DATE: Monday, August 11, 1997               TAG: 9708090781

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   84 lines

CHRISTIAN TEEN-AGERS FIND FUN AND INSPIRATION AT ROCKY'S CAFE IN FRANKLIN

IT'S DARK. It's noisy. It's a live-it-up Saturday nightclub.

There's no drinking in this spirited club on Lakeview Road in Franklin, no neon Miller or Bud signs.

In fact, there's only one spirit that really counts at Rocky's Cafe, and that's the spirit of Jesus Christ.

Big Slam - composed mostly of sons of preachers - is providing a raucous ``praise Jesus'' rap session while teens jump for their savior. At this club, the slogan is ``Life Begins at the Cross.''

The small but successful teen Christian nightclub has been operated by the Rock Church of Franklin for about two years. A similar venture, dubbed Planet Rock, is being planned by the Rock Church in Virginia Beach to open in 1999.

In the 1960s, the building that houses Rocky's Cafe was a dairy barn. The church bought it in the '70s to use for storage.

``Six years ago, I went to a youth rally, and there was talk about connecting with kids,'' said Tommy Potter, a Franklin police officer and a youth director at the church. ``When I got back, I looked at the building. The church gave us the money to get started. We spent five years working on it, a bit at a time.''

The drinks are soft. Noise is allowed. There's no swearing. Fun is OK, but only good, clean fun. The music is . . . deafening. Its meaning obvious.

``Our music gives a positive message,'' said Danny Dillon, one of the Big Slam rappers. ``Rap today is negative - promoting drugs and sex. We're exactly the opposite.''

Dillon's father is the Rev. David Dillon, pastor of the Franklin church.

His brother, Ben, also is a member of Big Slam. Rounding out the group are Mike Tribus, whose father, the Rev. Paul Tribus, is pastor of the Rock Church in Newport News, and Joy Bennett, who attends the Rock Church of Virginia Beach.

``Only about half of the kids who come to the club are Christians,'' Danny Dillon said. ``We win as many souls as we can playing rap. The kids will listen.''

Nick Blount, 17, of Courtland, who was partying at Rocky's, said, ``It offers a great Christian environment - fellowship and the peace of Jesus.''

Rocky's keeps its tone nondenominational. The church doesn't promote itself. It uses the club to promote a healthy environment for young people.

``This is a community building,'' said Pete Twisdale.

He and his wife, Wendy, both Rock Church youth directors, manage Rocky's.

``We want young people to have a good time,'' Twisdale said. ``We want them to meet Christ, but we're not forceful. We're patient and in prayer.''

Rocky's Cafe was named for Rocky DeLauri of Chesapeake, a video tape technician for CBN and former owner of Joy Unlimited, which brought many Christian acts to Hampton Roads.

``I'll tell you what it's like to have a nightclub named after you,'' DeLauri said with a grin. ``It's humiliating. . . . I mean humbling. Really, it blew my mind, brought me to tears - big time.''

Officially, the club is open from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Saturdays, but the doors open at 6:30 for prayer. Live entertainment is featured once a month.

``The bands draw the biggest crowds,'' Potter said.

On the first Friday of each month, Rocky's becomes a club for the 4- to 11-year-old set.

Jason Lowe, 16, of Sedley has been a regular since the doors opened because, he said, ``All my friends are here.''

They find plenty to do - pool, pinball, air hockey, table tennis, videos.

``Bartenders'' - teen volunteers - serve food and drinks.

``What sells at our bar meets our costs,'' Twisdale said.

Sometimes the club makes a few extra bucks by having pizza delivered and reselling it by the slice. The snack bar features hot dogs, soft drinks, chips and candy.

Many of the games and much of the entertainment equipment in the club was donated. Other things were purchased with money from fund-raisers.

Old-time signs decorate the walls. The club also features a traffic light and a parking meter - with time expired.

``If I have a choice between being here and going to a movie, I come here,'' said 15-year-old Holly Cooke of Boykins. ``It's fun - and a good atmosphere.''

It is a typically teen atmosphere.

``The place is cool, the music is good, the people are nice. I have a lot of friends here,'' said 16-year-old Josh Smith of Suffolk.

``Rocky's is a place for young people,'' David Dillon said. ``It offers them a wholesome environ-ment.'' ILLUSTRATION: ERIC BROOKS

From left, Barry Bulls, Trevor Duke, Josh Smith, Keith Johnson and

Brooke Morris enjoy a game of Foozball at Rocky's Cafe, a Christian

nightclub for teens operated by the Rock Church of Franklin.

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