2025 March

Mar 08 2025
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Just like that

Posted by | Destiny, Devotions | No Comments
…do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. 
I will strengthen you and uphold you with my righteous right hand. 
Isaiah 41:10

By now, many of you have heard of the tragic bus accident in Tanzania on Feb 24th that took the lives of eleven key YWAM leaders. Eight others were taken to the hospital.  “Just like that,” they were gone.

Two of those killed were the base director and the training director of YWAM Arusha. The incident, involving multiple vehicles, also claimed the lives of several others, including the bus driver. By last reports two key mission leaders still remain in critical condition.

Darlene Cunningham, co-founder of YWAM, shared some of the details:

Those in the accident were all participants in the “Executive Masters in Leadership” course, based at YWAM Arusha, Tanzania. They took a field trip in two buses to Maasai land, where they observed YWAM’s thriving community development program. They had a very good day together. On the return trip to Arusha, a truck that had lost its brakes, smashed into our 2nd bus, literally crushing it from top to bottom. Eleven of our beloved friends were killed, and eight others are severely wounded, and are battling for their lives. We have not seen a tragedy of this magnitude in all of YWAM’s history and we are all devastated.

“Just like that,” they were gone.

Not only have husbands and wives, friends and co-workers been lost, but also YWAM ministry leaders. Their deaths create a massive vacuum in that part of the world for YWAM as a missionary movement. Please pray – for those who are in the hospital still struggling for their lives; for the families and friends of the deceased; for those traumatized by this event – and for the future of YWAM in Africa!

Darlene encouraged us to take hold of the truths of God, as we mourn this profound loss:

  • Hang onto the fact that, no matter what, we know that God is just and kind in all His ways (Ps 145:17).
  • Remind yourself of Job 42:2. Job had lost everything and his response was “I know that You can do all things and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” Let’s hang onto that word!
  • Remind yourself of Isaiah 41:10: “…do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
  • Remind yourself of the word over and over, especially the Psalms, where God promises us that He will protect us with His strong right arm and keep us from falling.

She added, “I like to think of Loren being there at the gates of heaven to greet and welcome these eleven beloved YWAM’ers! Our hearts rejoice knowing that they are rejoicing to be with Jesus, while at the same time, we weep for the loss of their presence among us.”

We are grieving our YWAM family that recently died in that tragic accident.

I want to encourage you today, to love those around you with all your heart. Forgive quickly. Let go of any issues that you have between you. Laugh with them today, and enjoy their company. Praise God for them. Pray for them. Love well. We never know when, “just like that,” they will be gone.

Know that we love you, we believe in you, and we are praying for you!