Today is Thursdays in Black, a global movement calling for a world without rape and violence. People across churches and communities wear black as a show of solidarity with survivors and a statement against systems that enable gender-based violence. On this day, the story of Janejinda “Jane” Pawadee carries special meaning.

In the quiet hills of northern Thailand, where culture, faith and tradition converge, Jane rises every day with a purpose. She is a law graduate, social worker and human rights advocate — above all, a voice for the voiceless.

“I was born in a country where women were oppressed, discriminated against, and treated unequally,” Jane shared her story titled “Women” in the publication Stories of Perseverance. This magazine aligns with the theme of the upcoming 27th General Council of the World Communion of Reformed Churches in Chiang Mai, Thailand: “Persevere in Your Witness.”It presents timely and compelling stories that take readers on a heartfelt journey of faith, courage, and resilience. From biblical narratives to modern struggles against racism and displacement, the magazine highlights how communities worldwide have persevered against the odds. These powerful testimonies—from churches and individuals alike—invite readers to embrace hope, justice, and solidarity.

Jane’s story begins with trauma. At age five or six, she was sexually abused. Later, as a university student, she narrowly escaped an attempted rape by a trusted friend — someone who would later become an ordained minister. She also endured emotional abuse in her marriage. And when she applied for a church leadership role, she was passed over in favor of a less qualified man.

But none of this silenced her.

“It’s easy to keep quiet when bad things happen in our lives,” she wrote. “But I chose to share my experiences to encourage and empower those who dare not speak out for many reasons.”

For Jane, justice is not an abstract ideal. It is a daily mission.

She has worked with the Church of Christ in Thailand, the International Justice Mission and LIFT International, helping remove women and children from exploitative environments — karaoke bars operating as brothels, controlled by pimps and traffickers.

“In my daily life, I often receive calls for help or advice on sexual abuse or harassment,” she said. “The first thing I do is listen carefully and tell victims or their parents not to blame themselves.”

Jane speaks as a survivor and a social worker. But also as a woman of unshakable faith.

“I live my life for God and serve those who are oppressed,” she said. “I’m not afraid of harm or danger because I believe God is looking after me and strengthening me.”

Her belief in justice flows from her faith. For Jane, the church is not only a place of worship but a space that must reflect God’s radical love for the marginalized.

“As people of God, we shouldn’t let oppression happen to our sisters, brothers and children who live around us,” she said. “We need to work for justice and witness God’s love through our actions.”

The theme of this year’s World Communion of Reformed Churches General Council — Persevere in Your Witness — finds a clear embodiment in Jane Pawadee. Her life is a testament not only to perseverance but prophetic courage. She challenges patriarchal systems, confronts impunity and walks alongside those often forgotten by institutions, including the church.

She offers a sharp but hopeful reminder: the call to faith is also a call to justice.

“Why do only women and girls carry this burden? Why not men?” she asked. “I am concerned about inequality that needs to be addressed and educated about in our families, societies, churches and communities.”

Jane’s reflections resonate especially now, as the global church gathers in her home country to discern how to witness faithfully in a fractured world.

Through Stories of Perseverance, readers are invited into a tapestry of sacred narratives. Jane’s voice emerges as one among many—shaped by pain and tempered by a profound love for both humanity and God.

“Our responsibility is to be a prophetic voice for the oppressed and to lift them up,” she affirms.

In this calling, she stands not alone but within a communion that listens, laments, learns, and acts.

Jane holds Isaiah 54:14 close to her heart: “In righteousness you will be established; tyranny will be far from you, and you will have nothing to fear.”

May her witness move us all — beyond words and into courageous action.

Note: If Jane’s story has inspired you, we invite you to share your own journey of perseverance and courage by sending your story to this email: anam.gill@wcrc.eu