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BY CHRISTINE KUMAR
UMConnection Staff

It was not a typical Saturday night for thousands of youth in Ocean City. It was a night filled with tears, hope and healing.

More than 6,500 youth and chaperones gathered in Ocean City to attend the ROCK retreat, Jan. 30 through Feb. 1.

On Saturday night, the youth were responding to Reggie Dabbs, the keynote speaker who asked them to stand up if they were experiencing suicidal thoughts, drugs, alcohol, pornography and other addictions.

Nearly 1,500 teens stood up in the Convention Center where the retreat was held. One youth leader's loud and anxious cries echoed throughout the room as she saw one teen from her youth group stand.

"What's your pain? What is in your life that's keeping you away God?" asked Dabbs.

"Maybe you have so much in your life that you want to give up, you gotta let go and let God."

The Rev. Stacey Cole Wilson, pastor of Mt. Winans UMC in Baltimore, stretched out her arms and embraced the teens as she prayed for them. "God was placing the burdens of these kids in my heart," she said. "These kids were not afraid to stand up in front of their peers and admit that they were hurting."

As the band softly sang, "Here I am to Worship," nearly 1,000 kids walked to the front of the room to declare their faithfulness to Christ during the altar call.

As he watched, Tom Price, the Baltimore-Washington Conference youth director, was deeply moved,

"In that one moment that the youth stood, you saw the incredible depths of suffering and boldness it took to stand up, I am just in awe," he said, "And then, when you feel the peace of God begin to spread among the crowd, when you see the mothers becoming the arms of God to hold the children - it's being in the presence of God. God is here."

"The Creator of the Universe has been awaiting your arrival," said Bishop John R. Schol on Friday night "Each seat in this room has been prayed for," he said.

"Everything is possible with Jesus," Conference Council on Youth Ministries President Lauren Stitzlein shouted from the stage. The youth responded with shouts and applause that grew even louder when the Christian rock band Stellar Kart began to play.

While the band sang "Activate," 15-year-old Austin Miller jumped out of his seat and joined thousands of other teens in the mosh pit. Miller, a member of Grace UMC in Hagerstown, enjoyed the fellowship. "Coming here is like taking a big load off my shoulders and I feel the presence of God," he said.

Dabbs, for the fourth time at a ROCK event, entertained the crowd with jokes, interactive songs, dance and played his saxophone. He also captured their attention, hearts, and trust.

He spoke of living with foster parents when his teen mother, who worked as a prostitute, did not want him. When he was about 10 years old, his father died of a brain tumor and his mother died of cancer six days later.

"You will find a new place to live with Jesus," he said.

Dabb's youth drama team, The Master's Commission, acted out struggles teens face with self esteem, peer pressure, and addictions.

"I got chills when I watched the drama," said Kathleen Claro, 14, a member of Oxon Hill UMC. "It's so real," she said.

"Yes there are temptations out there, added Jordan McDougal who also is a member of Oxon Hill UMC. "At our high school we have about 20 girls who are pregnant and many already have babies, but God is the almighty healer," he said.

The soulful sound of Youthful Praise Band opened up tired eyes on Sunday morning as the young and old danced and jumped near the mosh pit while others stood up from their seats waved and clapped their hands.

Before serving communion, Bishop Schol encouraged the youth to be active in their churches. "Don't let anyone steal your greatness, don't let them steal your joy even in your churches," he said. "Live service, faith, love and purity so that others know that Jesus Christ lives in you," the bishop said.

During the course of the retreat, the youth also attended breakout sessions on getting over the past and following God's call, Scouting as Mission and Outreach, Camping Ministry, Drama Ministry, Mission work, and others.

"I will be back again," said Clint Kiron, 15, member of Memorial First India UMC. "This weekend made me realize how important it is to live out my faith," he said.