(above) Katelynne Duke, MK from Peru, has come full circle in investing back into the MK Program by volunteering her time in the Mission Office!

“Research has demonstrated that the TCK (Third Culture Kid, aka Missionary Kid) is often key in making or breaking the ability of the parent(s) to be effective and efficient in fulfilling the proposed and expected purpose of the international assignment. The unsupported and/or poorly adjusted TCK often becomes a major part of the process that prevents families from being enduring.”(1)  In recognition of this global need to provide ongoing training and encouragement to BBFI missionaries and their children, the MK program exists to do just that in order to strengthen and promote longevity of the missionary family on the field, as well as the health and well-being of young adult MKs who are in the solo process of transitioning to the United States for college or employment.

Through the monthly financial gifts, one-time designations, and offerings raised through Kidz4Mkz, the MK program, since it’s implementation in 2016, has successfully ministered to over 300 BBFI MKs and their families!  Just this past year alone, we were able to give over $7,000 in birthday money, $2,000 in MK mission trip funds, $2,250 to help MKs starting college, $1,200 towards musical instruments and sports equipment for MKs own ministry, along with scores and scores of hours in personal communication encouraging them in their journey.

Countless parents have expressed their thanks to the new MK Care their children are receiving!

• “This is PERFECT timing.”
• “Thanks for all you do for the MKs, it is really good for them.”
• “Thank you for so intentionally loving our kiddos and working to provide resources to help them. We’re in need and we’re grateful for all the help we can get!”
• “Thank you so much for thinking and praying for us and our precious kids. Life on the mission field can be tough. I can use all the resources you can send me to help mentor me through this process.”
• “I appreciate the efforts that have been made in the past couple of years from the BBFI Missions Office to provide support for our TCKs.”
• From an MK in college: “Thank you so much for everything you and the MK team have done. It has been such an encouragement and The Returning Well study has really helped with adjusting to the States again.”

Through your partnership, there is much more we can do!  Establishing a scholarship fund and providing MK training during Candidate School are just two of the ways we would like to expand.  For more details on the MK program, please contact Jill Wolf in the Mission Office.

Thank you again for investing in BBFI MKs! We look forward to what we can together do in the future!

(1) David C. Pollock