There is something unique about the middle school years. The cement is still wet. These are the years when a young person's identity, relationships, values, and understanding of the world are beginning to take shape in profound ways. Puberty brings enormous physical, emotional, and social changes, and during this season, young people are asking some of life's biggest questions: Who am I? Do I belong? Am I enough? What makes me valuable? Who can I trust? The experiences and messages they receive during these years can leave lasting impressions. As parents, we have an incredible opportunity to help make sure that, while the cement is still wet, the love of God is deeply stamped into their hearts.

We want our middle schoolers to know something that the world doesn't always tell them: Your worth doesn't come from your grades, appearance, athletic ability, popularity, social media, or what other people think of you. Your worth comes from the fact that you are a beloved son or daughter of God, created intentionally and uniquely, with a purpose that only you can fulfill. 

That's why Edge matters. Edge is a place where 7th and 8th graders can experience these truths not just as lessons, but as a community. They can build friendships with other young people who are also trying to follow Jesus, encounter God through prayer and the Sacraments, ask honest questions, laugh and play, and be known and encouraged by caring adults. Edge challenges students to grow while reminding them that they don't have to have everything figured out. They can come exactly as they are and discover, little by little, who God is calling them to become.

As parents, you are the most important influence in your child's faith, but you don't have to do this alone. Your middle schooler needs a community that reinforces the truth you're teaching at home: You are loved. You belong. You have a purpose. You are never beyond God's mercy. And God has a plan for your life. We invite you to give your child the gift of a community that will help put those truths into the wet cement. Invite your 7th or 8th grader to Edge. Let them have fun, make friends, ask questions, encounter Jesus, and begin discovering the incredible person God created them to be.