LAKEPORT — The lights came up, the karaoke machine stopped singing and eight dodgeballs dropped to the floor.
It was two hours and a half past midnight, but Epic Midnight Madness had just begun.
Approximately 475 middle and high school students filed out of Lakeside Family Fun Center and into the parking lot, where Pastor Chris Sherwood from Kelseyville”s Grace Evangelical Free Church spoke to them from the base of a climbing wall.
“If you want to know Jesus, tonight is the night for you,” he said. “In this crazy place with every head up and every eye open.”
Several students raised their hands, and Grace Community Church members came around and gave them 2-by-3 cards that said, “I”m jumping in, I want to give my life to Jesus.”
Sherwood led the students through a quick prayer, thanked the gathered crowd and ushered them back inside the building.
Epic Midnight Madness, an all-night lock-in sponsored by Kelseyville”s Grace Community Church and Lakeside Family Fun Center took place Saturday, featuring Lazer tag, bowling, karaoke, dodgeball and, for 30 minutes, Jesus.
The lock-in, which cost $20, is meant to give the students of Lake County a chance to have safe, affordable fun for a night, Charlie Richardson, owner of Lakeside Lanes, said.
“In big cities, they grow up too fast; they get into the wrong kind of fun.” Richardson said. “I feel really good about seeing a kid be a kid.”
Richardson, also a member of the Grace Church, agreed to rent the bowling alley out to Boone Bridges, who organized the event with 50 to 70 volunteers from the church.
Among the volunteers working at the lock-in were Eric Schlange and Willy Turner, who helped judge the karaoke competition, “Lake County Idol.”
When one singer didn”t show up for his stage call to sing Justin Bieber”s “Baby,” Schlange picked a likely member from the assembled audience to fill in.
“The guy over here in the purple necklace looks like Justin Bieber,” Schlange said, pointing at a student with Bieber”s trademark bowl-cut.
James Cook, the Kelseyville High student Schlange identified, took the stage and belted out one verse of Justin Bieber”s “Baby” while four girls crowded the stage.
“I hate this song,” he yelled as the music swelled in the background.
Cook, who plays six instruments, was glad to have something to do that night, he said.
“I”m just looking for friends, having fun,” he said.
Epic Midnight Madness was started two years ago as a New Year”s Eve lock-in at Grace Community Church to prevent underage drinking, Bridges said. As the event became more and more popular with students, they had to get a bigger venue. Eventually, he hopes the event grows to become something that students from Lake County will remember as part of their upbringing.
“It takes a village to raise a child,” Bridges said.
Ben Mullin can be reached at benjaminmullin14@hotmail.com.
