STRICTLY OBSERVING: Concert Choir

Four weeks ago, I dedicated my column to promoting a concert that was sponsored in part by my home church, starring the Hope for Africa Children’s Choir.  I closed the article by saying that I did not customarily like to write about events until after I had seen them, so as to give a proper opinion.  However, as a Christian, I was certain that this July 2 event was going to be full of blessings for all who went to see it.  Therefore, I chose to publicize it in hopes that more people would attend as a result.
While I don’t know whether or not my column was helpful in filling the sanctuary of St. Paul United Methodist Church, I can say without reservation that I was absolutely right about my anticipation of being blessed by this program.  Having witnessed the amazing display of God-given energy and musical talent that was presented by these 23 remarkable young men and women from East Africa, I can’t remember ever attending a more spirit-filled religious presentation.  From start to finish, these young kids, ranging from 5 to 12 years of age, never faltered in their energy even the slightest bit throughout the approximate 100-minute show.  Even at one point in the program when the church’s sound system failed, these consummate professionals never missed a beat and continued to perform their song without a hitch.
Dressed in their traditional African garb, they even participated in some traditional expressive dance and chanting from their native lands.  Even though many of their songs were sung in their native tongue, you certainly did not need to understand their language to realize that they were singing praises to God.  The only tune I was clearly familiar with was their rendition of the Josh Groban contemporary hit, “You Raised Me Up.” However, each of their 15 numbers was performed with an equal sense of wonder and amazement.
As I watched those children move continuously and with the utmost rhythmic precision while singing beautifully all the while, it was simply amazing that such young people could be so talented.  Even more importantly, each one of these people seemed to be so happy, optimistic and full of life, despite having undergone the most horrible circumstances imaginable.  During the testimonial portion of the program, some of the kids spoke about their hardships in life and how God blessed their lives by making them a part of the choir.  Many talked about not having proper clothing or sleeping accommodations with as many as six people sleeping on one bed sheet.  Another young lady mentioned that in the village where she lived she could not go to school because the teachers were afraid of being killed by rebels while in their classrooms.  Now each of these children were very grateful for the opportunity to be properly educated and accommodated in ways that you and I take for granted.  Their stories were even more heart-wrenching with the knowledge that practically every one of these wonderful youngsters were orphaned either by the HIV/AIDS virus or through the brutal war that has continued to wreak havoc on their native countries for decades.
To look at each of the young choir members, however, you would assume that none of them had a care in the world.  Each of them was constantly smiling, laughing or showing affection to people they had never even met before.  Their personalities were a phenomenal testament to the goodness of God and were infectious to those of us who had the great privilege of meeting them and hearing them perform.  My heart immediately went out to them and I headed home that evening wishing there was more that we members of the United Methodist Church could do for these wonderful children who have ministered so unbelievably to each of us.  For more information on how to help individually, visit online at http://www.hopeforafricachildrenschoir.org.