I’ve made it a habit when we visit Kinsey and Jordan in Birmingham to take morning walks on the nearby Samford University campus. Last week I noticed a sign saying the Sozo Children’s Choir would sing in the large assembly center that night.
Before her senior year in college, Karlyn spent the summer in Uganda working with the Sozo ministry caring for orphans who had experienced many difficulties. Going back to the days of Idi Amin, Ugandans have suffered at the hands of evil leaders. More recently, Joseph Kony has kidnapped thousands of children to carry out atrocities in his Lord’s Resistance Army reign of terror in northern Uganda.
Karlyn in 2014 and Kinsey and Jordan in 2015 witnessed firsthand the beauty of Uganda and the power of God’s love flowing through individuals intent on sacrificing physical comforts to serve children in need. When I texted Karlyn about the concert, she was sad she was not there to see the children she knew. She sent me a couple of pictures from her visit.
Our friends John and Suzanne Hunter, who live in Namibia, say that worship in heaven will be led by God’s African children. The choir was outstanding and the brief message about the future plans for the ministry was inspiring. But the best part of the night occurred when they asked the audience of nearly 1000 Americans to stand and worship the One who created us and loves us.
Karlyn texted that the youngest member of the choir was named Hannington and he would probably sing a solo. As we stood to worship, a small boy stepped forward and led: “You’re a good, good Father… it’s who You are, it’s who You are, it’s who You are… and I’m loved by You…” Through smiles and tears, praise was lifted to the One who is “perfect in all of His ways.”
Twenty-five children sang with beautiful voices the words below that God wants all of us to understand. May our lives be expressions of worship every day.
You unravel me with a melody, You surround me with a song
Of deliverance from my enemies till all my fears are gone
I’m no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God
I’m no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God
From my mother’s womb, You have chosen me, Love has called my name
I’ve been born again, into a family, Your blood flows through my veins
I’m no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God
I’m no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God
You split the sea so I could walk right through it, my fears were drowned in perfect love
You rescued me so I could stand and sing, I am a child of God
The blind and the lame came to Him at the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things He did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. “Do You hear what these children are saying?” they asked Him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, ‘From the lips of children and infants You, Lord, have called forth Your praise’?” Matthew 21:14-16
“Good, Good Father” written by Pat Barrett
“No Longer Slaves” written by Jonathan Helser, Joel Case, and Brian Johnson