A Widow’s Journey: From Grief to Global Impact at United Nations

Susan Troth, associate professor of worship at Cedarville University, will have the opportunity to address dignitaries from around the world at the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). The conference will take place Thursday, March 13 at United Nations Headquarters in New York.  

The CSW is a global body advancing gender equality, promoting women's rights and empowering them by shaping global standards.  

Troth’s three-to-five-minute speech, "A Bedrock of HOPE in a Digital Age," will center on the acronym HOPE — Holy Bible, Obedience, Prayer and Endurance. She will also share insights from her best-selling new book, “Stressed to Splessed,” in which she recounts her journey of finding peace in God’s sovereignty amid life’s trials, including becoming widowed in 2017 and surviving her own near-death experience three years later. 

Troth was selected to speak at the U.N. after passing multiple rounds of performance evaluations by a panel of TED Talk judges. With her place on the schedule confirmed, Troth faces one final challenge: memorizing the speech. 

“There is an aspect of faith that if God opens the door, then He’s going to provide,” said Troth. 

Her speech is intended to encourage women facing hardships, emphasizing the power of faith and dependence on Christ. Reflecting on her own experiences, Troth expresses gratitude for God’s faithfulness through adversity. Troth’s impact will extend beyond her speech. She will have the opportunity to include an excerpt from her book to the event's gift bags which will be distributed to dignitaries at the event.  

Speaking at the UN is an answer to Troth’s prayers. This opportunity is an example of the of God's goodness which is prevalent in both her book and speech. It is another step in her journey of coaching other women to face life’s struggles through dependence on the God’s faithfulness. 

Cedarville's Bachelor of Arts in worship degree, designed to equip students with a rewarding career as a worship leader. As a worship major, students study music, theology, worship, and multimedia while choosing a practical area for concentrated study such as electronic media, music, theatre, pre-seminary, or communication.  

The university also offers a Master of Arts in Worship and Theology (MAWT). With Cedarville’s accelerated model, students can complete a bachelor's degree in worship plus the MAWT in four or five years. 

Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and gradate programs across arts, sciences, and professional fields. With 6,384 students, it ranks among Ohio's largest private universities and is recognized by the Wall Street Journal as being among the nation’s top three evangelical universities. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics, and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.