The 3 Great Cs

The work of advancing God's kingdom is not just for those called into full time ministry. For this task, God has enlisted the help of everyone who believes and follows Jesus Christ in their life. Charles Call, who accompanied me on my recent trip to Zimbabwe, firmly believes this truth and shared it with the Life to Life Africa team. 

Charles shared the 3 Great Cs with our team: the Great Calling, the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. Jesus called ordinary fishermen to follow him, and said that as they did that he would make them "fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). As they followed him, he modeled fishing for men and taught them the great commandment, which directs us to love God with all our heart and to love others as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). After his resurrection, the last instruction of Jesus to his followers was the great commission, where he sends them out to "make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19-20). 

Was this calling, commandment and commission just for those who followed Jesus, then? We see that Jesus prayed for "those who will believe in me through their message" (John 17:20). This calling, commandment and commission is for all of us who believe in Jesus. While the majority of Christ's followers did not go into "full time" ministry, they nevertheless acted upon the calling, commandment and commission they received. They certainly had a "full" impact along with those in "full time" ministry, as evidenced in Acts (2:41,47; 5:14; 6:1,7; 9:31,35,42; 11:21,24: 14:1,21; 16:5; 17:12). Likely, all of us can identify ordinary followers of Jesus who pointed us to him and had a significant impact in our lives. 

It was good to have Charles remind us of this and encourage the LTLA team to equip everyone we disciple to labor for Christ because we are all called, commanded and commissioned to serve the Lord. Charles also encouraged us to love our spouses and children, for they should be of first priority. It is evident that he has done that in his life, as he drew from personal stories related to his family. From his agricultural career, he also had good counsel for us in farming efforts. I was blessed to have Charles travel with me and the team was blessed by the interactions with him. 

Thank you for your prayers for our trip! Below you will find photos of activities in which we engaged while in Zimbabwe. 

What a joy that we are all called, commanded and commissioned to serve the Lord! 

Mike Sulc 

Life to Life Africa 

 

 

Charles sharing with LTLA Training Ministry Team. 

 

Charles sharing with LTLA Community Ministry Team. 

 

Charles with Brian, who was preparing a tomato seed bed at LTLA's vegetable garden. 

 

Charles helping with LTLA Food Distribution. 

 

Charles counsels Shelton (left) and Arthur (right) on their sugar bean farming efforts. 

 

LTLA Community Ministry Team Farming Q&A with Charles. 

 

Diana shows Charles baobab fruit seeds.

 

Ottilia cooks down the baobab fruit juice as Patricia helps in the jam making process. 

LTLA is experimenting with making different jams to sell. 

 

Charles had many personal interactions with LTLA team members like this one with Gogo Mildred. 

 

Charles sharing at the LTLA Men of Hope meeting. 

 

Charles with most of the LTLA team.

 

 

Prayer Bulletin: Traveling to Zimbabwe

Dear LTLA Friends,

I return to Zimbabwe today, accompanied by Charles Call (see photo below). After a career as a farmer, agricultural extension agent, and banker, Charles wants to remain active serving the Lord in his retirement years. He has experience serving ministries in Zambia and Kenya so it will be a blessing to have him join me on this trip! A fun connection he has with LTLA is that he was a senior at Kansas State involved with The Navigators when Ron & Mary Ann Shimkus arrived to minister there in the early 1970s.

Charles Call & Mike Sulc 

 

Would you pray in the following ways for us? 

• Safety & health as we travel (Feb. 18 - Mar. 7). 
• Mutual encouragement in the Lord as we spend time with the LTLA team and others in Zimbabwe. 
• For Charles to understand the heart and vision for ministry that the Lord has impressed upon Arthur, LTLA Director in Zimbabwe, and Shelton, Community Ministry Leader in Chinhoyi. 
• Discernment for Charles and the LTLA leaders regarding future collaboration in ministry. 
• Clear leading from the Lord for the LTLA leadership team as we consider ministry expansion plans. 

Here are prayer updates on Tatenda (LTLA Training Ministry team member) and my brother, Mark:

• Last August Tatenda was diagnosed with transverse myelitis, a neurological disorder caused by inflammation of the spine, after collapsing in April and not being able to walk. After a round of medications and physical therapy sessions, he is now able to walk with the assistance of a single elbow crutch. He still does occasionally have bouts with severe back pain but overall his condition is much better. 
• My brother, Mark, was diagnosed in October with glioblastoma, a very aggressive brain cancer. After surgery followed by a six week course of radiation treatment and half dose of chemotherapy, an MRI last week revealed there is no new growth in the tumors. He will soon begin a full dose chemotherapy treatment round along with an Optune treatment, which requires wearing electrodes on the head that help disrupt the growth of cancer cells. He is encouraged that his body tolerated the first round of treatments, and asks for prayer that he is able to handle this second round of treatments. The initial crisis of his diagnosis drew him very close to the Lord and he asks that he is able to continue that close fellowship with Christ as well as continue sharing about it with others. He is convinced that his close relationship with the Lord and positive attitude in facing his battle with cancer is directly related to the prayer support he is receiving. 

 

Thank you for your prayer support that calls on our Lord who empowers us to experience Him and reveal His glory! 

Mike Sulc 

Life to Life Africa 

 

Reflections, Anticipation, & Gratitude

Dear LTLA Friends, 

I am sharing with you below the answers to questions that I posed to Arthur Nhau and Shelton Nhundu, asking them to reflect on this past year of ministry and to look forward to the year ahead. Arthur Nhau is the LTLA Director in Chinhoyi and leads our Training Ministry. Shelton Nhundu leads our Community Ministry effort in Chinhoyi. 

It is a joy for me to co-labor with these two dear brothers in the Lord. Thank you for your support that makes it possible for me to do so! 

 

Mike Sulc 

Life to Life Africa 

 

 

  Arthur Nhau & Shelton Nhundu

 

Reflecting on the Past Year of Ministry 

For what do you give God praise? 

Arthur - Training Ministry:

• Protection from Covid-19 for our team and those to whom we minister. 
• Re-establishing good connections with those whom we disciple. 
• 4 boys and 3 girls received Christ in our ministry to youth. 
• Good bonding as a family during Covid-19 lockdowns.

 Shelton - Community Ministry:

• The following people gave their lives to Christ: Smolley Mangezha, Anna Madzuramende, Enia Matope, Serivina Mushipe, Plaxedes Tembo, Diaries Tembo and Rudo Goto who was a prostitute. 
• We helped 56 families become self sustaining over the past several years. 
• We now have opportunity to minister to 56 new families. 

 

What was the greatest challenge? 

Arthur - Training Ministry:

• Planning ministry activities with the Covid-19 lockdowns and changing restrictions throughout the year that were sternly enforced. 

 Shelton - Community Ministry:

• The Covid-19 restrictions prevented us from meeting with people, which disrupted our evangelism and discipleship efforts. The economic impact of the pandemic has especially affected our ministry to men as our numbers are now low due to the effects of depression and many searching for work outside of Chinhoyi. 

 

What was the primary thing that God taught you? 

Arthur - Training Ministry:

• That He remains God who can be trusted regardless of our circumstances, so my focus needs to be on He who does not change, not on my constantly changing circumstances. 

Shelton - Community Ministry:

• The need for love and commitment. As the saying goes, "people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." I needed to love the team and the people to whom we minister. They needed to see I am committed to them, just as Jesus displayed his commitment to the disciples as he appointed them to be with him. 

 

Anticipating the Coming Year of Ministry

What are you learning from God as you start this new year? 

 Arthur - Training Ministry:

• To keep my focus on God so I do not miss what He is doing rather than being preoccupied by the distractions of life. 

Shelton - Community Ministry:

• I am reading in Isaiah and Isaiah 40:28-31 summarized the theme that God is sovereign and powerful. This turbulent world can be overwhelming but I am finding renewed strength from the Lord. 

 

What are you trusting God to do in & through your team? 

 Arthur - Training Ministry:

• That the six trainees will deepen in the convictions that God is impressing on their hearts. 
• For the trainees to finish strong with their ministry training this year and for open doors to launch them into effective ministry after their training. 

Shelton - Community Ministry:

• To help us in our outreach to men in the community. 
• For fruitful ministry with those making a living of collecting recyclables at the landfill. 
• For us to continue developing in knowledge and skill to grow a good harvest of vegetables to feed people and support the work of our ministry. 

 

What specifically can we be praying for you and your team? 

 Arthur - Training Ministry:

• Empowering of God's Spirit to help me prepare the trainees for a lifetime of laboring in God's harvest fields. 
• Strength, health and freedom from distractions for the trainees to finish their training prepared to labor for Christ. 

Shelton - Community Ministry:

• Fruitful outreach in seeing men trust and grow in Christ. 
• Effective discipling efforts with all the ladies listed above who received Christ last year. 
• Bountiful harvest of vegetables, which will be a source of food as well as income for our ministry. 
• That I continue growing in intimacy with Christ as well as imitation of His character so that I am empowered to make an impact for Him. 

 

 Words of Gratitude 

 Arthur - Training Ministry:

• We thank God the Father of our Lord Jesus, when we pray for you because of your great love for God's people and His work. We are so grateful that you continue to pray for us and give generously towards God's work. May the good Lord remember you and your families. (Hebrews 6:10) 

Shelton - Community Ministry:

• Greetings to you all! We give praise to God for your faithful support in prayer and finances to make this ministry possible. It is a blessing for me to be involved in work that is so fulfilling! 

 

 

Traveling Ministry

"We are following the example of the Apostle Paul, in traveling to visit the fruit of our ministry, " shared Arthur Nhau, LTLA Director in Chinhoyi. Over the past month Arthur took members of his Training Ministry team to visit students in Kwekwe and in the capital, Harare. He went on to say, "It was a great encouragement to the students and to our team to be able to be together in person." 

Tinotenda, Richard and Natasha are attending Kwekwe Polytechnic. They were discipled through our youth and young adult ministries in Chinhoyi. It is our desire to see them impact their peers in college for Christ. So, on November 20, Arthur took Simba, Zviko and Tatenda (LTLA Training Ministry team members) with him to visit these three students in Kwekwe. Natasha invited a friend, Anesu, to join them as well, so she is already reaching out to those around her. Arthur's team brainstormed with this group on ideas of outreach activities to do with others. They also equipped them with tools on evangelism and leading Bible studies. Please pray for Tinotenda, Richard, Natasha and Anesu as they reach out to their classmates at Kwekwe Polytechnic with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

 

Anesu, Natasha,Tinotenda, and Richard at the entrance to Kwekwe Polytechnic. 

 

Tatenda (standing) teaching how to lead a Bible study with the LTLA students at Kwekwe Polytechnic.

 

Arthur taking a selfie photo of the Training Team guys with the LTLA Kwekwe Polytechnic students. 

(Standing L to R: Tatenda, Anesu, Natasha, Tinotenda, and Simba. Kneeling L to R: Zviko and Richard.) 

 

During the pandemic, the universities have brought back groups of students by degree programs for two week sessions, during which they receive all their lectures for the semester. They are then sent home to work on their assignments for the rest of the semester and brought back at the end to take their final exams. Needless to say, this has made college ministry very challenging. 

A very large percentage of students we minister to at Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) either grew up in the capital, Harare, or are living there now because of better job opportunities. With a lot of our CUT students currently in Harare, Arthur decided to invite all of them to meet the LTLA Training Ministry team at a park there. Twelve students joined them on Saturday, December 4. They were encouraged in both large and smaller group sessions to "remain in Christ" through spending time with Jesus in His Word. The LTLA Training Ministry team led sessions on the importance of reading, meditating on, and memorizing God's Word. It proved to be a good experience, so Arthur is planning to continue hosting such gatherings in this park in Harare. He plans to also invite alumni who now live there to join them in ministering to students and for personal encouragement to continue walking with Christ. Would you pray for the LTLA "traveling ministry" efforts as they seek to encourage fruit of their ministry to abide in the vine (Christ) so that they can produce spiritual fruit in their lives? (John 15:5,16) 

 

LTLA College Ministry students who gathered for encouragement at a park in Harare. 

 

Simba (far right) facilitating a small group with LTLA College Ministry students in the park in Harare. 

 

Zviko (3rd from left) facilitating a small group with LTLA College Ministry students in the park in Harare. 

 

Stella (who is in her 50s) recites the 60 verses of the Navigators Topical Memory System 

for the LTLA College Ministry students gathered in Harare. 

 

Thank you for your support in prayer & finances this past year! 

We ask the Lord's special blessing upon you as we launch into a new year. 

Gratefully in Him, 

Mike Sulc 

Life to Life Africa 

 

 

 

Merry Christmas!

An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:20-23 

As we celebrate God's faithful love to us, in fulfilling his promise of salvation through Jesus, who is God with us, the Life to Life Africa team and my family wish you a very Merry Christmas! 

 

With His Love, 

The Life to Life Africa Team 

Mike, Julie, Johanna & Micaela Sulc 

 

LTLA Team (Standing L to R: Shelton, Diana, Stella, Mr. Chigwida, Brian, Otillia, 

Mildred, Letwin, Faith, Patricia, and Itai; Seated L to R: Zviko, Jane, Gogo Mildred, 

Tsungai, Marvelous, Mr. Lunga, Prestege, Tatenda, and Simba. Not in picture: Arthur)

 

 

Sulc Family (L to R: Micaela, Johanna, Julie & Mike

 

 

 

Life is Hard

Life is hard in this broken, sin-stricken world. That is old news, but it was impressed upon me once again on my most recent trip to Zimbabwe. With the confirmation of my brother's cancer diagnosis the day I arrived, and experiencing the challenges of life in Zimbabwe, I was reminded daily that things are not the way God intended them to be on this earth. At this time of thanksgiving, we are grateful for the hope that Jesus Christ will restore all things (Acts 3:21). 

Thank you for your prayers for my trip. It was a blessing to allow God to speak to me from his Word in order that I would have his words to share with young and old. I had the opportunity to talk with high school students and the Men of Hope about the heart of God for people. I shared about the great losses, the great searches and the great celebrations found in Luke 15. With the LTLA team, I introduced them to the principles found in The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman. Most of these principles, found in the life and ministry of Jesus, are already being reproduced in their ministry efforts. (The principles are: Selection, Association, Consecration, Impartation, Demonstration, Delegation, Supervision, & Reproduction.) 

It was encouraging to look into God's word with college students and with post-high school young adults who are asking tough life questions. Pray with us that these young adults will read the Bible on their own and find the Lord in the midst of an uncertain future. Pray for the men on the LTLA team, who experience a lot of stress from the pressures of providing not only for their own families but for their extended families (this can include siblings, cousins, parents, and in-laws) in an extremely depressed economy. Pray also for Tatenda, LTLA Training Ministry team member, who continues to struggle with back and leg pain as well as with difficulty walking. He collapsed in April and was diagnosed with transverse myelitis in August. 

Credit is being given to a Zimbabwean scientist for discovering the Omicron variant to Covid-19. Pray that this variant will not cause great loss of life and that God will grant much grace to the LTLA team if they enter into another lockdown. Lastly, please pray for good rains to begin falling in Chinhoyi. The families we serve, especially the 56 new families under our care, are eager to plant corn in their prepared plots when consistent rains begin. 

Thank you for your prayers for my brother, Mark. He continues to point people to Jesus as he battles brain cancer. Here is a short excerpt from one of his Caring Bridge posts: "I am challenged to just trust God in what he is doing in me and my family right now to grow our character to become more who he intends us to become. Is it hard? Does this future concern me? Certainly, but knowing God is in control of this experience for my good, even if I don't yet see the beneficial results, gives me tremendous peace and comfort! I urge you from the bottom of my heart to experience the words of King David in Psalm 34:8, 'Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed (happy, joyful, full) is the man who takes refuge in him!" 

In this broken world, let us turn to Jesus to taste and see that the Lord is good.

Mike Sulc 

Life to Life Africa 

 

 

 

Mike with the Chikonohono High School Bible study group. 

(The LTLA Youth Bible studies have been split into two groups,

Chikonohono and Cold Stream groups.)

 

 

Loading up the kids in the LTLA truck after youth Bible studies.

 

 

Mike sharing with the Men of Hope.

 

LTLA Communtiy & Training Ministry teams sharing in small groups about their 

experiences in following the principles found in The Master Plan of Evangelism.

 

 

Tatenda, LTLA Training Ministry team member, was very happy to receive 

a laptop that will help him complete training assignments.

 

 

I was able to visit the Chinhoyi landfill where LTLA is ministering 

to people who are making a living collecting recyclables.

 

 

I Saw Children at the Landfill

 Dear LTLA Friends, 

As you consider ministries to support on Giving Tuesday or during this Christmas season, I am sharing with you the Life to Life Africa year-end newsletter. Thank you for your interest in our efforts to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe. Here is the newsletter that highlights how LTLA has the opportunity to impact families living at the Chinhoyi landfill: 

 

“It broke my heart to see people living at the landfill.” 

“I saw children running to the trash trucks as they were dumping their load at the landfill,” reported Mr. Chigwida, one of LTLA’s Community Ministry team members. Shelton Nhundu, the Community Ministry team leader, traveled to the landfill not far outside of Chinhoyi to investigate this situation. “It broke my heart to find people living at the landfill,” says Shelton. “The children Mr. Chigwida saw were Mr. Gwara’s grandchildren. His grandchildren were abandoned by their parents into his care. He lives at the landfill to provide for his family by collecting items to recycle. His income amounts to $1 per day.” It was not a difficult decision for Shelton to add Mr. Gwara’s family to the group of 56 new families LTLA is serving in Chinhoyi. 

 

7 of the 10 grandchildren who live with Mr. Gwara.

Earlier this year, in June, the Community Ministry team assessed the needs of the families we served and determined that 56 of the 100 families no longer needed our assistance. It was encouraging to see that we were able to help so many toward self-sustainability. In July and August Shelton, along with fellow team leaders Gogo (Grandmother) Mildred and Ottilia, conducted interviews with prospective families. LTLA team members then visited each family to examine their situations and verify their needs. Along with Mr. Gwara’s family, there were three other families living at the landfill who we added to our care. 

 

Mr. Gwara by his makeshift house at the landfill outside Chinhoyi.

The LTLA team began distributing food to these 100 families (56 new, and 44 remaining from last year) every other week starting in September. They have also provided sustainable farming training to them and are inspecting their corn plots this month for planting read- iness. Soon we will provide them with seed and fertilizer for planting, which is to be done on November 25 for an optimum harvest. Members of the newly-added families have begun to attend the Men and Women of Hope discipleship meetings, and the children are attending the youth Bible studies. Shelton also plans to take LTLA team members with him to the landfill to minister to the four families we are assisting, as well as others living there, since they feel stigmatized due to their desperate living conditions. 

 

View of Mr. Gwara's home, situated at the top center of this hill in the landfill.

Would you help us minister to Mr. Gwara’s family along with the other families living at the landfill? We are trusting God to use us to transform their lives along with the other 96 families we serve with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are grateful for your faithful support in prayer and finances over the years for our ministry efforts in Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe! Our operational budget is $12,000 monthly which also includes the LTLA Training Ministry led by Arthur Nhau, LTLA Director in Chinhoyi, that is preparing laborers for God’s Kingdom work. Thank you for considering how you can partner with a special gift or monthly commitment (see details below). 

 

Gratefully in Christ, 

Mike Sulc 

Life to Life Africa 

 

 

You can contribute by mailing a check payable to: 

Life to Life Africa PMB 344 10151 University Blvd Orlando, FL 32817