The Annual Missionary Family Reunion is always one of my favorite weeks of the year as missionaries from all over the world meet in Branson, MO for a great time of encouragement, fellowship and a lot of fun.  During the Reunion last week, my wife and I, along with Bethany Konnerup and Jill Wolf, had the privilege of working with the MK Program (12+) and we enjoyed every minute of it!

The MK Program at the Reunion is designed to provide MKs a safe place where they can relax, be themselves, develop new friendships with other MKs and have a lot of fun while looking at the unique challenges of being a third culture kid.  Our schedule, this year, included great events like the Stampede, a trip to the Sight and Sound Theater for a back-stage tour and to see Samson, the Showboat Branson Belle and of course Silver Dollar City.  We played a lot of games, ate lots of food, laughed a ton, developed new friendships and perhaps most importantly gained a new perspective on life as an MK.

Here are some things that parents and their MKs had to say about the MK Program at the 2019 BBFI Missionary Family Reunion…

“My kids came away refreshed, with a reminder of their calling and that they can fulfill it being who God made them, and they just had a lot of fun!”

“The MK program is a great place for the kids to come and relax and be themselves without the need to perform or “be on”. They have a lot of fun activities designed to help the kids get to know each other. They also have special times to share all the things MKs go through and find the commonality but also enjoy the differences between their fields.”

 “At first we weren’t sure about coming, but after our kids were in this program we will make this a priority from now on.”

“I believe that the BBFI MK Program is an essential and beneficial ministry to my kids because they are around leaders and other teens that understand what they are facing in their daily lives.”

“The Mk Reunion is such a fun experience to not only grow spiritually, but to get some great advice from people that have already been in your situation. I was afraid I would feel left out, but everyone makes you feel so included and loved.”

Thank you to those churches who graciously gave to the Missionary Care Offering and those who gave directly to this event so we could minister in a deeper way to our MKs and their families at the 2019 BBFI Missionary Family Reunion.

-by Craig Stevenson, Associate Mission Director