On being 50

So, what’s it been like to be involved in creating the Edge and getting it to where it is today? We asked some of those who have been most closely involved in the mag’s creation and production for their thoughts on the Edge, their involvement in it and what they think are the best things about it.

Bruce Manners, former head honcho of the Edge:
Although it didn’t have a name, the Edge was a dream for several years before it happened. The editorial team at Signs Publishing Company had the feeling there was a need for such a magazine in the Adventist Church in Australia and New Zealand, but didn’t know how to make it happen. Financial support was the big issue.
Enter the Year of Evangelism in 1997. We proposed that Signs should make this type of magazine their Year of Evangelism project. Research was telling us that Year 12 was a key time for those who had grown up Adventist to make a decision on whether they would stay within the church.
We argued that a magazine like the Edge would help them stay with the church and would thus fulfil an evangelistic role. Signs supported a 12-month, four-issue trial. And they were gracious when we went over the budget they’d allocated.
The Edge was intended to be relevant, discussing issues and concepts that were real to those in Year 12 or older. We wanted to get across the concept that Adventist Christianity is exciting and the best option for life. Mostly we wanted to tell of God’s love.
In the early days we didn’t dare dream of reaching 50 issues as The Edge and its funding was reviewed each year. But it has grown and gained broader support. Thanks to Signs and those parts of the broader church that financially support The Edge.
May the dream continue in success, and live long.

Kellie Hancock, former editor of the Edge:
Life on the edge. It’s a scary place to be—on the edge for Jesus. But it’s where His followers are called to be. Think about it. None of the 12 disciples were fence-sitters or middle-of-the-road kinda people. To live in community with Jesus they had to drop what they were doing, forget their personal five-year plan for financial success, step up to the edge and jump.
OK, that’s off the edge and akin to extreme sports activities. But that’s how I felt when I started working on the Edge. This was my first professional gig as a writer (um, editor). It was exciting and scary all at once. My learning curve was so steep it looked like that roller-coaster at Sea World that goes up so high it turns back over on itself in a series of loops. (Hang on, being Edge editor did not make me go loopy!)

Highlights of my stint as Edge editor:
The countdown to REZ10, and introducing the REZ10 panel—Shane’s artwork and design on those pages were some of his best.
Creating the new look and content to celebrate Edge’s 6th birthday.
Including more input from readers with My Youth Group and My Opinion columns.
Having Paul Colman tell me I was much prettier in real life than my editorial photo—aww shucks!
Pulling together the first colour issue of Edge mag—Kathy and Candice, you were legends!
The fairy bread party I hosted to celebrate the team’s work on the first colour issue.
Receiving support and encouragement from Brenton as consulting editor—a priceless lifeline.
Touching base with readers in fortnightly email updates that linked them to exclusive web content at edgeonweb.org
The li-lo race that some of my fellow-editorial team-mates organised for me on my last day of work at Signs—I said the only regret I was leaving with was I’d never been able to talk Signs staff into having a li-lo race down the Yarra River, which runs behind the building—thanks Scott and Nathan!

What I love about the Edge:
It’s not scared to tackle the tough issues.
It fosters community and communication for young Christian adults.
It encourages readers to think outside the square they live in.

What I’d like to see in the future:
More issues per year means we’d find more readers!
New talent sharing their photographic/illustration/artwork and, of course, writing skills.
Teamwork from division, union and conference Youth Departments would better utilise and support the Edge as the official youth magazine for the church in Australia and New Zealand.

I hope the next 50 issues of Edge mag continue to encourage, inform and inspire a community of young adults ready to forsake the safety of the centre for a chance to live on the edge for Jesus.

Brenton Stacey, first-ever editor of the Edge:
Open Letter to Edge -

Dear Edge,
You're 50!
[Pause]
Right, enough self-congratulations, let's look to the future.
Two pieces of advice:
One: Stay young, young-at-heart, that is. I actually hope you grow old, very old. I want my 12-month-old son to enjoy reading and learning from you.
Two: Stay relevant. Values do not change, but the way we express them does. Keep close to the cutting edge while keeping the values explicit in your motto—a belief in Jesus Christ that leads to a life of service to others—at your core.
Your first editor, Bruce Manners, and I created you. We christened you CrossCurrents while driving home from work one night. But somewhere between the cemetery at Wesburn and the log cabin garage at Launching Place, we changed our minds.
People will soon forgot us, but not you. Your name has come to mean something. You have influence, but don't let it go to your head. Stay focused on the One who is your reason for being.—Brenton