Office of the President
Missionary
Kids …
A Culture All
Their Own
Our adult children are TCKs … Third Culture Kids. With U.S.
passports and American missionary parents, our kids spent many
of their growing-up years in Mali, West Africa. They became com-
fortable there; it was home for them. Yet, in many ways, they never
fully fit into life in Africa. Then came an unanticipated transition
back to the United States. They brought with them all they learned in Africa, mak-
ing for some uncomfortable situations where they didn’t really fit in America. They
discovered they fit best when they were with other internationals, especially TCK
friends. They have a culture all their own … not African, not American, but a fasci-
nating mix that really is a third culture.
At One Mission Society (OMS), we love our missionary kids (MKs), many of whom
are TCKs. Some of our highly effective missionaries today grew up with parents who
were missionaries. Whether they live with their family in the homeland of their par-
ents or in a place far from their passport country, MKs often have a deep love for
people different than themselves and a great ability to adapt. As a result, MKs often
make excellent missionaries. In the pages that follow are several engaging stories
written by or about MKs and TCKs who, today, serve as OMS missionaries.
But ministry by adult MKs must be preceded by ministry to MKs during their
childhood. At OMS, we take this responsibility of ministering to kids in their devel-
opmental years very seriously. Our desire is for MKs to engage with their parents in
ministry, learning to love and appreciate the people and the culture. We want MKs
to get a quality education in a context of nurture, safety, and care. As they transition
out of high school, on to college or careers, we want to continue doing all we can
to help them thrive, letting them know they are still loved and valued by OMS. In
this issue of Outreach Online, we highlight ministry to MKs, TCKs, and children in
general. Each is important to God and to us!
Bob Fetherlin
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