Wedding, Visitors, Visa & Funding - LTLA Prayer Bulletin - December 2025

 

Dear Praying Friends, This Saturday LTLA team member, Marvelous, will get married to Abraham, who once was part of our young adult ministry, Chosen Generation. He is now a pastor of a church in Chinhoyi along with working on his family farm outside of Chinhoyi. To witness her wedding, Kevin & Alison from Hopevale Church in Saginaw, Michigan, arrived yesterday in Zimbabwe. This week they will serve with the team in the ministry activities and preparations for the wedding. They met Marvelous and the LTLA team in 2024 when they joined a Hopevale team in Chinhoyi. They will lead another Hopevale team in August 2026! We are grateful for their love for the LTLA team and their desire to advance God's kingdom among orphans, widows, the poor and students in Zimbabwe. I know they will appreciate your prayers as they serve in Chinhoyi this week. Marvelous also appreciates your prayers for her and Abraham in the wedding preparations and as they begin life together as a married couple.

Kevin & Alison upon their arrival in Zimbabwe yesterday.

Tomorrow our friend, Jonathan Govero who is the country leader for the Navigators in Zimbabwe, will be interviewed at the US Consulate in Johannesburg for a visa to visit the US in February. He has been invited to speak at a Navigators conference in Iowa. It is a challenging time to seek a visitor visa to the US. We are asking the Lord's grace on his behalf. It would be a blessing to have him visit and share what the Lord is doing in Zimbabwe. As we approach the end of another year, I wanted to share how grateful I am for all who support the work of Life to Life Africa. Through your generosity the Lord continues to provide for all that is needed in prayer and finances. The ministry and its impact continues to grow, so we anticipate a need for increased financial support next year. At the beginning of December, we were $7,000 behind where we were at the same point in 2024. If you are able to help us cover that gap and have even more at the start of 2026, it will put us on good financial footing. Thank you for considering how you can help us continue sharing the love of Christ and discipling young and old in Zimbabwe. Below you will find the instructions on how to contribute. We are grateful for your prayer support in these matters. Mike Sulc Life to Life Ministries, Africa Director To donate, you can send checks payable to: Life to Life Ministries (please write "Africa" in the memo line) PMB 344 10151 University Blvd Orlando, FL 32817 You may also initiate a Bill Pay donation and make it recurring if you wish through your bank. Please also make the payment to Life to Life Ministries (writing "Africa" in the memo line) and have your bank mail it to the address listed above.

Business & Music in Mission - LTLA Update - November 2025

 

Greetings LTLA Friends, Last month my sister and brother-in-law joined me in Zimbabwe where they were able to invest in the work of Life to Life Africa utilizing their skills and ministry experience. Tim encouraged people in their business ventures, while Debbie shared her love for using music in ministry. It was a joy to have them meet and encourage the LTLA team. Tim & Debbie are second career missionaries, after taking early retirements to serve in Brazil where they promoted business as mission and helped launch people in establishing businesses around the world to glorify God and make him known. Tim has experience working in the corporate headquarters of Delta Airlines and holds MDiv and Doctor of Ministry degrees. We put them to work within the first few hours of their arrival, with a meeting in Harare to promote the vision of business as mission for people engaged in entrepreneurial enterprises. Jonathan & Shalom Govero, who serve as country leaders for The Navigators in Zimbabwe, were keen to invite people to this gathering as an opportunity to encourage Zimbabweans to create businesses that employ people and support God's kingdom work. At the Harare gathering, Tim and Debbie shared from their experiences with the 25 people in attendance. We hope that it will be the first of many such gatherings for the purpose of equipping and encouraging kingdom minded entrepreneurial ventures to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Zimbabwe. In Chinhoyi, Tim also engaged with the LTLA team about business as ministry and talked with them on their personal entrepreneurial ventures.

Tim sharing on business as mission with 25 people in Harare.

Tim & Debbie shared devotionals and had business as mission sessions with the LTLA team.

Debbie, a retired music teacher, was able to provide a music training session with LTLA team members. She shared about the impact that music and singing has in evangelism and discipleship particularly with children. It was fun to see the LTLA team members engaging with the activities as seen in the video below. Another video shows Debbie spending time with the Critical Care children.

Debbie leading LTLA team members in music activities for children.

Debbie singing with the LTLA Critical Care children.

Debbie graciously provided small instruments and colorful scarves for use with the children. The video below shows how the team incorporated shakers and scarves with the Children of Hope group.

LTLA Children of Hope using scarves and shakers as they sind Jesus Loves Me.

It is a blessing to have supporters (and family) travel to Zimbabwe to experience and serve in the work of LTLA. After the trip, Tim shared that what he experienced in Chinhoyi with LTLA is the best example he has seen of Acts 2, seeing brothers and sisters in Christ living and serving the Lord in unity. Let me know if the Lord is prompting you to come and experience what the Lord is doing through Life to Life Africa. For His Kingdom & Glory, Mike Sulc Life to Life Africa

Rescued now Rescuing, Pursued now Pursuing - LTLA 2025 Letter

 

Dear LTLA Friends,  Itai describes her early life as “horrible.” “My parents divorced when I was young and I received very little guidance which led me to get pregnant and married by the age of nineteen. When my fourth child was born, my husband died and left me in a desperate situation needing rescuing. That is when I became a beneficiary of Life to Life Africa. I received food assistance and training in growing food for my family. Most importantly,” Itai continues, “through the ministry I learned about having a relationship with God. The Bible studies and individual spiritual mentoring I received changed my life. I am a new person and now I counsel others that God is the only one who can save and redeem us from all our problems.” Itai was invited to join the LTLA team and has been faithfully serving the ministry since 2009. Ron Shimkus equipped Gogo Mildred to disciple Itai and the other ladies that comprised the LTLA Ambassadors. Now Itai, along with fellow team member, Kate, are discipling other widows who are in turn discipling others.

Itai (top left) and Kate (top right) have been discipling Mrs Bangira (top middle), Mrs Butau (middle 2nd from left), Mrs Mapiriyawo (middle 3rd from left) and Mrs Mashevedzanwa (front). And now Mrs Mapiriyawo is discipling Mrs Nyirenda (middle far left) and Mrs Butau is discipling Mrs Mabote (middle far right).

“I remember trying to sneak away when ‘Baba Donnell’ (Arthur Nhau, LTLA Director in Zimbabwe, whose son is Donnell) would stop by to read the Bible with me and my brother. Thankfully he didn’t stop pursuing me, because his spiritual investment in my life and that of the other LTLA team members has really impacted my life.” Tinotenda went on to share, “Both of my parents passed away when I was young, so my siblings and I were raised by our grandmother. As a caregiver to orphans my grandmother received assistance from Life to Life Africa and we grandkids participated in the weekly youth Bible study. Through these Bible studies and the Bible reading sessions I placed my trust in Jesus Christ as my Savior.” “The ministry continues to bless me as they have matched me with a sponsoring donor to help me pursue a college degree. This year the Lord opened the door for me to continue my education at Mutare Polytechnic where next year I will complete a national diploma in production engineering. It has been exciting to join Simba & Pamela in Mutare. (Simba & Pamela launched an LTLA ministry effort to college students in Mutare last year.) I live with them, so I am continuing to be discipled and Simba is coaching me as I lead a Bible study with classmates. As I have been discipled, I desire to share with others what I have received.”

Tinotenda (L) studies the Bible with Tinashe, Lucky & Takudzwa.

It is encouraging to share with you what God has done through Life to Life Africa in the lives of Itai and Tinotenda. Your faithful prayer and financial support have made this possible. As the ministry continues to grow, we are finishing this year with limited funds. Would you prayerfully consider helping us start 2026 on strong financial footing with a special gift or commit to begin or increase monthly/quarterly donations?  To donate, you can send checks payable to: Life to Life Ministries (please write "Africa" in the memo line) PMB 344 10151 University Blvd Orlando, FL 32817 You may also initiate a Bill Pay donation and make it recurring if you wish through your bank. Please also make the payment to Life to Life Ministries (writing "Africa" in the memo line) and have your bank mail it to the address listed above. Thank you for prayerfully considering how you can partner with us and help us continue rescuing and pursuing orphans and widows, young and old, children and young adults, men and women. All for Christ's kingdom and glory. Mike Sulc Life to Life Ministries, Africa Director

Happy Thanksgiving from LTLA!!

 

Dear LTLA Friends, The Life to Life Africa team and I wish your family a joyous Thanksgiving! We are certainly grateful for your partnership with us in carrying the great news of Jesus to young and old in Chinhoyi and now also in Mutare, Zimbabwe. A common prayer I hear in Zim is thanking God for the gift of every breath we take. With that perspective, it is appropriate to live with thankful hearts for God creating us and for his desire to be in relationship with us.  On my recent trip, it was encouraging to hear the children who live next to the landfill singing impromptu on the way back from the Children of Hope Bible Study. (see below) Their response after spending time learning about a relationship with Jesus was one of joy in song. They were singing: "Do not be worried or cry, for I am with you and I will lead you."

Children singing on the way home after the LTLA Children of Hope Bible Study.

Thankful for Immanuel, God with us, Mike Sulc Life to Life Africa

Guard My Heart - LTLA Update - October 2025

 

"I have to guard my heart from all kinds of evil for it is the source of good and bad intentions." This was the key lesson from Lucy, a student from Mutare, who attended the Life to Life Student and Alumni Conference. She was one of 45 students and alumni who gathered at Hunnington Retreat Center outside of Chinhoyi. In sharing about what she learned, she referenced the conference theme, "In His Steps," taken from 1 Peter 2:19-23.  Students were encouraged to remember that we can follow the example of Christ in resisting temptation. As a point of application, Lucy noted from 1 Corinthians 10:13 that God provides a way out of temptation, just as he did for Jesus when tempted by the devil. She also was encouraged that when we do fall into sin, God is willing to forgive us as we confess and repent of our sins. As a next step, she wants to get grounded in God's word so she can use scripture to resist temptation like Jesus. Pray with us that the conference will continue to bear fruit in Lucy's life and that of the others who attended. May the impact extend beyond these students into the lives of their friends as they follow in Christ's steps. Below are photos from the conference as well as from the recent corn plot training the LTLA Community Ministry team undertook with families we serve. Thank you for your support in prayer and finances that sustain our ministry efforts in Zimbabwe! Mike Sulc Life to Life Africa

LTL Student & Alumni Conference group photo.

Mutare students at the conference. Lucy is the second from the right.

Leo, an alumni, served as the MC for the conference.

Tinotenda, fruit of our high school ministry in Chinhoyi, and now a student at Mutare Polytechnic led the evangelism workshop at the conference.

Saturday evening formal meal at the conference.

Mr. Lunga leading the theory portion of the corn plot training.

Brian leading the practical portion of the corn plot training.

Family members digging the corn plot holes.

Arriving in Zimbabwe - LTLA Prayer Bulletin - October 2025

 

Dear LTLA Friends, Today I arrive in Zimbabwe and covet your prayers not only for me but also for my sister and brother-in-law who will arrive on Saturday. It has been a blessing this year to have family visit the work of Life to Life Africa. I am excited to have Tim and Debbie experience what God is doing and to contribute with their gifted experience. Tim has been involved in training business as mission practitioners initially in Brazil as he prepared kingdom minded entrepreneurs to enter closed countries to traditional missionaries. He now travels to encourage the work of these pioneers carrying the Gospel through their business ventures. This week he has been involved in a business as mission conference in Cape Town, South Africa. He and Debbie have been joined at the conference by Shalom Govero, wife of Jonathan, who are leading the work of The Navigators in Zimbabwe. They are keen to create a business as mission movement among entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe to help carry the work of God's kingdom there and beyond.

Debbie, Shalom & Tim at the FORGE 2025 Conference

Shalom is actively coaching and discipling young women entrepreneurs. This Saturday Tim will share his experience in the field with these and other entrepreneurs in Harare. Then he will share with our LTLA team on Monday & Tuesday. Debbie, who is a retired music teacher, will enjoy working with the LTLA team members who work with children to incorporate singing and the use of small handheld instruments which she has graciously gifted the ministry. On Tuesday, she will be able to work directly with the Critical Care Center children. Do pray for me in my meetings with the LTLA team leaders as well as the ministry trustees as we evaluate the year and prayerfully consider plans for next year. On my return I will stop in Orlando to visit Thomas Gilbert & Jim Cunneen who minister there and oversee the work of Life to Life Ministries. Grateful for your partnership in prayer! Mike Sulc Life to Life Africa

Your Kingdom Come - LTLA Update - Sept 2025

 

Dear LTLA Friends, I want to thank you for your partnership in the work of Life to Life Africa. Through your generous financial and prayer support, we are engaged in advancing God's kingdom in Zimbabwe. As Zimbabweans would say, "Maita bassa," which means thank you for a job well done!  Through the faithful efforts of the team members in Chinhoyi and Mutare, Zimbabwe, we are seeing young and old placing their faith in Christ, growing as disciples of Christ and becoming laborers in His harvest fields. Jesus not only came to "preach the good news of the kingdom of God," (Luke 4:43) but as he told the disciples of John the Baptist, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor." (Luke 7:22-23)  As Jesus cared for the physical needs of people, Life to Life Africa is also sharing the love of God with the people as we provide food along with training in growing food, as we nurture preschool orphans along with sponsoring students to attend school, and as we provide medical care for the sick along with counseling help for the hopeless. Thank you for joining us as we pray, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven..." along with the remainder of the Lord's prayer. (Matthew 6:9,10)  We are asking the Lord to guide us and to continue to sustain our efforts to see his kingdom come in Chinhoyi as well as Mutare and wherever the Lord spreads the fruit of our ministry in keeping with Isaiah 60:22 & 61:9. For His kingdom and glory, Mike Sulc Life to Life Africa Please Also Pray For:

Thomas Gilbert, Life to Life Ministries president, arrived in Chinhoyi yesterday and will be with the team this week and next. He will speak at the LTLA Student Conference Oct 9-12. He is seated with (L to R) Zviko, who leads our college ministry in Chinhoyi, Arthur, who leads the work of Life to Life in Zimbabwe, and Simba, who leads the ministry efforts in Mutare.

Today Thomas joined the Life to Life Training Ministry team for their meetings.

Shelton, who leads the Community Ministry efforts in Chinhoyi, asks for prayer for his wife, Tinotenda, who is 13 weeks pregnant. Tinotenda is diabetic and pregnancies are very hard for her. You may remember they lost their first child at 8 months, but the Lord blessed them with their daughter Kunashe, a year later. She is now a spunky two year old as you can see from her facial expression in this photo.

Third Term Praises & Prayer Requests - LTLA Update - August 2025

 

Greetings LTLA Friends, As a new school year begins for us in the US, in Zimbabwe their primary and secondary schools, which run on a calendar year, begin their third and final term in September. The Life to Life Africa team follows the rhythm of evaluating and planning their activities for each term. So, recently the team prayerfully reflected on the second term of 2025 and made plans for the remaining four months. Here are praises and prayer requests from the Training and Community Ministry teams in Chinhoyi along with praises and prayer requests from the Mutare team, which is comprised of Simba & Pamela with Tinotenda, who is fruit of our high school ministry in Chinhoyi and is a student at Mutare Polytechnic: Chinhoyi Training Ministry Team focusing on primary, secondary, university students and young adults Praises God continues to give us spiritual fruit among the younger generations to whom we minister. Thankful that Life to Life Ministries president, Thomas Gilbert, will visit and speak at the student conference Oct 10-12. Marvelous, one of our team members, is engaged to be married to Abraham in December. Prayer Requests We desire to reach even more young people. Each of the six team members wishes to share the gospel with 25 students at Chinhoyi University of Technology this semester, for a total of 150 students with whom the gospel is shared. That God will raise up a "Timothy" and a "Lydia" who are discipled and trained in ministry among our high school & university students as well as from the Chosen Generation group; our young adult group. That God will bless the student conference October 10-12. May it not just be a gathering but a catalyst for spiritual generations to be produced through the lives of those who attend. For spiritual protection of the ministry, the team members and the fruit of the ministry.

Our first Bible study gathering this semester for Chinhoyi University of Technology students. Half of the group were first year students which is a big praise!

Marvelous and Abraham are engaged to be married in December.

Chinhoyi Community Ministry Team focusing on the adults along with preschool orphans in the community Praises The men that are meeting weekly for discipleship with team members, Lunga and Brian, are showing themselves to be faithful, available and teachable. There are three groupings of weekly discipleship meetings for women. The ministry through a kind gift of donors who visited the ministry last year provided the start up capital for one lady to begin a successful  income generating project where she buys live chickens, butchers them and sells chicken cuts.  Overflow Thrift Store provided funds that enabled us to install solar power at the future home of our second Critical Care Center location along with a well for water at our current Critical Care Center. Prayer Requests Our Men of Hope group has dwindled as some have passed away and with age the others are unable to walk to our meeting place. We are asking the Lord for more men to whom we can minister. We are sharing the generosity training we received with people, so pray that generosity takes root in our lives and in the lives of those we are discipling. The Community Ministry team is growing in faith and drawing closer in their walks with the Lord, which is another praise. Pray that from the overflow of their walk with Christ they remain focused on the vision to reproduce their lives spiritually. Pray with us for another successful farming season for the families we serve. May the people be faithful in their efforts and the Lord provides the needed rains.

The group of faithful, available and teachable men that are meeting every Friday for discipleship.

One of the groups of women who meet on Fridays for discipleship. Spiwe (far right), who is running the successful "chicken cuts" business is growing spiritually as well.

Solar panels at our White City neighborhood house where we host the weekly Children of Hope Bible study and where we will add a second Critical Care Center location for preschool orphans. Overflow Thrift Store generously provided the funds for installing this solar system along with drilling a well at our Critical Care Center which stopped receiving city water due to poor city infrastructure maintenance.

Drilling the well to provide water at the LTLA Critical Care Center.  Video Link:  https://youtube.com/shorts/UIQbgz6JNC0

The LTLA Critical Care Center preschool orphans now have good clean water to drink. In this photo they are lining up to wash their hands before lunch.

Mutare Ministry Team focusing on college students Praises Key students at Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences (MSUAS) in whom Simba has invested are back and they met last Friday to plan for the semester. The MSUAS administration continues to welcome the presence of Life to Life Ministry with open arms. One of our key students was invited to share about our activities at the new student orientation last week. (see video below) Prayer Requests Simba will be equipping Tinotenda, who is fruit of our high school ministry in Chinhoyi, to help him disciple the key MSUAS students. Tinotenda is enrolled at Mutare Polytechnic and lives with Simba & Pamela. They will host monthly in-depth discipleship training sessions at their home for these key students. Pray for open doors for Simba to join Tinotenda to minister to students at Mutare Polytechnic. The school administration is more restrictive of extra-curricular activities on their campus than MSUAS. Pray for continued strong relationships with the chaplin and the dean of students at MSUAS. Pray for God to lead Simba to those who are thirsty for God and his Word.

Lucy, a second semester first year student in Accounting at MSUAS, represented Life to Life Ministry and described the ministry's purpose as well as our activities at the new student orientation last week.  Video Link:  https://youtube.com/shorts/COMhnSQiTTU

We give praise to God for your faithful support in prayer and finances! Mike Sulc Life to Life Africa

Reflections - LTLA Update - June & July 2025 sent

 

Greetings LTLA Friends, Thank you for your prayers for the LTLA ministry and the groups that served there last month. The first group was comprised of Ed Hett and his three teenage children: Justus, Elise and Abigail. Ed's father and mother in law, Rex & Debbie Rector, oversaw the building of the triplex at the LTLA Community Center back in 2012. Here are their reflections from the experience serving with the LTLA team: "I saw God working through the ministry in many ways, but the most vivid for me was faithfully providing for those who have been abandoned by the world. The depth of love and care that I witnessed between the workers at LTLA was incredible. The sacrifice for one another was inspiring and something that is rarely seen in this world. The community cared for one another and worked very hard to be faithful to one another's needs. This community, that God is moving and directing, is physically becoming Father to the fatherless. The ministries to the orphan, the widow and the alien were clear. With all that, the spreading of the gospel was still being done as well and central to all action. We feel truly blessed to have been able to share the week with the LTLA team, and our lives will never be the same."  Ed Hett "I saw God working through the soft-spoken and quiet, those who I didn't hear talk but their actions spoke volumes."  Justus Hett "I saw God working through LTLA to minister to every age. The key lesson I learned was that no individual is able to do their part of the ministry without the team."  Elise Hett "I saw God helping people through LTLA by providing spiritual and physical care. I learned to appreciate what I have."  Abigail Hett The second group that served was a family affair as my brother in law, Josh Bundt with his wife, Amanda and their three children: Edi, Gabby and Caleb joined my family: Julie, Johanna and Micaela.  Here are reflections from Josh, Amanda, Gabby and Johanna: "I witnessed the body of Christ in action (Rom 12): many different gifts, all serving together, serving one another, all for the glory of His Kingdom. God taught me that his strength is shown in our weakness and not to underestimate how He will use us (our family)."  Josh Bundt "The impact of the LTLA ministry is far reaching to the second and third generations. The ministry cares deeply for the community as shown through the Critical Care Center for pre-school orphans, the weekly youth Bible studies and the outreach to those living at the landfill. It was a blessing to do daily devotions and Bible studies where the love of Christ flows through the cultural and language barriers."  Amanda Bundt "I was amazed by how many people LTLA reaches from every age group. I learned that helping others when you expect nothing in return brings great joy!"  Gabby Bundt "I was so blessed by my brothers and sisters in Christ who work with my Dad. They were so welcoming, kind and encouraging. Diving into God's Word with them was beautiful to see how the blood of Christ unites us. It was an experience that will shape the rest of my life." Johanna Sulc Both groups were a great encouragement as the LTLA team shared words of gratitude and blessing to each group upon their departure. As you can see from the reflections above the feelings were mutual. The photos and video below display the blessings of the experiences. Grateful for the blessed experiences, Mike Sulc Life to Life Africa

Abigail on the ladder and Elise painting one of the triplex bedrooms. All three triplex units were plastered and painted for the first time, covering up the bare concrete walls.

Ed watching Justus cut a tile. They did an excellent job instructing Zviko and Tino in the fine art of tiling.

Tino (left) and Zviko were trained in tiling by Ed & Justus. Tino & Zviko showed proficiency in tiling, a skill they can use to earn some extra income.

Zviko (left) and Tino putting the finishing touches on tiling by the sink in one of the triplex units.

Ed helped get one of the drains unclogged. His plumbing skills came in handy and he was able to provide plumbing training to Shelton, LTLA Community Team leader.

Justus (left) joined in this "hood" Bible study, where guys get together for encouragement in their relationship with Christ.

Elise rode in the back of the truck with all the kids being picked up for youth Bible study, including the kids from the landfill.

Abigail with LTLA Critical Care orphans.

The Hett family with the LTLA team by the triplex, built by Uncle Rex, where they helped paint and tile the interior.

Abigail, Justus and Elise with the Chosen Generation (young adult) group. Justus facilitated the discussion.

Micaela, Edi and Johanna also joined the Chosen Generation (young adults) group with Johanna facilitating the discussion.

Johanna teaching "Jesus Loves Me" to the youngest kids at the Children of Hope Bible study.

Josh sharing with Men of Hope.

Amanda sharing with Women of Hope.

Julie and Tinotenda (Shelton's wife) preparing a dinner meal.

The Hett family introduced the fun card game of "spoons."

Tatenda & Zviko enjoyed continuing to play "spoons" with the Bundt & Sulc families.

Gabby holding one of the broiler chickens as Caleb and Edi look on with Brian.

Julie (at the sink) and Marvelous (with the hat) demonstrating washing laundry by hand.

Caleb and Gabby shared a Bible story and taught a game with the youngest group at the LTLA Community Center youth Bible study.

Edi (left) and Micaela spent time hanging out with Daisy, whose father, Arthur, directs LTLA in Zimbabwe.

Josh spoke on the ethical use of artificial intelligence to a group of faculty and staff at Chinhoyi University of Technology. Josh is the Chief Technology Officer at the Military Academy so it was good to have him serve the university in this way.

The Bundt & Sulc families with the LTLA team during a devotional.

Bundt & Sulc families with the LTLA team.