October 2, 2025, 1:59pm MDT
She felt like a failure when Grace Ninsima took her four children to escape from an abusive marriage. After starting a new life in Uganda, she didn’t want anyone to know her story.
That is, Jane Clayson Johnson was producing BYU -Pathways around the world, before approaching Ninsima about sharing her story in the documentary Johnson.
Clayson, an Emmy Award-winning journalist and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, began filming her documentary, Ninsima received her bachelor’s degree from BYU-Pathway, worked for two people and cared for her children.
By the time the documentary was completed, Ninsima had a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and was the area manager for BYU -Pathway.
Johnson’s new documentary, “Pathway to Hope,” highlights the sacrifices and achievements of African BYU-Pathway students like Ninsima.
“What I saw in Africa has changed me deeply,” Johnson told Church News. “It was very inspiring to me to hear about what I went through at these students’ homes, their lives, and the sacrifices they make to get an education. I’ve never seen anything like that.”
Johnson introduced her documentary and gave a 20-minute preview on September 30th at the BYU Campus Forum.
What is the unique reason for Byu -Pathway?
In her documentary, Johnson said that only 9% of Africa’s population attends university.
But Johnson said, “The revolution is unfolding quietly across the continent.”
BYU-Pathway Worldwide gives African students the opportunity to “ignor the odds” by providing high-quality, low-cost, spiritually central education online.
Currently, over 85,000 students from 180 countries are registered on BYU -Pathway, with over half of African students enrolled.
Elder Clark G. Gilbert – a 70-person, church education committee member – said in a BYUTV news release he summed up in hopes that BYU-Pathway is a one-word.
“We have a career where we can take people who can barely afford to support families who can barely survive, get educated, employable jobs, and ultimately they can become independent and serve, guide and build other people.”
Johnson said BYU-Pathway is democratizing education through innovations such as three years of bachelor’s degree, certificates, support for service missionaries and the impact of scholarships.
“But the reason Byu-Pathway works is because it is sacred inspiration.
Various situations, similar beliefs
According to “Pathway to Hope,” 74% of African BYU-Pathway students struggle to find even two meals a day, while 76% do not have stable housing or reliable internet.
Why does Johnson want Provo, Utah students to know about African students?
“Their situation is very different from you,” she said. “But their faith in Jesus Christ and their devotion to his gospel are the same.”
Johnson spoke about the resilience and determination of BYU-Pathway students and asked the world to hear their stories.
“These Byu-Pathway students are amazing and what we all sacrifice to earn their college degrees, raise our families and advance our lives is something we all think can learn.”
She later said, “After working on this documentary, I know more than ever that the Lord knows all his children.”
Johnson called BYU-Pathway “one of the great miracles of our time,” and invited Provo BYU students to consider some of the miracles as themselves.
“Never take your education here for granted,” she said. “It’s sacred stewardship.”
Continuous story
Ninzima traveled to Utah and attended the documentary BYU forum and pre-screening that night.
“Being here today helped me realize that Heavenly Father has a bigger perspective,” she told Church News.
Ninsima explained that ten years ago, he could not imagine God making something beautiful from his own difficulties.
When she saw the documentary on the forum, she considered Doctrine and Contract 122:7.
At that moment, she felt that God had reassured her.
She thought her courage and strength would support her family and continue her education to the power of Christ’s tone sin.
“I feel I can trust my Savior,” she said. “There’s nothing to come to me at this point. I don’t care what it is. Savior, there’s nothing impossible for him.”
