The Missionary Kids

Unmasking the Myths of White Evangelicalism

De: Holly Berkley Fletcher

Narrado por: Nikki Zakocs

As sidekicks to their parents' and churches' ambitions, missionary kids (MKs) face questions many white Christians eventually ask: about God's calling, sacrifice, faith, privilege, racism, abuse, and what belonging means. In The Missionary Kids, Holly Berkley Fletcher reveals how MKs have intimate access to the movement's logic, longings, and ideals.

Drawing on her experience as a Southern Baptist MK in Kenya, on conversations with other missionary kids, and on the work of psychologists, historians, missiologists, and researchers, Fletcher paints an intricate portrait of family life on the front lines of the missionary movement. From boarding school to war zones, and from sexual assault by adult missionaries to fending for themselves so as not to distract from the work of the Lord, MKs bear the weight of their parents' choices and their churches' ideals.

For many years, few people sought out MKs' real voices. God had called their parents to do great things, so the kids were beside the point. But the children of missionaries are beneficiaries of evangelicalism's rewards and victims of its failings.

And now they are ready to talk.

©2025 Holly Berkley Fletcher (P)2025 Christian Audio

Extremely Interesting, Even for non-MKs

First, let me say, I know Holly a little, so I'm not completely unbiased. In fact, I only bought the book as a show of support for her. Now, having said all that, I found the book extremely interesting. I can't say "enjoyable" because, as one might expect, there is a LOT of talk of abuse, particularly child abuse. But the insights into a world so foreign to my own upbringing were fascinating. Holly does an excellent job of mixing her historian training with her gift for humorous writing to keep the story from becoming too heavy. I learned a lot. The reader is also excellent. Highly recommend.

The other side of the story

For those of us who grew up as an MK, many of us share many similar experiences. This should be required reading for every mission board. Excellent book!

Powerful and true to life

While I was not one of the MKs surveyed for this book, it still tells my story. The author is careful to explain that all experiences are different, but she also points out the things almost all MKs have in common, and they are spot on from my own experience. This book is thoughtful, well-written, and insightful. Highly recommend.

She gets it 100%

I am an MK from the same school Holly went to, around the same era. She has put words to so many of the feelings and thoughts I've had for decades. This analysis is brutal, hilarious, long overdue, mournful, fair, and full of grace as well. A must read for everyone in the American church, especially those interested in "missions", "global work" or whatever your conscience wants you to call it. Full disclosure: I am now a missionary myself, but in a highly specialized medical field, and after having lived in the US for 25 years.

Honest review of living as an MK!

I am a fellow MK who has a lifelong journey working thru the struggles she details! Excellent and easy read! I think all MK’s and PK’s should read this, if you are married to one or the child of one, you need to read this!

MK’s past or present must read (or listen)

Great book on MK life. Written about real life experiences written by an author with knowledgeable in depth information. Do yourself a favor and explore the realities of MK life.

Puts words to an experience I couldn’t express.

In the book Holly accurately describe the MK experience, not feeling at home with any culture and the disconnection of relationship between kids and parents and family. As well as accurately describing the paradox between the adults on the mission field that are said to be trustworthy and safe, but often times are not. She shows how missions initiate punishment for children and missionary families when Children are struggling, but not discipline or deal with the adults on the field who are harming others.
Overall, this book was excellent. It gave me words to describe feelings that I had from my personal experience as an MK that I had previously not been able to describe. I would highly recommend this book to other missionary kids and anyone who works with missionary kids, especially in a mental health Field.

My biggest critique of this work is that I wish the author was the one to read the audiobook. I feel like there was some inflections and experiences that could have been even more powerful if it was the author reading the book for the audio version.

Evangelical duplicity

Holly Berkley Fletcher does a laudable job of taking on the American evangelical missionary industry and airing its dirty little secrets. Kept buried for far too, she exposes the despicable fallout of toxic patriarchy that occurs when agencies embrace the dangerous beliefs that males are superior and those in leadership are superior to others. Her courage and candor in calling out the duplicity of the American evangelicalism is admirable and timely in these days of unbelievable religious and political myopia.

I am grateful for this critique of the abuses of MKS and the implications they hold not only for the survivors, but also the continued work of missionaries in the future. I wholeheartedly recommend Ms. Fletcher’s book!

Pastor Timothy Wilbur