White Marsh Mall Christian Rock Show to Draw Thousands

Dina Moriarty May 11, 2012 at 07:06 pm

You said in your article to comment if we plan on supporting this event . . . Yes, my husband and I are supporting this event. My husband and I are local pastors of a new, small church planting in Rosedale called Freedom Through Christ Worship Center. We, as a small church, are supporting this community event whole-heartedly and believe in this work. We are also supporting this event by giving much of our time by volunteering our time in telling others about it and passing out postcards and info about the event to spread the news throughout the community, by daily social network postings, by giving our time by preparing for the event oday and by working the day of the event the entire day. We are pleased to give to the community without expecting anything in return from the people. In an age, where nothing is for nothing,, we can finally bring care and love to a community for nothing in return - where actually something is for nothing!!! This event is also sceduled to not ony have rock, but to have hiphop/rap, drama, dance, a children's area with a moon bounce, face painting, puppet shows, etc. and there will be much much more!

alejandra May 11, 2012 at 07:17 pm

Well said Dina!

Jeff Parris May 12, 2012 at 01:41 am

3000 to 4000 people? So a convention of delusional people believing in some archaic fairy tale?
Oh and about that "Rock the Block supports and believes in abstinence before marriage and saying no to drugs and alcohol. They challenge men and women to become people of character and encourage them to be someone great."... What about men and women who happen to be gay. What kind of message do they offer them? Silly delusional Christians

JD1 May 12, 2012 at 02:30 am

Hey Jeff - lighten up! What is the "archaic fairy tale" to which you refer? We need some folks to step up and remind our young people that we are defined by our actions. If you choose to be gay - so be it - nobody cares! I certainly don't define myself by who I choose to sleep with and I encourage you to do the same. Go do something nice for someone and stop whining!

Dina Moriarty May 12, 2012 at 02:59 am

The message that is offered to anyone, that includes gay people as well, Jeff, is that we don't hate anyone.. God doesn't so we don't either.

Marty Warren May 12, 2012 at 12:11 pm

I'm not aware of a better way to live a happy, healthy and prosperous life than following "The Ten Commandments". Using history as an indicator, EVERY time socialists successfully take over a country, they get rid of religion first, then seperate the children from the parents. Don't take my word for it, google it.

Paul Amirault May 12, 2012 at 12:28 pm

Conversely, those who bury themselves in religion attempt to remove science from the discussion. Look at the zealots who believe the Earth is 6,000 years old. The zealots who believe their god will heal their sick children only to see them die and then state it was their god's will. One can lead a very moral and purpose driven life without believing in a supreme deity and very many do.

Allison May 12, 2012 at 12:40 pm

Alright, so you're okay with gay people. What about those of other faiths? Do you accept them and love them, not judging them or even looking at them differently then you would someone from your church? If a muslim were to walk by this concert, would you try to convert him or just say 'have a nice day'. You don't have to reply; I honestly don't want to hear a prepared public response. Just think about what you would honestly do in a situation like that; will you not pass judgement, do you see a human or just another soul to save from nothing?

JD1 May 12, 2012 at 01:05 pm

Hey Allison- most of the Christians that I know are pretty much accepting of just about anyone out there that doesn't act like a jackass. I personally couldn't care less who someone calls their "higher power" as long as they aren't some kind of wacko who blows thselves up in the name of religion. It's funny your mention Islam - last time I checked they are the ones who refer to us as "infidels."it's a shame that religion has become such a poison in our society - I can't help but think that everyone would benefit if we would all slow down and removed ourselves from the "center of the universe" for a while.

RuLight May 12, 2012 at 01:53 pm

My parents were christian musicians so we visited many many churches. On the surface, people were nice, but once yoiu began regularly attending, the hate came out. We were taught to not be friends with anyone, not just those who weren't believers, but those who weren't baptist or followed the same rules taught there. Out of the many, when it was small, there wad one church in perry hall that tried to accept different people. This changed as they grew and began preaching the same this that were popular with other churches. The goal was always to change others. When anyone puts that agenda on the top of their list, they fail to see there own shortcomings. Becoming great is so much more than working in a church or becoming a missionary or even believing in a faith. I have no qualms with a festival such as this but it's sad when there are gay,fairy, pagan festivals there is always a group of believers with their picket sign. They claim that the family or their religion is being threatened. I doubt you will see any protests by those people at the RtB. I wonder if it is because they don't feel the need to make everyone like them.
Whoever goes, just go to have fun and lay down all the we need to change everyone. Look at yourself and change for the best that you can be no matter what you believe.

Patricia Driscoll Bilezikian May 12, 2012 at 02:04 pm

Why can't this just be a positive experience for our youth? No one there will be checking "religious beliefs" ID's. If more people spent time in the lives and hearts of our youth, this would be a better world.

Tim May 12, 2012 at 06:50 pm

Religion has done nothing but repress others for eternity. It still does today. Don't just look here in America...although we alone have quite the rich history of oppressing others in the name of religion.
That said, I still have no issue at all with those who choose to worship whatever. It's a foundation of our nation, an inalienable right. If you push it on others like me though, don't expect anything but a laugh back. You can have morals without religion, believe it or not.

Dan Alban May 12, 2012 at 07:46 pm

Seems to me after a stabbing outside BWW and iPod robberies involving teenagers at the White Marsh Mall within the last two years, something encouraging them to a standard of morality- whether Christian based or not- might be the best thing for students hanging out blowing cash there. And the beauty is all people from every religion (or non-religion), gender, preference or background are welcome to attend. Imagine that!

BaltimoreDee May 12, 2012 at 08:12 pm

So, this is a religious event and yet Baltimore County police will be utilized to direct traffic. Who is paying our county officers' to work this event? Will this organization be billed for police support? Other than this financial issue, I think the event will be positive. It's nice that Baltimore City doesn't get ALL the major events. (BTW, the City bills the event organizer--such as the Baltimore Marathon--for city services including officers, EMTs, etc.)

Greg Redmer May 13, 2012 at 12:40 am

The police department is used as needed for all kinds of events. If you recall when IKEA opened years ago that had probably 50 police working that detail.

Bill Howard May 13, 2012 at 02:57 am

It's a shame that we could not just read a nice positive story about the concert without the atheists and the haters chiming in on it. Everytime something Christian is mentioned people are called "delusional" "misguided fools" "hypocrits" and "homophobes". You folks don't want beliefs inposed on you and then you shove your disbelief all over our faces. Just let the kids enjoy the show and lighten up.

Tim May 13, 2012 at 03:12 am

Says a student pastor using selective memory from a relatively isolated incident in the Mall's history.
Still, everyone was welcome as he said, they went out of their way to not advertise the fact it was Christian based. I wonder why that is?

Tim May 13, 2012 at 03:15 am

I'd pass personal judgment, but realize it's not my place to 'convert' anyone. Why? Because ultimately I don't actually know if he's right, or I am. Funny, how our government, especially under Republican leadership, seems to disagree.

Tim May 13, 2012 at 03:16 am

They still need police around IKEA in late August and September, with all the students and families hitting it up ;)

Jenny May 13, 2012 at 11:23 am

Amen!

Allison May 13, 2012 at 03:13 pm

I didn't see anyone shoving disbeliefs in anyone's faces. Forgive us for being concerned due to negative personal experiences. I've been spat at by so-called christians and have had friends' parents tell them they can't even talk to me because of my choice of faith.
By the way, if a christian can say that someone who doesn't believe in Jesus is a soul that needs to be saved and its their duty to help them even if they express they don't want to convert, why can't we say that we have concerns about some christians and their motives? Perhaps it's you that needs to lighten up and realize we all have a right to our opinions, and have different ways of sharing them. If it upsets you, don't read them.

Immanuel Baptist Church May 14, 2012 at 02:42 pm

Leave it to the Perry Hall Patch readers to find something negative to say about teenagers actually doing something good. How can anyone be against kids attending a Christian event (versus wreaking mahem at the mall, smoking weed, starting fights.....). Seriously? Now I remember why I have stopped checking in with the Patch very often. The negativity on here is ridiculous. Even if you don't agree with Christian values, I don't think I read about anything that happened on Saturday that was out of line during the event. I wonder if it would have been the same had it been just a regular rock concert. I'm sure there would have been fights, cops there - you name it.

Patricia Driscoll Bilezikian May 15, 2012 at 02:12 am

Karen, I totally agree. There's a jerk in every crowd.

Bill Howard May 16, 2012 at 02:51 am

@ Allison Actually it's Christians who are the ones being oppressed and censored.
A few bad incidents should not mark the entire belief. There are millions of Christians helping people in ways the governments fail to do. This goes all the way from the sweet church ladies who sew quilts for poor folks in Central America all the way up to the Mother Theresas of the world. Many of the young people at concerts such as these found no fulfilment in the Hollywood inspired depraved culture of today. They see something that has promoted love, family and community for thousands of years and it works when it is followed. Just because some who wear the Christian label fail does not mean the whole body of Christ is corrupted.

Bill Howard May 16, 2012 at 02:54 am

@ Tim Maybe it was because of all the anti-Christian bigotry that has increased over the years.