Children of the World

I knew I had to go see The Children of the World Choir when I saw they were performing at the First Baptist Church in the next little town called Paden City (not to be confused with Peyton Place, although they sound alike).

The flyer I saw, then of course chose to write up as a Coming Event in the newspaper where I work, said the group consisted of 15 children from Uganda, India and the Philippines, most of whom were orphaned by AIDS.

As anticipated, the children were all truly beautiful. They sang and danced their hearts and souls out and let the spirit flow. The children sang all the songs in rhythmically articulated English and spoke scriptures posted on the video screen behind them.

One of the songs that they sang I had not heard before. The lyrics included:

I put my hope in You,
I will never be afraid.
I put my hope in You,
I will never be ashamed.

When the battle rages
I will not be phased.
I will put my faith, hope and trust in You.

It made me think about what these precious ones have been through and what rescuers the people of World Help Ministries are. They bring the love of Jesus to these children.

In the free book they distributed is the statement “Most children of AIDS suffer from every one of these adverse conditions” which, according to the U.S. Department of Health Education and Welfare cause children to be emotionally stunted:

* Abandonment - left to fend for themselves for a long period of time.
* Inadequate supervision or being left alone.
* Involved in activities that are harmful.
* Inadequate medical and dental care.
* Inadequate education.
* Inadequate nutrition.
* Inadequate shelter

The children of AIDS - 90 percent of whom live in Africa - have gone through all of the above. And yet the children I saw singing and praising God were joyful.

The staff and volunteers of World Help - very much as the people of The Sparrow’s Nest - take these children under their wings, feed, clothe and love them; and teach them about Jesus Christ and the Word of God.

They know they sleep in the arms of God - I know, because they sang about it.

Let each of us Children of God do something to help our littlest siblings.
Elizabeth