The story of invisible children

Erick Kalenga / Culpeper Star Exponent
Published: February 16, 2008

Growing up in Africa, I was fortunate enough not to go through what a majority of children are going through on the African continent. I was in a meeting with a number of religions leaders in Cape Town, South Africa, at the end of January, and we were discussing several issues.

One of the gentlemen around the table gave us a very shocking statistic. He said there are about 30 million orphans in Africa. He added that these statistics are not 100 percent accurate due to the fact that not every African is accounted for.

I was very disturbed after hearing this. It was last December when Dave Wheatly,  youth pastor at the Culpeper Baptist Church, asked if I would be part of the viewing of the film "Invisible Children." At the time I had no clue about the movie and asked if I could see it. After watching it, I told Dave that he should count me in. 

The invisible children were discovered by three American boys from Southern California in the spring of 2003 who found themselves stuck in the northern part of Uganda.

The "Invisible Children: Rough Cut" documentary shows how children in the northern part of Uganda were abducted from their homes, and forced to fight as soldiers during the 20-year war.  

These young Americans said: "No one was talking about child soldiers, night commuters, or the LRA. So all three of us felt this weight of, if we don't do something, then how many more kids are going to be abducted- So the whole goal became, how do we bring this story home-

Why should Americans care about these kids who are running for their lives- That became the motto behind everything we do: Getting someone to care. From the beginning, there was always an urgency to work our hardest and our longest."

They started by showing the movie to family and friends, and later they presented it to schools and churches. They have taken this issue to Capitol Hill and they have had exposure on Oprah, CNN and National Geographic.

Dave decided to take action and invited the youth groups in the area to view the  video  Jan. 11.

We were halfway in the movie and you could hear people sniffling because their heart was touched.

Dave said, "The reason that we presented the movie to the youth of the community was to mature our spiritual world view and develop a Christ-like compassion for the youth of the world who are suffering as a result of social evils there."

The reaction of the youths who viewed the film was one of awe and sympathy. Following the viewing, we discussed the societal effects of personal decisions, e.g., how one's own spiritual and moral resolutions can, and do, affect the welfare of fellow citizens and entire nations.

The value of the youth being exposed to the story of the "Invisible Children" has been the sobering of our minds in two distinct ways. First, there's a revived appreciation for the Christian heritage and ongoing moral stability of our own country. Second, there's a determination to live lives of influence, with the understanding that our voice and conduct matter in regards to God's blessing and care of our nation.

I believe that it is very important to educate our young people here in the United States about the youth in the Third World countries.

More importantly, we need to help them realize how good they have it here and how they can help spread Christ's love.

Rize-Up has made a commitment to fight against such injustice.

Children are meant to be protected, not used as weapons or sexual partners. On March 30, Rize-Up will have a benefit concert at Culpeper Christian School, beginning at 6 p.m. for the children of Africa. 

A special thanks to Dave and his commitment to youth worldwide. For more information, visit invisiblechildren.com

Erick Kalenga is an
independent columnist who appears Sundays in the Star-Exponent. He lives in Madison County. E-mail