GOSHEN — Ray Barnett saw a problem. Nearly 30 years later, his contribution to a solution continues.

While doing ministry and mission work in eastern Europe, Barnett heard about the number of children orphaned as a result of the civil war in Uganda. Many Christians were persecuted and lost their lives, and their children were orphaned and in danger.

Barnett traveled to Uganda and selected around 30 children to bring to North America. He did so for several reasons, including providing the children a safe haven and raising awareness of the problem in Uganda. He also hoped to raise money to start project in Uganda to help at-risk or disadvantaged children.

And so, in 1984, the African Children’s Choir was born.

“I’m sure (Barnett) never envisioned that 27 years later we’d still be touring with multiple choirs, helping thousands of children to become educated in various countries throughout Africa,” said Vic Thiessen, Children’s Choir tour leader and bus driver.

The African Children’s Choir tour will bring the group to Goshen Sunday for two church performances.

The Children’s Choir is run by the non-denominational group Music for Life. The group has staff in Africa who travel to different areas, visiting churches and schools where poor children attend. Music for Lifers confirm with teachers or pastors that the pupils are physically and emotionally healthy. Then the children are asked to sing and dance to “confirm that they are capable, coordinated and confident,” according to Thiessen.

The students then head to the Children’s Choir training academy in Kampala, Uganda. There, the youths ­— ranging in age from 8 to 11 years old — are taught the choir’s song repetoire, as well as the percussion and choreography.

“We typically keep them there around five months,” Thiessen said, providing an education for the singers while they also learn the musical material.

Then its showtime.

Choir members primarily perform in churches in North America and Europe. They stay with host families during their travels.

“It’s an enormous blessing,” Thiessen said. “We take a love offering at each church. We sell products like t-shirts, CDs and DVDs. We have schooling and rehearsal for our choir children in those churches during the day following the concert the night before.”

In Thiessen’s estimation, that concert is lively and impressive.

“The children clearly love to perform, and all audiences from a wide range of denominations just love to watch the kids.”

The choir sings a range of popular Gospel songs, ranging from traditional to contemporary.

“About a third of the material is just a cappella African songs, some cultural and some gospel, always accompanied by the African drums,” Thiessen added. “The children who play them are just spectacular.”

The choir has a rotating membership; a new group is formed each year, and the children from the previous choir return to their homelands to attend school, where their education is funded via the Children’s Choir.

According to Music for Life, since its inception the Children’s Choir project has set up schools and provided educational scholarships in Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Sudan, Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa.

In addition to benefitting the choir children — around 1,000 singers have gone through the group’s ranks over 27 years — the choir experience has been personally enriching to Thiessen as well.

“In 1989, friends of mine from church were touring with one of the choirs and (they) encouraged me to join the choir,” he recalled. “...They thought it would be just a life-changing experience for me and one that I would enjoy, and they were obviously right.”

Thiessen has traveled off and on with the choir for 22 years, and on a full-time basis for 12.

“It’s just awesome. I’ve been completely content and fulfilled throughout,” he said. “I was obviously designed to be on tour, especially (with) the African Children’s Choir.”

Thiessen said he’s been blessed working with the chaperones he travels with and hundreds of children over the years.

“And I am very proud to see that most of the chaperones that we bring now from Africa to travel with the current choirs are people who had been children who toured with me 15, 20 years ago who are now successful adults with college degrees,” he said. “...Kids who used to call me ‘Uncle Vic’ are now my fellow chaperones.”

Thiessen also indicated that the Children’s Choir efforts are bearing fruit.

“We always presented our ministry as one where we help disadvantaged children reach their potential, and that has in fact proven to the true,” he said.

If you want to go

• The African Children’s Choir is set to perform during the 9:30 a.m. worship service Sunday at College Mennonite Church, 1900 S. Main St., Goshen.
• The choir will also perform at 6:30 p.m. at Waterford Mennonite Church, 65935 Ind. 15.
• The public is invited to the shows. Donations will be accepted.
• For more information about the choir, visit the website www.african children’s choir.com.