New England Perspectives

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The Vital Role of Third Culture Kids in New England Baptist Churches — and Where They’re Headed
Lierte Soares Lierte Soares

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.

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