What's not to love about middle schoolers?

Age has a way of impacting all of us, even those who spend most of their time around youth. Find out Marko's thougths about aging among middle schoolers.

Developmentally, it’s critical that we create good and safe places for young teens to try on relational connections across gender lines, without all the cultural and sexual pressures that are common at school and the mall.

“Kids really are ready to move on and have their faith challenged in our church’s high school ministry in a way they probably aren’t being challenged in our middle school ministry.”

“Here’s a rule I try to live with as a middle school youth worker: I never want to join the cultural juggernaut rushing young teens into adolescence.”

“Be ready for a great time of deep discussion to show up when you least expect it.”

I hope this doesn’t make you mad, Dad, but I don’t think I want to be a pastor like you.

It’s not a two-dimensional transition from “no longer that” to “almost there”; it’s an overlapping transition from “still that” to “already there.” In other words, middle schoolers are living the in-between space of still being a child and already being a teenager/young adult. It is both/and, rather...

You take a picture on your camera or phone, and you see the result instantly. You hear a song on the radio, and you can instantly download it. You want to buy something? Browse instantly online, click "Purchase Now" and wait a day or two for the item to arrive. These developments are a major reason middle...

If you teach a second-grade Sunday School class, you can tell by kids’ participation how you’re doing. If you volunteer in the parking lot ministry of your church, the cars either get parked or they don’t. If you preach sermons in “big church,” people always let you know what they think. Really, almost...