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MK Survey question 10:  How would you instruct people to wisely pray for MKs?

Ask for wisdom to keep a good testimony in a different culture that may not be very accepting of our faith or receptive to it

Andrew Visser

31

France

Pray that they will not get bitter because of the fact they are MK’s.  Pray that they will see ministry as a joy and not something to dread.  Pray that they will realize the importance of always being in the center of God’s will for their lives.  Especially pray for MK’s who are making the transition from field to college.  Sometimes that can be a huge adjustment.

Jill (Peters) Watkins

30

São Paulo, Brazil

Pray that they remain tender to the Lord and not lose heart when things are tough.

Michael Reeves

48

Alaska

I had lived in the US all my life up until this past year when I went down to Peru on the ARRIBA! Program. For eleven months I was living in another country and I got to know several missionary families very well. I guess I would instruct people to pray for spiritual growth for missionary kids, and as I see some missionary kids come back to the States for college, I would ask people to pray that these young people would shine brighter than ever as they adjust to life in the States. The US is not a haven for Christians, it is a very tough mission field because there are so many casual Christians. Pray that these MKs would not drift into a life of mediocrity or conform to the patterns of this materialistic world.

Rachel Kerr

20

Bibles International

For courage to be different than the others in your country and not be ashamed or embarrassed.  For vision to see how your small (seemingly small) efforts can change and affect people around you, for respect for those in the country you serve and for endurance to run the race set before us. 

 

Karin Ruhkala Sicoli

32

Finland

any way the feel called to

 

Rebecca Smith

15

Londrina, Parana-Brazil

  That we would not stray away from God when we leave home, and that we will make wise friend choices...

Rachel Smith

16

Londrina, Brazil

Pray that God would help us every day to do what he wants us to do! Pray for our moms and dads too!

Abigail M. Jewell

16

Sorocaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil

They need to pray for the social and spiritual needs of the child.

They are also asked to make sacrifices so that they would see these rightly.

Mark Seymour

53

Chad, Africa

That they would not give into the social pressures of the culture in which they live

(this counts for any teen, even here in the US).

That they would no longer feel American, but would use the time as an mk to become a national.

Joshua Whitman

27

Italy

1.  Pray for their safety on the mission field.

2.  Pray that the Lord provide them comfort when away from their families.

3.  Pray that the Lord shows those MK’s why the Lord has their family in a foreign field.

 

Jon Price

31

USA (Indiana) ?

Pray for protection, purity, courage, steadfastness, resolve, joy

Daniel Ruhkala

31

Finland

Pray that we can stay focused, while keeping all of our responsibilities at home, church and school balanced.

Clinton Ellis

17

Germany

Remember they are kids too. They have “terrible two’s” and “teenage moodiness” and even “teenage rebellion”.

Many in Europe are very much alone in their class as Christians.

Pray that the parents will take the time from their busy schedule to spend time with them.

David Boyd

49

The Netherlands

--MKs go through the same things every other kid does.  Pray for the same things that your own kids are struggling with:  pray for the MK’s salvation (if he is not yet saved), for their spiritual growth, and so on.

 

--Especially pray for MKs who are adjusting to a new situation: maybe they have just come back on furlough, maybe their parents have moved to a different ministry, maybe they are new missionaries just arrived on the field, or maybe he or she is an adult MK coming back for college.  The MK needs to trust in the Lord, to learn to love the new people around him, and to be flexible to adjust to a new situation.

 

--Every MK’s situation is different - that’s one of the most fun things about getting to know MKs!  Get to know your MK’s situation, and the problems that they face on their particular field, and pray specifically for them.

Anna Beth Wivell

25

Australia

Bitterness is something that mks go through, and then they become rebellious. Pray that mks would have understanding towards their parents about what they are doing. Pray for tender hearts, mks can be the most ungodly people one can know. 

Sarah Darling

20

Venezuela

Culture shock on returning to the States; staying strong on the field, often there are no friends of your spiritual maturity to talk to.

Hannah Stilwell

16

Peru

That they wouldn’t get a bad taste for ministry.

Holly Syroteuk

20

Canada

I have seen missionaries totally dedicated to their work that they neglect their family. They need to give priority to their family. Not just theologically or intellectually but practically. So many MKs do not want anything to do with missions because there parents were so consumed by their work. So pray for the parents to deal wisely with their kids.

Daniel Darling

26

Venezuela

-spiritual growth (can be difficult when parent’s ministry is in foreign language or is geared toward evangelism more than discipleship.)

-encouragement for the whole missionary family during transitions

-a sense of God’s nearness and care during times when separated from families

-financial provision

Lisa (Brammer) Bolton

27

Taiwan/New Zealand

Pray that they will be able to adjust well when they come back to the U.S. They have probably grown up on the foreign field, so it would be hard to come back to the U.S.

Leah Ronk

20

Brazil

That God will give them good close friends!

Michelle (Stinedurf) Williams

36

Puerto Rico

Pray w/o ceasing and with knowledge of needs on the field.

Philip Harris

37

C.A.R.

 

For their salvation and dedication to God’s work.  That they will feel that they have an important part in their folk’s ministry.

Joy Spieth

62

Brazil

Pray that they would be good Christian examples.

Christopher Armstrong

14

Russia/Siberia

 

Pray for them by name and by need.

Corey Armstrong

12

Russia/Siberia

 

1. Friends on the field

2. Comfort from loneliness

3. Courage to take a stand for what is right.

Lisa (Richter) Armstrong

 

35

Alaska (as MK)

 

 

 

I don't think there is a special MK prayer. The only special need we have is to adapt quickly to our new country (whether it be the foreign field or the USA) and grace when we say our goodbyes (which happens a lot). Other than that, we need to be kept from temptation, to love the Lord with all our heart, and follow His leading for our lives. Colossians 1:9-14 is a good guide.

Mark Swedberg

43

Brazil

Encourage them to pray for the MK’s purity and testimonies (reputation). 

Encourage a Sunday school class to write a letter to the MK.  Ask questions in the letter. 

Encourage churches to pray that the parents would put as much time & energy into their children as they do their ministries.

Victoria Lynn (Elmer) Meerman

31

C.A.R.

As they would pray for their own children - that they would love the Lord their God with all their heart - whatever that entails for that child.

Darlene (Reiner) Smith

54

Brazil

 

For me as an mk in Europe... I faced many of the same struggles your kids face today... temptations are very similar... in Europe however, the statistics are such that you may be the only Christian in your school. I went to a High School of 1000 kids... to my knowledge I was the only Christian. It was often lonely.

When you know an mk is coming to the US for college, please understand that they will undergo culture shock... Americans don't realize that an mk may be an American by birth (and is proud to be an American), yet have very little knowledge of American culture.

Daniel Boyd

26

The Netherlands

For successful integration back into the US when they come back to go to college.  Some find it easier to go back to the field where they grew up than making it "back home."

 

For God's leading on what he has for their lives.  They know about their parents' call.  What does God want them to be?

 

For the Lord to provide a way to keep the family together as the children are in school.

Bill Griffin Jr.

58

Brazil

Pray as they battle different challenges and attempt to adjust to the culture changes growing up.

Pray for them as they search for the college they should plan to attend after leaving the field where they grew up.

Tim Lankford

38

Manaus, Brazil

That MK’s would get along with each other (me and my brother)

James Giegerich

13

No. America

That we would grow in the Lord

Karis Giegerich

15

No. America

Hand out prayer cards