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BY CHRISTINE KUMAR
UMCONNECTION STAFF

Each of the 5,500 young people who walked into the Convention Center in Ocean City Jan. 19-21 received a standing ovation. Many also received a personal greeting and a high-five from Bishop John R. Schol. Before the weekend was over, more than 1,000 responded to a call to have a relationship with Christ.

Such is the ROCK experience, an annual retreat of Baltimore-Washington Conference youth, which draws ever-increasing numbers of youth to the seaside town for rock concerts, revival-style preaching, learning experiences, and encounters with each other and with God.

Some, like Emily Tocknell, the president of the Conference Council on Youth Ministry, knew the weekend would be an enthusiastic time of spiritual renewal. The theme, 'Get off Your Island, Spread the Word,' inspired her. 'It?s great to see so many people passionate about the Lord,' she said.

However, others, like Andy, 17, wasn?t quite sure why he attended ROCK, or even what he believed about God.

But after just a few hours of the ROCK experience, he said, he was inspired to receive Holy Communion. Later that evening, he answered the altar call and joined a sea of youth who prayed, cried, clung to each other and responded to the Spirit that swept through the crowd.

The youth were led to the makeshift altar by Steve Fitzhugh, 43, a former free-safety for the Denver Broncos and featured speaker for the event.

'I don?t care who you are, it doesn?t matter what you?ve done: you are here because God of the universe has drawn you here by his Spirit,' Fitzhugh said.

In a series of presentations throughout the weekend, Fitzhugh told the youth his story of 'growing up in garbage,' witnessing physical abuse in his home and realizing that God had great plans for him.

'Life is a privilege, you need to accept Jesus or reject him,' Fitzhugh told the youth. 'God can change any life, any moment.'

Fitzhugh not only addressed the youth in the big auditorium, he also spoke to those in the Upper Room, which seated close to 1,000 additional teens.

The Upper Room space was new this year because in previous years many teens were turned away from the event because of a lack of space.

'It pains me that we had to turn away hundreds of teens and their churches,' said Tom Price, director of youth ministries at the Baltimore-Washington Conference.

Fitzhugh?s message was reinforced by Bishop Schol, who preached to the crowd, threw out Moon Pies as a treat, and served Communion.

'Get off your island,' encouraged the bishop, reiterating the theme of the weekend. He encouraged the young people to go to Louisiana and Mississippi on VIM trips to help out those whose homes were damaged by hurricane Katrina. 'We need you out in front,' he said. 'Don?t let the church get in your way.'

The bishop explained that Jesus chose the most ordinary men and women to do the most extraordinary things. He chose fishermen and tax collectors to be his disciples. 'God does have a plan for your life, God has a purpose for your life,' he said.

A teen, inspired by the bishop, told her friend, 'I need to go back to church and get involved. I?ve missed too many Sundays with my youth group.'

In addition to the speakers, the youth listened to the music of Seventh Day Sabbath and Leeland, participated in two of several breakout sessions, laughed with comedian Will McDaniel, and fellowshipped with other youth from all across Maryland, Washington, D.C., and the panhandle of West Virginia. They also collected $16,049 during Saturday?s offering and witness time.

The adult chaperones who accompanied the youth also seemed touched by the event. Their energy was contagious, said Jo Chesson, the project coordinator for the event. 'I feel wonderful and energized even though I am tired. It?s an emotional event to see these kids come to Christ.'

SIDEBARS:

Seventh Day Slumber:

Seventh Day Slumber lead singer, Joseph Rojas, who battled a $400-a-day cocaine addiction, and tried to commit suicide because of his horrific childhood, told the teens that it doesn?t matter what they look like, what color their hair or skin is - Jesus is ready to accept them. 'Are you ready to accept him?' he asked the screaming youth as he strummed his guitar. The youth lifted up their hands and swayed to the music as the band played contemporary Christian music.

Steve Fitzhugh
On God?s blessings:

Fitzhugh said that God?s mission statement is that he sent his Son so that we may have life to the fullest, quoting John 10:10. 'Let me break it down for you,' he said, 'God is saying that, ?I wanna hook you up. I wanna bless your socks off.? The devil hates you because you are God?s greatest treasure.'

Steve Fitzhugh on overcoming a painful past:

He spoke of how his father physically abused his mother. One day when Fitzhugh was seven years old, his mother drew out a gun and aimed it at his father to shoot him. His father picked him up and used him as a shield so that he wouldn?t get shot.

'I grew up in garbage,' he tearfully said. He spoke of how his older brother at the age of 40 died because his brain exploded due to overdosing on cocaine. He spoke of how kids teased him in school about the size of his head. 'My nickname was Lump. I decided that if they?re gonna call me Lump, I was going to be God?s lump.' The audience cheered.

Leeland Mooring, 18, musician

Mooring told the youth not to miss opportunities to witness about Christ to other kids in their school and communities. He urged them to think of church as a gathering place to be energized before going out to minister to those who are hurting.

At ROCK 2007, youth celebrate in worship as they listen to the preaching of former Denver Bronco Steve Fitzhugh, top, dance to the music of Leeland, left, and receive Communion from Bishop John R. Schol, the Rev. Ianther Mills and other district superintendents.