Description:

Middle school is a tough age, especially for the boy. He is emerging from a carefree childhood – into a pivotal age filled with mystery, promise, problems, and dreams. He thinks he wants independence, but the apron strings are still comfortable. He wants to emancipate himself, but he has no idea how to do that. In his head he wants daring and excitement, but in his heart, there is uneasiness and just a little fear. Socially, to get himself noticed, he will try on personalities like a starlet tries on shoes. He craves attention but what he really wants is acceptance, and everything points to that end.

The class, Basic Training, might help. The boy does not know it yet, but what he needs before he ever launches a pursuit – is identity. He needs to know who he is – and why he is. More than anything, he needs to know that there is a God who loves him, and there is an enemy who wants to destroy him. Basic Training is a 32-week conversation that centers on the things the boy will appreciate all his life. The goal is not to get him through middle school, the goal is to pour a foundation on which he can build a life triumphant. To do this, much of the class time will be spent in conversation. It will not be preachy. This is not a discipleship class, instead we will talk openly of fears, fascinations, anxieties and dreams. It is a simple year-long Kingdom-based discussion about growing up to be meaningful. 

The basic problem we have as human beings is that we do not realize how valuable we are.                                                                                                  – Derek Prince