Equipping Birth Professionals Worldwide

Our Directors pour out considerable amounts of time and energy to ensure that Charis continues to grow and remains the best source of education for Childbirth Professionals, while preserving the close-knit "family" atmosphere we all love so much.

Kristin Schuchmann, Executive Director
Kristin, the founder of Charis Childbirth, is a passionate pro-life advocate for the unborn, a doula, childbirth educator, and aspiring midwife who has served hundreds of childbearing families and those in crisis pregnancies since 1989.  She is the mother of four children, one grown and three whom she still homeschools.  Kristin lived in Virginia Beach, VA, her entire life until May of 2007 when she and her family moved to southwest Florida to start a network of house churches where she pastors alongside her husband Todd at New Life Church of North Port, FL, which is part of the New Life Ministries International family of churches. Her hobbies include singing, playing piano, hiking, enjoying the beach, preparing healthy gourmet meals, and, most of all, having fun with her husband and children.  Kristin is passionate about reaching the lost for Jesus Christ and helping people become healthy physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  Kristin can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .   Click here to visit Kristin's Blog.

Susan Oshel, CPM, LM, Director of Midwifery Studies
Susan, a Virginia licensed CPM, began attending births as a doula and midwife's assistant in 1977, and in 1982 attended her first birth as a primary midwife.  She grew up in Virginia Beach and spent most of her adult life in Floyd County, VA, where she served the beautiful, rural, diverse mountain community as a traditional midwife.  Along with a committed group of sister midwives, professionals and consumers, Susan successfully worked toward legalization of Certified Professional Midwives in Virginia.  In 1999, Susan developed and launched her first midwifery academics course with great results.  In addition to her expertise in women's health, reproduction, birth, lactation, infants and children, she brings to Charis her extensive education in herbs and nutrition.  In 2006, Susan joined the Charis family as our Director of Midwifery Studies and has helped Kristin to revise and improve the Charis course for childbirth professionals to include an advanced academics course for midwives that was launched in 2007.  Susan and David, her husband and highschool sweetheart, currently live in Winter Park, FL.  They have 5 grown children and seven grandchildren.  Gardening, sewing, and graphic art are just some of Susan's many talents and hobbies.  She has even found an outlet in Charis for her graphic art as our newsletter editor.  Susan can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .