Testimonies
Since its inception, the Children of the World Choir has impacted many people in more ways than we could have ever imagined.
Here are some of their stories . . .
I cannot express how honoured we were to have the children at our church and in our homes. It was truly an extraordinary performance, and so many were moved by it. I know it was a blessing to all who were there. Many who came were totally unprepared for the performance and worship experience they encountered. The love of Christ was obvious and present in the children and the music they brought, and it was contagious throughout the entire assembly. We would love to begin discussing as soon as possible when we might plan to have the children return next year!
Beyond the worship service, there was a beautiful and wonderful gift that only a few of us were blessed to share, and that was to be host families to the children. I know every one of us thought that we had been chosen by Carrie for the most beautiful and gracious of the children and their chaperones! I know this because they all are so beautiful and gracious. It was so very difficult to tell them goodbye this morning! It was such a pleasure and joy to have them for the short time they were here! They were so excited to play and share with our children. Speaking with the other host families as we reluctantly brought the children back this morning to continue their tour, I heard over and over what a special treat it was to have these children in our homes and to spend time with them! I am certain there will be a long waiting list next time for families wanting to be hosts!
Words are simply inadequate to express our deep gratitude for coming and sharing and visiting with us. It was simply an overwhelming joy, honour, and privilege. What it must be like to travel and work with them daily! Carrie and Casey are to be commended for the excellent job they’re doing shepherding these precious children.
Thank you! Thank You!
Roy Cross - Lancaster Second Baptist Church, South Carolina
Kristi Stephens from Facebook
I want to express my heart-felt thanks to Worldhelp and the COTW Choir. Your group was an amazing blessing to us, and I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to work with you. It was awesome to see children from all around the world using their talents through music and dance to give praise to the God who gives us life and breath. During the time of worship we felt connected globally as Christians from numerous continents were represented in the room singing the same songs. You were not only an intrinsic blessing to us, but a means of educating our people about the importance of being a force of compassion in the world as God has called us to be. Your concert not only blessed us, but stretched us to be better partners in the gospel. I look forward to hosting your group again sometime in the future.
Jeremy Smallwood (Selinsgrove Church of the Nazarene)
Good Day!
I am Rey from Children of the World’s first team. I am really thankful that God has used somebody to help me in reaching my dreams and goals in life. I have been part of the sponsorship program since 4th grade and now, I just graduated from college. I was able to earn a degree in Bachelor of Science in Airline Management through your help. Thank you so much for that great opportunity for me to become somebody out of nobody.
My dad has been in prison since I was 7 years old. Because of your partners here in the Philippines I get to be one of the lucky kids to be sponsored and start dreaming for the future. Even though my Dad is still not with us, I am still happy and thankful that God is there always, filling the gaps of my earthly father.
I’ve encountered lots of challenges in life but still I didn’t give up, for I know that God has purpose why He gave them to me. During my four years in college, challenges in school, family and personal life came in, but still I fought for what I dreamed to become someday. You also gave me the strength and courage to pursue and overcome those challenges in life. When I went up to the stage to accept my diploma, I really don’t know the feelings I felt. I was nervous, excited, surprised…etc., I really don’t know. I came to realize that this is it! This is the day. The day that I’ve been waiting for.
Words are not really enough in expressing my gratitude and joy of your help. Without you, I would perhaps be still nobody. Right now I am still searching for that job that best suites to degree and to my skills and abilities. Whatever possible jobs came in ought to be considered as a privilege. It will be my pleasure to help my family and provide them a better life in the future. Thank you so much for the help. I will never forget and you will in my heart forever. I Love You Guys!
Rey – COTW Member in 2001-2002 – the Philippines
My husband and I started hosting children from the Children of the World choir seven years ago, before we even had children of our own. Before we met the children that were going to stay with us, we were nervous and fearful about how we were going to communicate with them and care for them while they were in our home. God’s amazing love enabled us to work through any cultural differences, and our first experience was so rewarding and life changing that we have never had any doubts about opening our home to these children every year since then.
The first year we kept two little boys from India named Mangginlian and L.B.T. They were only seven and nine years old at the time, and our family grew to love them during the time they stayed with us. The boys are now both teenagers, and we are so blessed by the letters we receive from them on a regular basis, and by our memories of the time we spent with them. Thanks to this incredible opportunity, our children are growing up with a very clear understanding of the needs of children around the world. They are able to make a difference for some of these children by showing them love and welcoming them into our home. Thank you, World Help; for all that you are doing through the Children of the World ministry. It has truly blessed our family, and we look forward to many more years of serving the Lord by opening our home to the Children of the World.
Suzie & Lance Smith – World Help Child Sponsors
Italo & Duda are siblings who participated in the 2005 Children of the World (COTW) tour. Before coming to the U.S. for the choir, these children had been removed from their mother’s custody because of her continual drug abuse and life on the street. They had suffered unimaginable emotional pain. These children’s lives have been completely transformed because of the opportunities the children’s choir provided for them. Since their return to Brazil in 2006, these children have been adopted by their loving aunt and her family. World Help was honored to partner with the ministry in Recife to provide a new home complete with furnishings for this new family.
We are so thankful for the wonderful opportunity which COTW offered these children. We recently visited with their school principal and she shared that Duda has won over all with her sweet smile and talkative, outgoing spirit. Italo now has so much more self-confidence. THANK YOU for taking our precious children with great potential and giving them opportunity!!! We love and appreciate you, World Help!!!
Donna Faircloth – World Help Partner – Recife, Brazil
Hi, my name is Thomas Rai. I am very happy and thankful because God gave me the opportunity to be in the Children of the world choir. When I was in the choir in America, I learn many things like praising God and how to love one another and my English got so much better. I also learned how to swim. My team leader also taught me many good things about Jesus. Now I realize I was very lucky to learn all these good things in America and I thank God for giving me the opportunity. Now I am back in Grace Children Home in Nepal with Uncle, Auntie and my friends. Our uncle always teaches us about God. I learn so many things like how we can make God happy, and understand what God has done for us. I always thank God for all my friends and for loving me so much.
Thomas – COTW Member in 2009-2010 – Nepal
It was June 2001 and the director of children’s ministries at our church asked us if we would host three young members of a choir who would be singing at our church on Sunday. Little did we know that we would have three of the most precious missionaries in our midst that weekend, three little girls who would have a significant impact on our lives.Shova, Esther, and Kim were members of World Help’s Children of the World choir. From Nepal, Burma, and India, not only did these little girls steal our hearts, they showed us Jesus in ways we had never seen or experienced. They brought the mission field into our home and let us see how the Gospel was affecting lives in countries and cultures we knew nothing about.We remember the children singing the song, “What If I Gave All.” The children gave so much, especially their priceless gift of innocent, sweet love. How could we possibly give that back in a way that would impact the lives of these children or children like them around the world? Through World Help’s Child Sponsorship Program, we have been able to do exactly that–provide prayers and resources for Hira Devi Mahato, a girl living in a remote part of Nepal. Though we have never met Hira,we receive updates and pictures from her and have been blessed as we have watched her grow from a child to a beautiful young woman pursuing Jesus. It is truly a privilege for our family to serve God in this way.And what about those girls who spent that June weekend with us? Shova has become like a daughter to Patty and me and a sister to our children. Through personal visits both in her home country of Nepal and here in the U.S., as well as telephone and email, we have built a relationship that continues to encourage us to do just as she did, following Christ’s commission to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations.
