Youth With A Mission (YWAM) is rallying support for its team members after 11 of its key leaders in the African region died in a horrific bus accident in Tanzania on February 24.

According to updates by YWAM, the victims were participants in the Executive Masters in Leadership course, under the University of the Nations, based in YWAM Arusha.

They had been on their way back from a field trip when a truck that had faulty brakes smashed into one of the two mini buses carrying the group.

Apart from the deceased, eight others were injured with two currently in critical condition. The other mini bus was not involved in the accident.

“We have not seen a tragedy of this magnitude in all of YWAM’s history and we are all devastated,” said Darlene Cunningham, co-founder of YWAM, in a letter to the larger YWAM family posted online.

“I am personally reeling from the weight of this news, as I knew and loved many of these individuals personally. But I am leaning into the character of God for what I know to be true about who He is.”

She added that local and international YWAM leaders are supporting team members on the ground who are arranging the details of repatriation, medical evacuation, family support and funeral arrangements, among other logistics.

“The practical tasks that need to be done by survivors at the base after a tragedy like this are enormous, all the while trying to walk through their own grief,” she said, noting that YWAM Arusha’s base leader and training director are among the deceased.

Expenses are estimated to come up to USD350,000 (SGD470,000). (Those who would like to contribute may do so here.)

Hanging on to God

In her letter, Darlene grieved the “massive vacuum” that has been left by the loss of lives.

The deceased were not only spouses, parents, friends and co-workers but “life-long committed YWAM missionary pioneers”, some of whom had been leading flourishing YWAM bases, fields of education and other spheres, and ministering in restricted-access locations, she said.

She added that YWAM Arusha has erected two tents on their grounds for family and community members to gather, pay their respects to the deceased, grieve together and support those who are affected.

“In the midst of all of this, let us choose to be stronger than we were before. Wounded? Yes we are wounded. But just as with a natural wound, when treated correctly, the surrounding muscles become even stronger than before,” she encouraged the wider YWAM community.

“Let us commit – for ourselves personally, and for those most closely impacted by this – to get the right care, to become stronger than ever before. 

“Healing is not going to take place overnight. We will have to work, care deeply for each other, and be ready to go the extra mile. But with God’s help, I know it’s wonderfully possible.”

She also urged YWAM members who are mourning to cling on to God’s Word, as well as His just and kind character (Psalm 145:17) and His presence, strength and sovereignty (Isaiah 41:10, Job 42:2).

“I have found myself in these days lifting my right arm toward heaven, and extending my hand to the Lord saying, ‘I feel like I’m slipping, but I hang onto Your strong right arm and know that I can be secure in Your loving care!’ And then I hang on with all my might,” she added.

“Dear missionary family, it is at this time we hold onto our God and each other, proving that He is always great enough to see us through every trial that we encounter.

“I like to think of Loren being there at the gates of heaven to greet and welcome these eleven beloved YWAMers,” she said, referring to her late husband, co-founder of YWAM Loren Cunningham, who passed away last October.

“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.”

Will you pray with YWAM?

• Pray for God’s comfort to be with the friends and families of the deceased who are grieving.
• Pray for the complete healing of those who are injured, and that no more lives will be lost.
• Pray for emotional healing for the survivors who witnessed the traumatic accident scene.
• Pray that God will grant His supernatural strength to the YWAM team members who are coordinating the details of repatriation, medical evacuation, family support and funeral arrangements, even as they grieve their friends.
• Pray that God will provide leaders and guidance for the YWAM ministries that now have gaps in their leadership.
• Pray that God’s glory and sovereignty will be revealed even in the midst of this tragedy.

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