FREEDOM ROCK SETS ITS MISSION GOALS HIGH

We live in an age when teen-agers do their homework on the Internet.

Characters in the video games students love are startlingly lifelike.

The pagers on their hips beep with instant news from around the world.

So it's unrealistic to think every teen-ager's heart will be reached with the family Bible and good intentions. There's so much in the world to drag them off the path of righteousness, and parents and churches have to compete on the same level.

Enter Freedom Rock, a new kind of ministry founded by Cape Girardeau's First Assembly of God, which has been established to reach people from seventh grade through college.

The church's pastors talk about it using traditional terminology, but it's anything but traditional.

"We are coming together to see our teen-agers reach their destinies," said youth pastor Mike Lovig.

The Rev. Gary Brothers, First Assembly of God's pastor, said Freedom Rock is a tool "that will have an impact on the entire region."

That tool includes Christian rock music, laser shows, black lights and high-tech video and sound equipment. Youths can play hockey, basketball and pool. There's a cafe serving soft drinks and snacks.

The building was dedicated last month, but a group already had gathered there to watch this year's Super Bowl. Instead of watching the popular new commercials launched during the sporting event, party-goers listened to Christian testimonials and made up their own religion-based commercials.

But Freedom Rock isn't all fun and games. There's a gift shop with books like "Bad Girls of the Bible." There's seating for 350, either for church services or concerts. Hours are 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays, during which there is a church service, and 7 to 11:30 p.m. Fridays, when there is no church service.

There will be an open house from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Perhaps the most amazing fact is that most of the work of turning Freedom Rock from a grocery store to a youth center was done by volunteers. That certainly shows the Christian spirit of giving. It can be hoped that Freedom Rock will have an effect on the entire region as Brothers predicted. As one young visitor pointed out, it's a good place for young people to go even if they aren't particularly religious. There's adult supervision and a wholesome atmosphere.

And if a religious message reaches the children in between rounds of pool, all the better.