Though the following question seems to be ironic, there are positive and negative factors on both cases. Worked as a cross cultural missionary, father of a grown up son, and now working with many independent local church pastors, I too have this question, but for genuine reasons:
மிஷனரிகளின் பிள்ளைகள் பெரும்பாலும் மிஷனரிகள் ஆவதில்லை, கேட்டால் எனக்கு அந்த "காலிங்" இல்லை என்கிறார்கள். ஆனால் பாஸ்டரின் பிள்ளைகள் எல்லோருமே பாஸ்டர் ஆகிவிடுகிறார்கள் கேட்டால் எனக்கும் அதே "காலிங்தான்" என்கிறார்கள். என் சிற்றறிவுக்கு இந்த லாஜிக் புரியவில்லை. ஒருவேளை பெரிய ஆவிக்குரிய இரகசியமாக இருக்குமோ??!!
“Generally , the children of the missionaries do not become missionaries, saying that they do not have that "calling." But, all the children of the pastors become pastors, saying that they too have "the same calling." To my little knowledge, I do not understand the logic. Would it be a great spiritual secret??!!” (Bro. Vijay may correct it if I have not done a good translation).
From my personal reflections, and findings from my conversation with other ministers of the gospel and the MKs and PKs, I have listed down some factors, which need further discussion and sharpening.
I share purposely with the ministers of the gospel, pastors and their kids in my FB contact for your kind feedback. Please understand me, it is not to condemn or commend one or other structure, and to find faults or favor with one or other people.
I. MISSIONARY KIDS (MKs):
A. POSITIVE FACTORS:
1. The MKs have redefine the concept of “Missionary Work”:
To the MKs, the greatest need is not to “go and preach” somewhere, but to “live and witnesses” right here.
2. The MKs have redefined the Concept of “Cross-Cultural”:
The MKs see “the unreached people groups” are at their doorsteps, work cabins, socializing centers and keyboards. Living in the global village and in the mega-cities, they often bump into cross-cultural people.
3. The MKs have better educational development and wider world view:
Well educated MKs get an easier access among the educated, secular and techno world, than their parents do. The MKs approach the middle and upper classes in a fresh and broader view.
4. The MKs support many local and native church planters financially:
The MKs concept of best and profitable way of doing missions is to financially supporting many the local church planters, rather than their going as missionaries.
5. The MKs support their parents, siblings and relatives financially:
The MKs are sympathetic to the financial position of the family and the burdened to hold stewardship toward their siblings and relatives.
6. The MKs involve in self-supported, independent ministries:
Bi-vocational, self-supported and independent ministries are on raise. The MKs join together to work with no organization and denomination tags and no pyramid structures.
7. The MKs do ministries through local churches:
Understanding the biblical concept of the local church in God’s plan for missions, the MKs and their families actively involve in ministries through their local churches.
8. The MKs are active in holistic ministries:
Having understood that, besides the gospel, the other areas of human needs should be met , the MKs takes the (w)holistic ministries. Many MKs are involved in medical, educational, community and child development organizations.
B. NEGATIVE FACORS:
1. The MKs have suffered unpleasant separation from their parents:
The MKs’ grievance was that they suffered separation due to their parents calling. Though now having been grown up in wisdom, many MKs bear the scar of leaving them in hostels in very tender age.
2. MKs personally witnessed their parents’ sufferings in the Mission Fields:
The MKs faced the consequences of their parents constant work pressures, oppositions, life threatening incidents in the mission fields.
3. The MKs knew the hardship their sincere parents received from the Organization/Administration:
The MKs are not too naïve to grasp the petty politics, mismanagements, partiality, nepotism, injustice, punishment transfers, bill-cuts etc that their parents were rewarded with.
4. The MKs and their parents suffered insufficient finance resources:
The MKs had to sacrifice their childish dreams and wishes due to lack of finance. The MKs do not like their children grow up as they did, rather they earn good and settle their family well.
5. The MKs faced unchristian spirit in the organization:
Stayed for shorter time in or passing through the organizational offices, the MKs were exposed to certain activities, comments, arguments and rumors which, for them, are not in tune with Christian spirit.
6. The MKs sense financial and personnel mismanagement:
Studied in their management and or engineering courses, the MKs are quick to discern the unproductive spending and irregularities in HRD. They understand it is an old paradigm, and changing which will the last thing that they could do.
7. The MKs find no opportunity to fully use their talents, education and skills in the organization:
The MKs find it hard to work under the traditional leaders who are computer-illiterate-leaders and in traditional organizations where computers are used as typewriters. The MKs’ language is foreign to the leaders and their skills are threats to the managers.
8. The MKs are barred from the ministry labeling it is administration and office matter:
There is a thin line, if at all anything, between the ministry and administration and that too often overlaps and swings between. No MKs are wholeheartedly allowed to involve in it for it is interpreted as deliberate violation of the policy, rules and regulations of the organization.
(to continue with PKs)
A. POSITIVE FACTORS:
1. The MKs have redefine the concept of “Missionary Work”:
To the MKs, the greatest need is not to “go and preach” somewhere, but to “live and witnesses” right here.
2. The MKs have redefined the Concept of “Cross-Cultural”:
The MKs see “the unreached people groups” are at their doorsteps, work cabins, socializing centers and keyboards. Living in the global village and in the mega-cities, they often bump into cross-cultural people.
3. The MKs have better educational development and wider world view:
Well educated MKs get an easier access among the educated, secular and techno world, than their parents do. The MKs approach the middle and upper classes in a fresh and broader view.
4. The MKs support many local and native church planters financially:
The MKs concept of best and profitable way of doing missions is to financially supporting many the local church planters, rather than their going as missionaries.
5. The MKs support their parents, siblings and relatives financially:
The MKs are sympathetic to the financial position of the family and the burdened to hold stewardship toward their siblings and relatives.
6. The MKs involve in self-supported, independent ministries:
Bi-vocational, self-supported and independent ministries are on raise. The MKs join together to work with no organization and denomination tags and no pyramid structures.
7. The MKs do ministries through local churches:
Understanding the biblical concept of the local church in God’s plan for missions, the MKs and their families actively involve in ministries through their local churches.
8. The MKs are active in holistic ministries:
Having understood that, besides the gospel, the other areas of human needs should be met , the MKs takes the (w)holistic ministries. Many MKs are involved in medical, educational, community and child development organizations.
B. NEGATIVE FACORS:
1. The MKs have suffered unpleasant separation from their parents:
The MKs’ grievance was that they suffered separation due to their parents calling. Though now having been grown up in wisdom, many MKs bear the scar of leaving them in hostels in very tender age.
2. MKs personally witnessed their parents’ sufferings in the Mission Fields:
The MKs faced the consequences of their parents constant work pressures, oppositions, life threatening incidents in the mission fields.
3. The MKs knew the hardship their sincere parents received from the Organization/Administration:
The MKs are not too naïve to grasp the petty politics, mismanagements, partiality, nepotism, injustice, punishment transfers, bill-cuts etc that their parents were rewarded with.
4. The MKs and their parents suffered insufficient finance resources:
The MKs had to sacrifice their childish dreams and wishes due to lack of finance. The MKs do not like their children grow up as they did, rather they earn good and settle their family well.
5. The MKs faced unchristian spirit in the organization:
Stayed for shorter time in or passing through the organizational offices, the MKs were exposed to certain activities, comments, arguments and rumors which, for them, are not in tune with Christian spirit.
6. The MKs sense financial and personnel mismanagement:
Studied in their management and or engineering courses, the MKs are quick to discern the unproductive spending and irregularities in HRD. They understand it is an old paradigm, and changing which will the last thing that they could do.
7. The MKs find no opportunity to fully use their talents, education and skills in the organization:
The MKs find it hard to work under the traditional leaders who are computer-illiterate-leaders and in traditional organizations where computers are used as typewriters. The MKs’ language is foreign to the leaders and their skills are threats to the managers.
8. The MKs are barred from the ministry labeling it is administration and office matter:
There is a thin line, if at all anything, between the ministry and administration and that too often overlaps and swings between. No MKs are wholeheartedly allowed to involve in it for it is interpreted as deliberate violation of the policy, rules and regulations of the organization.
(to continue with PKs)
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