02/01/2026
DR. PSL’S EXPRESSIONS OF GRATITUDE TO MY GREAT GOD!
SIX (6) DECADES +THREE (3) YEARS
JANUARY 29, 1963- JANUARY 29, 2026
In the year of our Lord, 1963, a little girl, shining as bright as the 1963 “Penny” was born and given the name “Penni” by her Mother, Martha Lee Sweetenburg. Sixty-Three (63) years later today, that same little girl, unapologetically, now shines the LIGHT OF CHRIST by serving, witnessing, testifying, teaching and preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ. What an honor and a privilege it is for me to serve God’s People.
As I meditated on my 63 years of life, my heart and my soul are overflowing with gratitude TO MY GREAT GOD WHO KEEPS ON DOING GREAT THINGS! THANK YOU, LORD for allowing me to see and experience my 63rd Birthday! In gratitude for your loving kindness towards me, I declare as the Psalmist David did In Psalm 63:3: "BECAUSE YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE, MY LIPS WILL GLORIFY YOU." (NIV).
I pause on this my 63RD BIRTHDAY, to THANK YOU GOD, FOR YOUR FAITHFUL AND STEADFAST LOVE FOR ME. BECAUSE OF YOUR LOVE, I AM COMPELED TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE, FOR YOUR NEVER-ENDING GRACE AND MERCY THAT CAUSES ME TO PRAISE YOU RELENTLESSLY. I DECLARE OH GOD, THAT YOUR LOVE FOR ME, IS MORE SUPERIOR AND SIGNIFICANT THAN MY MERE EXISTENCE.
ETERNAL GOD, because of YOUR LOVE, I have experienced 6 Decades + 3 Years of your undeniable and unimaginable LOVE that proves just how much YOU LOVE ME IN SPITE OF ME! GOD KNOWS, I’M A HANDFUL!
AS I LOOK BACK OVER MY 6 DECADES + 3 YEARS I REMEMBER…
1963-1973:
• Experienced the death of Biological Parents at the age of 6.
• Adopted, along with my siblings into a God-Fearing Family: Deacon Albert & Deaconess Rebecca Atkins.
• Relocated from Savannah Georgia to St. Helena Island, South Carolina: A proud Geechee Gullah Girl.
• Accepted Jesus Christ as My Personal Savior and Baptized at 9.
• Mentored by 2 of God’s anointed, gifted Pastors who trained me up! (Reverend Dr. Marion H. Newton and Reverend Dr. George A. Langhorne)
• Called to share the Good News of Jesus Christ at 12
• Trained and disciplined at home, in the fields, at school, in church and throughout the community by parents and the village.
• Grew up with my siblings in a blended family that encouraged and supported our dreams, desires and goals.
• Dealt with disappointments, rejection, sadness, separation and uncertainty while growing and developing in my Faith
1974-1984:
• Excelled in Elementary, Middle and High School
• Competed and Won the “World Baptist Youth” Oratorical Contest touring and speaking in Japan, China, Hong Kong and Ilo Ilo City Philippines at 15. The beginning of Evangelism as a part of purpose and mission.
• Graduated from High School with Honors
• Accepted to Hampton Institute, an HBCU in Hampton, Virginia
• Majored in Speech Communications; Minored in Theatre Arts.
• Completed Internships; Pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (Gamma Iota, Spring 83); and Survived Army ROTC.
• Dealt with disappointments, failures, hurt, pain, rejection, sadness, separation and uncertainty while navigating my Faith journey!
1985-1995:
• Graduated from Hampton (Institute) University with a B/A in Speech Communications and a Minor in Theatre Arts.
• Accepted my first job with the Federal Government and invested in my spiritual growth and development.
• Relocated to San Bernardino, California to begin a journey filled with ups and downs; hills and valleys; successes and failures covered by the Blood of Jesus Christ.
• Started Career in Higher Education with the California State University System spanning 20 years.
• Met and married my life partner, the late Gregory Ervin Lee, April 6,1989 - August 9, 2019 (30 years).
• Licensed and Ordained officially as a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ by Pastor and Mentor, Reverend Dr. Robert L. Fairley, NHMBC, San Bernardino, CA.
• Traveled abroad touring 12 countries over the span of my 30 years of marriage.
• Earned a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration, San Diego, California.
• Dealt with disappointments, failures, hurt, pain, rejection, sadness, separation and uncertainty while navigating my Faith journey!
1996-2006:
• Delivered scholarly discourse, motivational messages, keynote speeches and facilitated leadership and diversity trainings at such notable institutions as Harvard, University of Cincinnati, University of Texas, Austin, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, and so many other colleges and universities too numerous to name.
• Co-Authored my first book; “The Experiences of Black Professionals on Predominately White Campuses.”
• Founded Triple “P” Enterprises, Passionate Penni Productions
• Preached abroad on the Mount of Olives; In the Garden of Gethsemane; at Jacob’s Well and at several of the Ruins of the 7 Churches found in the Book of Revelation.
• Founded God’s Total Woman Rededication Retreat (10 years in California)
• Completed 25 Years in Southern California and obeyed God’s Directive to relocate to Richmond, Virginia to attend the best Seminary in the World, The Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University.
• Dealt with disappointments, failures, hurt, pain, rejection, sadness, separation and uncertainty while navigating my Faith journey!
2007-2017:
• Pursued Master of Divinity at Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology and graduated in 2007.
• Founded “On Kingdom Business Ministries in 2007 (OKBM)
• Served as Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management and Director of Career Services at Virginia Union University (2006-2014).
• Earned Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry Degrees at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University.
• Taught as an Instructor in the Evans-Smith Continuing Education Program in the Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University.
• Accepted leadership/administration position with the Commonwealth of Virginia (2015-present).
• Engaged in public speaking, preaching, teaching and training evangelistically throughout the U.S. for diverse denominations and churches, worship services retreats, conferences, special day services, commencements and so many other types of events.
• Dealt with disappointments, failures, hurt, pain, rejection, sadness, separation and uncertainty while navigating my Faith journey!
2018- 2026 (8 Years) progressing towards 2028…
• Received the devastating news regarding my beloved husband, Gregory Ervin Lee’s diagnosis and endured his subsequent transition from labor to refreshment in August 2019.
• Experienced grief and kept working without seeking help.
• Encouraged by the Holy Spirit to draft my obituary; get affairs in order, file important documents to alleviate additional stress on remaining family members.
• Invested in Therapeutic Care to deal with on-going stages of grief that led to Health Challenges.
• Founded a “Widows Group” to share, encourage and hang-out with others going through the grief journey.
• Created and Hosted “Conscious Raising Conversations with Dr. Penni Sweetenburg-Lee” Cable TV Show addressing educational, political and provocative topics with seasoned professionals and servants of God.
• Dealt with disappointments, failures, hurt, pain, rejection, sadness, separation and uncertainty while navigating my Faith journey.
• Engaged in on-going SELF-CARE and in strengthening my FAITH so that I can “work the work of HIM, who sent me; while it is day, for the night is quickly coming and I will no longer be able to work.” John 9:4
• Striving daily to BECOME…A BETTER VERSION OF ME.
• GET READY! GET SET! GO!
In closing, “THANK YOU, LORD” for blessing me to experience 6 DECADES + 3 YEARS of living and loving; lighting and laughing; learning and lamenting.
“THANK YOU, LORD” for correcting and counseling; receiving and rebuking; forgiving and fulfilling me for 63 Years.
“THANK YOU, LORD FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME! YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE, AND MY LIPS WILL GLORIFY YOU." PSALM 63:3 (NIV). HALLEUJIA! TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!
I remain “On Kingdom Business”
Serving In Excellence and Letting My Light Shine,
Penni
