Irish-born minister and humanitarian Ray Barnett has lived much of his life on the principle of 鈥渄on鈥檛 tell me it can鈥檛 be done;鈥� that mantra has seemingly paid off for him and the surrounding world in a big way.
The called Music for Life, which is headquartered in 91原创, was started by Barnett after he went to help orphaned and starving children in Uganda during the mid-1980s.
鈥淪eeing pictures of starving children made me concerned with what happened when the cameras went away,鈥� Barnett said of his inspiration to help.
Living much of his life is Surrey, Barnett said his time spent in northern Uganda helped him get to know the people and their culture.
鈥淭he world needs to see the potential of the African child鈥� the dignity and the potential鈥� but all the world sees of them is hunger and famine. If the world can see the beauty of that child, they would love them,鈥� Barnett explained.
Music for Life formed in 1984 and held their first performance on the Trinity Western University campus.
After the Choir was trained to perform and readied for living in new and different cultures, the children toured amongst the North American Church communities 鈥� acting as fundraiser to fight against African plight.
Barnett, of course, didn鈥檛 stay idle for long, saying that he merely saw the choir as 鈥渏ust the next thing to help.鈥�
Amongst the adventures and involvements throughout his life, Barnett formed Friends in the West, an organization that secured the release of hostages and imprisoned Christians in the former Soviet Union.
The minister also negotiated behind-the scenes to release many international hostages during the Lebanon hostage crisis throughout the 1980s.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a lifetime journey,鈥� he said, reflecting on everything from his home country of Ireland. 鈥淚 heard that nothing is ever going to help鈥� you can鈥檛 do this or that鈥� but what changed everything for me was when I discovered anything could be accomplished with god.鈥�
Barnett has penned an autobiography, 鈥淒on鈥檛 Tell Me It Can鈥檛 Be Done,鈥� which will be released at the start of November. The book covers everything from his childhood, the founding of the Choir, and his experiences with faith.
鈥淭he hope is that young people, or anyone who reads it, knows they can achieve anything they put their mind to,鈥� Barnett said.
Read More: 91原创 teacher鈥檚 49 year music career recognized by Royal Conservatory of Music
To order Barnett鈥檚 book and find out more, people can visit .
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