CHURCH REACHES OUT TO YOUTHS

The complaint among teen-agers isn't new: There's nothing to do.

Of course, there is plenty for young people to do. There are part-time jobs, volunteering, family activities, sports, school, church and dozens of organizations and clubs.

When youngsters say there's nothing to do, what they really mean is this: There is nothing that challenges my growing need to socialize with other people my age in a noncompetitive atmosphere in which I can have fun as I define "fun" and without a lot of grown-up interference because I'm learning to use my newfound independence skills in ways that are nonthreatening to my own value system while I try to deal with all these hormonal changes.

Whew!

Not that a single teen-ager would ever quite put it that way.

But it's true that many young people feel at loose ends. And their parents are concerned that certain teen-age activities will lead to undesirable consequences.

In virtually every community in America, this need to fill a void in the lives of teen-agers has been brought to the attention, in one way or another, of local government. As with so many other social needs, the public too readily turns to tax-supported institutions for quick fixes to tough problems.

Perhaps this is why the First Assembly of God's Freedom Rock program is so refreshing. For eight years, the church has provided a place for teens and college students to socialize, all under the watchful involvement of adults. Currently, there are 30 adults involved in Freedom Rock, which attracts some 150 youngsters to what used to be the church gymnasium.

But the need for this program is even bigger. This had led the church to make plans to expand Freedom Rock to a new location: the former Sav-A-Lot grocery store building at Kingshighway and Broadway. The program plans to operate on Wednesday and Friday nights.

Of course, the program will continue to be open to any youths, not just members of First Assembly of God.

Is Freedom Rock the answer to the plea of Cape Girardeau youths for more activities? It isn't likely that any one program will meet every young person's expectations. But as Shelly Moore, who has been trying to develop more activities in South Cape Girardeau, says: "Doing anything is better than doing nothing."

The folks who have made such a success of Freedom Rock are to be commended for their vision and their willingness to expand this programs so more young people can participate.