Missionary Kids
Encyclopedia
Missionary Kids are the children of missionary
parents, and thus most were born and/or raised abroad (that is, on the "mission-field"). They can be a subset of Third Culture Kids (TCKs), but not always.
In the past MKs usually were thought of only as American, but there is now a growing number of MKs from other countries, especially Protestant Christian MKs from South Korea. Generally, this term applies to Protestant
Christians; however, it can be applied to any denomination
of a religion.
The term is more specifically applied when these children return to their "home" or passport country (the country of their citizenship) and often experience various difficulties identifying with fellow citizens. The resulting feeling is described as "reverse culture shock
." MKs often identify more with where they were raised (and this could be multiple cities, countries, or continents), than where their parents were raised, but are not fully at home in any one culture.
Many colleges, particularly Christian colleges, have chapters of a student organization called "Mu Kappa International," whose aim is to help MKs and other TCKs with the transition to American culture and college life. Mu Kappa was founded in 1985 at Taylor University
, and has since spread to more than 40 other colleges and universities.
MKs tend to be open-minded and tolerant of many diverse cultures. They often feel more at home in culturally rich environments and can be "homesick" for their foreign home. Their knowledge of a country and its culture typically exceeds language fluency. Upon returning to their passport country, MKs possess unique skills that can be helpful to academics and governments. Because of their international experience, they often have a much broader worldview than their peers. This broader worldview can also lead to mixed emotions about their passport country and its foreign policies.
Children in the MKs' ancestral home often find it difficult to relate to missionary children, while MKs may find the lives of their peers in their passport countries to be boring, sometimes creating challenging social situations. Interestingly, while MKs often find it difficult to relate to people from their home culture or target culture, they get along with other MKs very well, even those who are missionaries to (or from) a completely different country. MKs may not be aware of many of the pop culture influences within their passport country, yet are able to discuss, in great detail, world politics. They may be able to name the best places to get good food at any of 25 different international airports, and yet not be aware of the most popular television show in their passport country. They are likely to be able to mentally calculate the exchange rate of up to 5 different currencies yet not be able to identify the sport that a given athletic team plays (especially so for American MKs as citizens of a country where the most visible sports leagues often have little or no coverage in the countries where they have lived). These things can cause awkwardness when they return to their passport country.
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
parents, and thus most were born and/or raised abroad (that is, on the "mission-field"). They can be a subset of Third Culture Kids (TCKs), but not always.
In the past MKs usually were thought of only as American, but there is now a growing number of MKs from other countries, especially Protestant Christian MKs from South Korea. Generally, this term applies to Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
Christians; however, it can be applied to any denomination
Religious denomination
A religious denomination is a subgroup within a religion that operates under a common name, tradition, and identity.The term describes various Christian denominations...
of a religion.
The term is more specifically applied when these children return to their "home" or passport country (the country of their citizenship) and often experience various difficulties identifying with fellow citizens. The resulting feeling is described as "reverse culture shock
Culture shock
Culture shock is the anxiety, feelings of frustration, alienation and anger that may occur when a person is emplaced in a new culture.One of the most common causes of culture shock involves individuals in a foreign country. Culture shock can be described as consisting of one or more distinct phases...
." MKs often identify more with where they were raised (and this could be multiple cities, countries, or continents), than where their parents were raised, but are not fully at home in any one culture.
Many colleges, particularly Christian colleges, have chapters of a student organization called "Mu Kappa International," whose aim is to help MKs and other TCKs with the transition to American culture and college life. Mu Kappa was founded in 1985 at Taylor University
Taylor University
Taylor University is a private, interdenominational, evangelical Christian college located in Upland, Indiana. Founded in 1846, it is one of the oldest evangelical Christian colleges in America....
, and has since spread to more than 40 other colleges and universities.
MKs tend to be open-minded and tolerant of many diverse cultures. They often feel more at home in culturally rich environments and can be "homesick" for their foreign home. Their knowledge of a country and its culture typically exceeds language fluency. Upon returning to their passport country, MKs possess unique skills that can be helpful to academics and governments. Because of their international experience, they often have a much broader worldview than their peers. This broader worldview can also lead to mixed emotions about their passport country and its foreign policies.
Children in the MKs' ancestral home often find it difficult to relate to missionary children, while MKs may find the lives of their peers in their passport countries to be boring, sometimes creating challenging social situations. Interestingly, while MKs often find it difficult to relate to people from their home culture or target culture, they get along with other MKs very well, even those who are missionaries to (or from) a completely different country. MKs may not be aware of many of the pop culture influences within their passport country, yet are able to discuss, in great detail, world politics. They may be able to name the best places to get good food at any of 25 different international airports, and yet not be aware of the most popular television show in their passport country. They are likely to be able to mentally calculate the exchange rate of up to 5 different currencies yet not be able to identify the sport that a given athletic team plays (especially so for American MKs as citizens of a country where the most visible sports leagues often have little or no coverage in the countries where they have lived). These things can cause awkwardness when they return to their passport country.
Further reading
- Kingsolver BBarbara KingsolverBarbara Kingsolver is an American novelist, essayist and poet. She was raised in rural Kentucky and lived briefly in the former Republic of Congo in her early childhood. Kingsolver earned degrees in biology at DePauw University and the University of Arizona and worked as a freelance writer before...
(1999). The Poisonwood Bible: A NovelThe Poisonwood BibleThe Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver isa bestselling novel about a missionary family, the Prices, who in 1959 move from Georgia to the village of Kilanga in the Belgian Congo, close to the Kwilu River...
, Perennial. ISBN 0-06-093053-5. - Matthiessen PPeter MatthiessenPeter Matthiessen is a two-time National Book Award-winning American novelist and non-fiction writer, as well as an environmental activist...
(1965). At Play in the Fields of the LordAt Play in the Fields of the Lord (novel)At Play in the Fields of the Lord is a 1965 novel by Peter Matthiessen. A film adapted from the book was made in 1991....
, Vintage. ISBN 0-679-73741-3. - Godshalk CS (1999). KalimantaanKalimantaanKalimantaan is the title of a novel by C. S. Godshalk offering a fictionalized account of the exploits of James Brooke in Sarawak in Borneo.-Plot introduction:...
, Owl Publishing Company. ISBN 0-8050-5534-7. - Pollock DC and Van Reken R (2001). Third Culture Kids. Nicholas Brealey Publishing/Intercultural Press. Yarmouth, Maine. ISBN 1-85788-295-4.
- Parker E and Rumrill-Teece K (2001). Here Today There Tomorrow. Foreign Service Youth Foundation, Wash. D.C. ISBN 0-9658538-3-7.
- Hess DJ (1994). The Whole World Guide to Culture Learning. Intercultural Press, Yarmouth, ME.
- Kalb R and Welch P (1992). Moving Your Family Overseas. Intercultural Press, Yarmouth, ME.
- Kohls RL (1996). Survival Kit for Overseas Living. Intercultural Press, Yarmouth, ME.
- Pascoe R (1993). Culture Shock: Successful Living Abroad. Graphic Arts, Portland, OR.
- Shames GW (1997). Transcultural Odysseys: The Evolving Global Consciousness. Intercultural Press, Yarmouth, ME.
- Storti C (1997). The Art of Coming Home. Intercultural Press, Yarmouth, ME.
- Hayward B (2005). My Diary.