D6 Blog
How Do You Stay in The Game When Life or Ministry is Hard
Ministry is wonderful and can also be hard. Over the past year, I’ve spoken with many children’s ministry leaders who feel isolated and overwhelmed. Recently in a kid’s ministry Facebook group, leaders were sharing that they rarely had the opportunity to participate in small groups or even Sunday worship with adults. They longed for an opportunity to sit with other leaders and share ideas, encouragement, and stories. In one of these groups, I asked, “Anyone want to do a virtual coffee date?”...
How to Have a Successful Family Service
Imagine the entire church family coming together to worship God. Both young and old, standing shoulder to shoulder with the same teaching and shared experience. Creating a family service that appeals to all generations is possible. With a little planning and a lot of...
5 Ways to Guard Your Life from Temptation
We all struggle with temptation. Every single one of us. Some of us struggle with food, some with alcohol. Some of us crave the praise of people, and others struggle with the temptation to shop for stuff we think will make us happy. Others wrestle with telling the...
After the Holidays
The packages have been opened, the treats have been enjoyed, trips have been taken, and a vague sense of normalcy is beginning to return to homes. Bedtimes start to be reinforced again. Twinkling lights disappear and houses “go dark.” Slowly but surely we leave the...
Follow Up with Ron Hunter
A few weeks ago, I (Pat) posted a review of The DNA of D6 by Ron Hunter. I tagged Ron Hunter on Twitter, but I didn't think he'd see it... let alone respond. Imagine my surprise (... and shock ... and fear) when he contacted us about wanting to follow up. So, after a...
3 Key Relationships Kids Need for Discipleship
We need to disciple our kids, but effective discipleship is not going to happen from a stage or in a large group setting. Relationships are the key to discipling our kids and training them up to be godly men and women. Are we surrounding our kids with the right...
Before You Judge THAT Parent : 3 Basic Ways to Connect with the Parents of Your Youth Ministry
Recently I asked a group of almost 300 youth workers from across the country who primarily work with students ages 12-18 this question: “What is your biggest challenge in partnering with parents?” This was a cross section of those who are paid and unpaid from a...
4 Ways to Connect With Your Kids During Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a great opportunity to connect with your kids while they're out from school! Here are four simple ways to do so. #1 Involve your kids in the planning and prepping for your Thanksgiving meal. Let them help with decorations Ask if they would like to...
What THEY figured out, and WE need to know!
“If you could eat dinner with anyone, who would you pick?” Before you keep reading, take a moment and answer the question. Where did your mind go? Someone famous? Someone from the Bible? A hero or a friend? I recently saw a commercial from Australia where this...
“Are We Going to Church Today?” The New Question of Sunday Morning
Church attendance. Yup, we’re gonna go there. First the good news, because we need the good news. Jesus is Lord. Nothing can change that. And the church is the body of Christ, and nothing can change that. So that alone should stir an undying hope within our...
10 Date Ideas for Fall
Fall is one of my favorite times of the year! The leaves change, the boots and scarves come out of the box, pumpkin aroma fills the house, and it means all of the fun holidays are right around the corner. Here are a few date ideas to take advantage of this season...
A Different Perspective on the D6 Conference
I’m sure there are many people who can give an unbiased report and review about the D6 Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. I am not one of those people. I was going to apologize for my bias but I am not sorry for it. If I were to give my opinion of the conference I’d...
Seven Ideas to Involve Your Family in Operation Christmas Child
Pack shoebox gifts as a family and double your impact. Teach your children about caring for others as your family extends God’s love to a boy or girl in need. By Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse We often talk about the importance of parents...