For some time now, Bree and I have have felt our life's calling is to minister to MK's overseas. Even now everything we are doing here in California and when we go to school at NTBI, we are preparing to go overseas to help in this effort. But what is a MK? to tell you the truth, there are not many resources out there... but that is part of what we want to help change. This is a great artical by Bret Taylor who helps run a orgaization called JARRS that focuses on ministry to MK's. Check it out! http://www.wysite.org/sites/mk_ministries/Homepage
MK's?
MK stands for Missionary Kid. Other titles associated with this group of individuals are TCKs (Third Culture Kids), Global Nomads, or Expatriate Kids.
MKs have unique needs and abilities that are often under-recognized and under-utilized. Because of the nature of their life circumstances, there are spiritual, emotional, educational and social needs that need special consideration and attention. Without alternatives, if their children are struggling, missionaries may feel forced to leave their ministries. As every parent can attest, the involvement of additional caring adults in the life of a child can make a big difference.
Our hope is to also educate individuals, churches and mission organizations of ways to improve their support for there precious "global nomads." The ministry goal we want to see through an MK ministry is increased missionary longevity and preparation of the next generation of harvesters.
CONSIDER THIS...
• It takes an average of 2-3 years for a new missionary to be prepared for the field. There is a tremendous financial and time investment to prepare new missionaries.
• One of the leading causes of missionaries terminating career ministry is due to the educational, emotional, or spiritual needs of their children (MKs) not being appropriately met.
• A healthy family structure is necessary for missionaries to most effectively serve at their ministry site.
• Currently 15% of MKs go into fulltime stateside ministry.
• Currently 17% of MKs go into career overseas missions.
• MKs are already in an environment where they can develop their spiritual gifts in an evangelistic ministry setting.
You Know You’re an MK when…
1. Your life story uses the phrase “Then we went to…” more than five times.
2. You have strong opinions about how to cook bugs.
3. You sort your friends by continents.
4. You’d rather never say hello than have to say good-bye.
5. You’ve spoken in dozens of churches, but aren’t a pastor.
6. You watch a movie set in a foreign country, and you know what the nationals are really saying into the camera.
7. You get upset when people don’t finish their food, and feel worse when they scrape it into the trash.
8. You don’t think that two hours is a long sermon.
9. Your high school memories include those days that school was canceled due to tear gas.
10. You instinctively start ripping up the newspaper when you run out of toilet paper.
11. Your friends nervously remind you to drive on the right side of the road.
12. You still hesitate before drinking water straight from the tap.
13. You carry Bibles in two languages to church.
Quotes from “You Know You’re an MK When…” by Andy and Deborah Kerr
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