Meet theEDGE Leaders (Becca and Nicki)

Today, marks the beginning of a special segment at The Parent's Edge called "Meet theEDGE Leaders".  This is an opportunity for you as parents to get to know the other adults in your students lives.  This week, meet Becca and Nicki, two of our 6th grade girl small group leaders.

My name is Becca Thorson, I am 21 and a junior at UWEC studying Social Work. I've been serving on and off at The Edge for a year, and have been attending Jacob's Well since my freshmen year of college. I am a small group leader for 6th grade girls and I co-lead with the wonderful Nicki Behnke--and I LOVE it.

I absolutely adore being a leader at The Edge and consider myself blessed to be a part of all the kids' lives. When I was in middle school my youth leader touched my life and changed it forever. If it weren't for her, I don't know if I would be here writing this to you today. Her love and attention meant the WORLD to me.  I hope to make the same difference in the life of a student or two (or three, or four, or five...) now that I am a leader. This is why serving at The Edge is so near and dear to my heart. It's my hope and prayer that I can positively influence the girls I lead and love all the kids in the way they want to and need to be loved.

I am looking forward to the weeks to come and getting to know my girls on a deeper level.They absolutely rock and are a total joy! Thank you so much for sharing them with me!

Hi, my name is Nicki and I have been serving at The Edge for the past 6 years.  I am a small group leader for one of our 6th Grade Girl's groups.  Other than my love for youth ministry I enjoy a variety of things.  I love baking, cooking, organizing (yes, I am one of THOSE people), reading, crafting, event planning, camping, traveling, cross country skiing,and bargain hunting!  I should also mention that I love facebook, pinterest, and blogging.      

You would think that writing about why I love The Edge would be easy enough, but it is not.  When you really have a heart for something, and find such great fulfillment in serving, it is hard to simply put into words.  I feel honored to work with middle school students.  Even though society refers to that time in life as "those awkward and dreaded middle school years", I think it is something quite opposite.  Not only are they discovering who they are and making choices that set the course for their high school years and beyond, but their understanding and pursuit to know and become more like Jesus matures and becomes their own.  What a unique, exciting, and beautiful privilege to journey along side of them through these years of transition.    

I have hundreds of stories I could share with you about The Edge.  Some would make you laugh uncontrollably while others would bring tears to your eyes.  The story I want to share today is one of encouragement and answered prayer.  For the past few years, The Edge has been in desperate need of adult leaders. We tried everything we could think of to recruit with few results until about a year ago we decided to get serious about prayer.  We asked God on a daily basis for more leaders.  We prayed for these unknown people, that God would build them into healthy and whole leaders.  We prayed for patience as we waited, and diligence in making our request known to God.  In His timing, He has answered our prayer.  I am in awe of the 40 plus leaders He has brought to The Edge over the past few months.  Amazing things are happening in the lives our leaders and students at The Edge as we take steps together to know and become more like Jesus.

Ask your student who their small group leaders are and what they think of them.  Do you have any stories about how a small group leader has impacted your child's life?  Share it in the comment section below.