Published: May 09, 2008 01:54 pm            

Summit Chapel books India Children's Choir

BY RUTH RICE

RRICE@TRIBDEM.COM

The transforming power of religion will be shown when a children’s choir from India performs at a local church.

The 22-member India Children’s Choir will sing at 7 p.m. May 20 at Summit Chapel United Methodist Church, 2142 William Penn Ave., Johnstown.

Dale Wicks, choir director at the church, said some of the church’s members had heard about the choir.

“We heard they had an opening in their schedule,” Wicks said.

“They had something in Lancaster and were passing through, so this was good for their schedule.”

The children are from northeast India and direct descendants of the headhunting Hmar tribe.

Their story begins in 1910, when missionary Watkin Roberts sent a single copy of the Gospel of John to a Hmar chief.

Despite a ban by the British colonial government, Roberts went in to explain the Scriptures to the tribe at its request.

As a result, five young tribesmen chose to follow Christ.

These converts became leaders in a new and growing church, and within two generations, the entire tribe was evangelized – one of the most incredible and least known stories in modern missionary history.

The musical drama “Headhunters to Hearthunters,” which the children perform, tells the story of how God used a single copy of the Gospel of John to change the eternal destiny of an entire tribe.

The musical was composed by Ronald K. Wells, who traveled to India with Dr. Rochunga Pudaite to minister to the Hmar Christians.

In the musical, the children perform the ancient Lamlam, or walking dance, which formerly was marked with the words, rhythms and gestures of headhunting victories.

The dance is now performed as a transition from the ancient days of darkness to the glorious light of the Gospel.

Some of the words include:

“We are marching to our eternal destiny,

And the breezes of Zion refresh us.

We are the children of the king, and not afraid,

We will walk together joyously!”

The heritage of the northeast India tribal people is rich in artistry and meaning.

Because the people had no written language to preserve their history, their music and dance, which is characterized by poetic word pictures and strong visual impact, has served as the means of communicating their heritage.

The choir is on a 10-month tour of the United States, performing at churches, chapel services for ministries, schools, retirement homes and civic events.

Each year, a new group of the great-grandchildren of the original converts travel to America, bringing the life-changing message of Christ.

Their mission is to tell how the Gospel of Jesus Christ transformed a tribe of headhunters into worldwide ambassadors for God.



Performance

Who: India Children’s Choir.

When: 7 p.m. May 20.

Where: Summit Chapel United Methodist Church, 2142 William Penn Ave., Johnstown.

Cost: Donation.

Information: 322-1267.

        

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