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Woodburn/Franklin Community Youth Group Mashambanzou - The Darkness Right Before the Dawn |
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BG Daily News article 08/2009: A voice for Zimbabwe
A voice for Zimbabwe As members of the choir gathered Wednesday on the sanctuary stage at Woodburn Baptist Church, Beth Broady, 16, of Franklin sat in the second pew practicing the finger piano, an instrument used for their rendition of “Jesus Loves the Little Children.” A youth choir made up of youth from churches in the Bowling Green and Franklin area are gearing up to perform “Mashambanzou: The Darkness Right Before the Dawn - An offering of love for the people of Zimbabwe.” The concert is to raise awareness and funds for the people of Zimbabwe. “(Zimbabweans) don’t have a voice, and that’s what we hope to give them - a voice, and that’s what these kids hope to do through this,” said Lisa Williams, who has coordinated efforts to aid the people of Zimbabwe after becoming familiar with the African nation’s plight during mission trips. |
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As Broady played around with the finger piano, the choir assembled on the sanctuary stage, ready to start. Broady scurried to her place behind one of the drums set up in front of nine of the members, joining the others in belting out a steady rhythmic sound accented by cow bells and gourd shakers. “We wanted to tell the story,” said Byron Lucas, one half of the duo that wrote the musical. Byron Lucas and his wife, Susie, both youth choir directors, wrote the musical Byron Lucas refers to as a dramatic monologue with music. “We wrote the script, and picked songs that went along with the script and the message we are trying to convey,” Susie Lucas said. The concert will feature poetry written by Zimbabweans and quotes from them, all coupled with contemporary Christian songs - such as “Dry Your Tears Africa,” a song from the movie “Amistad.” Lucas said the choir will start the concert with a classic favorite - “It’s a Small World After All.” And before long, they will move into “Jesus Loves the Little Children,” playing it first on the finger pianos, and then singing it in English, then Shona - a Zimbabwean dialect - and then in both languages. “This choir has been amazing,” Byron Lucas said. “They’ve worked hard and are really passionate about what they are doing.” “These youth are special,” Susie Lucas added. “Just to see their hearts, faces and commitment is amazing.” Susie Lucas said she and Byron had talked with the youth about the plight of Zimbabwe, and the youth were shocked. Zimbabwe has soaring unemployment and poverty and the situation there has continued to deteriorate, Williams said. She said a lot of people there are starving and living in squatter camps. “I think they realize their sacrifice is small compared to what the Zimbabwean people are going through,” Susie Lucas said. James Weakley, 19, who attends Woodburn Baptist Church, said when he heard about the project, it was something he couldn’t pass up. “I knew this would be a wonderful way to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” he said. “As we say, Jesus says ‘Go ye into the world and preach the Gospel to all nations.’ His message of love, forgiveness is for everyone, every nation.” The concert was spawned after the church took on the humanitarian effort to send a 40-foot semi-trailer filled with needed items to Zimbabwe. The container is 3,000 cubic feet and holds up to 44,000 pounds, and costs about $13,000. One container is sent each year, Williams said. Although the container is half full, Williams said they are still in need of items, like over-the-counter medicine - such as cough medicine and non-aspirin pain relievers, sterile gloves, anti-bacterial hand soap and hand sanitizer. Other items being collected include canned soups, soap, underwear, antibiotic ointment, anti-diarrhea medicine, towels and wash cloths, children’s pajamas, toothbrushes, cooking pots that can be used over open fires, wheelchairs, pillows, old wedding dresses or something formal a bride could wear. “We just want to reach out and love them,” she said. “We want to let them know we’re doing this because we love them, because Jesus loves them.” Christians are taught to fight social injustice, Weakly said. He said the Zimbabwean people not only need the freedom Christ gives, but freedom from the oppression they are under. “What we consider to be regular commodities for us, they need, too,” he said. “As Christians, our duty is to fight that oppression whether it’s in our backyard or across the world.” Byron Lucas said he is looking forward to the opening night of the concert, where a love offering will be taken. “This is a great cause we are supporting,” Wakefield said. “We know we are helping - and not just by sending stuff, but actually being a part of this effort. We want people to be aware that this is not just a problem in Africa. There are people there so broken down, it’s hard to survive. “This isn’t just about sending food. They need to know people care.” |
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Photo by David W. Smith/Daily News