By Rich Peterson, Church Relations
In a tragic accident in Tanzania this past weekend, eleven members of Youth With A Mission (YWAM) lost their lives when a large truck experiencing brake failure collided with and overwhelmed one of the organization’s minibuses.
It is the largest loss of life in the history of YWAM.
As fellow workers in the mission’s enterprise, WorldVenture grieves for the families, friends, co-workers, and YWAM supporters touched by this heartbreaking calamity.
The WorldVenture family also prays for God’s healing to those who continue to struggle for life, comfort to those who are experiencing pain and loss and refreshed faith in Christ to all who trust in His sovereignty and faithfulness.
A couple of days after the event, I received a hope-filled message from a friend who has been engaged in missions with YWAM most of his adult life. He shared from the midst of his personal pain the following affirmations of steadfast conviction that need shape all of us when the worst thing happens.
- We are reminded of life’s fragility and how dependent we are on the grace of God.
- We stand on the truth that those who die in Christ cannot be in better place. They are in the eternal presence of Jesus!
- We remember that the Good News of the gospel is not that we will avoid trials (even tragedies) in this life, but that Jesus will be there to walk with us through them all.
- We remain incredibly grateful for the Lord’s presence right now when it’s hard to see and understand.
As painful as tragedy is when it occurs and even in the years that follow, our hope is in the Lord!
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. -Jim Elliot