New year comes early at Freedom Rock party

There were party hats, squeaking horns, a countdown. Then a gentle shower of balloons, shouts of "Happy New Year!"

It was about 10:30 p.m. Friday, but what's a couple of days when you're having fun?

Teen-agers stepped into a time warp Friday celebrating the New Year early at Freedom Rock, a Christian-oriented youth center.

"Yeah, it's a little weird," said Andrea Hill, an eighth-grader at Cape Central Junior High.

But she didn't seem to mind as she and friends bounced to music by the Apologists, a hip-hop and rap group popular for taking secular music and rewriting the lyrics with a Christian twist.

Most youth interviewed said they would probably be at home Monday night, when a larger, older crowd will be out on the town celebrating.

Staff at the center, which is open Wednesday and Fridays, chose to have their bash early so teen-agers could spend the actual holiday with their families. Freedom Rock closes at 9:45 Wednesdays and 11:45 p.m. Fridays.

Cape Girardeau's curfew, which applies to anyone under 17, is 11 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on Fridays.

Freedom Rock caters to youth from seventh grade through college.

"Nobody had anything like this when I was a kid," said Carol Heitman, one of the pastors on staff with the youth ministry.

Like a regular night

Friday began like any regular night at the center, with youth playing pool, cage basketball and video games. Other teens purchased food from the cafe.

Adam Hosp, 16, of Jackson, Mo., groaned as Lindy Baker of Advance, Mo., pulled ahead in a game of air hockey.

Anthony Soohon, 23, kept time by swaying his head to music played by his friend, disc jockey Derek King.

Soohon is visiting Cape Girardeau from his native Trinidad. A member of the First Assembly of God Church, he met the King family when they were in his country on a mission trip.

Soohon and King faced off in the drumming contest, which Soohon won with a lightning-quick foot on the bass drum.

Around 9 p.m., everyone was herded into the auditorium, which had been transformed into party central.

High spirits reigned as youth cheered each other on in karaoke contests, drumming contests and goofy relay races.

The Freedom Rock house band performed as the words "Happy New Year!" splashed across large screens and strobe lights throbbed.

abuchanan@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160