Today we’d like to introduce you to Apostle Prophetess Dr. Shekanah Hill-Tetteh.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey has never been about chasing titles or recognition—it has always been about answering God’s call and serving people. Before I became an author, counselor, speaker, and ministry leader, I was simply a little girl who loved God but had to discover His purpose for my own life.
I was raised in Detroit, Michigan, in a ministry family as the daughter of the late Apostle/Pastor Stephen Oliver Hill Sr. and Vivian Hill. As a pastor’s kid, church was not just something we attended—it was our way of life. From a very young age, I experienced dreams, prophetic encounters, and moments where I sensed God’s hand upon my life. By the age of six, I was having dreams and speaking things that would later come to pass. Throughout my childhood, numerous leaders prophesied over my life concerning God’s calling.
However, growing up as a pastor’s kid did not mean I always embraced that calling. Like many young people, I wanted to live life on my own terms. I wrestled with my identity, questioned my purpose, and at times wanted to pursue my own desires instead of God’s plan. Looking back now, I realize that even during the seasons when I was trying to find my own way, God never stopped pursuing me.
Life has not always been easy. My story includes seasons of rejection, trauma, heartbreak, loss, disappointment, and personal struggles. There were moments when I questioned whether I would ever overcome the pain I had experienced. But I have learned that God wastes nothing. Every trial became preparation. Every setback became a lesson. Every wound became an opportunity for healing—not only for myself but for the people I would one day serve.
At 17 years old, I preached my first sermon under the leadership of Pastor Gerald T. Miller and Lady Diane Miller at Elyton Missionary Baptist Church. That moment confirmed something that God had been cultivating in me for years. Although I acknowledged my calling early in life, it took time for me to fully embrace it.
My educational journey has also played a significant role in preparing me for my assignment. I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management with a concentration in Human Resource Management, followed by a Master’s degree with an emphasis in Health Administration. I later received a Doctor of Ministry degree while also becoming a Certified Christian Counselor, Certified Life Coach, Ordained Crisis Chaplain, and author. I believe education and spiritual development work hand in hand, allowing me to serve people with both practical wisdom and biblical truth.
In 2018, I publicly embraced the prophetic office after years of wrestling with it privately. Along the way, God connected me with respected prophetic and apostolic leaders who spoke into my life and affirmed what He had already been revealing to me. Then, in 2021, during a time of prayer, I clearly sensed the Lord saying, “You are not just My prophet, but My apostolic gift to the Body of Christ.” Since then, my assignment has expanded beyond prophetic ministry into equipping, building, and establishing believers to walk in maturity and purpose.
Today, I have the privilege of serving as the founder of Shekanah Joy Ministries, The Birthing Prayer Chambers, Women of Prestige Arise, Be Thou Restored Counseling and Coaching Services, and Extending a Helping Hand Outreach. Through these organizations, my mission is to equip people spiritually while also meeting practical needs through counseling, mentoring, leadership development, and community outreach.
One vision that is especially close to my heart is establishing transitional housing and support programs for women and families in need. I believe ministry extends beyond the church walls and should address both spiritual and practical needs. Whether through counseling, outreach, or discipleship, my desire is to see lives restored and transformed.
I have also been blessed to minister through conferences, television broadcasts, podcasts, and teaching platforms while authoring books focused on healing, identity, spiritual growth, and breaking destructive cycles. Every opportunity reminds me that influence is not about platform—it’s about stewardship.
Above all else, I am a wife to my husband, George Tetteh, and a mother. Those roles continually remind me that ministry begins at home and that leadership is rooted in humility, love, and service.
At the heart of everything I do is one simple mission: helping people discover who God created them to be. So many people spend their lives trying to fit into someone else’s identity because of rejection, trauma, or labels that were spoken over them. My passion is helping people break those cycles, embrace their God-given identity, and walk boldly in their purpose.
If there is one thing my journey has taught me, it is that purpose is often birthed through process. The trials didn’t break me—they prepared me. Every difficult season became another reminder that God is faithful to complete what He begins. My greatest desire is to honor Him with my life and to encourage others that no matter where they have been or what they have faced, God can redeem every part of their story for His glory.
I believe we are all called to occupy the spaces God has entrusted to us with excellence, integrity, and compassion. If my story inspires even one person to keep believing, keep healing, and keep pursuing God’s purpose, then every part of the journey has been worth it.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has been anything but smooth. My journey has been marked by seasons of pain, loss, rejection, disappointment, and personal refinement. There were times when I questioned my purpose, wrestled with my calling, and wondered if I was truly equipped for what God was asking of me.
Growing up as a pastor’s kid came with its own challenges. People often assume that because you are raised in church, life is easier, but ministry families face real battles too. There was a season when I wanted to live life on my own terms instead of fully embracing the calling God had placed on my life. Looking back, I realize God was patiently shaping me even when I didn’t understand the process.
Throughout my life, I have endured trauma, abuse, rejection, homelessness, financial hardship, broken relationships, and seasons where I felt forgotten. One of the deepest valleys of my life was losing both of my parents within a year of each other. My father passed away in February 2022, and my mother followed in February 2023. Losing them both was heartbreaking. They were not only my parents but also instrumental in shaping my faith and my foundation. Navigating grief while continuing to lead, serve, encourage others, and remain faithful to my own calling required a level of strength that only God could provide. Their passing taught me to trust God in ways I never imagined and reminded me that even in our deepest sorrow, He remains faithful.
One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is that public ministry is often built in private places of surrender. Before people see the platform, they don’t see the tears, the prayers, the disappointments, or the years spent serving faithfully behind the scenes. There were seasons when I felt overlooked and misunderstood, but those moments taught me humility, perseverance, and complete dependence on God.
I also faced the challenge of balancing family, education, ministry, and career while continuing to grow personally. Earning advanced degrees, writing books, building ministries, counseling others, and serving my community required discipline and sacrifice. There were many days when I had to choose obedience over comfort.
Perhaps one of the most defining moments of my life came in June 2025, when I experienced a near-death encounter. In that moment, I realized just how precious life is and how urgent God’s assignment truly is. That experience deepened my commitment to live intentionally and fulfill every purpose God has entrusted to me.
Today, I don’t view my struggles as setbacks. I see them as evidence of God’s faithfulness. Every trial strengthened my faith, increased my compassion, and equipped me to walk alongside others in their own seasons of pain. My story is proof that God can redeem even the most difficult chapters of our lives. The struggles did not define me—they refined me. They taught me that purpose is often forged in adversity, and that what God brings you through can become the very thing He uses to help someone else find hope.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am the founder of Shekanah Joy Ministries, The Birthing Prayer Chambers, Women of Prestige Arise, Be Thou Restored Counseling and Coaching Services, and Extending a Helping Hand Outreach, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering individuals through spiritual growth, counseling, leadership development, education, mentorship, and community outreach. Together, these organizations are designed to meet both spiritual and practical needs, helping people heal, grow, and thrive.
Through Be Thou Restored Counseling and Coaching Services, I provide Christian counseling, life coaching, leadership development, and personal growth resources that help individuals navigate life’s challenges while discovering their God-given purpose. Through Women of Prestige Arise, I equip women to embrace their identity, grow in confidence, develop spiritually, and become effective leaders in every area of life. The Birthing Prayer Chambers focuses on discipleship, intercessory prayer, and equipping believers to grow deeper in their relationship with God. My nonprofit, Extending a Helping Hand Outreach, is committed to serving individuals and families through resources, mentorship, and my long-term vision of establishing transitional housing and support services for those in need.
In addition to these organizations, I write books, develop discipleship courses, teach biblical leadership, speak at conferences, and mentor emerging leaders. I have been working in healthcare since 2011. Everything I create is designed to provide practical tools that help people experience lasting transformation—not just temporary inspiration.
What sets my organizations apart is our commitment to building people, not religion. We believe true transformation happens through authentic relationships, sound biblical teaching, accountability, healing, and practical application. Our goal is not simply to fill seats or create religious experiences, but to develop healthy, whole people who understand their identity and confidently walk in their purpose.
One of the areas I specialize in is helping people break free from the cycles of rejection, trauma, fear, and false labels that often keep them from reaching their full potential. I believe when people understand who they are, they begin to live differently. Restored identity produces restored purpose.
What I’m most proud of isn’t a title, platform, or accomplishment—it’s seeing lives transformed. Watching someone who once felt broken become confident, seeing families restored, leaders developed, and people discover hope again is the greatest reward.
If I want readers to remember one thing about my brand, it’s this: We build people, not religion. My mission is to help individuals encounter God in a real way, discover who they were created to be, and live lives of purpose, integrity, and impact. When people are transformed from the inside out, they don’t just change themselves—they change their families, their communities, and future generations. That is the legacy I hope to leave.
How do you think about happiness?
What brings me the greatest joy is seeing lives transformed. There is nothing more fulfilling than watching someone who once felt broken, rejected, or without direction discover hope, healing, and purpose. Whether through counseling, teaching, mentoring, or simply praying with someone, seeing people realize their value and begin walking confidently in who they were created to be is incredibly rewarding.
Outside of ministry, I treasure spending quality time with my husband and children. I love spending quality time with my extended family. They remind me that my first ministry begins at home. I also enjoy reading, writing, studying Scripture, traveling, and continuing to learn. I’m naturally curious and believe there is always room to grow personally, professionally, and spiritually.
Above all, I find joy in the presence of God. Quiet moments of prayer and reflection are where I find strength, clarity, and peace. Those moments continue to shape not only who I am but also how I serve others.
At the end of the day, happiness for me isn’t found in titles or accomplishments. It’s found in knowing that I’ve honored God, loved people well, and helped someone move one step closer to becoming who they were created to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shekanahjoyministr.wixsite.com/iamshekanahjoy
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamdrshekanahtetteh_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1MHtG8SbX4/
