Hiding in the Pews
Churches send out missionaries.
Most churches feel strongly about their commitment to sharing the gospel to the far reaches of the earth and missionary families are the hands and feet that go. The church provided funding and support for missionaries and their families.
When churches recognized that missionary families were leaving the field, they partnered with sending organizations to provide focused efforts on missionary care and wellbeing. It is through this that most churches are familiar with the term Missionary Kid. Some churches are even familiar with the term TCK. But most do not realize that TCK and MK are not synonymous.
Most churches feel strongly about their commitment to sharing the gospel to the far reaches of the earth and missionary families are the hands and feet that go. The church provided funding and support for missionaries and their families.
When churches recognized that missionary families were leaving the field, they partnered with sending organizations to provide focused efforts on missionary care and wellbeing. It is through this that most churches are familiar with the term Missionary Kid. Some churches are even familiar with the term TCK. But most do not realize that TCK and MK are not synonymous.
TCK ≠ MKA
Third Culture Kid is a child who spent a significant portion of their childhood outside their passport country with intent to return to their passport country. This intention to return means that they can’t fully throw themselves into immersing in the new culture – they must retain the ability to return to their previous culture. Missionary kids are a subset of TCKs, but TCKs also include military kids, diplomat kids, business kids, and other world traveling children.
“Right,” you might think. “But the church isn’t working with those other TCKs – we work with missionary kids.”
That might be true… but… have you checked?
Third Culture Kid is a child who spent a significant portion of their childhood outside their passport country with intent to return to their passport country. This intention to return means that they can’t fully throw themselves into immersing in the new culture – they must retain the ability to return to their previous culture. Missionary kids are a subset of TCKs, but TCKs also include military kids, diplomat kids, business kids, and other world traveling children.
“Right,” you might think. “But the church isn’t working with those other TCKs – we work with missionary kids.”
That might be true… but… have you checked?
The Forgotten TCKs
When we think of TCKs from the framework of MKs, we can be thinking about children who leave and are in a different country. But with that framework, we can overlook two different types of TCKs.
When we think of TCKs from the framework of MKs, we can be thinking about children who leave and are in a different country. But with that framework, we can overlook two different types of TCKs.
- TCKs who come - Many TCK leave from other countries and come to your country. Any family attending your church from another country might have TCKs with them. Not all foreign families fit the definition for TCK – especially if they don’t intend to return to their country of origin – but many TCK resources would be helpful for these children.
- TCKs who are in this country - TCKs don’t stop being TCKs just because they’re back in their passport country. Military kids, business kids, diplomat kids, missionary kids, and others might be attending your church. They could be attending because they’re currently in the country or because they’re no longer traveling abroad. Even if they’ve settled, they’re still TCKs and still need support processing that global experience.
Every Tongue, Tribe, and Nation
The exponential growth of globalization has given churches the blessing of a taste of the glory we hope for: worshiping with believers from every tongue, tribe, and nation. The church’s responsibility in this opportunity is to provide intentional care for its international guests and members.
The first step is in recognizing the unique needs of the TCKs hiding in your pews. The second step is learning more about how you can support them. And TCK Training is committed to supporting you.
If you’re ready to learn more, consider these recommended resources:
The exponential growth of globalization has given churches the blessing of a taste of the glory we hope for: worshiping with believers from every tongue, tribe, and nation. The church’s responsibility in this opportunity is to provide intentional care for its international guests and members.
The first step is in recognizing the unique needs of the TCKs hiding in your pews. The second step is learning more about how you can support them. And TCK Training is committed to supporting you.
If you’re ready to learn more, consider these recommended resources:
- Supporting TCKs in Your Community
- Helping TCKs Build Healthy Relationships with Their Passport Countries
- Growing Supportive Intercultural Communities
- The Art of Settling Well
- Returning Well
- Coping with Change
- Educational Culture Clash: Western School Meets Non-Western Family
- Living Life Publicly: Perfectionism & Its Downfalls
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