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The concert is free and the public is invited.
The five boys and five girls will sing contemporary Christian tunes, as well as share high-energy songs, dances and drumming reflective of their homeland. The choir members are from some of the poorest parts of Uganda and are touring the U.S. as ambassadors to raise awareness of the conditions their peers face, and promote sponsorship opportunities to aid them.
The concert is the finale to Grace’s “A Summer to Remember” series.
Childcare Worldwide, the choir’s sponsoring body, reached out to area churches to host the group and Grace responded.
“It just seemed like a good fit for us,” Rev. Daniel M. Powell said. “We as a congregation try to provide opportunities to interact in our community.”
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The children will stay with the host families for three days, and be provided transportation, meals and show them the area. Powell said it’s left to the families as to their activities and hopes meaningful conversations are part of it.
“We’re glad Grace accepted,” said Susanna Spaid, Ugandan Kids Choir manager. “People are so thrilled to meet and interact with them and want to help show the kids what makes their communities special. We hope the Springfield community will walk away from the choir’s visit enlightened.”
The children speak four to five languages, Spaid said, and enjoy being part of a cultural exchange. Powell is enthusiastic about this.
Grace is active in community outreach and has volunteered at the local soup kitchen and built relations at a local senior care center, Powell said, and this is another step toward that.
“This can be a wonderful experience for us and to maybe build more bridges in the community,” he said.
HOW TO GO
What: Ugandan Kids Choir
Where: Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1801 St. Paris Pike, Springfield
When: 9:15-10:15 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 3
Admission: Free
More information: 937-399-6257 or http://grace-nalc.org/
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