THIRD CULTURE KIDS IN MISSIONAL FAMILIES—GOD’S GIFT TO US
When we think of tentmaking missions, we think of bi-vocational men and women, who transplant themselves from the comfort of their home country and way of life to an alien land and culture in order to make Christ known. But wait! They don’t go alone. Many bring their children, who share the challenge of making the new language and culture their own too. They are the “Third Culture Kids.”
THE TWO CHINESE PEOPLE WHO MEAN THE MOST TO ME
Rosalie is a 4th generation Chinese American, raised in the countryside of Oregon. She and her sister were the only believers among the clan. In 1986, she went to China for a year of language study, and discovered two things: she did not want to teach English, and it would take more than a year or two to have meaningful ministry.
WOULD MY PARENTS MISS THEIR GRANDCHILDREN?
Joe felt called to China ever since his freshman summer missions trip. It took twelve years to complete his education and gain the needed professional and ministry experience before he arrived on the field.
WILL OUR CHILDREN LOSE OUT BY GROWING UP OVERSEAS?
“Growing up overseas, I acquire two languages and cultures to see the world with binocular vision,” Tom wrote in his college application essay. It is true. Intercultural competency that comes with living abroad equips young people to explore new places and relate to people from all kinds of backgrounds.
A TRIBUTE TO VICKIE MARIE (YOUNG) WEN
The 2012 Winter Networker feature article was: “A Family Comes Home: God’s Good Story”. We used pseudonyms as the Wen Family had just returned from China.
Feisty and full of life despite having advanced metastatic cancer, Vickie liked to say, “If I’m not dead, I’m not done.”
AFTER THE ALTAR CALL: WHAT NEXT?
So you have heard the opportunity and challenge of tentmaking missions. You realize that God may be calling you. You know it is time to take action or at least to seriously explore. But where do you begin?
RAISING & SENDING WORKERS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOCAL CHURCH
GLS strives to realize its vision for missions mobilization in partnership with churches: For every tentmaker we send out in partnership with a church, we hope to work with the candidate and his church to raise up several others to take his place locally.
A CALL TO BEEs: BABY BOOMERS, EMPTY NESTERS AND EARLY RETIREES
It has been said that the graying of America is a God-ordained phenomenon unique in the history of the world and of the church. Never before has any country had so many retirees who are Christian and suited to invest their best years to make strategic and meaningful contributions to God’s kingdom around the world, especially in tentmaking missions. The same is true for Canada where social benefits are excellent and the Canadian dollar is getting stronger all the time.