African Children's Choir to perform at Salina church

By GARY DEMUTH

Salina Journal

The Rev. Troy Bowers guarantees his sanctuary will be full of contagious joy Wednesday evening.

That's when the Watoto Children's Choir will perform at Bowers' church, First United Methodist Church, 122 N. Eighth.

The choir is comprised of African children, ages 9 to 12, who will perform traditional African music, contemporary gospel songs and ethnic dance routines during a concert that begins at 7 p.m. at the church.

"I've made a guarantee that the sanctuary will be full of singing, dancing, colorful costumes and contagious joy," Bowers said.

The concert is free to the public. An offering will be taken.

The Watoto choir is one of several children's choirs originating from areas of Uganda and other African states. The Watoto Children's Choir has toured internationally since 1994 to raise awareness of the plight in East Africa, where many children, including choir members, have been orphaned and displaced by war and diseases such as HIV/AIDS.

"Many of these children have lived on the street and are orphans," Bowers said.

The Watoto Choir was founded by pastors Gary and Marilyn Skinner through their Watoto Church in Kampala, Uganda. Their goal, as stated on the church's Web site at www.watoto.com, is to raise the next generation of Ugandan leaders by pursuing excellence in academic and practical skills and integrity in moral values and conduct. The result is that each child can become a responsible Christian and productive citizen of Uganda.

First United Methodist Church in Salina hosted a previous African children's choir in December 2007, Bowers said.

While in Salina, the children will stay with several church host families.

Bowers promised the children's concert will be entertaining and enlightening.

"They'll give testimonies on how their lives have changed, share their dreams and tell their plans for down the road," he said. "It's a life-giving message of hope, grace and forgiveness."

nReporter Gary Demuth can be reached at 822-1405 or by e-mail at gdemuth@salina.com.

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