From the Bishop: Hope for Africa Children’s Choir is a true blessing

B. Michael Watson

The theme for this year’s General Conference of The United Methodist Church was “A Future With Hope.” Nothing demonstrated that expectant theme better than the presence and ministry of the “Hope For Africa Children’s Choir.” These twenty-three beautiful children, ages 5 to 12-years-old, and their wonderful adult leaders are winning the hearts of everyone who sees and hears them. It is a joy to know that loving resources from the South Georgia Conference have made it possible for this choir to travel from Uganda to the United States to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in such a remarkable way.

Last year, while I was in the East Africa Annual Conference on one of the many missions connected with our South Georgia partnership in ministry with that conference, a group of us had the thrill of sharing in the official opening of Humble United Methodist School in Mukono, Uganda. In this miraculous manifestation of God’s marvelous ministry through The United Methodist Church, we rejoiced to celebrate that over 200 beautiful children now live in hope because some of their sisters and brothers in Christ love enough to feed, clothe, house, educate, and medicate them. The school’s mission is to provide orphans and other vulnerable children with quality education enriched with vocational skills and Christian morals to develop self-reliant and faithfully fruitful adults who will live in service to others as God-fearing and responsible members of the human family.

A music academy was born out of this ministry. Now, the “Hope For Africa Children’s Choir” is a new and living embodiment of hope for the future through the precious sights and sounds of some of the world’s most vulnerable children. You will want to meet the children and adults in this wonderful ministry. On page 6 in this issue of the Wesleyan Christian Advocate you will be able to find their scheduled performances. I hope that you will be able to attend one or more of these inspiring events and that you will be led by God’s Holy Spirit to help continue this ministry with our sisters and brothers in Africa. Your help is a participation in a future with hope! Gifts can be made through any local church or directly to the South Georgia Annual Conference, P. O. Box 52101, Macon, GA 31208, designated to our East African partnership.

Mike Watson Resident Bishop South Georgia Area The United Methodist Church.