Toronto, Canada—On Sunday evening, December 8, 2019, the SDARM Youth Orchestra and Choir filled the Toronto church with music that delighted the ears and stirred the hearts of the 150 souls in attendance. Sacred music from the church hymnody and classical repertoire was skillfully presented by 22 orchestra members from the Toronto and Puslinch churches. The choir was composed of over 40 young adults, teens, and children.
Both the orchestra and choir presented under the competent guidance of the ECFC Music Department Leader, Sister Vera Schiopu, and her young assistant, Sister Bianca Sirbu. Several instrumental and vocal ensembles including soloists, a duet, a trio, and a quartet, expressed heartfelt praises to the Lord for His great salvation in Jesus Christ.
The motto of the concert was, “We can’t help everyone, but we can help someone!” The event was organized by the Welfare and Music Departments of the Toronto church in cooperation with the Music Department of the East Canadian Field Conference. Proceeds from the concert were collected as funds for the Malacare Orphanage in Kenya.
While the children and youth have no income from which to give, they can use their talents to produce music that praises God and touches the hearts of the adults to show their compassion for suffering humanity. The Canadian youth held their first benefit concert in December of 2018, and the funds raised at that concert were donated to the GC Medical Missionary work in Ethiopia.
The response of our members and numerous visitors surpassed our goal and expectations. We thank Brother Andre Devai, the GC Welfare Department Director, for directing us to this worthy cause, and we praise the Lord for the wonderful outcome.
The concert served another vital purpose – reaching out to our community. Not only the members but also the church visitors invited their friends and neighbors to the concert. Many of these souls, who for the first time stepped into our church, were greatly impressed by the music they heard and by the Christian fellowship and hospitality they received. Among the guests were also the diplomats and consular officers of Romania accredited or appointed to serve in Canada and several members of the Romanian community in Canada.
“It is to provide these opportunities [for development of Christlike character] that God has placed among us the poor, the unfortunate, the sick, and the suffering. They are Christ’s legacy to His church, and they are to be cared for as He would care for them…In placing among us the poor and the suffering, the Lord is testing us to reveal to us what is in our hearts.” – 6T, 621.