Tanzania (MNN) — Two key mission leaders remain in critical condition following a tragic bus accident that claimed the lives of 11 Youth With A Mission or YWAM workers in Tanzania.
On Saturday, February 24, participants in a YWAM leadership course took a field trip in two buses to Maasai land, where they observed a thriving community development program. On the return trip, a truck that reportedly lost its brakes smashed into YWAM’s second bus, crushing it from top to bottom.
The accident involved four vehicles in total and at least 15 fatalities. One of the vehicles involved was carrying students and teachers from New Vision School of Arusha and a public bus.
Eleven Gospel workers were killed, including the local YWAM base leader and training director. Eight believers were severely wounded, and two remain in critical condition today. More details here.
Please pray their condition will stabilize; these believers need to be moved to a different hospital with better care. Pray their transportation goes smoothly without any complications.
Pray for the children and spouses of those who passed away. Pray that they will not grow bitter towards God.
Those who died were leaders of projects, training centers, and ministries. It is a significant hit for YWAM’s work, especially in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Pray the work that has been happening through those who passed away will not be stopped but be carried on by others. Pray that much fruit will come from these tragic deaths and that Jesus will get all the glory.
Local and international leaders from YWAM are gathering to support the team on the ground, who are now faced with many details of repatriation, medical evacuation, family support, funeral arrangements, and many other logistics.
YWAM’s crisis management team is working night and day to arrange care for the injured, support families, and get the bodies back to eight different countries for burial.
The estimated cost of all of these arrangements is approximately $350,000. Click here if you prayerfully feel led to give.
Header image courtesy of YWAM.
