Many churches and individuals who support missionaries pray for those missionaries. But have you ever thought of praying for the missionary kids? Because they are more vulnerable to spiritual attack, missionary kids have a higher chance of experiencing despair or rebellion. Having grown up as an MK myself, the majority of MK’s that I knew rebelled against their parents, and many of them today have denied the faith and walked away from God. I have wept over many of these MK’s personally because they were my friends.
Do not neglect praying for the missionary kids. This is imperative for a missionary family to function and thrive for God’s kingdom wherever God has called them to serve. You might not know the struggles that MK’s go through in their lives, so I will tell you how you can pray for them.
Pray that they will not be bitter against their parents for being forced to live in a country where they don’t fit in. Pray that they will have godly friendships that will stand the test of time. Pray that they will not withdraw like a recluse from others after having their hearts crushed by saying good-bye so many times. Pray against spiritual attack, because even if the parents’ faith is strong, the children will have thoughts planted into their minds from the enemy who is seeking to destroy the parent’s credibility and thereby their ministry.
Pray that the girls will not be attacked by locals whose skin is darker, and who seem to think white-skinned girls are stunningly beautiful, even at age 12. Pray that the constant whistles from evil men will not distort the girl’s mind towards men in general and her future husband.
Pray for the MK’s especially as they become teenagers and have to live through all the hormones that come with that. Pray that they will not be tempted to do evil for the sake of fitting in, because MK’s more than normal people, have almost a desperation to fit in that is only magnified by hormones. This makes it nearly impossible to follow God unless their faith is incredibly solid, so pray that God will strengthen their faith and trust in Him.
And pray that the missionary kids will not abandon their faith when they leave home, that their strength and belonging might come from God, and that they will grow in their relationship to God instead of walk away.
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Tags: Christian Living, Growing Up as a Missionary Kid, missionaries, missionary, prayer
Excellent suggestions, Susan.
MK from Nigeria (left for good in 1955). Yes, I’ll be 80 next year. Still an MK, though, and still carry some of the baggage.
Dan
Once an MK, always an MK… Being raised on the mission field shapes and defines who we are. We are definitely a unique bunch!
I would like to read more of your writing. I have written seven books including MKs and Their Playmates, and I did my doctoral dissertation on Parents as Teachers.
Oh, wow! It sounds like you’ve been writing about my life!
Thank you Susan for this blog – So Grateful !!!
You’re welcome. These are the real prayer requests people should be praying for us.
Thanks for these reminders. I wonder also if the impact of being taught so young, of being exposed so young to the pressure of examplarity doesnt take its spiritual toll on us. I have realised that in my own spiritual walk I have felt guilt in terrible proportions for not having become myself a missionary and that rebellion not being authorised in my family system, it hid down deep in covert ways… there were very few opportunities to really identify it and share about this with others… God in His grace knows this and carries this for us at the cross of His sacrifice. But its good missionaries today can identify the dangers for their children.
“I wonder also if the impact of being taught so young, of being exposed so young to the pressure of examplarity doesn’t take its spiritual toll on us.” I agree that it does take a toll on us as children, and it’s usually too much for children to bear.