New England Perspectives
A regularly updated collection of articles written by New England leaders and thinkers. Looking for news articles? Click here.
The Vital Role of Third Culture Kids in New England Baptist Churches — and Where They’re Headed
When Baptists in New England talk about mission, discipleship, or church renewal, one often-overlooked resource sits quietly in pews, classrooms, and mission fields: Third Culture Kids (TCKs). These are children who grow up between cultures — commonly the children of missionaries, diplomats, military families, international businesspeople, or immigrants — who form identity in a “third” culture that blends parental and host cultures. For Baptist churches across New England, TCKs are not a marginal curiosity but a growing asset and a prophetic signpost for the church’s future life and witness.
Third Culture Kids: What It's Like to Grow Up in a Multicultural Home
Where are you from? For most people, this question is simple to answer, but not for someone who is a third-culture kid. Not everyone is born and raised in the same place. Some of us move between states and even countries at an early age, acquiring new habits from other cultures.