TCKs

Several kids grow up in diverse cultures—the military kids whose parents constantly change locations, the pastor kids who move from church to church, perhaps not as often as the military kids, and the missionary kids who grow up in cultures completely different from their birth cultures. These are called the third-culture kids (TCKs) because they have a new culture to grow up in addition to their dad's and mom's cultures. (The world is becoming so multicultural that this term might soon apply to almost everyone.)

The TCKs have many unique characteristics, such as a taste for varied cuisines, tolerance for people of other cultures, and a desire for universal peace. Above all, they have friends in many countries and nations. Since we were missionaries in India and the Philippines when our sons were growing up and studied in international schools, they have friends in various European, African, and Asian countries. They consider that a blessing and often spend their vacations with these international friends.

Seeing the rich ruler walk away from Jesus because he didn’t want to give up his wealth and follow him, Peter wanted to know what he would receive for following the Lord.

“Look, Jesus, we left all our wealth to follow you” (Luke 18:28).

Scholars tell us that Peter, Andrew, John, and James would have been somewhat wealthy because they had their own boats and nets and hired servants to work for them. They might not have been as poor as we often imagine. Regardless, Peter wanted to know what benefit he had for leaving everything and following Jesus.

The Lord said,

“Truly, I tell you: No one who left one’s parent’s home or spouse’s home, brothers or sisters, parents or children for God’s rule will go without receiving manifold of the same in this time and everlasting life in the ages to come” (18:29–30).

Just like the TCKs have friends in many different countries and continents because they took the risk of letting go of their original culture and home, those who sacrificed their residence with their parents or spouses, relationship with their sisters or brothers, and nearness with their parents or children will acquire a whole bunch of new families and relationships when following Jesus. Further, they will also receive everlasting life in the ages to come.

This would have been true of Jesus’s disciples. Peter, for example, would have never gone to the house of Cornelius, a Gentile in Joppa, and shared the gospel with them if he didn’t follow Jesus. He wouldn’t have gone to Antioch in Syria, Corinth in Greece, or Rome in Italy. He would have fished, lived, and died in Bethsaida, his hometown. But because of the gospel, he had friends and family—new relationships—all over the ancient Western world. Matthew, Bartholomew, and Thomas similarly would have had friends and family all over the Eastern world. They didn’t lose family or friends; instead, they gained more.

When we become Christians or enter ministries, our families and friendships grow far beyond what it was initially, in addition to having an everlasting life with God. We become TCKs, which is truly a blessing.