AYSF Transformative Teaching
We offer LIVE, theologically rich, biblical teaching across a wide range of topics in whatever format you need: courses, retreat sessions, and more.
We often hear from women that they long to dive more deeply into God’s Word, but...
…. they find that quality biblical teaching can be hard to come by. There is a lot of questionable theology to sift through out there, and among the options that are theologically sound, meaningful application to real life can be an afterthought at best. We may come away with biblical information or fleeting inspiration, but have we been equipped to actually live better in concrete ways that truly matter?
Introducing:
AYSF Transformative Teaching
We offer theologically rich, biblical teaching across a wide range of topics.
At AYSF we provide “solid food” not just “milk.” (Hebrews 5:13-14). Our Transformative Teaching will take your understanding of and appreciation for the Word of God to a whole new level. You will glean so many fresh insights that we must warn you: your hand may cramp from how many notes you will want to take! That’s because we are not only asking “What does the Bible say?” At AYSF, we are all about asking:
What difference does God’s Word really make...
as we dive back into the challenges of parenting, marriage or dating, work, ministry, friendships & more? Do we have to turn to the world when it comes to finding solutions for our real problems or can God really lead us into freedom from:
Living overwhelmed, overworked, burnt out?
Feeling anxious, resentful, guilty, stuck, and more??
God truly has given us “all that we need for life and godliness” in his Word. But we must learn how to unpack and apply it effectively. At AYSF, we show you how to connect the dots between what God has revealed in Scripture and its very practical implications for how you get to live now. Every concept we teach has been tested “in the field.” That is, we have been developing our content in the context of helping real people with their real problems for over 15 years. All the insight and instruction we offer has been implemented by countless clients who joyfully attest:
“God’s way really works!”
Here are just a few examples of AYSF Transformative Teaching content
Please contact us for a complete list of topics
I Am Who You Say I Am
Experience the Liberation of Letting God Alone Define You
In a world that barrages us with confusing messages about who we are and “should” be, we desperately need to be anchored in an identity that is accurate and is activated in our heart in such a way that it profoundly shapes how we navigate this life. Many of us have heard, and even used, the term “identity in Christ,” but what does it really mean and what difference does it really make? Each week, we unpack a different dimension of our identity in Christ in ways that are theologically rich, emotionally compelling, and highly practical. Prepare to be amazed afresh at the goodness of God as we explore the true implications of being an image bearer of God, a beloved child of the Father, clay in the Potter’s hands, a member of Christ’s body, a warrior, a royal priest, an ambassador for the King, and much more!
The Power of Processing Emotional Pain
Learn How to Heal From the 5 Types of Emotional Pain:
- Disappointment
- Grief
- Rejection or Betrayal
- Loneliness
- Shame
The 5 Types of Pain may be taught together in the context of a course,
OR any of the types of pain may be selected individually as the topic of its own course, as a weekend retreat, or as a single teaching engagement.
How to Prevail Over Perfectionism
Pursuing Excellence God's Way Without Destroying Your Relationships, Your Health, or Your Sanity
Perfectionism is detrimental to our emotional, physical, spiritual, and relational health… and it is an epidemic among women. Women are crushed by the pressure to perform and enslaved to largely self-imposed standards and expectations. This leaves us feeling anxious, exhausted, and if we’re really honest, resentful.
Well, it’s time to rise up and fight back against this favorite ploy of the enemy and this course will equip you to do just that. We are going to pull back the veil to reveal the deep roots beneath the surface of “perfectionism” and learn how to wield the powerful sword of biblical truth to “slice & dice” the lies that have been holding our sisters in bondage to this toxic dynamic. Let’s do this!
The Forgiveness Project
How to Get Free of Bitterness & Finally Forgive Whoever has Harmed You
The Forgiveness Project is a game-changer for anyone who has struggled to forgive (that’s all of us!) Together, we will do a deep dive into the why’s and how’s of forgiveness that are designed to dissolve all the obstacles that have kept you from moving forward. (We guarantee you will hear some fresh material on this classic topic.) But this isn’t just “head knowledge”: at the end of the course you will be equipped and invited to actually do it – in a way you can be sure it’s done – and finally walk in the freedom that only God’s good design for forgiveness can facilitate.
Defining Your Life
Aligning Ourselves with God's Good Design for the Key Concepts That Shape Us
The Chistian life is all about love, right? But what is love really? How about freedom? It’s a basic human value. But what does it really mean? Then there’s success: how would you define it? Everyone wants peace, but are you clear about what leads to it and what cannot? And while we’re asking… What is money for? How about sexuality or gender? What is work really supposed to be about, anyway? What about power? And what does it mean to “honor” or to “obey”? Why, who, and under what conditions??
Defining Your Life is an in-depth exploration of the key life concepts that shape the choices we make. Together we will discover what God’s good design is in each area and how we can get into better alignment with it. Because here’s the deal: we flourish to the extent that we are in alignment with God and his good design for all he has made. Not only will this content be transformational for you, it will equip you as a friend, a parent, an ambassador for the Kingdom, to offer others clear and compelling explanations of these critical concepts that undergird every choice we make.
How To Experience AYSF Transformative Teaching
Join Us for Our Next Live, Online Course
AYSF conducts live, online courses, typically twice a year. Grab a friend or come solo and join Christian sisters from all over the US and beyond for “theology for real life.” connect with sisters-in-Christ from other parts of the country and the world. This is an important way to enlarge our perspective beyond our usual circles and engage as citizens of a big, beautiful kingdom, led by our mutual Father and King. Contact us to find out the topic and timing of our next course.
— OR —
Invite AYSF to Teach for Your Church or Organization
Invite AYSF to teach your entire congregation, organization, or any group within it, such as your leadership team, women’s ministry, bible study group(s), community group(s), and more. Co-ed groups are welcome!
Courses
We can teach your group for a ministry season (such as September through December or January through May) or invite us to do a shorter teaching series to provide variety and complement your other studies or activities.
Retreat Speaking
Looking for a retreat speaker who will offer more than personal testimony, bible-study “light”, or rich theology with no practical equipping to live differently?
Teaching for Conferences & Events
Looking for a speaker for a conference or other event such as a special or periodic gathering (monthly, quarterly, annually)?
Customize your group’s experience by selecting:
- a teaching topic to suit your groups interests or needs from our wide array of options (contact for our complete list of topics)
- the length of the teaching experience (from a one-day for an event, a weekend retreat, or up to 12 week for a course)
- the duration of each session (typically 45 minutes – 1 1/2 hrs each)
- Truly Unique AYSF offering for maximum impact
Opt to book one-on-one biblical counseling or coaching sessions for as many of your groups members as you wish to ensure they have the support they need to apply all they are learning effectively, overcome personal obstacles, and be prepared to equip others.
More Examples of AYSF Transformative Teaching Content
Tackling Toxic Dynamics
How to be an Agent of Redemption in Challenging Relationships
Conquering The Killer A's
How To Overcome Ongoing Anxiety, Anger & Apathy (feeling “stuck” or numb)
The Beloved Body
How to Live Free of Body Hatred & Finally Flourish in Your Own Skin
Conquering The Killer A's
How To Overcome Ongoing Anxiety, Anger & Apathy (feeling “stuck” or numb)
Conquering The Killer A's
How To Overcome Anxiety, Anger & Apathy
The 5 Types of Pain may be taught together in the context of a course,
OR any of the types of pain may be selected individually as the topic of its own course, as a weekend retreat, or as a single teaching engagement.
The Beloved Body
How to Live Free of Body Hatred & Finally Flourish in Your Own Skin
We have even more topics to choose from:
Contact Us for a Complete List of Topics
Testimonial from a Ministry Leader on
AYSF Retreat Speaking:
Susan Kusmin of AYSF was an exceptional gift to the women of our church. From start to finish, she led our retreat with theological depth, spiritual sensitivity, and a pastoral warmth that immediately put women at ease. Her teaching was biblically grounded, Christ-centered, and thoughtfully prepared, yet delivered in a way that felt deeply personal and accessible to women across a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and spiritual maturity.
Susan skillfully guided us through four teaching sessions that built upon one another, creating space for both conviction and encouragement. She has a rare ability to engage the heart and the mind simultaneously—inviting women into honest self-reflection while consistently anchoring every insight in Scripture and the grace of the gospel. Her talks were rich without being overwhelming, practical without being shallow, and spiritually nourishing in a way that lingered long after each session ended.
One of the most meaningful aspects of our retreat was the additional service Susan provided by meeting one-on-one with several retreatants, offering wise, compassionate counseling and helping them thoughtfully work through personal issues that surfaced in regards to the teaching topics. The impact of this care extended well beyond the retreat itself. After our church covered the cost of that first session with Susan, several of our women pursued meeting with her on their own for ongoing counseling, a testament to the trust she built and the depth of her pastoral gift. Susan didn’t simply “speak” at our retreat; she shepherded our women with care, humility, and joy.
We wholeheartedly recommend Susan Kusmin to any church or ministry seeking a retreat speaker who combines strong biblical teaching with genuine pastoral presence. She has a remarkable gift for creating sacred space where people can encounter God, grow in their faith, and leave renewed and encouraged.
— Director of GraceCity Church Women’s Ministry, Baltimore, MD
Testimonials from Students of
AYSF Courses:
“There have been a few big instances when God’s grace, mercy, and love have overflowed in my life… and I Am Who You Say I Am is one of them. Some sessions were so powerful that for days I couldn’t stop praising God and getting emotional about “why Jesus is worthy of our praise for life.” It solidified for me that God doesn’t want my outward perfection: He wants my gaze, my ear, my trust, and the rest will follow. What I have learned has helped me be more encouraging to my friends and colleagues, affirming their specialness, as well as my own. As a parent, I want more than ever to direct my kids’ gaze to Christ so they don’t have to struggle in their identity, so they don’t have to wait until they are in their 30s like me to really get how much God loves them and how special they are, as I do now.”
“I grew up in a Christian community. However, after a few life-changing experiences, I ended up fading away. It had been years since I had been part of any sort of study group, but Defining Your Life looked intriguing. I was very interested to see what a bible-based course designed and led by a biblical counselor would be like, as I had never experienced that perspective before. Ultimately, I wanted a deeper understanding of why I believed the things that I was taught growing up. That is what led me to register for Defining Your Life, and I’m so thankful I did!
The content of the course is higher quality than anything I’d experienced before, more so than I could have imagined. Susan is passionate, wise, and very knowledgeable. Every week I learned something new and felt more empowered in what I believe and why. It completely reframed my perspective on love, freedom, money, and more. It was not only inspiring, it has changed my perspective on a lot of my relationships and given me clear direction on how to love people well, even when it is difficult. Defining Your Life has by far been the most applicable and impactful of any course or study I have been a part of in my life.”
Perfectionism plagues so many of us, with roots in our upbringing, our culture, and lies from the enemy that we’ve been repeating and believing. In How to Prevail Over Perfectionism Susan hits perfectionism at so many angles: unpacking Scripture, explaining what is really behind our behavior, building in time for silent journaling and group discussion, and offering very practical tools on how to handle different situations. Susan sticks closely to God’s word and God’s heart, while teaching in fresh ways that turn my old thinking upside down. She has a beautiful way of never being condemning, yet never feeding your pity party. She is gentle yet emboldening and empowering. Her answers are never trite, but teach us to go deeper, while always directing praise to God for showing us a better way to live. In all matters she leads you to the central question: “What difference does Jesus make?” This course provides an entire arsenal of weapons to slay the beast of perfectionism and trains you how to use them effectively. It is a true necessity!
The Forgiveness Project has been a tremendous eye-opener. Susan has the God-given ability to present biblical truth in a way that is clear, logical, and memorable. She makes the Bible come alive as she connects it to our personal lives for immediate, practical use. Following the steps of the forgiveness process outlined in this course led to a surprising experience for me. God brought to mind someone from my past whom I thought I had forgiven, but through this process I discovered deeply-embedded emotions that had held me back for a long time. It was so empowering to have it fully disclosed and addressed with God. For the first time I was able to fully experience forgiveness as it is described in the Bible. The results were astonishing: I truly feel free and filled with joy to be able to sincerely pray for the one who had wronged me after many years. The whole experience was a blessing I will cherish for the rest of my life!
“I Am Who You Say I Am has helped me see that when my identity is tied to what I do, what I look like, and who I think I should be, I will never feel like I’m enough. I get now that who I understand myself to be really impacts my decisions and how I show up in the world. I am ready to make choices that are befitting who God says I am. Being more rooted in my worth has given me confidence and enabled me to make better choices in dating, for example. Also, in a situation in which someone questions my character, I am finally able to call out the false narratives and move forward in peace. You will not be disappointed with this course! If you dare to believe and receive what God says about your identity in Christ you, too, will be set free!”
A family member started counseling with Susan about a year ago and I started noticing great changes in them. When they told me Susan was offering an open course for women I was all in! Defining Your Life has opened my eyes in a way I never thought possible. I left every class more and more hungry to learn how to be even closer to our heavenly Father. So many things in these classes have touched me, but discovering that peace, love, and forgiveness are not feelings hit me like a ton of bricks! I have lived my whole life on “feelings”: that’s how I have made decisions! To learn how these are actions that we choose -and how to do that well- was mind blowing. I am no longer at the mercy of my feelings. I have a sense of power and control I have never had before. God has used this course to liberate me as a woman, wife, mother, and first and foremost, as his beloved child.
I thought I knew about love, peace, work, success, power. But Defining Your Life has imparted a depth of wisdom that has ministered to my soul and activated my resolve to live in alignment with God in ALL areas of my life. There is Holy Spirit power in Susan’s words, all presented with wit and energy, joy, and stories – love the stories! She challenged us to pour over the Word and truly apply it to our lives. I have resources & tools now that I am using in all my relationships. I’ve felt equipped in ways I never was before in conversations with my daughters, with friends… I have grown by leaps and bounds! And all the women in the course were so great. We are younger and older; seasoned believers and seekers. We loved being together each week. By the power of His Spirit we would learn, grow, and more deeply absorb the amazing grace of the gospel. What a gift!
I immediately knew from the title that I needed to register for How to Prevail Over Perfectionism as I had stamped the title of “perfectionist” on myself for as long as I could remember. Was there a way out of this? Could I really change? I came in looking for some practical tips but I ended up getting a whole paradigm shift – a new way of thinking, and a powerful, biblical perspective on the spiritual realities at play in my life. The very first session of How to Prevail Over Perfectionism was so rich, I couldn’t imagine what else Susan could say about the topic – in 7 more sessions! But as I sat through each session, I found myself furiously taking notes. I loved how some sessions were anchored in specific Bible passages, how Susan wove in real-life stories, and how we would learn to “peel back the layers” to understand the realities underneath common perfectionistic murmurings such as “I’m not enough,” “I’m harder on myself than I am on anyone else,” “I feel like I’m an imposter” and more.
How to Prevail Over Perfectionism has given me so much hope. I CAN be free, and I CAN choose a different way! These days, I am much more aware of when the enemy is whispering lies in my ear. I used to beat myself up, hating myself for not being “better,” wishing I could just figure out how to BE PERFECT ALREADY! Now I’m holding onto truth and reminding myself that I’m in exactly the place God wants me to be and resting in the camaraderie of Jesus. This course will change you. You’ll find hope and freedom from the never-ending hamster-wheel of mistakes and self-recrimination. You’ll see that you’re not alone, that GOD is truly for you -and so is Susan and every other sister-in Christ taking this amazing course with you!
AYSF Courses:
Testimonials from Students
“There have been a few big instances when God’s grace, mercy, and love have overflowed in my life… and I Am Who You Say I Am is one of them. Some sessions were so powerful that for days I couldn’t stop praising God and getting emotional about “why Jesus is worthy of our praise for life.” It solidified for me that God doesn’t want my outward perfection: He wants my gaze, my ear, my trust, and the rest will follow. What I have learned has helped me be more encouraging to my friends and colleagues, affirming their specialness, as well as my own. As a parent, I want more than ever to direct my kids’ gaze to Christ so they don’t have to struggle in their identity, so they don’t have to wait until they are in their 30s like me to really get how much God loves them and how special they are, as I do now.”
“I grew up in a Christian community. However, after a few life-changing experiences, I ended up fading away. It had been years since I had been part of any sort of study group, but Defining Your Life looked intriguing. I was very interested to see what a bible-based course designed and led by a biblical counselor would be like, as I had never experienced that perspective before. Ultimately, I wanted a deeper understanding of why I believed the things that I was taught growing up. That is what led me to register for Defining Your Life, and I’m so thankful I did!
The content of the course is higher quality than anything I’d experienced before, more so than I could have imagined. Susan is passionate, wise, and very knowledgeable. Every week I learned something new and felt more empowered in what I believe and why. It completely reframed my perspective on love, freedom, money, and more. It was not only inspiring, it has changed my perspective on a lot of my relationships and given me clear direction on how to love people well, even when it is difficult. Defining Your Life has by far been the most applicable and impactful of any course or study I have been a part of in my life.”
Perfectionism plagues so many of us, with roots in our upbringing, our culture, and lies from the enemy that we’ve been repeating and believing. In How to Prevail Over Perfectionism Susan hits perfectionism at so many angles: unpacking Scripture, explaining what is really behind our behavior, building in time for silent journaling and group discussion, and offering very practical tools on how to handle different situations. Susan sticks closely to God’s word and God’s heart, while teaching in fresh ways that turn my old thinking upside down. She has a beautiful way of never being condemning, yet never feeding your pity party. She is gentle yet emboldening and empowering. Her answers are never trite, but teach us to go deeper, while always directing praise to God for showing us a better way to live. In all matters she leads you to the central question: “What difference does Jesus make?” This course provides an entire arsenal of weapons to slay the beast of perfectionism and trains you how to use them effectively. It is a true necessity!
The Forgiveness Project has been a tremendous eye-opener. Susan has the God-given ability to present biblical truth in a way that is clear, logical, and memorable. She makes the Bible come alive as she connects it to our personal lives for immediate, practical use. Following the steps of the forgiveness process outlined in this course led to a surprising experience for me. God brought to mind someone from my past whom I thought I had forgiven, but through this process I discovered deeply-embedded emotions that had held me back for a long time. It was so empowering to have it fully disclosed and addressed with God. For the first time I was able to fully experience forgiveness as it is described in the Bible. The results were astonishing: I truly feel free and filled with joy to be able to sincerely pray for the one who had wronged me after many years. The whole experience was a blessing I will cherish for the rest of my life!
“I Am Who You Say I Am has helped me see that when my identity is tied to what I do, what I look like, and who I think I should be, I will never feel like I’m enough. I get now that who I understand myself to be really impacts my decisions and how I show up in the world. I am ready to make choices that are befitting who God says I am. Being more rooted in my worth has given me confidence and enabled me to make better choices in dating, for example. Also, in a situation in which someone questions my character, I am finally able to call out the false narratives and move forward in peace. You will not be disappointed with this course! If you dare to believe and receive what God says about your identity in Christ you, too, will be set free!”
A family member started counseling with Susan about a year ago and I started noticing great changes in them. When they told me Susan was offering an open course for women I was all in! Defining Your Life has opened my eyes in a way I never thought possible. I left every class more and more hungry to learn how to be even closer to our heavenly Father. So many things in these classes have touched me, but discovering that peace, love, and forgiveness are not feelings hit me like a ton of bricks! I have lived my whole life on “feelings”: that’s how I have made decisions! To learn how these are actions that we choose -and how to do that well- was mind blowing. I am no longer at the mercy of my feelings. I have a sense of power and control I have never had before. God has used this course to liberate me as a woman, wife, mother, and first and foremost, as his beloved child.
I thought I knew about love, peace, work, success, power. But Defining Your Life has imparted a depth of wisdom that has ministered to my soul and activated my resolve to live in alignment with God in ALL areas of my life. There is Holy Spirit power in Susan’s words, all presented with wit and energy, joy, and stories – love the stories! She challenged us to pour over the Word and truly apply it to our lives. I have resources & tools now that I am using in all my relationships. I’ve felt equipped in ways I never was before in conversations with my daughters, with friends… I have grown by leaps and bounds! And all the women in the course were so great. We are younger and older; seasoned believers and seekers. We loved being together each week. By the power of His Spirit we would learn, grow, and more deeply absorb the amazing grace of the gospel. What a gift!
I immediately knew from the title that I needed to register for How to Prevail Over Perfectionism as I had stamped the title of “perfectionist” on myself for as long as I could remember. Was there a way out of this? Could I really change? I came in looking for some practical tips but I ended up getting a whole paradigm shift – a new way of thinking, and a powerful, biblical perspective on the spiritual realities at play in my life. The very first session of How to Prevail Over Perfectionism was so rich, I couldn’t imagine what else Susan could say about the topic – in 7 more sessions! But as I sat through each session, I found myself furiously taking notes. I loved how some sessions were anchored in specific Bible passages, how Susan wove in real-life stories, and how we would learn to “peel back the layers” to understand the realities underneath common perfectionistic murmurings such as “I’m not enough,” “I’m harder on myself than I am on anyone else,” “I feel like I’m an imposter” and more.
How to Prevail Over Perfectionism has given me so much hope. I CAN be free, and I CAN choose a different way! These days, I am much more aware of when the enemy is whispering lies in my ear. I used to beat myself up, hating myself for not being “better,” wishing I could just figure out how to BE PERFECT ALREADY! Now I’m holding onto truth and reminding myself that I’m in exactly the place God wants me to be and resting in the camaraderie of Jesus. This course will change you. You’ll find hope and freedom from the never-ending hamster-wheel of mistakes and self-recrimination. You’ll see that you’re not alone, that GOD is truly for you -and so is Susan and every other sister-in Christ taking this amazing course with you!
It’s Your Turn.
Let’s Get You Flourishing!
Join us for our next online course
or invite us to teach for your church or organization
