Happy Thanksgiving From LTLA

 Thanksgiving Greetings, LTLA Supporters!

The Life to Life Africa team counts it a huge blessing to partner in ministry with each of you!  As we gather here in the US to celebrate Thanksgiving, the LTLA team in Zimbabwe are gathering to pray for God's blessing on our ministry efforts and for his blessings on those who partner with us in prayer and financial support. Your support makes it possible for this ministry to take the great news of Jesus to the poor, the brokenhearted and those in bondage. (Isaiah 61:1)

It is our prayer that you experience the deep love of God through Christ during this Thanksgiving and Christmas season. (Ephesians 3:16-19)

For the LTLA team,
Mike Sulc

P.S. I am grateful to Thomas Gilbert, President of Life to Life Ministries, who travels to Zimbabwe to minister with and to the LTLA team. (Thomas pictured below with the LTLA team in March 2023)

P.S.S. I am also grateful to Jim Cunneen along with the Life to Life Ministries Board of Directors who support and provide counsel to the work of LTLA. (The LTLM Board of Directors pictured below at our meeting last Saturday where we celebrated the ministry's 25th anniversary.)

Continue Praying - LTLA Prayer Bulletin - October 2023

Praying Friends, 

Thank you for your prayers this past month for our ministry. Arthur, Shelton and I are sensing God's presence with us as we prepare to meet together with key team members this week and next to work through some material that will help us evaluate and plan our efforts to lead vulnerable people into a trusting relationship with Christ in Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe. 

Here is how you can pray each day: 

 Tues, Oct 31- We would be renewed in our passion and unity for Christ's calling and mission for our ministry. We would fully grasp that poverty is broken relationships in all spheres of a person's life. 

 Wed, Nov 1- We would understand how broken relationships have impacted life in the African context. We would see how to fight poverty through reconciliation efforts. We would understand the time and place for relief, rehabilitation and development efforts. 

 Thurs, Nov 2- We would consider how to apply asset-based community development efforts in our ministry context. We would be compelled to work for the Glory of God. 

 Fri, Nov 3- Pray for emotional and spiritual healing for a few team members who are struggling. Pray our team will develop in leading people to Christ for healing. 

 Sat, Nov 4- Pray for our team as we engage in discipleship meetings with the youth and with the Men & Women of Hope. 

 Sun, Nov 5- We would rest and be renewed in the glory and presence of God. 

 Mon, Nov 6- We would understand the impact of our "worldview" on our lives.We would not be overwhelmed by the broken systems in Zimbabwe but find hope through Christ to help bring change. We would embrace the growth that comes through suffering in the Christian life and not be seduced by the false claims of the prosperity gospel. 

 Tues, Nov 7- We would see the effects of our culture on how we handle money. We would understand how transformation happens in the lives of people. We would see the value of community participation to bring about change. 

 Wed, Nov 8- We would learn the key principles for benevolence ministry. We would clearly see the opportunities and challenges for an urban ministry. We would be open to short-term ministry opportunities in other communities. 

 Thurs, Nov 9- We would learn how to partner well with those who join us for short-term mission visits. We would develop an action plan of what God wants us to do in response to all these areas we have examined. 

 Fri, Nov 10- Pray the team leaders along with the board trustees are able to make God directed decisions that will guide the work of LTLA toward accomplishing the mission to which God has called us. 

 Sat, Nov 11- Pray for fruitful interactions with other ministries that are taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the poor. We want to learn from them and collaborate as the Lord directs. 

 Sun, Nov 1- Praise God with us as we worship Him for his love and the hope he brings to this broken world through his Son, Jesus Christ! 

 Thank you for partnering with us in prayer! 

 Mike Sulc 

 Life to Life Africa

One of Many - LTLA Update - Oct 2023

 Greetings Again LTLA Friends,

There are many life change stories for those whom Life to Life Africa has impacted. Itai, pictured below wearing an Overflow Thrift Store t-shirt alongside Mrs. Bangira, is one of those stories. Below you can also view a video of Itai sharing about her involvement with the LTLA Community Ministry team (once again, we thank Hopevale Church and Pete Carlson for producing this video. We are grateful for your partnership in this way).

https://vimeo.com/774314877

Itai describes her early life as, "horrible," having had no parental guidance from divorced parents and having to be married at 19 because she got pregnant. After her fourth child was born, her husband died leaving her as a widow to care for children and grandchildren. That is when she became a beneficiary of Life to Life Africa receiving food assistance and training in how to grow food for her family. Itai shares the spiritual impact LTLA has had in her life; 

"Most importantly is that I learned about having a relationship with God through Christ. The Bible studies and individual spiritual mentoring I received changed my life. I am a new person and now I counsel others when they are in trouble that God is the only one who can save and redeem us from all our problems. Thank you for your support of this ministry that changed my life."

As an LTLA Community Ministry team member, Itai is mentoring widows like Mrs. Bangira (pictured below with Itai) who once lived in a tent, but now lives in a house. She parented her daughter with the principles she learned from attending the LTLA Women of Hope meetings and that daughter built the house in the photo for her family and her mother.  

What a blessing to be part of what God is doing through this ministry!

Mike Sulc
Life to Life Africa

                                                          Itai, LTLA Team Member, with Mrs. Bangira

 

Would You Pray? - LTLA Update - Sept 2023

 Greetings LTLA Friends,

Thank you for your prayers and comforting words with the loss of my brother. My family has certainly experienced the Lord's sustaining grace. Would you also pray for the Life to Life Africa leadership team? It has been a challenging year and, like Moses (Exodus 33:12-16), we are needing the Lord's presence to be with us as we face the faith opportunities that lie ahead.
 
Arthur, LTLA Director in Zimbabwe, Shelton, LTLA Community Ministry team leader, and I are preparing to facilitate sessions in early November with key members of the LTLA team to examine how we are accomplishing the mission to which the Lord has called us. It is the mission he commanded when saying, "go and make disciples of all nations," (Matthew 28:19) with the vision to see a multiplying movement as described in Psalm 78:3-7 that would lead to "the least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation." (Isaiah 60:22) 
 
We are facing a financial shortfall and will need to make decisions about decreasing expenses. Inflation, a growing ministry, and emergency expenses have increased our operating budget this year. These issues are not a surprise to the Lord and he is drawing us into a deeper trust in him for the needed provision. Thank you for your faithful support through the years and extra gifts earlier this year which have enabled us to continue discipling the old and the young generations in Chinhoyi.
 
One life you have impacted through your support is that of Simba Mangore. Simba came to Chinhoyi at the age of 4 as an orphan to live with his aunt & uncle. He came to faith in Christ during high school through the LTLA youth Bible study and the ministry assisted him in getting a mechanical engineering degree. He felt God's call to join the LTLA ministry and the video below describes his ministry focus with young adults. In the video he shares his plans to expand the work of LTLA to a new city next year. (We thank Hopevale Church and Pete Carlson for producing this video last year, prior to Simba's wedding.) Simba traveled to Mutare two weeks ago to "spy out" the land and reports the following:
 
Strengths- I ascertained that the people are very welcoming and mostly from one tribe which makes them peaceful.
Weaknesses/Threats- Prosperity gospel is prevalent in the churches and the African traditional religious sect which a majority follow promotes polygamy and forces girls to marry as early as 14.
Opportunities- There is a sizable population of young adults in the city with the presence of three colleges and two universities.

LTLA: Simba (Video):

https://vimeo.com/783370326

Excited to be a part of the least becoming a thousand!

Mike Sulc
Life to Life Africa

Home With The Lord - LTLA Update - Sept 2023

 

Dear LTLA Friends, The good Lord called my older brother, Mark, home to heaven this past Saturday after a two year battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive terminal brain cancer. He had a big influence in my life, setting the example of walking with Jesus throughout his life. These last two years he delighted in sharing how the Lord was drawing him ever closer to Him preparing him for his eternal home. Mark's final coherent thoughts were expressing his desire for his family to join him at the banquet table in heaven. (Isaiah 25:6-9)  You can read about his journey these last two years at:  https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/marksulc/journal And here is the obituary that details his life: https://www.tiddfuneralservice.com/obituaries/reuben-sulc I will really miss his encouraging support and wise counsel. My prayer is that my life will reflect his enduring faith in and love for Christ that he shared freely with everyone he met. What a blessed reunion it will be at the Lord's banquet table in heaven! Sorrowful yet rejoicing in the hope of glory through Christ,  Mike Sulc Life to Life Africa

Mike (foreground) sailing with Mark in June 2021 prior to his diagnosis. Sailing was a favorite hobby for Mark and his wife Sally.

Ten Years And Counting - LTLA Update - August 2023

 

Dear LTLA Friends, The Lord called "Uncle" Ron Shimkus home ten years ago last month. The ministry that the Lord led he and "Aunt" Mary Ann to start in Chinhoyi twenty years ago continues under the faithful leadership of Arthur Nhau, whom Ron discipled, trained and equipped. Below is a video of Arthur sharing his heart and what God is doing through Life to Life Africa. (We are grateful to Hopevale Church and Pete Carlson for producing this video while visiting last year.) LTLA: Arthur Nhau (Video) Thank you for your prayers for the Zimbabwe election. The ruling party has retained control. This has been the case in every election since the country gained independence in 1980, with the exception of a power-sharing period from 2009-2013. Citizens have remained peaceful so far, despite the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) delegation expressing strong concern over the fairness of the election process. With the rebuke from the SADC observers, the opposition party is demanding a rerun of the election under careful watch by SADC and the African Union. However, a rerun is not likely; it would take significant pressure from the surrounding countries and the international community for this to happen. Needless to say, the LTLA team, and Zimbabweans in general, are pretty discouraged. They see little hope for change in their country. Please continue praying for the political situation in Zimbabwe and for encouragement in the Lord for the LTLA team. Thank you for your faithful support over the past ten years and since the beginnings of LTLA twenty years ago! Mike Sulc Life to Life Africa

Zimbabwe Elections - LTLA Prayer Bulletin - August 2023

 

Dear LTLA Supporters, Today, Zimbabweans go to the polls to vote for a president. The current president, Emerson Mnangagwa, who replaced the 38 year president, Robert Mugabe, is running again despite making things worse as evidenced in Zimbabwe topping the Hanke Annual Misery Index in 2022 as the most miserable place to live. You would think that the opposition party would be very vocal about the condition of the country but it has been an unusually quiet campaign season. The ruling party has been very forceful in keeping them quiet as they use a heavy hand to instill fear upon those who speak out against their party. It has been this way for a very long time and it appears they have now eliminated any earthly hope for change.  (You can listen to a NPR report on the Zimbabwe elections here: https://www.npr.org/2023/08/22/1195170325/zimbabwe-voters-will-go-to-the-polls-on-wednesday-to-elect-a-president ) We know that our hope is not found in this world but in God who has provided salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus did teach us to pray for God's "kingdom to come and his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven," (Matthew 6:10) so we ask that you join us in praying for that to happen in Zimbabwe. Jesus did not establish an earthly kingdom but an eternal heavenly kingdom which manifests itself through people whose hearts have been transformed, reflecting the character of Christ. God has been working through LTLA to see that happen in the lives of those to whom we are ministering. Thank you for supporting us to that end! We do ask that you pray for a peaceful election process and that the elected president would seek to serve the people in bringing the country out of their current condition. Also, we ask you to continue to pray for Tsungai, LTLA Critical Care team leader, who has completed radiation treatments and will undergo brachytherapy for her cervical cancer during the next couple of weeks. And we are happy to report that Shelton Nhundu, LTLA Community Team leader whose infant daughter and wife are doing well, was able to lead a neighbor to Christ. Pray for Shelton as he encourages Clemence in his new found faith in Christ.

Diana, LTLA team member, and Tsungai holding the certificate of completion for the radiation treatments.

Shelton (right) with Clemence; his neighbor whom he led to Christ.

God is at work to this very day! (John 15:7) Mike Sulc Life to Life Africa