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Earlier this year, Kevin Andrews faced his 50th birthday worried that his five decades of living had made little difference in the world.

So Andrews, a Utah businessman, called a family meeting with his wife, Jayne Andrews, and their two children, Ashley, a recent graduate of American University in Washington, D.C., and Adam, a student at Concordia University in Irvine, Calif. He put it to them: What can we do as a family to reach out beyond our cocoon?

The family decided to set up a nonprofit organization called the Diakonic Foundation, named for the Greek word meaning "service." But they still had no idea what God had in mind for them, Andrews says.

The answer soon came with an unexpected visit from the family's former pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Sandy, who had joined the staff of Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) World Relief and Human Care. He told them of a little school in a township outside of Johannesburg, South Africa, where many of the children had lost their parents to AIDS and had few educational resources. The children are natural-born singers, he said, but have no music program. The school needs a lot of financial support so it can elevate its students' living conditions and aspirations.

The Andrews knew instantly Diakonic had found its first project: supporting Themba Trust, a faith-based foundation that serves South Africa's poor.

On Thursday, the Andrews are helping to sponsor a multimedia concert at Salt Lake City's Capitol Theatre, featuring the music of jazz musician Erin Bode with several Themba Girls. Grace Lutheran Church, as well as other LCMS members in Utah, also are sponsors.

The concert, "Hear the Music, Share the Hope," is meant as a fundraising event for the school.

The Themba connection was meant to be, Andrews believes, because it matched three of the family's chief loves: religion, education and music.

In the spring, the Andrews traveled to St. Louis to hear the girls in concert. Husband and wife were overwhelmed by their spirit and talent.

"I'm not a vocal genius or music connoisseur," Andrews says. "I know what I like and these singers have the voices of angels."

The Andrews instantly decided to bring the group to Utah.

And it didn't take long for the plan to take hold. Salt Lake County gave the group a good deal renting the theater, Andrews says. Donors began to sign up, while vendors offered cut rates because of the group's nonprofit status. Once word spread, Utah's parochial schools were eager to bring their students to an afternoon event.

A few weeks ago, the pair visited the South African school, where they heard several of the boys start singing a particular melody, then, one by one, the others would join in.

"You could not help but cry to listen to the beauty of those voices praising God," Jayne Andrews recalled this week.

Proceeds from the Salt Lake event will support Themba, providing scholarships for needy students and funding a new Performing Arts Center where students can develop their musical talents. The money also will help build an Orphan Support Center-a concept Andrews helped develop.

"In Africa, so many children have lost their parents that groups of siblings live together without any adults," Andrews says. "Instead of sending the children off to orphanages and having them lose their family property to the government, the center will help the family stay intact by offering a clinic, meals and other support services."

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* PEGGY FLETCHER STACK can be reached at pstack@sltrib.com or 801-257-8725. Send comments about this story to religioneditor@sltrib.com.

The Themba Girls with the Erin Bode Group in concert

* WHEN: Thursday 10 a.m.: Morning matinee for Salt Lake area schoolchildren

5 p.m.: Pre-gala reception with Erin Bode and members of the girls' choir

7:30 p.m.: Evening gala

* WHERE: Capitol Theater, Salt Lake City

* COST: $20; tickets are available through ArtTix, http://www.arttix.org or 801-355-ARTS

* INFORMATION: http://www.ThembaGirls.org or 800-248-1930 ext. 1380.

Watch a music video featuring the Themba Girls with the Erin Bode Group at http://www.sltrib.com.