Mile High Rev: REVved - "Growing A Heart for Sierra Leone" Concert

Monday, March 03, 2008

REVved - "Growing A Heart for Sierra Leone" Concert - Friday, March 7, 2008

15 years ago, I met a young man from Sierra Leone, Africa, named Daniel Sesay. He came to our church with a musical group called, Liberation. Their music deeply touched Jan and me. (Our favorite song included a refrain; “Papa O, Mama O.” These titles have since become our nicknames…) But even more, we made a very strong connection with Daniel and his brother, Samuel (who died of cancer shortly after returning home). We shared several meals together while they were in Colorado, and we promised to keep in touch.

We did. Daniel returned to his home in Africa and eventually married a delightful Sierra Leonean named Erica. He also began to dream about the possibility of being educated in the U.S. The Lord put it all together and he returned with Erica to attend Colorado Christian University. Meanwhile, the Lord blessed Daniel and Erica with two daughters, Keisha and Cierra. Daniel eventually graduated from CCU with a music degree and God opened up a ministry for him in our community. For the past ten years, he led worship in a local church near us.

I won’t take the time to tell the full story, but Daniel and I have stayed in touch through the years. And through an amazing series of events, he is now our Director of Worship. He started December 2007.

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I’ve also become an interested observer of the political scene in Sierra Leone because of Daniel, and because one of our FBC missionaries is also from that country. (Don Osman) I’ve included a link to an article that describes the devastation that has occurred in Sierra Leone in the past several years. It is not for the faint of heart. I encourage you to read it for two reasons: 1) To understand the nature of evil perpetrated against the women and children of Sierra Leone, and 2) To become aware of the dire need in this troubled African nation. I might also recommend viewing the movie, “Blood Diamond,” but only do so with the following caveats – it is not for children, it includes graphic violence and coarse language. It vividly portrays much of what is covered in the article. The irony is that Sierra Leone is an extremely wealthy country, but the people do not benefit due to un-ethical profiteering within the global diamond industry.

Blood Diamond

Sierra Leone: revenge and reconciliation , by Angela Robson.

(WARNING – Very graphic details of war and brutality referenced in article.)

The main purpose of this blog is to invite you to a concert at FBC on this coming Friday night. March 7 at 7:00 pm – “Growing A Heart for Sierra Leone” – a free concert. The music will be a mix of praise and worship songs with a definite African touch. Attenders are invited to bring school supplies or over-the-counter medications to donate. There will also be a love offering that will go 100% to a non-profit organization that is working to deliver relief and supplies to the needy in Sierra Leone. Daniel is part of this organization and has a contact (a brother) back home who serves as the distributor of the resources.

It’s a privilege to know Daniel, and now, to serve with him. When we were considering the possibility of serving together, one of the things that stirred me deeply was the opportunity we would have to link up with Daniel in his ministry to his homeland. God is making it happen! Join us on Friday night if you can. If not, pray that the Lord will begin to “grow a heart for Sierra Leone” at FBC.

Sierra Leone