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!
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Darlene encouraged us to take hold of the truths of God, as we mourn this profound loss:
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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.
Many of you have mentioned that you are interested in music, worship, & songwriting. I’ve taught many songwriting classes and written hundreds of songs over the years. But lately the Lord has been challenging me to sing a new song to Him every day. Songs that I don’t write down, and record, but songs that are just for Him.
One way to draw near to God is to come to Him with our praises. I believe that our sacrifice of praise catches God’s attention as we draw near to Him. Creating an atmosphere of praise, and encouragement, and being positive releases God to draw near to us and to move on our behalf.
In January, Dutch Sheets challenged the body of Christ in the USA to a new assignment – to Protect America’s Waterways. The Ekklesia of America is responding to the call of God to pray and intercede to protect America’s waterways. You can read more about the dream that started this challenge on his website at 
I believe that we are in the midst of a great transition from the current age of corruption and control, into a new Kingdom Age, where the love and glory of God is known throughout the world. 
“Using the Arts in Spiritual Warfare.” It is one of our new exciting online classes, where we teach our students how to become Creative Warriors! Each week we look at one different art form and how it can be used in spiritual warfare. We are raising up an army of Creative Warriors to declare and decree what God is saying to this generation through art and artistic expressions!
Another popular class, is our, “Live Streaming Video Production School,” taught by Jeff Tharp. By the end of the class, you will have developed, produced, and broadcast the first three episodes of your new Live Streaming Video show!
The last week of November, Jimmy Owens, graduated to Heaven, where he joined his wife Carol. Jimmy was a gifted songwriter, as well as the co-leader of the School of Music Ministries International, where I began my journey as a missionary. Earlier this year, when Carol passed away, I wrote to you about them, and how much they mean to me. I also wrote to you, in October, that Loren Cunningham, the co-founder of Youth With a Mission International, had passed away. I loved them all dearly. I will always be grateful for the impact they made on my life. Each of them fought an excellent fight, and kept the faith.
This month I have been super busy on some new projects. But, what I hear the Lord saying, is “REST.” Maybe its a word you need to hear today too…
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