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Tag Archives: Edge Nights

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Edge Nights Part IV: Send Them on Their Way

By | October 1, 2010

Be sure to give plenty of time for the Send portion of your Edge Night. When I was leading my Edge program, there were some nights the youth came back in the room and we barely had time to say a closing prayer before parents were texting their child to come outside. Just like the Gather, the Send does not have to chaotic; rather it can be a great time to pray with the youth in your group and lead and challenge them for the upcoming week.

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Dealing with Unacceptable Behavior in Middle School Youth

By | September 27, 2010

No one ever signs up to be a youth minister for the joy of being a disciplinarian. It is, however, one of those areas that come with the territory (like mopping, filing folders, copying papers, and the occasional bathroom plumbing issue…). Individual behavior like anger, negative comments, hitting, personal boundary issues and bullying are just a few common issues you may face in your middle school youth group. These issues, if not dealt with, can draw other youth into participating in the same disruptive behavior. They can cause distraction in small groups and can eventually interfere with the behavior of the whole group.

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Edge Nights Part III: Break It Open

By | September 24, 2010

You’ve come to the critical part of the Edge Night – small groups. For some Core Members, this is the part that scares them the most. However, with the right tools and training, it can be the most fruitful. Small groups are the time for the middle school youth to “break” open the theme for the night and find out how it relates to their lives. This particular blog is in two parts: a) thoughts on the Break; b) small group dynamics.

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Edge Nights Part II: Proclaim the Truth

By | September 17, 2010

You’ve herded them in, stuck a nametag on them, welcomed them, sung a moving rendition of “Happy Birthday,” and now its time to get their attention. I’m talking about the middle school youth, of course. Getting and holding the attention of all the youth in the room seems like an impossible task (and very well could be). However, there are some things you can do to make sure your Proclaims are well delivered, get across the right message, and engage the youth.

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Edge Nights Part I: Gather Them In

By | September 10, 2010

The beginning of an Edge Night may seem like giant ball of chaos and energy. There are middle school youth running around, parents demanding a few moments of your time, Core Members calling to say they are running late, and the projector just burned out – this seems to be a recipe for disaster, not relational ministry. Here are some tips to help start your Edge Night on the right foot while maintaining your sanity: