With its ongoing mission to help change hundreds of young lives, the internationally-acclaimed African Children's Choir is heading to Central Alberta with shows slated for Lacombe and Clive this spring.
The choir, which features children ages eight to 11, will be performing at Lacombe's Bethel Christian Reformed Church on April 9 at 7 p.m.
A second show runs April 11 at Clive Baptist Church, also starting at 7 p.m. No tickets are required, although donations are appreciated.
“The African Children’s Choir proves just how powerful music can be,” said Choir Manager Tina Sipp.
Indeed. Concerts are packed with energy, colour, and styles ranging from popular children’s tunes and traditional spiritual songs, to vibrant African cultural pieces.
“These concerts not only provide hope and encouragement to our audiences, they also offer the children life-changing experiences that help shape them into future leaders.”
Marking 40 years of criss-crossing the globe, the choir is part of an international Christian organization called Music for Life, which provides impoverished children across Africa with the education, discipleship, and leadership skills needed to rise above their conditions.
"As I see God's heart throughout the Bible, he is always caring about the foreigner, the widows and the orphans," said Sipp.
"To be involved with this profound work, we are taking a life going in one direction without much hope of getting out of a cycle of poverty and..not having those things every person deserves, and taking them to where they can be (one day) self-sustaining for themselves and for their entire families.
"The ripple effects of that we will never fully know.
"This hasn't been without its challenges. But our leadership has never faltered - they have always found a way to continue this work. We were off the road for three years due to COVID - and we are still standing. I think that speaks to God's heart for these children he has called us to serve, and to stand in the gap for.
For Sipp, who has been with the organization for 22 years, the inspiration from the youngsters is a constant.
"It's about making these tours the best possible investment in the children's live for the long term. That includes their education and discipleship while they are on tour, their care, and their character-building. And so the people I hire to be with them are of utmost importance. To be able to be involved in work that profoundly changes the trajectory of life after life after life - that is powerful to me."
Sipps said the choir's founder, Ray Barnett, was always focused on the dignity and potential of African children.
"I also think there is this beautiful exchange of love when they are on that stage - our hearts are moved time after time. And every audience has the same response."
As to this year's program, there are new touches that relate directly to the 40th anniversary milestone.
"The program is called 'Just As I Am', and it has some favourite hymns most people would recognize, which are put with African rhythms. There is wonderful artist in Uganda that did some arrangements for us. It's a beautiful mix of the two cultures. And for this 40th year, they put together a medley of favourite songs from over the years.
"As the children will be singing the medley, we will start with a photo of the very first choir. It's timed so we will see every choir since that first one in 1984 - and as soon as the song comes to an end, there will be a photo of the children who are onstage. It's something we could do to make this tour a little more special - just to have that 'reunion' of sorts of all of the choirs that we have had.
"We also have some African chaperones who were former members of the choir, and they will be speaking about the education they received, and why they have chosen to give back to this next generation of children. So that is very powerful, too."
Sipp said ultimately, the success of these past few decades is due to a collaboration within communities.
"I love to give a shout-out to our churches because for 40 years, God has given us a calling to care for these little ones, and to give them opportunities," she explained. "We could not have done this without the thousands of hosting churches that have taken care of our lodging, our meals, and our transportation.
"They have played a major role, along with our sponsors and donors. This is not about us - this is a 'we' collective effort. We are grateful, and so appreciative for the people who have stepped up and said, yes, we will invest with you. We believe in this, too!"
