Pat’s Blog

• What Are Your Plans for Christmas?

  • “Well Trey, what are your plans for Christmas?” It was three days before Christmas and Trey was a fifteen year old who had been attending youth programs at the urban church where I served. His single mother, a lay preacher … Continue reading →

• Mentoring Relationships

  • As mentioned last week, an opportunity to serve as a chaplain came during my years in graduate school. What began as a volunteer position soon grew into a staff position, as the church which I attended offered to give financial … Continue reading →

• Miguel is Gone

  • Miguel Is Gone Early one afternoon a call came from California. “Miguel is gone” sobbed the familiar voice of a woman on the other end of the line. At first I did not comprehend. “Where did he go?” I asked. … Continue reading →

• Sharing the Journey

  • I am the parent of two sons, both by adoption. Over the past nearly four decades, I have had opportunity to be a surrogate parent to a number of teenagers, mostly boys, for a piece of their lives. I am … Continue reading →

• Programs vs Relationships

  • It was the fall of 1970, when a friend of mine asked me to consider partnering with him on Saturdays, walking the streets of East Des Moines. Doug, a student at a local college, intended to make friends with people, … Continue reading →