Community Corner

South African Children's Choir Singing at Always Christmas in Lake Orion

South Africa's staggering AIDS epidemic has left behind as many as 6 million orphans, some of whom will be performing at an unexpected venue in Lake Orion Saturday.

The Key of Hope Children’s Choir is making an inaugural trip from squatter camps and hillside homes in Durban, South Africa to America. The international tour comes to Lake Orion at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, at the Always Christmas store in Canterbury Village, 2535 Joslyn Road.

Using powerful visuals and sound, guests will be transported to both the beauty and squalor of Durban as 22 orphaned children deliver music that illustrates the impact and power of the Gospel in their lives.

This performance is made possible by a unique partnership between Woodside Bible Church-Lake Orion and Stan Aldridge, owner of Olde World Canterbury Village.

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“We wanted to provide a platform for the Children’s Choir to perform and I was walking through the Always Christmas shop with Stan Aldridge and thought what a unique place this would be to hold the concert,” said Rick Seidel, pastor of the Lake Orion campus of Woodside Bible Church.

So he asked Aldridge, who said yes, and that led to another idea.

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Always Christmas will donate 500 ornaments bearing the names of children from Durban, South Africa. Those attending the concert can purchase an ornament for $10 to hang on their Christmas tree, with all proceeds benefiting the work of Key of Hope in Durban.

Founded in 2007 by Dan and Rachel Smither, Key of Hope focuses on helping children who have been orphaned by the AIDS epidemic in South Africa. The couple started out ministering to inner city children for more than 10 years with The Power Company Kids Club in Pontiac, MI.

Dan Smither has a bachelor’s degree in theology from William Tyndale College, and Rachel Smither studied music theory at Oakland University.

Though it ranks only 25th in the world in total population, South Africa is home to the highest AIDS population of any country in the world.

One in five residents is HIV-positive. The horrific AIDS epidemic in South Africa has left behind 3-6 million orphans, with millions already suffering the effects of parents who are sick and dying of AIDS.

>>> Read more about the Key of Hope Children’s Choir.


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