MK Transition Seminar - What's it about?
"Understanding your story, sharing your story, and living your story"
God has been writing and shaping your MK story from the day you were born. As an MK your story is exciting, diverse, and filled with mobility and multiple cross-cultural transitions. Each chapter paints a picture of "who you are" and how God has designed you.
At this seminar you'll find a safe place to understand, share, and live out your story as you embrace your past, understand the present, and build toward your future. You will have the opportunity to talk about what’s on your heart and celebrate your heritage with like-minded friends. You will come away affirmed, encouraged, and empowered as a unique, valuable person, to make choices that will enable you to have a profound impact on your world.
This seminar has some very practical objectives:
Orientation: We'll talk about American culture—the good and the bad, college life, friendships and dating, finances, and social customs. There will be opportunities to share in small group, around meals or in informal chats around topics such as:
- Transitioning effectively to North America
- Understanding yourself & others
- MK/TCK Identity Issues
- Dealing with separation, loss & grief
- Handling your own finances in college
- Managing emotions in the midst of transition
- Initiating healthy friendships
- Choosing a church
Assessment: Personality tests will help you to understand your unique design, assess your personal adjustment, and identify growing edges.
Adjustment: Christian educators and counselors, with a heart for missions and a love for teenagers, will encourage and guide you in addressing areas for personal, social, and spiritual growth.
Challenge: Daily chapel, evening dorm meetings led by our MK staff, and informal chats with staff and fellow MKs will challenge you to trust God more fully and help you in your spiritual formation.
Recreation: It's not just about sessions! There will be several off-campus social and recreational outings plus time to enjoy soccer, swimming, volleyball, group activities, table games, or just sitting around talking together. We guarantee you'll have a lot of fun!
The Leadership:
Biola University: Perry and Sandi Bradford of Barnabas International have been an integral part of the seminars since 1995. Perry is the Director of Barnabas International and also the Director of Mu Kappa, a fraternal organization for MKs, on over 50 college campuses. (director@barnabas.org)
Multnomah University, Portland: Becca McMartin of Barnabas International has been a part of the MK seminars since 2009. Prior to joining Barnabas in 2011, Becca served as Director of TCK Care with Josiah Venture. (beccafredo@mac.com)
Cedarville University: Donna Messenger has been a staff member of Barnabas International since the spring of 2008. Donna has worked for many years with MKs in the college setting at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and overseas in Eastern Europe. She is a Mu Kappa Regional Coordinator and currently resides in Cedarville, OH, facilitating a partnership between Barnabas Int'l and Cedarville University for the care of MKs and international students. (messengerd@barnabas.org)
(Additional seminar staff is chosen from an extensive list of experienced leaders who have demonstrated a love for MKs.)
SPONSORING AGENCIES:
Barnabas International
Barnabas is a ministry dedicated to the encouragement of missionaries, MKs, and national pastors.
(www.barnabas.org)
The Narramore Christian Foundation (Biola University Sponsor)
For over 30 years this Christian counseling ministry has offered the MK seminar. While NCF remains a significant part, in 1997 they invited Barnabas International to assume leadership for the program.
(www.ncfliving.org)
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