We were hosting a retreat for MTW missionary kids from across the Asia-Pacific region when we first announced our intention to take them on a mission trip. At first blush, that might seem like a strange idea. After all, aren’t their whole lives a mission trip? However, the truth is that while missionary kids are growing up cross-culturally, most would tell you they have never been on a mission trip. To them, their life overseas is just “life.” Even if they wanted to go on a mission trip, most MKs wouldn’t have access to a youth group, much less a trip, or any of the other kinds of experiences that are readily available to their American teenage counterparts.

I guess that is why there was such an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response to our proposal. That evening, we found an MK camped outside our hotel room with a very compelling presentation on why we should all go to serve alongside her family in New Zealand. So, this summer we joined them along with two other leaders and 11 MKs from across Asia and the Pacific in the beautiful city of Tauranga. God surprised and delighted us at every turn as we partnered with Grace Presbyterian Church to lead a vacation Bible school-type program and do evangelism in the parks. Though it has only been a few weeks since we have returned to our respective homes, we have already received news from numerous people about how God has been bearing fruit through the ministry of these MKs.

I guess we should have known, because watching them serve was like nothing we had ever seen from teenagers before. In the course of 10 days, it became obvious to us that these kids were uniquely equipped for missions. You might even say that MKs are “hardwired” for crossing cultures, by virtue of their upbringing. Here are just a few of the things that make missionary kids ideal missionaries:

1. MKs can read the air. 

In Japan a major cultural value is “reading the air,” which means “understanding the situation without words” or “sensing someone’s feelings.” MKs who have grown up between two cultures usually have the amazing ability to walk into a room and discern appropriate ways to interact just by observing the social interactions of others. I loved serving on a team with students who picked up on the needs of the moment and jumped in to set things up, clean up quickly, and most importantly, notice the kid in the corner of the room whom no one else saw.

On one occasion, some of our teenage guys noticed a child running away from his father in an attempt to get into the building where we were hosting the holiday program. After his father scooped him up and took him away, the guys grabbed some cookies and a flyer for the program and ran after them, completely unprompted by any adults. Following is part of an email we received after that interaction. 

“Yesterday (Thursday) I took my son out to Waipuna Park in Welcome Bay. [He] is autistic and (as of yet) non-verbal, and has a tendency to fixate on trying to get into all sorts of spaces. He had his eye on the pavilion at Waipuna Park, and as I saw it was attended and unlocked, I tried to redirect [him] away. No luck. After a few minutes in the playground, after my son had calmed down a bit, a couple of young boys approached me in the playground, offered my son a tray of biscuits and invited him to join the program. I (politely) declined for yesterday but took a flyer and a biscuit. 

“I just wanted to convey to you and whoever is interested my sincere gratitude for the kindness and empathy that was extended to my son and me. It was really lovely and it meant something to me.”

In comparison with your average teenager, missionary kids’ ability to read the air gives them a leg up in missions.

2. MKs can adapt.

Missionary kids have spent much of their lives jumping between schools, churches, houses and cultures. As a result, they are often able to adapt quickly, fit into pretty much any group, and find ways to help others feel comfortable. This stood out to me because when we landed in New Zealand, we didn’t know what supplies we would have access to, how many students would show up each day, or where we would eat dinner each night. However, no matter what challenge they faced, the MKs jumped in with great attitudes, shifted gears quickly, ate whatever food they were served, and usually laughed while they were doing it!

Here’s a quote from the post-trip newsletter of one of our students. “A specific moment that highlighted God’s faithfulness was on the last day of the holiday program. It was supposed to rain every day of the program, but it didn’t because of God’s faithfulness. I woke up, and the inevitable happened; it was raining. I thought that because it was raining, only a few kids would show up. I bet you can guess what happened next, but our group of 14 kids turned into 22 kids!”

God has made missionary kids uniquely adaptable and flexible for the sake of the mission.

3. MKs have seen the other side of short term teams.

It was unique to be serving with kids who had spent their lives hosting short term teams. They knew the value of the quickly formed, deep friendships. They knew the drain that their presence could be on the long term missionaries who were hosting us. In other words, in a way that no mono-cultural teenager could, these MKs understood the impact, for better and worse, that their week-long presence could have in New Zealand. I was amazed at how often I heard them say “thank you” to our host, jump up to wash dishes, or encourage the (adult) church members with whom they interacted. Missionary kids’ personal experiences as “receivers” make them thoughtful and generous “goers.”

4. MKs connect easily with other third culture kids.

One superpower I loved observing in our MKs was their ability to draw other kids in. The world is exploding with highly mobile, mixed culture, mixed race teenagers and no one can reach them quite like an MK.

One night we took a group of Kiwi teenagers and church members out for bowling. Some of the MK guys connected with a young man who had grown up with parents from two different countries and was now living in a third. He immediately connected with our MKs because they were all “third culture kids.” A third culture kid, or TCK, is an individual who spends a significant part of their developmental years outside of their parents’ or home culture. Because of this, TCKs often have a deep sense of familiarity with numerous cultures without feeling fully at home in any. Suddenly three high school guys from three different countries were all connecting deeply because their sense of belonging came not from their passport culture or their host culture, but from other people who had grown up like them (the third culture)! Weeks after the trip was over, I received the following text from one of our MKs: “hey everyone, I hope y’all are doing well back home! I just wanna share an encouraging update: ’J’ (one of the people who we went bowling with) is now reading his Bible consistently every night.” Missionary kids are uniquely equipped to reach TCKs with the gospel.

Yet, despite all of these strengths and abilities, our MKs still couldn’t have accomplished anything of eternal value if it were not for the Holy Spirit’s help. I guess that’s something they have in common with all of the rest of us! Thankfully, our God was faithful once again to His promise to “be with [us] to the end of the age” as these MKs stepped out in faith and in the authority of King Jesus to make disciples. We spent several afternoons in a park walking up to strangers and sharing our faith and inviting them to church. This was challenging for me personally and for most MKs on our trip it was a first time experience! I really enjoyed reading the words of one of our students as she reflected on the experience.

“Approaching people to talk about God was not something I could do with a cheerful or courageous heart. I was afraid, and often found myself starting conversations about dogs, kids, or my home in Japan instead. But God used even that weakness to teach me something wonderful—that He is the one doing the work, not me. I may approach someone, but it is God who works in their heart. It was the most incompetent and most competent I have ever felt.”

Our increasingly complex world is in need of gifted global citizens to lead us in this new era of missions. Could it be that missionary kids make the best missionaries? I think they do! Yet, I’m afraid we may never know how great of an impact they could have unless the global church rallies around them in intentional ways and provides them with more opportunities to discover their place in God’s global mission. If we would take that step, I’m confident of this: that the same God who went with us to New Zealand will be with them wherever they go. May our God raise up a powerful and effective mission force full of MKs to help us reach a new generation.

Considering serving? Visit mtw.org/serve to browse opportunities and get started.