Worship group moves service after complaints

Amy Pint

Clapping and singing poured out of the McKay Hall auditorium as members of an ISU religious group celebrated their faith at its last meeting. “I got a phone call last night at 11 p.m.,” Dan Bovenmeyer, one of the leaders of The Rock student fellowship, announced to the cheering group members Thursday night. “We were being too noisy.” The Rock, a 150-student fellowship group from Stonebrook Community Church, is changing its weekly meeting time after several complaints about the noise disturbances during their services. “We have the loud-music approach to God,” said Tim Borseth, full-time staff member of the organization. The religious group, which was called 8:12 last year, will be moving its one-and-a-half hour meeting from 8 p.m. Thursday to 7:30 p.m. Friday in the McKay Auditorium. Tony Hill, member of the group, said he began the search for a new location on campus after being told that the group needed to find another place to meet because of the noise levels during its meetings. After trying to find another location, Borseth said ISU administrators told the group they could stay in McKay Auditorium as long as it moved its time to 7:30 p.m. Friday. Originally Bovenmeyer said he thought the move would be a problem, but now he said he thinks “it’s an opportunity for God to come through for us.” Borseth said the group changed its name and monthly meeting time as attendance grew. “The group just got too big,” he said. “So, this summer, we wanted to identify ourselves with the Rock phenomenon.” Borseth said The Rock is a popular religious group for working singles and students in cities like Minneapolis and Fort Collins. Kirsten Skelly, administrative coordinator for The Rock, said the group is trying to relate to college students’ idea of prayer instead of connecting with a formal church service. She said the group has several promotional materials like T-shirts and matchbooks to help spread the word among the ISU student body since the group began meeting during the first week of school. “If you’re interested in God, not in religion, it’s a great place to meet,” Skelly said.