be in life groups in studying the Bible. 

Also, scheduling evening video calls after children were in bed allowed more women to be involved, Hodnett said.

What if?

“If God had not called me into this ministry, I would be spending more time with family … especially my grandbabies,” she said with a smile. “Or, I might be living a quiet life in our cabin in the woods.

“As much as that sounds like I would be content with that lifestyle, I know a small, still voice would be calling me to a form of ministry. I am called to help fulfill the Great Commission. As long as there is Kingdom work, I will be what God has called me to do.”

For more information visit www.bscm.org/women or sheleadsmichigan.com.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • First person: Ruth’s surrendered life
    First person: Ruth’s surrendered life
    May 18, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Baptist Campus Ministry at WKU awarded ‘Best of the Hill’
    Baptist Campus Ministry at WKU awarded ‘Best of the Hill’
    May 17, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • First person: Celebrating the people you serve, love
    First person: Celebrating the people you serve, love
    May 17, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

First person: Ruth’s surrendered life

“Don’t plead with me to abandon you or to return and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live,

Baptist Campus Ministry at WKU awarded ‘Best of the Hill’

The Baptist Campus Ministry at Western Kentucky University was awarded with the Best of the Hill recognition by the College Heights Herald, the campus newspaper.

First person: Celebrating the people you serve, love

One of the joys of pastoring is celebrating the milestone achievements of the people you serve and love.

Looking for the 2025 SBC Book of Reports? It’s available online.

If you’re looking to brush up on your business and financial reports knowledge ahead of this year’s Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Dallas (June 10–11), the SBC has released its 2025 Book of Reports online.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel