Recently, the Mission Office met with a group of pastors and youth leaders to cover many topics of interest to students.  One session covered MK experiences with stateside youth groups.

MKs were polled and answers were given anonymously which answered the following questions:

1. How often have you been made to feel welcome when visiting a youth group?

•  18% of the group said 75% of the time
•  18% of the group said 50% of the time
•  44% of the group said 25% of the time
•  18% of the group said 10% of the time

2. List some things that youth groups have done that were most effective in making you feel included.

• Connecting me with someone who would actually talk to me and not just pass me on to another student in the group.
• Including me in conversations or games.
• Introducing us from our seats, not up front.
• Organizing a youth activity for when we are there.
• Taking an interest in us as equals.
• Sitting with us. Asking us intelligent questions about ourselves and not our host country.
• Introduce themselves to us!
• One youth group assigned people to pray over us before we left and it just really made me feel appreciated, cared for and grateful for their spiritual support.

3. What would you like for youth groups to stop doing?

• The whole time we were at a youth group, no one talked to us at all. Everyone remained in their friend group and continued with their normal youth group as though we weren’t there. I would like youth groups to stop thinking that missionary kids are on a holy pedestal. We are just regular kids who have regular struggles. We are just like the new kid in school who wants someone to talk to.
• Sitting in silence when they see me.
• Assuming that I’d rather stay with my parents. Go without trying to introduce me to at least one person.
• Asking us to speak in front of the group or asking questions to us in front of the class.
• Ignoring us missionary kids or otherwise pretending they do not exist, making us speak, expecting us to participate rather than giving a welcome choice, promising to stay in contact with us and not following through, stereotyping. My advice: prepare youth for missionary interaction, educate them about missionary process.

4. What are some ways that a church could help you transition after high school to the US?

• Just be present. Let them know that they are there for them, send texts of encouragement, and actually acknowledge that we exist and this is a real struggle. Let them talk without judging or saying their issues are not as important or are common.
• As my church has done, offering a place to stay, giving towards college, offering a job, care packages, meals, paying phone bill, raise money for trip to visit family.
• Have youth and college leaders form real relationships with the MKs in their church so that when they are in the US, along with when they move back, the MKs will have someone to talk to and share with.  Check in to make sure things are going smoothly.
• Maybe do “adopt” a college kid. Connect me with other teens entering college or in college.
• Definitely prayer!! I love notes of encouragement and comfort!! For lots of us, we don’t have our families with us so we need people to be there for us as good friends and family!

You can find some helpful tips on “How to Understand a TCK“, “MK Ideas for Churches“, “Ten Questions to Ask MKs“, and “How to Pray for MKs” by clicking on the respective links or contact the Mission Office for more information on how your church can personally encourage your MKs!