Original Post Wednesday, May 1, 2013 for Christ Church Cathedral's Inner Peace
This week I attended the Princeton Forum on Youth Ministry. It was a wonderful week of conversation with sociologists and theologians on the future of the church, especially as related to youth ministry. We talked about good uses of technology, our interconnectedness with all the world, and ways in which the church could participates in a global society.
On my return flight, I was seated next to Shelia. Sheila was traveling from her homeland Uganda to Lexington. Shelia schedules the Watoto Children's Choir, part of Watoto Childcare Ministries. Some of you may have heard about them this week - they had a story in the Herald Leader. As their website states, the program is a holistic program initiated in response to orphaned children in Uganda. Many of their students are former prisoners of Joseph Kony and orphans of civil war. As Kony has now moved into the Congo and the Sudan, their organization is expanding to offer safe haven to orphans in those areas.
As you might imagine, Sheila's students have tremendous physical, psychological and educational needs. Watoto works with them to provide counseling, spiritual direction and help them graduate from university. Their goal is 100% graduation. They not only have a tremendous record with rehabilitating these young people into society, they also are training world leaders. As Shelia said, "We have not had a president yet, but we will." As part of their leadership training, students are able to go on a worldwide choir tour for one year, where they specifically hone in on their leadership skills. That tour is why Sheila was sitting next to me.
Sheila spoke fondly of World Vision, the group which sponsors 30 Hour Famine. She was delighted that our church was raising money and awareness. She was comforted that our youth pray regularly for Uganda. We both shared a love of ministry with children and shared concerns and joys of that work. It was awe inspiring to listen to her tell stories of her ministry. It was evident that the presence of Christ is transforming the dark pasts of these orphans into young people who serve as tremendous beacons of Christ's light and love.
We do live in a global society. Civil wars in places like Uganda, the Congo, and Sudan do effect our lives in Lexington. You do not have to travel to Uganda or to Princeton to meet someone who has been effected by civil war in Africa. This summer, through Habitat for Humanity, we will build a house for the Kumbaskisaka Family. Due to the plight of war in the Congo, the Kumbaskisakad fled to America for a new start, safety, and peace of mind.
When talking about spiritual communities, the letter of Galatians reminds us to "Bear one another's burdens" so that we may fulfill the law of Christ. As our society becomes more and more interconnected we have a great opportunity to uplift our global neighbors in prayer and bear their burdens. And as we do such we also grow from one another's joys. As Sheila taught me, there are great lessons of Christ's healing and resurrection in stories of hope to be told of our brothers and sisters who have overcome tremendous obstacles through their faith in Christ.
Thanks be to God for the gift of Christ which connects us all.
*For more information on the Watoto Children's Choir - www.watoto.com
*There are many ways to help the Kumbaskisaka's find home on May 19th and 25th. For more information on our Habitat Fundraisers - http://www.ccclex.org/#!the-ride-home/c1v9n
On my return flight, I was seated next to Shelia. Sheila was traveling from her homeland Uganda to Lexington. Shelia schedules the Watoto Children's Choir, part of Watoto Childcare Ministries. Some of you may have heard about them this week - they had a story in the Herald Leader. As their website states, the program is a holistic program initiated in response to orphaned children in Uganda. Many of their students are former prisoners of Joseph Kony and orphans of civil war. As Kony has now moved into the Congo and the Sudan, their organization is expanding to offer safe haven to orphans in those areas.
As you might imagine, Sheila's students have tremendous physical, psychological and educational needs. Watoto works with them to provide counseling, spiritual direction and help them graduate from university. Their goal is 100% graduation. They not only have a tremendous record with rehabilitating these young people into society, they also are training world leaders. As Shelia said, "We have not had a president yet, but we will." As part of their leadership training, students are able to go on a worldwide choir tour for one year, where they specifically hone in on their leadership skills. That tour is why Sheila was sitting next to me.
Sheila spoke fondly of World Vision, the group which sponsors 30 Hour Famine. She was delighted that our church was raising money and awareness. She was comforted that our youth pray regularly for Uganda. We both shared a love of ministry with children and shared concerns and joys of that work. It was awe inspiring to listen to her tell stories of her ministry. It was evident that the presence of Christ is transforming the dark pasts of these orphans into young people who serve as tremendous beacons of Christ's light and love.
We do live in a global society. Civil wars in places like Uganda, the Congo, and Sudan do effect our lives in Lexington. You do not have to travel to Uganda or to Princeton to meet someone who has been effected by civil war in Africa. This summer, through Habitat for Humanity, we will build a house for the Kumbaskisaka Family. Due to the plight of war in the Congo, the Kumbaskisakad fled to America for a new start, safety, and peace of mind.
When talking about spiritual communities, the letter of Galatians reminds us to "Bear one another's burdens" so that we may fulfill the law of Christ. As our society becomes more and more interconnected we have a great opportunity to uplift our global neighbors in prayer and bear their burdens. And as we do such we also grow from one another's joys. As Sheila taught me, there are great lessons of Christ's healing and resurrection in stories of hope to be told of our brothers and sisters who have overcome tremendous obstacles through their faith in Christ.
Thanks be to God for the gift of Christ which connects us all.
*For more information on the Watoto Children's Choir - www.watoto.com
*There are many ways to help the Kumbaskisaka's find home on May 19th and 25th. For more information on our Habitat Fundraisers - http://www.ccclex.org/#!the-ride-home/c1v9n
