A Christian Woman in Yemen: Zahra’s Story
For Christian women like Zahra, life in Yemen is fraught with danger.
One gloomy weekday, Zahra* received the call: “Anis* was killed.”
Anis was Zahra’s brother in Christ and ministry partner. “I used to talk to young girls and women while he served the men,” Zahra says. “It was a fruitful time, and God was working through us!”
Then one day, extremists killed Anis.
“I was shocked. I couldn’t believe it,” Zahra remembers. “He was killed because he was a Christian. He told me to take care of his family if the extremists ever carried out their threats. But in that moment, I couldn’t help them. I needed to help myself first. I needed God more than ever.”
Zahra knew she could be targeted next – all because she is a Christian in Yemen.
Living in two worlds
It is daunting to live out your faith in a country like Yemen, especially as a woman. And yet, in a country where women are considered insignificant, God chose Zahra to be His messenger amidst the darkness, to bring light to the people around her—especially women.
Growing up, Zahra navigated a complex journey between two worlds: a conflict between her personal faith in Jesus and external conformity to her culture. In Yemen, Islam is intertwined with the culture. At home, she was nurtured by the teachings of the Bible, as her father was dedicated to sharing the teachings of Jesus with his children every day. These lessons built a firm foundation, which provided her with love and purpose.
But at school, she was forced to meet the external expectations placed upon her, such as participating in Islamic rituals and studying the Quran. This dual existence created an internal struggle for her. “I felt torn between the life I lived at school and the personal relationship I developed with Christ at home,” she recalls.
Additionally, Zahra was bullied, heightening the difficulty of her school years. “Children at school used to call me ‘kafira,’ meaning ‘infidel,’, knowing that I come from a non-Muslim family,” she remembers.
“During those times, I chose to remain silent instead of replying back, to prevent any additional humiliation and harassment.”
Yet Zahra believes these experiences have made her stronger by God’s grace: “My faith and trust in God’s sovereignty became firm and deep as He kept me safe throughout these foundational years.”
The early years
Because of the role of fathers in Yemen, Zahra’s father’s faith was the most dangerous for his family. During periods of heightened pressures, her father would leave his family until the danger had subsided, prioritizing the safety of his family. These times of separation often made Zahra afraid of losing her father for good. “I didn’t know if I would be able to see him again,” she says. “I was scared as my father is what kept our family secure. His absence weighed heavily on me.”
But again, God’s hand seemed to be at work in even these difficult absences. As a result of several similar incidents, Zahra grew in her faith in Jesus, trusted Him and in return, God gave her unimaginable peace, helping her understand that He’s in control and He will keep her and her family safe.
During her formative years, the available Christian resources were scarce. And Zahra didn’t have the option of going to church to grow in faith—there are no official churches in Yemen, only house churches that meet in secret.
During her formative years, the available Christian resources were scarce. And Zahra didn’t have the option of going to church to grow in faith—there are no official churches in Yemen, only house churches that meet in secret.
"The Christian TV channel became a window to a world that shared and understood my beliefs; a world where I felt connected to a family from all around the globe."
“My father received different spiritual books, one copy every once in a while, back when there were missionaries inside the country,” she says. The books arrived with different pictures on the cover, hiding the reality of what was inside the pages.
“Those books were treasures to us. My father would teach us from the Word of God often, but in addition to the Bible lessons, my spiritual path was enriched by sermons and worship songs I watched on TV. The Christian TV channel became a window to a world that shared and understood my beliefs; a world where I felt connected to a family from all around the globe. My siblings and I waited impatiently, every day, to watch together. It was my main source, at that time, to learn about Jesus and see how others around the world worship Him.”
After graduating from high school, Zahra felt called by God—she wanted to tell others about Jesus! However, that wasn’t an easy task in a country and culture like Yemen.
Being a Christian Woman in Yemen means risking rejection from family, and harrassment - or worse - from neighbours.
The beginning of ministry in a hostile place
“I wanted to continue my education, so I enrolled in a university, which was away from home,” she says. Zahra had to take daily trips either by bus or taxi to attend classes and then come home—not a common practice among girls in her country.
In the taxi rides to attend her classes, Zahra would sit in the passenger’s seat, right next to the driver. She was afraid to sit in the back where others could sit next to her and assault her. The violence and instability caused by the ongoing civil war in Yemen has made sexual assault an increased danger for women
Every trip, back and forth, hundreds of negative thoughts crossed her mind. What if they take me somewhere else? What if they stab me? What if they beat me up?’ Neighbours and locals knew that I was a Christian.”
In spite of the obstacles, Zahra pressed on with her education, knowing that God was by her side.
“People used to look at me differently, but I praise God that He gave me courage and wisdom, and He led the way,” she says.
At university, Zahra wanted to tell her classmates about Jesus, but it wasn’t easy. In a country like Yemen, it is extremely difficult to think of anything outside of the realm of Islam. And for Yemeni women, the difficulty is even greater; leaving Islam requires great risk. “When you convert, especially as a woman, you are looked at as someone who has sold herself to this ‘other world,’” Zahra says. “It is extremely difficult to face society.”
In Yemeni society, women are objectified and are considered to have a less developed brain. For instance, if a single woman decides to explore any religion outside Islam, she might be physically abused simply for having such thoughts or considerations.
“If you make a decision to ‘follow Jesus,’ your family will most likely confine you inside the house, basically a permanent imprisonment,” Zahra explains. “This is mainly because of the family’s honor. The Yemeni family takes pride in its religion, so they prefer to take care of a rebel themselves rather than exposing them to the authorities, as this might ruin the reputation of the entire family or tribe. While if a young man decides to follow Jesus, it can be easier sometimes, since men can leave the house after a certain age and will be able to live alone, unlike a single girl. There is no such thing as a woman living alone. The culture does not accept it.”
Still, Zahra continues her ministry, sharing her faith with women around her. What began in her university courses has continued into daily life. “I am honestly comforted and encouraged when I see how the church in Yemen, though in secret, is growing!” she says. “Yes, it is difficult, especially when other Yemenis do not even confess that there are Christians inside Yemen. However, we dream with God and we know there are real Christians living for the Lord in our country.”
‘Despite the dangers, God is at work’
Today, Zahra serves as the leader of a women’s ministry in Yemen. She is pioneering this ministry and is one of only a handful of people reaching out to Yemeni women. Her experiences have given her the empathy and understanding to deeply touch the lives of the women she reaches. Zahra disciples several women, meeting them face-to-face and creating a safe space for them to deepen their faith.
Although this puts her at great risk, witnessing the spiritual growth of these women over time has not only been a source of great joy for Zahra but has also reinforced her belief in her calling.
“I believe God has put me in this place to impact the lives of these women,” she says. “To bring them hope, and to reflect the true light of Christ amidst the horrific situation we are all living in.”
Zahra knows she is followed by secret police. “We live among wolves, and we know that,” she explains. “We know that very well.”
However, this does not stop her ministry. “We are afraid of the extremists and the government itself, as at this point, they all work together against Christians,” she says. “This reality discourages us a lot of times, especially that we can’t go out with boldness to tell others about Jesus. Spies are also a worrisome source so we are very careful with whom we meet, and this is why we are always very careful in all our meetings and conversations.
“At the same time, we know that we are stewards of God’s commandments. I have chosen this way, and I know of the trials that come alongside this decision. Jesus took my pain, my suffering and my guilt; He carried His cross, and now it is my turn to carry the cross and continue the journey.”
Zahra’s ministry combines both courage and wisdom. “We hold two meetings per week; one includes a Bible study and worship; the other is a discipleship meeting,” she says. “I also focus on visits. I know that sometimes when I enter a house, I might not come back out. Additionally, I cannot carry the Bible with me. They can search me at any checkpoint on the way, so I try to memorize as much as I can before the visit.
Listening to God’s voice
Zahra’s thirst for a deeper relationship with Christ reflects a profound commitment to her spiritual journey and her role as a leader within her community. She recently decided to enroll in a two-year leadership coaching journey with one of Open Doors’ coaching schools. “It’s been only a few months since we began, and I’ve already learned a lot,” says Zahra. “My longing for studying and knowing more about Christ increases by the day.”
Through the coaching school, Zahra will focus on character development and its effect in leadership. Her engagement in Bible studies, sermons and devotions will help deepen her spiritual roots, providing nourishment for both her personal faith and her capacity to guide. This leadership coaching journey allows Zahra to create a ripple effect that empowers other women to grow in their faith, discover their potential and eventually become leaders themselves.
“I hope to lead by example,” Zahra says. “The skill set I’m building will definitely help me serve the Yemeni women better. I am determined to stay here despite the risks to my comfort and safety because I believe everyone deserves to hear about God’s love. I wish I could share the gospel with every woman in Yemen, but I cannot do this alone. I need more people to help me. Pray for me, that God will give me the strength and guide me to hear His voice, so I can serve Him. I respect the ones who reject Jesus, but my hope is that all women will have an honest chance to hear of Jesus and receive His grace.”
Open Doors partners help Christians in Yemen through prayer campaigns, food and medical aid, rental assistance for house churches and safe houses, discipleship and leadership training, social media ministry, trauma care, counseling and more.
*names changed for security reasons.
