Diamonds in the Rough

On May 15, Dwayne Magee of Devonshire UB in Harrisburg, Pa., had the chance to perform at the United Nations. The event was a fundraiser by the Children's Relief Trust, aimed at benefiting child victims of the rebel war in Sierra Leone. Dwayne had written a song about these children called "Diamonds in the Rough." The title alludes to the diamond resources in Sierra Leone. In the song, the "diamonds in the rough" are the children of Sierra Leone. Dwayne explains, "They are fighting over who gets to make money over the resources. We are sacrificing the real treasure for a fake one."

Dwayne performed the song in September 2000 at Rhodes Grove Camp in Chambersburg, Pa., as part of the 200th anniversary celebration of the UB church. He also sent a tape to some of the organizations which were raising relief funds for West Africa. The tape found its way to a woman with the London-based Children's Relief Trust, which was formed in 1994 to alleviate the suffering of women and children in Sierra Leone.

Dwayne was invited to sing the song at a fundraiser called "The Day of the African Child,"which was held June 15 in the Dag Hammarskjold Auditorium at The United Nations in New York City. Since Dwayne doesn't consider himself a singer, he recruited sisters Heidi and Holly, to sing while he played the guitar. Dwayne and his sisters all attend Devonshire UB church.

"It turned out that we were the 'grand finale,'so to speak,"Dwayne says. "I thought maybe they had forgotten, but then they did a grand introduction and we went up and played. The song was very well received. At the point where we do a little narration, everyone stood up and applauded. The song could not have fit better into the evening. Many ambassadors were there, and some even asked for copies of the song. I understand that the song can now be heard on Sierra Leonian radio!"

Dwayne is assistant manager of Alphagraphics, a printing operation in Camp Hill, Pa. A couple years ago, he read a Time magazine article about the atrocities in Sierra Leone. It was a crisis moment for him. "When I first read the article describing the tragic events taking place in Sierra Leone, the foundation of my faith was shaken. I asked the question in the song: How could God be much of a God and allow this to happen? I seriously began to question God's sovereignty. Out of my questions and my anger, I wrote the song."

But his story doesn't end with the writing of the song. "I needed answers to some tough questions. I took my questions where I take all my questions...to the Bible. I found my answers in John 11. After Lazarus died, Mary and Martha asked Jesus a very similar question. Actually, they didn't even question him; they drilled him with this: 'Lord, if you had been here, our brother would not have died.' My thought exactly! But Jesus revealed to Mary and Martha--and to me--that, 'If we believe, we will see the glory of God.'"

"This is my hope, my prayer, and it is the verse that stilled my anger. I know that God will reveal His glory in Sierra Leone. He is using groups like Doctors Without Borders and the Children's Relief Fund to go face to face with evil. He will prevail."