From a persecuted family to helping other to trust in Jesus

Zeeneta* has experienced things in life that seem almost unimaginable, yet they are not unusual for people coming to faith in some parts of the world. Her mother was a Jesus-follower, but she married a man from different religion.

In that cultural context she needed to leave her parent’s household to live with her husband’s relatives. Her new family included grandparents, uncles, aunts, and many cousins who all lived together.

As she grew up, she watched how cruel and violent her father’s family was toward her mother.

As she described her childhood, Zeeneta explained that she was taught to be obedient. She always dressed modestly, covering her head, and she attended to all the household duties and responsibilities expected of a young girl in her community. But as she grew up, she watched how cruel and violent her father’s family was toward her mother, often beating and verbally abusing her.

The persecution grew increasingly worse over time and became life threatening when Zeeneta’s mother led her father to also believe and follow Jesus. The family was enraged and colluded together to find a way to kill her.

They put poison in her mother’s drinking water.

One time when her father was away for work, they put poison in her mother’s drinking water. Zeeneta explains the memory vividly. She watched her mother on the floor, in agonizing pain. Zeeneta was so worried that her mother was going to die. All the while Zeeneta kept hearing her mother crying “in the name of Jesus” calling Jesus to help her.

Zeeneta could not understand why her mother just didn’t convert to the religion the rest of the family followed. At times she was mad and upset with her mother for this. These relatives began persecuting and harming Zeeneta and her siblings in a variety of ways in order to get her parents to renounce their faith. 

Her parents would not deny or turn away from their faith in Jesus.

All the other cousins would get larger portions of food for instance, but she and her siblings would get scraps or go hungry. They would also be physically beaten, but her parents would not deny or turn away from their faith in Jesus.

The God her mother followed was real and powerful.

That night Zeeneta was worried that her father’s relatives would finally succeed in murdering her mother. But after a long time of calling out to Jesus, a black fluid came out of her body and her mother stood up. Feeling fine she said, “Let’s go to bed.” That is when Zeeneta realized that the God her mother followed was real and powerful.

Perplexed relatives

The next morning when Zeeneta’s mother arose healthy and fine, the relatives called in a witch doctor to explain why she was not dead. All the relatives were amazed to hear the witch doctor begin prophesying that Zeeneta’s mother followed the true and living God, and that is why the poison did not kill her.

But the persecution continued to grow. One morning Zeeneta’s uncle came into her parent’s bedroom. He dragged her mother pulling her hair, and another uncle came with an axe prepared to kill both of her parents for following Jesus. But God miraculously intervened and the family began to plan their escape.

Nearby so others might know him

Her parents were passionate about seeing other people come to know Jesus.

What confused Zeeneta was why her parents did not move far away, perhaps even to the region of the country where her mother was from. In that place there were a lot of Christians. But her parents were passionate about seeing other people come to know Jesus, so they moved away but not very far.

She faced more abuse, but she persevered.

For a couple of years her father had to remain in hiding so he was not killed. Zeeneta left school to work as a security guard. While many girls her age were dreaming about what the future might hold, she was helping her family survive. Since that is a dangerous job for a young teenage girl, there she faced more abuse, but she persevered.

Mentors saw the calling on her life.

Thankfully, some people believed in her and helped during parts of her journey. An evangelist helped her enter Bible school. Teachers encouraged her studies. Mentors saw the calling on her life and helped her continue.

Those people did not solve every problem she faced, but they opened doors and gave her room to grow. Over time God provided a way for Zeeneta to attend a deeply respected seminary in another part of the country.

What has inspired her service most has been watching her parents. Her mother and father were willing if needed to die for their faith because they wanted others to know Jesus. She explained that they were always witnessing, sharing Bibles, gospel tracks and talking to people about how much God loves them.

Rebuilding a future

As Zeeneta grew in her own faith through these various experiences, she was struck by how hard it is for people to come to faith in Jesus in certain contexts. Like in her family’s story, many are persecuted, killed or kicked out of their communities if they become Jesus-followers.

They need to grow in their faith, but they also need skills and ways to build a new future for themselves and their families. Like her family, many are forced into a life of poverty because they are forced to leave their community with nothing.

Now Zeeneta and her husband focus on finding ways to help people learn how they too can put their faith in Jesus.

Now Zeeneta and her husband focus on finding ways to help people learn how they too can put their faith in Jesus. And they also help them find a way to make a living to support their families so their children can continue to go to school, and their basic needs can be met.

They have a business that trains and employs people in ways that open new doors of opportunity. She trains others about how to think through these things and create pathways for new avenues of support and financial sustainability.

She cries with people and cares about helping them find a path forward.

Through her work Zeeneta walks with others who are hurting, who are facing hardship and persecution for their faith. She sits and listens to their stories, struggles and the abuse they experience. She cries with people and cares about helping them find a path forward, all the while being inspired by their courage, faith and resilience.  

Forgiving and staying humble

Zeeneta said, “I’ve just been realizing lately that I guess I had a difficult childhood.” She didn’t realize how traumatic her situation was because it was simply her life, and she faced each challenge and issue when it arose as best she could.

Always forgive people and be humble.

She continues to be inspired by her parents, their faithful testimony and constant desire to share their faith so others can also come to know Jesus. She said, “My mother taught me to always forgive people and be humble, no matter what. So that is how I live.”

Impacting future generations

Zeeneta’s story is not only about overcoming hardship. It is about faith, resilience, and people choosing to walk alongside others when they are needed most. Those difficult years shaped not only her faith, but also the kind of leader she would become. In Zeeneta’s life, her parents stayed near to those who did not yet know God’s love. Now, she wants to offer that same gift to others.

Zeeneta is passionate about encouraging women.

“I want to do my best with what I do today,” she says, “so the people I walk with can carry the work forward.” Today, Zeeneta is passionate about encouraging women since in many communities, women quietly carry enormous responsibilities in their homes, churches, and ministries, often with little recognition.

She wants them to know that God sees them, values them, and calls them. She knows what it feels like to be overlooked, underestimated, or to wonder whether opportunities belong to someone else. She was once that young girl herself. “God can raise up women to be leaders. It's not just men's world,” she says.

Many are coming to faith and in the process.

Though as a young girl when her family had to flee, she worried that she no longer had a future, a powerful legacy remains. Many are coming to faith and in the process, they are learning how to rebuild their lives in new ways that will impact generations.    

* For security reason’s Zeeneta’s last name is not listed. 

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.

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.