Choir of Ugandan orphans to perform in Gosnell

An energetic and extremely talented choir, comprised of 18 Ugandan orphans (ages 8-12), known as the Watoto Children's Choir, has agreed to make Gosnell a stop on their six-month U.S. tour.

The concert will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24 at Gosnell Baptist Church and will feature their presentation, "Signs and Wonders."

The concert inspires audiences by featuring worship songs that share the children's stories and "hope they now have because of God's love." All performances are free and open to the public. Since 1994, Watoto Children's Choirs (each year different children) have traveled around the globe raising awareness for Africa's orphaned children. Each child in the choir has suffered the loss of at least one parent, but has been rescued and now lives in a Watoto village. Watoto is a holistic child-care solution that serves the dire needs of Africans.

For example, Esther Kahangi was abandoned at a hospital in Kampala (Uganda's largest city), before being rescued by Watoto as a premature baby and spending her first weeks in critical care. She is now a healthy, happy 8-year-old currently touring with the choir.

"I am excited to be a part of Signs and Wonders," said Esther. "I know that I am a wonder, because I am chosen by God as His child."

Gosnell Baptist Church Youth and Worship Leader Stan Dutton said that he first became acquainted with the choir at one of their concerts elsewhere.

"Come and experience God moving and see how lives are transformed by the Gospel," Dutton said. "They are highly energetic and loving. They love the Lord and they love people."

Dutton said that the concert lasts about 90-miinutes and is free. He added that a love offering will be taken, child sponsorships are possible for those that desire and the children will also be selling items that they have made such as purses and jewelry. Lastly, t-shirts and compact discs of the choir will be made available as well.

"What an extraordinary experience it is to see the Watoto Children's Choir," Brian Houston, Senior Pastor of world famous Hillsong Church in Australia said. "It lights up the place to see these beautiful kids, and when you hear their stories and learn about where they have come from, you can't help but think of all God has done."

The Watoto story was birthed in 1988, in the town of Rakai, Uganda. Gary Skinner and his wife Marilyn were confronted by a cold, hard truth they couldn't walk away from.

Eight years earlier, he and his young family had moved to Uganda -- a nation well acquainted with violence and poverty. They planted a church in Kampala, and prayed God would use it to restore hope to their city and nation.

Ugandans had been through so much, including corrupt and oppressive rulers such as Idi Amin and a terrible civil war that brought the slaughter of nearly a million dead. Gary visited a 79-year-old widow and mother of seven. She walked him past the graves of her husband and six deceased children.

AIDS had killed them all and her only surviving child, a daughter, was also dying of the disease.

He remembered James 1: 27, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Therefore, in 1994, Watoto Child Care Ministries was birthed out of Watoto Church and began with one simple house in Kansanga (a suburb south of Kampala).

Watoto also provides crucial support to vulnerable women, helping them to stay alive and to care for their children. They have helped more than 3,000 vulnerable women, who have been empowered through literacy, business and practical skills. Their children -- numbering more than 15,000 boys and girls -- also now have a better chance in life. Since 1994, the choir has toured the world annually as advocates for the 18 million African children currently orphaned by AIDS, poverty and war.

They have performed before presidents and royalty at places such as the White House, Buckingham Palace, the United Nations and many other national parliaments. The choir has also performed at Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee and is featured on Chris Tomlin's album, "Hello, Love."

Wherever they go, audiences are inspired as the children sing, dance and celebrate their stories of hope.

The goal of the ministry is to rescue individuals, raise each orphan to become leaders in their chosen sphere of life, with an expectation that they will in return help rebuild the nation.

The program provides physical care, medical intervention (including HIV/AIDS treatment), both academic and vocational education, counseling and spiritual discipleship. The story of Watoto is one of hope, transformation and empowerment. Since 1994, Watoto has cared for more than 4,000 orphaned and vulnerable children. Some are former child soldiers and some were born to rebel leaders during Uganda's civil war. Many of these children have since gone on to become lawyers, teachers, computer scientists, journalists, farmers and doctors and are now positively impacting their society.

To watch the trailer for Signs & Wonders visit https://vimeo.com/191099984.

For a complete choir tour schedule, please visit watoto.com/choir. For more information or to schedule an interview with the choir, please contact Aubrey Hudson at Watoto Child Care Ministry at 813-948-4343 or email aubrey.hudson@watoto.com.

thenry@blythevillecourier.com