New Lounge, New Director, New TCK Opportunities

Of the many offices and ministries around the Oklahoma Christian University campus, there is seldom one that is more widely traveled than the TCK group. Currently housed in the Williams-Branch Center, also known as the Bible building to many campus locals, the TCK ministry found its home in the global missions corridor. Over the summer, there have been the subtle rumblings of renovations in the West wing of the WBC and some fresh faces have expressed excitement about unveiling the expanded TCK outreach.

What is TCK? TCK is an abbreviation for the term “third culture kid.” The simplest explanation for this term is when a child that grows up in a foreign country different from their parents or their individual “official” nationality returns to the place of their official “origin.” Many times the differences between the environments create a third culture for the child: one from the parents, one from their host country, and then the new mixed one they now live out. 

There are many variations of this term, and it is not limited to only kids. Third culture adults (TCAs) also exist and are often the parents of TCKs who have been immersed in another culture for an extended period of time. The circumstances of this situation can differ widely, including but not limited to military families, missionaries, ambassadors, international athletes, international teachers, etc. 

While Kent Hartman and his wife Nancy have been in charge of the TCK ministry for the last twenty-two years, they have recently passed the torch down to Kendon and Faith Murrell. On the subject of the leadership change, Hartman explained, 

“We are very confident Kendon and Faith will do a good job,” Hartman said. “It feels like a load has been lifted off of our shoulders.” 

With the renovations in the WCB, a new space for the TCKs has opened up and been furnished as the TCK lounge. While there used to be a room in the west wing of the Bible building that doubled as a lounge for both the international and TCK students, TCKs may now find their own personalized space in room #122, near the Northeast side entrance. 

Murrell states that this space is special in its design. 

“[This space is] cultivated for them where they are seen, heard, and understood,” Murrell said. 

Flags of around two hundred and twenty countries stream across the ceiling, while other symbols of world travel, such as globes, maps, and vintage luggage, are clustered around the room. Faint strains of music float around the room, and a center focal point is the wooden map mounted on the wall in the back. 

“My favorite feature of the new lounge area,” Murrell said, “is the big wooden map up on the wall. There [are] little pinholes in each country, and so we have flag pins, so each student can put their flags up for the countries where they’ve lived, and we’ll have a visual representation of where everybody is from.”

Many brand-new changes have been arriving on campus for the TCK group, and there are plenty of unique opportunities arising for students on campus to become acquainted with these fellow learners. As for future plans, Murrell explains there is much more to come.

 “A big focus for us [in] intercultural chapel this semester is going to be living your story and talking about how we come from diverse backgrounds… All of those experiences play a part in how we tell our story and the story that we tell other people, and then how that connects us with God’s story,”  Murrell said. 

Additionally, there will be weekly meetings and some monthly gatherings that will take place at his home. Events include breakfasts, dinners, game nights, movie nights, and more.