African Children's Choir to perform in Bradenton, Sarasota

MANATEE -- Fate? Destiny? Coincidence? Divine appointment?

One of the biggest mysteries of life is whether things happen for a reason or by total chance.

Tina Sipp is in the camp of people who believe things are meant to be.

In 1993, a friend took her to a Nazerene church in Moscow, Idaho, where she saw the African Children's Choir perform. The Christian-based choir, which began touring the West 32 years ago, performs children's songs, traditional spirituals, and Gospel favorites with an energetic flair.

"I was mesmerized by the children," Sipp said. "I saw them a few more times and I said to myself. 'I have to do this. I have to be part of this. This is the next thing I want to do.'"

When the 44th African Children's Choir perform sat Abundant Life Church in Sarasota at 7 p.m.. Wednesday, March 23, and The Church At Bradenton at 7 p.m. March 30. Sipp won't be there physically, but she will be with them in spirit, she said.

The concerts are free and open to all. Donations will be accepted at the performance to support African Children's Choir programs, such as education, care and relief and development programs. "My wife and I saw them 16 years ago and were captivated," said William Sallee, a pastor at The Church At Bradenton. "The choir is an extension of a much bigger ministry. They take Ugandan children and house them, school them and feed them with the support of people all around the world."

Sallee and his wife, Robin, have sponsored a little boy from Uganda named Sam since he was four and now he is 20, Sallee said.

Sam was not in the choir.

"But that's the beauty of it," Sallee said. "The choir is just a small representation of these kids."

Sipp now knows that, too.

In 2001, after a chap

ter in Sipp's life was closing, Sipp applied for and was accepted as a traveling chaperone for the choir. She did that for a year and a half. Then she became an event planner and now she is the choir's manager. Her job is to train chaperones for the children, hire staff and make sure things go smoothly out on the road. The well-being of the children is her responsibility. It's quite a responsibility. But Sipp believes it is her fate, her destiny and a divine appointment.

"Back in 1993 I found myself forced to ask the question, 'What can I do to help?' " Sipp said. "When we find ourselves asking that question I think we are propelled by the love of Christ. The spirit is in us and we have the compulsion to love like he loved. I think all that was going on in my heart in that first moment."

"What compels me today is one essential feeling," Sipp added. "If Jesus were here would he care about these children and their well-being? I think he would. I think we who follow this calling are living out Jesus's will on a day-to-day basis. We are doing something that brings healing, redemption and hope and I think that is very spiritual."

The choir began 32 years ago when Ray Barnett of Vancouver, B.C., was on a humanitarian trip to war-torn Uganda, said Lydia Sherwood, a choir spokeswoman.

When Barnett gave a small boy a ride from his decimated home to the safety of another village the boy sang during the trip.

"When I went back to Canada and people were not very interested in Uganda, I remembered this small boy," Barnett told friends. "I knew that if only a group of these beautiful children could go to the West, people would be deeply moved and would certainly want to help."

The children and their parents, if they have parents, attend an open audition in Africa if they want to be in the choir.

"It is mostly based on need," Sipp said of the selection process. "We pick kids to come to a weekend of camp activities where we sing, dance and do Bible studies. Then they all go home and we pick the children we would like for the choir."

Getting picked is kind of like hitting a lottery, Sipp said.

"It could be that this child has no parents," Sipp said. "The children know that without an education they will not have a job that will be self-sustaining. When a child is selected, it impacts their lives."

When the children first join the choir, they are usually under-sized for the ages. But they are fed physically and spiritually and grow, Sipp said.

After 32 years, the choir now has 1,000 prior choir members. But even children who do not get chosen for the choir benefit.

The tour has raised enough money through donations to provide schooling to 52,000 children, Sipp said.

"Only about one of every 30 children make it to the tour," Sipp said. "But they know they are ambassadors for a much bigger program. The funds they raise are spread wide and far into roughly 8,000 school programs throughout Africa."

Even though she has now witnessed the talents of literally hundreds of children, Sipp says it's always a thrill to hear them perform and never has lost its spiritual impact on her.

"These beautiful children, singing and dancing and working it out, it's really gripping," Sipp said.

Richard Dymond, Herald reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7072 or contact him via Twitter@RichardDymond.

This story was originally published March 18, 2016 at 11:00 PM with the headline "African Children's Choir to perform in Bradenton, Sarasota ."