We have all participated in icebreaker games,
like imagining which item you’d take to a deserted
island. But let’s flip the question: if someone you
love were to journey through life’s challenges, what
three items would you pack for them to survive and thrive?
Preparing for a deserted island with a Swiss army knife or fishing net takes only a moment of thought and packing. Preparing for life’s uncertainties — losing a job, loved one, or financial stability — requires much more. Life’s challenges will come, and in our own strength, we often cannot endure. The question isn’t if we will face hardship, but how we’ll navigate it.
When preparing children for adulthood, most parents think of love, security, or education — all important. But what if the most vital tools to help face life went deeper? Imagine shaping your child’s soul, building their character, and preparing them to stand firm in a shifting world. If you could pack three essential tools for your child, grandchild, or even yourself, what would they be? Let’s explore these three indispensable tools and why they matter.
Discipleship: A Deep Relationship With God
The first and most essential item to pack is a genuine relationship with Christ. When Jesus called Peter, John, Andrew, and the other disciples, He invited them into a life of discipleship. For enduring faith, no other priority can stand above Christ — not career, wealth, or relationships. Discipleship is rooted in discipline. How do soldiers prepare for battle? The military’s priority in basic training is to instill discipline, and the deeper it runs, the higher its capacity to fight off the enemy or face difficult odds.
A Christian’s discipline is cultivating spiritual habits to stand firm in faith. God calls us not to display flashy armor but to wear it daily and master its use. From daily Bible reading to living out our faith, these disciplines begin early. We teach children to brush their teeth, but do we teach them to engage with God’s Word? Have we provided them with a Bible they can understand, or have we unintentionally created barriers that discourage them? Barna reports 42% of teens admit to never reading the Bible. Have we contributed to that negative stat?
D6 Family Ministry equips churches and homes to foster discipleship across generations. We all want to raise modern-day Daniels and Esthers — people who stand firm when it matters most. But Daniel’s resolve wasn’t spontaneous; it was nurtured through discipleship long before he faced his trials. Likewise, today’s worldviews aren’t shaped by Sunday mornings alone.
Everyday moments at home are crucial. The D6 curriculum and devotional study guides bridge this gap, but using both curriculum and magazines is very different from the way most church leaders were raised. By ignoring the home, has what we’ve done — then or now — truly worked? Six out of ten teenagers end up prodigals today. Would you like to change those odds? Let’s return to Christ’s first call: “Be my disciples.”
Resilience: Strength to Endure
The second tool to pack is resilience. As teachers and parents, we all recognize kids value what we value and respect what we respect. Yet, in our efforts to make life easier, we often shield them from difficulty. Resilience grows when children learn to handle challenges, starting with small tasks like clearing their plates, and progressing to greater responsibilities as they mature.
Resilience, as Boan and Ayers describe, is the ability to “‘absorb’ the stress from an external force without losing its integrity or changing its internal properties, [yet] it can return to its original condition without long-term harm.” It’s more than bouncing back; it’s standing firm under pressure, peer or circumstantial. Christ modeled resilience for His disciples, teaching them to face trials through prayer and reliance on God. How have you modeled resilience for the kids in your life? Do they sit by and watch others work and do hard things, or do they jump in and offer help?
Do they see you avoid hardship, or do they see you lean on Christ through challenges?
Building resilience early helps children understand suffering’s role in developing perseverance. Fusion Family magazine equips parents to share stories of God’s faithfulness and guide children through life’s difficulties. D6 helps each generation find their identity in Christ by acknowledging how suffering and unfairness play a role in building perseverance as a Christian. Resilience allows us to trust God and press forward even in life’s hardest moments.
Mentors: Guides for the Journey
Finally, the third essential gift is mentorship. If I were stranded on an island or facing life’s uncertainties, I’d want a mentor walking beside me. Throughout my life, mentors have guided me as a parent, husband, leader, and Christ-follower. Each has helped me navigate challenges, grow spiritually, and discern God’s direction.
Mentoring involves more than lessons or lectures. True mentors listen, relate, and guide. They share personal stories paired with Scripture, offering encouragement, wisdom, and presence. D6, inspired by Deuteronomy 6, emphasizes generational mentoring as an integral part of everyday life. Mentors leave lasting impressions without duplicating themselves. Instead, they help shape individuals into stronger Christ-followers.
Parents, teachers, and older adults in the church can mentor. Remember, kids are watching and taking their cues from you. Churches that provide D6 curriculum and devotional study guides create a culture of intentional mentorship where all ages grow together in God’s Word. This approach builds resilience and fosters discipleship, equipping families to thrive.
Packed for Life
As you prepare for life’s challenges, remember these three essential gifts: a deep relationship with God, resilience to endure, and mentors to guide the way. These legacy gifts shape character, strengthen faith, and equip us to stand firm in a shifting world. If every generation embraced the call to pass along these three gifts, imagine the difference in the future church and home.
About the Writer: Ron Hunter Jr., Ph.D. is the CEO of D6 Family Ministry.
D6 Curriculum for Every Age and Stage
First Steps for a teaching nursery
Cuddle Time Bible Storybook
for preschool
Adventure Guide for early elementary
Explorer’s Guide for upper elementary
Velocity for young teens
Forward for high school students
The Brink for young adults without kids
Fusion Family for adults with kids in the home
Fusion Next for older adults & empty nesters
Teaching guides for each age group keep the family aligned on biblical themes and promote generational discipleship at church and home. For detailed information, go to
d6family.com/d6curriculum
