When a strong working partnership developed between The Edge and SUWA, leadership of both groups started to get excited that maybe God was pointing to something new in the way both of these ministries share the good news of Jesus among youth and families.

"The Edge" Creative Arts Community and Performing Group ...was formed in 1991 by a group of Christians committed to serving God through the performing arts. Over the years, The Edge had a number of different expressions of Christian community, and worked with a growing number of young people in schools, camps, youth groups and churches.

In 1998 Tim and Nicki Bowles moved The Edge into SUWA where it became known as Fine Edge Performing Arts group. They also established Cutting Edge Theatre to support volunteer Christian artists.

In 2001 Tim decided to have a career change. Wendi Kirwan became the Department Coordinator and Nikki Bestwick the Fine edge Artistic Director. They continued to strengthen the dept using highly trained interns as performers. The Cutting Edge project moved out of SUWA.

In the next couple of years the department grew by adding the Moves and Voices project on the retirement of Michael Lush from SUWA. He developed this project in the 1990’s and it was continued under the directorship of Ellie Macpherson until 2006. It is a primary aged program that uses storytelling, puppets and music.

In 2005 the EPYC project (Empowering Peacemakers in Your Community), facilitated by Jarrod McKenna joined the department. This program was different to the other theatre based programs as it used multimedia and interactive activities to teach young people about non-violence and faith.

2007 started with a name change for the department to the Creative Arts Department to widen the scope of possible ministries.

Currently the department consists of

Wendi Kirwan-Elliott, Department Coordinator;

Ofa Fotu, Administrator and Moves & Voices Director;

Esther Longhurst, Fine Edge Theatre Director;

Jarrod McKenna, EPYC Director;

as well as 5 interns supporting Fine Edge Theatre and EPYC.