Trizenia September is the Director of Doulos Hope operated by GBA Ships, an international Christian organization that shares knowledge, help, and hope for the transformation of lives and communities around the world. For more than two decades, she has been joining God in mission locally, regionally, and in many different nations.
Earliest roots in local service
Long before she stepped into global leadership, Trizenia’s understanding of service and faith was taking shape in the township communities of East London, South Africa. In those early years, she watched her parents live out a powerful example of following Jesus, serving others and trusting God in everyday life. She was greatly shaped by the faith of her family.
As the only daughter, she learned early the importance of responsibility and service at home. Looking back, she reflects upon those early influences. “My parents showed me that faith is not only something we talk about. It’s something we live in the way we serve people.”
Following Jesus meant serving people and participating in His mission wherever he leads.
Growing up in East London, faith was not abstract. She saw people depend on God in real situations, and these are experiences that continue to shape how she understands faith and service today. Following Jesus meant serving people and participating in His mission wherever he leads.
First journey into global mission
In 2004, Trizenia joined Operation Mobilization (OM). At that time, she began serving with GBA ships, starting a journey that would take her to many countries. She traveled from port to port engaging communities through floating book fairs, educational events, and frequent opportunities to participate in holistic mission. They welcomed thousands of visitors who encountered a wide range of books and learning resources for the first time. “Ships create a unique meeting place,” Trizenia explains. “People from different cultures come together, learn from one another, and begin conversations that might not happen otherwise.”
Training younger leaders
After serving with GBA ships for 4½ years, Trizenia returned to Africa with a deeper understanding of global mission that impacted her work. She became involved in OM’s Missions Discipleship Training (MDT) program, which prepares young people for mission service and cross-cultural ministry.
The future of the church often grows through patient investment in people.
Working with students left a deep impression on her. “Those years were incredibly meaningful,” Trizenia says. “You see young people reflecting on what it means to follow Jesus with their whole lives.” Mentoring these emerging leaders deepened her understanding of mission and showed how the future of the church often grows through patient investment in people.
Pursuing missions education
After more than a decade of ministry experience, Trizenia sensed the need to pause and reflect on questions she was encountering. She traveled to England to study biblical and intercultural studies, a season that gave her time to deeply think about culture, theology, and mission.
“It gave me space to reflect on important questions,” she explains. “Especially about the African context and how believers from Africa participate in God’s global mission.” Her reflection continued when she later completed a master’s degree in theology focusing on missiology on the African continent.
Living African missiology
Later Trizenia served as Associate Area Leader for OM’s work in Africa, helping support leadership development and mission engagement across the region. In this role she began to help fellow African’s gain a broader understanding of mission as it has been unfolding in our current era.
We had to reintroduce God as the initiator of mission. It’s not about organizations.
She explains, “So often we think mission begins with organizations, but we had to reintroduce God as the initiator of mission. It’s not about organizations. It’s not about people or missionaries coming to help us.” In her teaching and leadership, she began framing Africa’s mission message as an essential part of “God’s Kingdom story.”
It was at this time when she again connected with GBA Ships. As Logos Hope prepared to spend a year in Africa, she was asked to design the messaging that would be shared as they traveled to various countries and ports.
As they visited nation after nation, pastors and church leaders explored this new mission paradigm, and it has opened the doors for many within their congregations to actively participate in what God is doing locally and around the globe. It has birthed greater engagement and excitement in churches in many parts of the continent.
Trizenia continues to contribute to initiatives such as the Centre for Missionaries from the Majority World (CMMW) and Majority World Christian Leaders Conversations (MWCLC), where leaders reflect on the future of Christian mission and the growing participation of leaders from Africa and other Majority World (Global South) contexts.
Leading missions globally
Because of her excellent and fruitful work in Africa, Trizenia was asked recently to serve as Director of Doulos Hope. The name of the ship she now leads also carries meaning. An earlier vessel called Doulos served communities around the world for decades before retiring in 2010. Today that legacy continues through Doulos Hope alongside Logos Hope.
The word doulos comes from Greek and means servant.
The word doulos comes from Greek and means servant, a fitting description for a ship whose purpose is to bring hope, learning, and encouragement to the ports it visits. And a fitting description that ties to the roots of what Trizenia learned about mission from her family and community in South Africa so long ago.
Her appointment also marks an important milestone. In approximately 60 years of GBA Ships’ work, Trizenia is the first woman to serve as director of one of these vessels. She prefers to not dwell on that though.
She explains, “Growing up under Apartheid meant we were limited with certain experiences but were taught how to be resilient and know that our realities shaped us but did not define who we are or what we can become.” She prefers to focus on being faithful rather than on being the first woman in the role.
Life on board reflects the diversity of the global church. Crew members come from many nations and cultures, and living together requires humility, patience, and shared purpose.
Leadership is not about standing above others but serving alongside them.
For Trizenia, leadership is not about standing above others but serving alongside them. “At the end of the day,” she says, “this is about people responding to God’s invitation to serve.”
The lessons guiding her leadership today began in the township communities of South Africa, shaped by parents who demonstrated what faithful service looks like in everyday life. She has also learned from many others along the way.
Through each step of the journey, Trizenia’s calling shines brightly as she encourages everyone around her to follow Jesus faithfully and help others discover their place in God’s mission.
Mary Lederleitner has a MA in Intercultural Studies from Wheaton College and a PhD in Educational Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS). She has taught as an Adjunct Professor in the graduate programs at both institutions, and currently in the D.Min. Program at TEDS. Mary served for twenty years in a variety of global leadership roles with Wycliffe Global Alliance and SIL Global. She has authored books including Women in God’s Mission: Accepting the Invitation to Serve and Lead which won a book-of-the-year award from Christianity Today in the Missions / Global Church Category. Mary now serves as Associate Professor and Director of the Women’s Institute at William Carey International University.
Benjamin (Ben) Mudahera is a Guest Writer at the Women’s Institute at William Carey International University. Ben is a development practitioner and writer who is currently completing a Master of Arts in Development Studies, specializing in Global Women’s Empowerment. Ben has over 15 years of experience serving across humanitarian and development organizations in Rwanda. His experience spans education, refugee affairs, WASH, and community development, with a strong focus on supporting women, youth, and marginalized communities. Through his writing, Ben brings a people-centered, reflective, and faith-informed perspective, seeking to amplify stories of dignity, leadership, and transformation.
William Carey International University (WCIU) seeks to provide innovative distance education to enhance the effectiveness of scholar-practitioners as they serve with others to develop transformational solutions to the roots of human problems around the world.
