Dr. Susan Agbenoto is a dynamic voice in faith-based leadership, spiritual renewal and personal transformation.  She is the author of New Wine: A Journey into Refueling Your Life, (Review: https://www.printedwordreviews.com/bookreviews/9798890430519), a 2025 Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite in the Christian category and just named a NYC Big Book Award Winner in the Christian category with her first title RESTORE ME!: But Privately, Please (The People Cannot Know) (review: https://www.printedwordreviews.com/bookreviews/9798385017621).

In addition to being an award winning author, Susan is a speaker in both religious and corporate forums, a lay pastor since 2013 and seasoned investment professional with over two decades of experience. She obtained her Doctor of Ministry degree from The United Theological Seminary in Dayton Ohio.

Both of Susan’s novels, New Wine and Restore Me But Privately Please, inspire readers to pursue holistic well-being through the integration of faith, purpose, and practical wisdom.

When she is not writing or working, Susan is passionate about traveling and experiencing the authenticity of other places. A devoted wife and mother of two, Susan joins us from Central Florida. 

Gabby: You’ve been a pastor for almost a decade. What led you to writing this book about receiving God’s new wine? 

Susan:  My books are all faith based. When I read the Bible, I do a lot of writing. When I  was done with my doctorate program I took all the inspired writings, and was surprised that I had 3 to 4 different books that I really had to bring together. So that’s where New Wine was born. 

Gabby:  What is the significance of New Wine?

Susan: Being a pastor for some time, I noticed that sometimes people get stuck. We often have that phase where we’re so excited about doing something new. The newness lasts for a while. 

Then all of a sudden, it drops off and you feel like you’re stuck, not moving forward, not moving backward. Take the life of a grape and the different phases the grape goes through. With each step of life, there really is new wine that is being produced.

My book tells you to hold on, don’t give up. There’s more coming. 

Gabby: 

In your own words, you say that receiving new wine is experiencing your own personal revival. 

Susan: That’s the concept of the book. New wine is that no matter what your age is, no matter what you’ve been through, no matter where you are on a spiritual journey, God is still saving the best for last. There is more that’s going to come out of you. He’s going to use you to affect even more people, and there’s greater transformation coming to your life. So don’t give up. Definitely don’t settle for status quo, whether spiritually or physically in your life, there’s more that’s coming. 

Gabby: Are there any  first steps, habits, spiritual disciplines that we can adapt to prepare to receive this outpouring? 

Susan:  The first step is to assess where you are when it comes to connecting with the Word of God. Even before that assesses where you are, it comes to a personal relationship with God. The next step is to open the Bible. There are so many resources out there: listening to other people who speak about the Bible, other people who preach messages from the Bible.  It just sort of stirs you up.

Gabby: Susan you have said “the enemy of achieving greater things in our lives is living in our past glory, traditions or past methods that aren’t working”. Please elaborate on this statement.

Susan: It’s great to hear people talk about what they’ve done, but what you’ve done is a stepping  stone to the greatest things that you can do. Living in the past in that sense, is your enemy because you are not pushed to do better, to go further, to do even more. 

Gabby: What do you hope that readers take away from New Wine both spiritually and intellectually? 

Susan: My greatest hope when you read the book, you feel hope and  inspiration and then a reconnection with God. Though you can start in a Christian home or in some form of religious home, with time you may put that away spiritually and you find yourself unfulfilled. You realize  that you start to get new meaning when you reconnect with God, when you reconnect with His Holy Spirit.  New Wine is a book to inspire and impart hope.

Listen to the entire interview on https://www.independentpressaward.com/thegabtalks/new-wine%3A-a-journey-into-refueling-your-life