In 1870, when construction began on the Brooklyn Bridge, most people believed it was impossible. The East River separated Brooklyn from Manhattan, forcing people to rely on unreliable ferries (especially problematic in winter). Yet, for decades, most accepted the disconnect as normal. Visionaries like John Roebling, the original chief engineer, thought differently.
After his untimely death, his son Washington took over, only to become paralyzed and bedridden from illness soon after. But Washington didn’t give up. From his apartment window, he developed a communication system with his wife, Emily, who became his voice on the construction site. For over a decade, Emily delivered his instructions — note by note, calculation by calculation — until the bridge opened in 1883, standing as a monument to vision, teamwork, and sacrificial commitment.
In many ways, the journey of D6 Family Ministry over this past year reflects the same determination, fighting through challenges to build a bridge connecting churches to homes in intergenerational discipleship.
Hard Choices and Faithful Progress
A year ago, we stood at a crossroads, challenging our Free Will Baptist family to help sustain D6 Family Ministry for the future of generational discipleship. The financial strain caused by COVID-19, the closure of over 240 churches, and rising costs across every area of ministry had created a storm we could no longer weather alone.
You prayed. You gave. You partnered.
And because of your faithfulness, combined with deep internal restructuring, D6 has gained steady ground. Our story isn’t just about survival; it’s also about growth, innovation, and expanding our reach into homes, churches, and nations.
Solid Foundations Built on Hard Choices
After last year’s appeal, our leadership team made more than $800,000 in budget adjustments.
Every department faced tough cuts. We consolidated roles, delayed hiring, and streamlined programs — but never at the expense of our core mission or product quality.
These difficult decisions made D6 leaner, more focused, and determined to press forward. However, we’ve now reached a critical threshold. We must maintain a minimum staffing level to continue producing fresh, high-quality content. Further reductions would compromise both ministry health and the excellence people expect from our resources.
Our strategy moving forward is about building for long-term strength. We also made strategic investments in tools, software, and infrastructure — steps to multiply our ministry impact for years to come.
D6 HomePoint: Resourcing Families Beyond Sunday
One of the most exciting new chapters in our journey is the acquisition of D6 HomePoint. Designed to help churches strengthen connections between Sunday and the rest of the week, HomePoint puts discipleship tools directly into the hands of parents, grandparents, and mentors.
D6 HomePoint is not a curriculum but a drop-by resource center offering easy-to-follow guides on life’s pain points and next stages. People can browse topics and take what they need without explanation or embarrassment. Every pocket paper is free, and churches can also offer books for purchase on the most requested topics.
We’re thrilled to announce that Connect Church of Russellville, Arkansas, under the leadership of Blaine Rogers and his dynamic staff, will serve as the D6 HomePoint leadership team. Connect Church models Deuteronomy 6 in action by helping families engage faith conversations at home with creativity and consistency. Blaine’s team will produce new content and an annual sermon series promotional module.
Through D6 HomePoint, churches will gain downloadable resources, seasonal campaigns, and practical tools to help every home become a center for discipleship. This initiative pushes D6 beyond the curriculum and into the daily rhythms of family life and felt needs.
What’s Next: A New Edition of D6 Curriculum
As we celebrate what God is doing, we’re also looking ahead. Behind the scenes, our editorial and theological teams are working hard on the next major edition of the D6 Curriculum. Slated for release in 2026, it will be the best-written material we have ever produced, with connect activities that make the class and home more engaging.
This forthcoming edition will build on the strong biblical foundations you’ve trusted for years while incorporating fresh design, updated lesson structures, and enhanced tools for leaders and families. We’re listening closely to pastors, teachers, and families to ensure the next generation of D6 resources meets the needs of a changing culture without compromising biblical truth.
More updates will come soon, but you can be confident: D6 remains committed to delivering theologically-sound, age-aligned discipleship tools that work both at church and at home.
D6 International: Discipleship Knows No Borders
D6 Family Ministry continues to grow globally. D6 International is active in Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Indonesia, France, and the United States with conversations underway with other nations.
In July, we celebrated ten years of D6 Singapore, where pastors and parents gathered to reflect on a decade of equipping churches for generational discipleship. Each year, our international conferences draw leaders from 100 to 300 churches within their respective countries, with an average investment of about $5,000 annually per event. We’re watching leaders across cultures take the timeless truth of Deuteronomy 6 and apply it in their unique ministry contexts, creating a legacy impact that will influence thousands of families for years to come.
Our international partners remind us: the call to disciple the next generation transcends language and geography. When you give to D6, you not only support discipleship through curriculum — you help fuel a global movement reaching families across continents.
Gratitude That Runs Deep
To all who gave last year and this year, we are deeply grateful. Your generosity gave us breathing room when we needed it most. Some gave one-time gifts, others became monthly partners, and still others added D6 Family Ministry to the church budget for the first time. Your gifts helped stabilize key areas, including curriculum production, book publishing, international reach, and donor relations.
Over the next three to four years, our goal is to reach 10–20% of our annual budget through giving. Growth in giving doesn’t increase our budget. We grow our budget only through increased sales. But giving sustains and stabilizes the ministry we’re already doing.
What if the Roeblings had given up when the bridge project got tough? Thankfully, the city, workers, and supporters recognized the need to connect Brooklyn and Manhattan. Today, we see a similar need: to connect church and home, parents and kids, and believers with other believers — bridging the gaps that weaken discipleship.
Big gifts fuel big steps, but faithful, consistent giving from many builds long-term stability.
Moving From Appreciation to Investment
At its core, D6 Family Ministry remains laser-focused on helping churches and homes build believers grounded in Deuteronomy 6:5-7 and the generational vision of Psalm 78:1-7. The challenges are real, but so is the impact. Together, we are shaping future generations to love and follow Christ.
Our D6 team continues working hard as bridge builders to make necessary changes and progress. But now, we need a broader base of partners who believe in the power of biblical discipleship. If you love what D6 represents, or if you’ve seen the fruit of this ministry in your church, family, or denomination, we know you have appreciation for what we do. Now, we invite you to move from appreciation to intentional investment. Please join us in this next chapter.
Let’s be candid: It’s often easier to allocate church funds than to give personally. But lasting change happens when both happen side by side.
Purchase both “at church” curriculum and “at home” devotionals.
Add D6 to your church budget.
Encourage your congregation or classes to give. (They could adopt a country.)
Lead by example with personal support.
Together, let’s build a foundation to equip churches and homes for decades to come. Like the Brooklyn Bridge, this ministry stands as a testament to what faithful visionaries, persistent workers, and determined partners can accomplish: spanning generations with the gospel. The question now is simple: Will you and the next generation in your church benefit from the bridges we’re building?
It’s time to move from watching to walking — from appreciation to action — and bridge the gap between church and home.
