Children in Missionary Families: Stories of Pain, Hope, and Resilience

Hosted by The Ralph D Winter Research Center, a joint project of Frontier Ventures and William Carey International University

More about our topic

The experience of being a kid sent to a mission field is unique and quite complex. And the fact of the matter is that many adults and organizations around these kids aren’t really sure what to do with them. Should we think of them as kids whose parents are missionaries? Is there also some sense in which the kids are missionaries themselves? Are they a problem to be managed? Workers to be supported? In addition to these questions, Missionary Kids also often end up with an awkward relationship with the concept of a “home culture,” not entirely sure where they belong. This also leads to some very divergent faith walks, even among siblings. Happily, the experiences of kids in missionary families have been getting increased attention from mission researchers and organizations in the last few decades.

This year, in honor of Ralph Winter’s 100th Birthday and the long heritage of mission engagement in his children and grandchildren, the Ralph D Winter Research Center is spending time reflecting on the experiences of children in missionary families. We will be presenting some original research, conducted with TCKTraining, and also gathering several thought-leaders in the field.

Some Paper Topics Include:

• A biblical understanding of children in missionary families.
• Understanding the divergent experiences of missionary kids within sibling groups.
• Navigating special circumstances (physical and educational disabilities, adoption, single parenting, etc.)
• Developing core skills in caring for missionary kids.

Logistics

We will be meeting February 5-7, 2026 on the campus of Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky.

Housing

On-campus housing: Please contact the Asbury Inn as soon as you register to reserve a room. Call: (859) 858-2156. Tell them you are attending the Ralph Winter Lectureship to get a special rate.

Off-campus housing: Wilmore, KY has a host of lovely VRBOSs, AirBnBs and bed and breakfast places to choose from.

Flying in?

The closest airport is Lexington Bluegrass Airport (LEX). Alternative airports include: Louisville (SDF) and Cincinnati (CVG). Both are about 1.5 hours away.

Conference Schedule

Thursday, Feb 5th, 7pm-9pm

Friday, Feb 6th, 9am-9pm*

Saturday, Feb 7th, 9am to 12pm

*Lunch and Dinner on Friday will be provided