Sozo Children’s Choir filled the Wright Center with a joyful noise during their “Revolution Tour” performance at Samford University on March 13.
The group of 13 children from Uganda have used Birmingham as their home base for the past month as they have performed throughout the Southeast. At each stop, they perform a set of worship songs: a combination of English and Luganda along with exciting choreography that brings the audience into the celebration. Between songs, the children speak Bible verses over the crowd and encourage them to engage with God through worship in their own way.
While Samford students made up a large portion of attendees, other spectators travelled hours to see the choir. Danielle Evans brought her two young daughters with her from Tuscaloosa to watch the choir. The three of them came along with a larger group of women from Warriors International Fellowship Church of Tuscaloosa.
“It was a joy to be able to come and support and watch,” Evans said. “I will definitely come back and see them again. The trip was worth it.”
Like many audience members, Evans felt the children’s energy was contagious.
“It was a joy to watch the kids so free,” Evans said. “Free to worship, free to dance, free to sing. Just able to express themselves in their own way.”
Those who attended a performance on the “Revolution Tour” are not the only ones changed. The tour is an opportunity for the children of the choir to experience the Lord in new ways and grow in their relationship with Him.
They witness how the Lord is moving in America, while worshipping through song and dance – some of their favorite things to do.
“Being on tour has helped me feel a peace in my heart through singing and dancing to the Lord,” choir member Ssanyu said.
The audience is encouraged through the choir’s worship, and the choir is then encouraged by their joyful response, according to another choir member, Alex.
“I have seen very many people loving to learn more about the Lord through my worship,” Alex said.
While Sozo Children’s Choir is only visiting, Birmingham is familiar with the Sozo community. In addition to a primary operating location in downtown Birmingham, Sozo Trading Co is a large part of the ministry and a popular thrift shop in the area. The Children’s Choir is another limb of the Sozo body. Suzanne Owens, CEO of Sozo Children, explained the role of the choir.
“The choir began as an outreach program for us in 2016 and is a great experience for the kids we serve in Uganda,” said Owens. “The choir tour is a mission trip, but it’s more than just a chance for the kids to visit America. We want the kids to come away from this knowing they are loved and that they matter.”
While the experience on tour in America is influential for the children, the impact goes beyond their own lives and into their community back home.
“Our goal as a ministry is to equip each of the children in our care to be effective disciples for Jesus,” said Owens. “They are the next generation of leaders in their homeland, so we aren’t trying to westernize them, but we equip them by walking alongside them in faith sharing the common faith in Christ.”
Attendees see the kids and realize they are more than a face on a website or a name in a newsletter. They see the impact of love and faith on the kids’ lives. Many are led to donate, sponsor, go on a trip or learn more.
For the Sozo family, getting to watch the Children’s Choir perform never loses its impact. Terry Schrimscher, public relations and communications specialist for Sozo, says that he is always deeply affected by these performances.
“As a staff member, there are times when I watch the kids perform or interact with audience members and it brings a tear to my eye,” said Schrimscher. “When you think of the stories many of our kids have endured in their young lives- abuse, abandonment, trafficking- it overwhelms me to see the joy they have. And when they ask if they can pray for you…man, that tears you up. We can learn from them, I think. They have a joy that escapes so many of us.”
Staff Writer
