28 Sep Thoko – With Every Orphans Hope in Zambia, Africa

I could have spent a lifetime in Zambia and never run out of stories. Time was the constraining factor, not material. Weeks later as I think back on my visit to Zambia with Gary Schneider, founder of Every Orphans Hope, my mind reflects on Lubasi and his sister Thoko. I wrote about Lubasi but there is a story about his sister Thoko that I would like to share.

Thoko loves to sing, you can just sense it through her musical laughter. She is the worship leader in her Zambian church and the music she sings emanates from deep within her soul.
Her love of singing to God her father started at a young age, sharing then with Gary her dream of singing before the world. Three years ago, Gary was able to help Thoko realize that dream in Nashville Tenneesee.

Gary flew Lubassi and his sister Thoko to America to attend the yearly CAFO (Christian Alliance For Orphans) conference which was in Nashville that year. Sitting backstage beside Thoko in the green room, Gary leaned over to her and asked if she was scared, to which she replied, why? Smiling, Gary informed Thoko that she was about to walk out on stage in front of 2500 people and in front of the world thanks to the live internet broadcast. With a big smile that conveyed her calmness, Thoko said to Gary, I sing to my father every day, if they want to watch while I sing to him why should I be scared?

You can watch Thoko’s moving delivery of He Knows My Name as she stepped out on stage at CAFO by clicking here.

Lubasi and Thoko’s story is one redemption and hope. The second chance they were given in life through Every Orphans Hope is proof that child sponsorship does work, it changes lives and you can make a difference. Gary describes this unique ministry in Zambia like this – “A home, not an orphanage. Children have lost enough without losing their community and potentially their cultural roots. That’s why instead of taking orphans out of their community we build them houses in their community. House by house, we create new and enduring Christian families where God is the head of the household and a “Mama” – a woman who has committed herself to the service of Jesus Christ – guides and cares for eight orphans, year after year. The houses themselves become self-sustaining over time, with micro-enterprises providing for their home maintenance needs and growing family.”

For more information on how you can make a difference through this vibrant, life changing ministry I invite you to to visit their website and be prepared for God to move you to make a difference.

For more information on how you can make a difference through this vibrant, life changing ministry I invite you to to visit their website and be prepared for God to move you to make a difference.