Tragedy

Sept 4, 2024

Yesterday at the YWAM gathering, we listened to a woman leader whose best friend was in the Tanzania bus accident seven months ago that killed long-term leaders known for teaching and sharing the gospel inside the “sensitive” areas where they could be put into prison or killed. Her friend lived, but 10 leaders perished that day, and two more in a different accident. That led to fewer representatives in regions who didn’t have access to the Bible or places to be trained.

She admitted the questions that arose in her were beyond answers for this side of heaven. She prayed “What question should I ask?” At the end, she heard, “Gear up!” Then, she challenged us to let go of internal divisions that disrupted unity. She also appealed to letting go of trying to escape through other diversions, such as watching Netflix for hours to escape reality. The whole place filled with “shepherds” took this message to heart, many standing in the massive auditorium as there was no room to move forward. I, too, looked at how I spent my time and acknowledged deep needs that only Jesus can resolve, not my willpower. (it’s time for me to go, this is a takeaway of yesterday’s experiences.)