Trauma - LTLA Update - June 2026

 

Greetings LTLA Friends, "A continent in trauma... Even a cursory look at the history of Africa will admit historical trauma across the continent...The prolonged and intergenerational nature of such trauma entrenches its impact deeply within societal structures and individual psyches... This means that many people in Africa live in a constant state of survival... These experiences leave deep emotional and psychological scars that affect both hearts and minds... and the daily struggle for survival erode(s) a sense of hope and security... Many suffer from anxiety, depression, and trauma-related stress, unable to process the loss and grief they've endured."  This assessment from the Awakening Africa Report, published by the South Africa-based Mergon Foundation, accurately describes the challenges that the Life to Life Africa team faces in Zimbabwe. The report also presents ministry to youth, women and the development of Christ-centered leadership as key strategic opportunities which are a focus of our ministry efforts. We will glean further insights from the report to help guide our ministry plans. You can download the Awakening Africa Report by scrolling to the bottom of the page at the following link: https://mergon.co.za/awakening-africa-report-insights-for-kingdom-mobilisation/ The report highlighted the need for trauma ministry in Africa, which is something we certainly have seen in our ministry efforts. I have shared with you in recent months about Tatenda, an LTLA team member, who recently has transitioned out of a residential Christian counseling program to help him heal from trauma in his life. The week after his release he participated in the Trauma Competent Care Training that was delivered by Hope's Promise, a ministry in Mutare doing similar work as LTLA. Simba, who leads our ministry efforts in Mutare, joined in this training and shared the following report from the training: "It was a life changing opportunity for me. I discovered that I had so many traumatic events in my life as a child that I need healing. The training helped me reflect on my past and open things that I thought were water under the bridge. They helped me realize that my past can affect my future if not resolved, that my past does not define my future and that Christ can help me heal from my past trauma."

Tatenda (left) and Simba at the Trauma Competent Care Training.

Tatenda's mother had him out of wedlock and she died when he was young, leaving him to be cared for by her mother. He was not accepted by the rest of the family, and when his grandmother passed away he was essentially left without a family. The LTLA team has become his family as they have been ministering to him since his late high school years. Simba also lost his mother at a young age in Mutare at which time his father abandoned him, leaving him to be cared for by his mother's sister in Chinhoyi. LTLA ministered to him through high school and his college years after which time he was trained for ministry when he felt called to invest in the lives of young people as was done with him.  As we minister to people in these circumstances, Isaiah 61 is a guiding passage of scripture for LTLA. We know from Luke 4 that Jesus read from that chapter and declared, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke 4:21) It is Jesus who, "bind(s) up the brokenhearted, proclaim(s) freedom for the captives, release from darkness for the prisoners, proclaim(s) the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, comfort(s) those who mourn and provide(s) for those who grieve, bestow(ing) on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." (Isaiah 61:1--3) Thank you for partnering with us as we lead the brokenhearted, captives, prisoners, those mourning, grieving and despairing to Jesus for healing and to become "oaks of righteousness." (Isaiah 61:4) Mike Sulc Life to Life Ministries, Africa Director We were blessed to have a mission team from The Navigators Mid-America region serve in Chinhoyi for a few days this past month. Here are some photos:

Caleb & Sarah, from The Navigators Mid-America region mission team, taught a lesson on Jesus as the light of the world to this group of youth at the LTLA youth Bible study.

Blake & Julia, from The Navigators Mid-America region mission team, hanging out with LTLA high school youth after leading their Bible study.

The Navigators Mid-America region mission team with the LTLA Training Ministry team.