John

John's Story

His Story

John is the first born of four children. He lived with his mother until he was about a year old, when his grandmother took him in after he nearly died from a lack of proper parental care — he has lived with her ever since. Growing up, he did not know his father until he was old enough to ask, and was told that his father had denied the pregnancy before he was even born: "Your father denied you before you even got out of your mother's belly."

At four, a blessing brought him into a Roman Catholic mission nursery school, arranged because his grandmother worked for the Sisters, who knew the family's story. He studied there three years, then seven more years of government primary school, and four years of O-level secondary — all marked by the same hardship: torn clothes, no proper shoes, days and weeks missed when school fees went unpaid, and studying on an empty stomach. He nonetheless passed his exams well throughout and qualified for two years of Advanced Secondary Education.

"So generally, the biggest challenge I experienced during childhood was poverty. It hindered me from doing many things and denied me so many opportunities. I almost dropped out of school, but thanks to the Almighty God, He got me back on track, so here I am now."

He names his greatest ongoing life challenge as being raised by his grandmother alone, without help from either parent — especially now that she is aging and increasingly dependent, a problem he hopes his education can eventually help him solve.

His Young Life Journey

John first heard about Young Life when he noticed people going to a camp, got curious, and asked questions until he was interested enough to join himself. That began a six-year journey from lost kid, to campaigner kid, to leader. "My journey from a lost kid, to a campaigner kid, up to a leader took place — that is how I became involved."

He now serves as Team Leader, operating as Area Leader for Manyoni in the Singida regional area, responsible for supervising all clubs and ensuring the area's gradual development, working with students ages 10 to 18 across High School and Middle School Wyldlife. He describes his campaigners training, and his graduation as a Young Life leader, as two of the most formative days of his life: "That day I said to myself, 'This is the new me, this is my life. God's voice is calling me to do His humble work, and ministry is my life from this day onwards.'"

His Catholic Faith

John is a follower of the Roman Catholic Church, baptized as a baby, and serves at Ascension of the Lord Parish in Manyoni — a church that has shaped him through educating events, the children's mission commission, and youth activities since childhood.

"I grew up in a church environment, so I had met Jesus from birth, but a catalyst for change was definitely Young Life ministry. After my first camp as a kid in 2020, and the campaigners training, I felt like I officially met Jesus, as I was able to communicate with Him, love Him, and walk with Him in my daily life ever since."

He describes a daily practice of prayer through the morning, day, and night, and recounts a specific answered prayer: waking up with no money to attend a regional campaigners camp, praying at the bus terminal, and having a bus driver stop and arrange his ride to Singida without being asked. He also credits prayer with helping him eventually find his father, within a month of asking God to help him.

His Goals and Future Vision

John hopes to become a software developer and well-skilled IT professional, building reliable systems, mobile applications, and websites, and eventually specializing in networking, cybersecurity, and cloud computing to serve businesses across Tanzania. In the DGL program, he wants to expand his ministry into places not yet reached and increase the number of clubs, while growing his own professional skills. He hopes one day to join Young Life staff.

"I hope that my success is the success of my ministry. As I start this journey as a DGL scholar, I am going to make the best of it, affecting my ministry in every possible way. God is with me, and I believe that I will make it."

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