Little Rock, AR - Police and other local leaders want to make sure children use their summer vacations wisely. Tonight a little rock church hosted a stop the violence rally Friday night.  Organizers say the timing is perfect because kids will soon have more free time and more opportunities to make important decisions that could have serious consequences. 

Friday night and people in Little Rock are celebrating, there's singing, dancing, and plenty of musicians on hand.   But this isn't a normal party it's a revival.  Several local parishes gathered at the Greater Trinity Church of God in Christ in Little Rock for a stop the violence rally.  With school ending soon organizers wanted to remind kids to make smart decisions this summer.

(Chief Stuart Thomas, Little Rock Police Dept)  "Particularly in the summertime kids have a lot of time on their hands of associations they can get into things they don't want to get into."

Little Rock Police Chief Stuart Thomas was a guest of honor, he found a receptive audience.

(Derion Bell, Audience Member) "I really think that people should stop trying to be in gangs in all that stuff cause it'll get you nowhere in life and you can get killed."

(Charity Davis, Audience Member) "Bad things get you in bad ways for your life."

Longley Baptist Youth Pastor Corey Alexander says it was an honor to speak to kids who face the same pressures he did.

(Pastor Corey Davis, Longley Baptist Church)  "It's just a matter major experience to be able to preach in the same neighborhood where you once used to drive down the streets and witness drive by shootings."

Pastor Davis says the area is not as dangerous as when he was a kid.  But he says there's still plenty of room for improvement.   He hopes it happens this summer.

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