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Editor's note: Christian rock band Chronos had a unique "release party" in March for their debut album, Downpour: They traveled around Africa, playing nine concerts in 11 days while raising money for a ministry to AIDS orphans. Lead singer Doug Ray said before the trip that it was "about much more than the promotion of our disc." We asked Ray to keep a journal during their trip and write up a brief account of the experience.

The African infant in my arms needed a dad. He needed a mom. And he needed to be loved.

Doug holds Jeffrey, a one-year-old AIDS orphan

I couldn't give him those first two things, but I sure had plenty of the third. As I held that little one-year-old—an AIDS orphan in Nairobi, Kenya, whom I'll call Jeffrey—I looked into his beautiful brown eyes … and a face that knew more pain than you and I will in a lifetime. Jeffrey's almost lifeless body, stricken with cerebral palsy, felt limp in my arms, but I was immediately taken by his smile, weak as it may be.

And I thought of three generations. I thought of my own infant son, Griffin, back at home, a smiling bowl of jelly with enough love and nutrition to feed all 36 of the children in the orphanage where Jeffrey lives.

I thought of my father, Bob Ray, who 35 years ago had started a Southern gospel group called The Anchors, and whose lifelong goal was to help children in any way possible. My dad died in 1995, not knowing that his heart's desires would be fulfilled in the continuation of his ministry in our band, Chronos.

And I thought of myself—and how I'd gotten here.

It all started one sunny February day in 2004 when Don Tucker, founder of Africa's Children, and I sat down for pancakes and coffee at a local dive in Springfield, Missouri. Don asked if Chronos would be interested in partnering with Africa's Children to help raise awareness of the growing epidemic of AIDS and its toll in Africa, and also to help pass the torch of missions to our generation. After a jubilant, tearful yes, we agreed it was going to be a wonderful adventure for both of us.

The band at the U. of Nairobi: Doug Ray, Heather Daugherty, Chris Franklin, Jesse Menditto, and Chris Blackard

In March 2005, Chronos boarded a plane for Nairobi, Kenya, and then later Durbin, South Africa. We had concerts scheduled at the University of Nairobi, Rosslyn Academy, and International Christian Center in Nairobi. The goal of the tour was to raise money for Africa's Children, but as we began our series of concerts, we saw that God's goal was to minister to people—and the money would take care of itself.

At the university, we were greeted by a crowd of about 800, many of them unsaved, and we fell in love with them after the first note. Their response was such that the decibel level might have exceeded a Saturday night Pentecostal tent revival service! We also had a wonderful response at Rosslyn (a private Christian high school in Nairobi) and at the International Christian Center before we headed on to South Africa.

In South Africa, we ministered twice at an inner-city project called The Rainbow Center, where we saw God intervening in the lives of people who had little hope outside of street life.

Our whole trip was phenomenal, and the band took home more than we could have ever left. There were many wonderful memories and unforgettable moments, but none more poignant than the day we met Jeffrey. That is the vivid picture in my mind that will always represent Africa to me.

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