OUR CONFERENCES

We host yearly conferences for young Christians who have grown up globally and transiently. Every year, we gather around a theme that we hope will uplift and inspire our peers, as well as challenge them. Every speaker is a Third Culture Kid, and comes from all backgrounds: diplomatic, military, business, ministry and more.

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TRUTH4TCKs 2024

TRUTH4TCKS 2023

WHAT IS TRUTH4TCKS 2023?

Truth4TCKs Conference is an online conference for Christian Third Culture Kids, particularly those in the 14-18 age group.* This group includes Military Brats, Expat Kids, Int’l Business Kids, MKs, Diplomat Kids, etc.

WHEN IS IT?

14th-16th April, 2023

THIS YEAR'S THEME: TRANSPLANTED

“Remaining rooted in Christ during cross-cultural uprootedness.”

This year, we’re talking all about TCKs and transitions: what transition is, how it affects us, how to deal with it; but most importantly, we’re talking about God’s grounding truth that holds us fast in every season.
2023 SCHEDULE
“The virtual conference was set up very well, and it was very fun to see and interact with people from various backgrounds. I look forward to going to the conference again this year because I will be able to hear other TCK’s life stories and receive encouragement on being a TCK.” – M.W. (teenager)

2023 Speakers

Sarah Swysgood
Sarah Swysgood is a military kid who grew up in the U. K. and Germany. She can be found experimenting with food and herbs in her kitchen or curled up reading with a spot of tea! She enjoys writing, listening to people's stories and encouraging other to love Christ more.
Christopher O'Shaughnessy
Chris is a passionate and versatile speaker, author, and comedian focusing on issues relevant to Third Culture Kids and the globally mobile. With experience in youth ministry, working with international schools, and galavanting around the world – Chris is excited to share stories of hope and God's purpose.
Website
Megan Norton
Megan is an author, global speaker, and certified intercultural trainer and Third Culture Kid (TCK) consultant who has lived in 10 countries and 5 US States. She delivers intercultural trainings for expats, 'repats', international students, and Adult Third Culture Kids.
Website
David J. Long
I was adopted from Korea as an infant in 1969 and went with my family who became medical Cross-cultural workers in Vietnam in 1970. We left Vietnam in 1975, then after two years in the US, moved to Taiwan in 1977 as medical Cross-cultural workers. I spent almost 10 years from 8-18 in Taiwan and went to boarding school at 12 where I eventually graduated from Morrison Academy in 1986. I returned to the US for college and attended Houghton College graduating in 1990.
LinkedIn
Gregory A. Barkman
I was born on American soil in San Diego, CA. I spent 14 years in Peru and graduated from Yarinacocha High School. My wife, our twin sons, and I served in Papua New Guinea for 16 years as educators in Ukarumpa International School. I now serve the Lord in public education at a high school in Lancaster County, SC.
Jessi Bullis
Jessi is an Adult TCK who grew up in Singapore, England, Turkey, and Germany. She has a heart and passion for TCKs and the unique struggles they face, especially during repatriation. She received her undergraduate in psychology and a seminary degree in counseling for the purpose of caring for TCKs well.
Website
Samuel Lee
TCK from South Korea. Grew up in 5 different countries. Currently working as a Software Engineer for an AI company in Seoul.
Mark Vance
My parents were American Cross-cultural workers, so I was born and raised in northern Brazil and moved to the US for college. After seminary my wife and I worked in Brazil for 15 years with an admin, evening Bible institute and ministry with descendants of Japanese immigrants. We currently serve on a team reaching international students on the campus of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC.
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ARCHIVE

2022 Conference:
TRUTH TRANSCENDING CULTURES

This year, we’re focusing on God’s truth as it applies to our questions, our personal interactions, and the intercultural global scope. What are the core tenets of Christianity? What do I do with my questions? How does God’s truth transcend cultures? When is a belief, cultural aspect, or tradition an opinion, and when is it a matter of right and wrong? How do we communicate this truth lovingly and firmly to those around us?

2022 Speakers

Breanne Eckman
Breanne is a senior and a TCK raised in Eurasia. She blogs and writes for her peers, Christian TCK teens, and has a passion to reach TCKs through scripture and practical biblical wisdom. She is the host of Truth4TCKs.
Website
Chris O'Shaughnessy
Christopher O’Shaughnessy is a passionate and versatile speaker, comedian, and author who uses a unique blend of story-telling, humor, and provocative insight to engage TCKs and talk about their part in God's story. Chris has worked in, lived in, or traveled to more than 100 countries and brings first hand experience of an ever-globalizing world and God's unfailing love for it to his audiences.
Website
Kate Forbes
Kate Forbes is a Member of the Scottish Parliament, representing the seat of Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch. She was brought up in Scotland and India.
Joshua Ellis
I'm Joshua Ellis a MK in Uganda. I'm seventeen years old, and have blown myself up three times and lit myself on fire twice. I'm co-founder of a site for TCKs and Christian teens called Light Unto Darkness, which has articles, videos, and a community!
Website
Megan Norton
Megan is an Adult TCK who calls 10 countries her “heart homes” and she currently lives in the United States. As a TCK consultant, intercultural trainer, podcast host of A Culture Story, co-founder of a non-profit for diplomat TCKs, and writer at adultthirdculturekid.com, she equips and empowers globally mobile youth to recognize their cultural competencies and apply them in various contexts. Her forthcoming book called “Belonging Beyond Borders'' focuses on the TCK profile and how this upbringing shapes personal identity.
Website
Sam Lee
TCK. Korean. Former ROKA SOCOM. Currently working as a Software Engineer.
Sarah Swysgood
Sarah Swysgood is a military brat who grew up in the United Kingdom and Germany for 14 years. God grace found her when she was young. She can often be found experimenting with food in her kitchen and often will feed people, reading a good book, drinking lots of tea and taking long walks. She loves writing, listening to peoples stories, and encouraging others to love Christ more.
John Glass
John Glass was born of American parents in Paris, France and raised in Geneva, Switzerland. In 1976, at the age of 19, John back-backed for 6 months from Switzerland to India in search of life’s answers and was led to Christ by a missionary in New Delhi. He has served as a church-planter in France and Switzerland for the last 35 years. He and his wife Meg have three grown children.
Website
Abigail Dick
Hi, my name is Abigail! I’m 21 year’s old and have spent 20 of those years as a missionary kid in Croatia. Last fall I moved to California to get certified as a Biblical Counselor and hope to one day return to serve the Croatian people.
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2021 Conference:
What does it mean to be a global citizen of heaven?

Isn’t that contradictory?
A TCK can live a full and healthy life only when they are secure in their identity. When a TCK goes to Jesus as the Anchor of all they are, when they are rooted in Him, when they realize they have an eternal home where they will fully belong, this gives them the strength and courage to live out their lives as Global Citizens, to the glory of God and the good of others, in whatever way they are called. 
Every session, activity and discussion prompt will revolve around this theme. We can’t wait to share and listen, be encouraged and challenged right alongside you.

2021 Speakers

Breanne Eckman
Breanne is a senior and a TCK raised in Eurasia. She blogs and writes for her peers, Christian TCK teens, and has a passion to reach TCKs through scripture and practical biblical wisdom. She is the host of Truth4TCKs.
Website
Kate Forbes
Kate Forbes was elected as the Member of the Scottish Parliament in 2016, and was appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Finance in February 2020. She was born in Scotland, but spent 8 years of her life in India where her parents worked for various ministry organizations. She studied history at the Universities of Cambridge and Edinburgh.
Chris O'Shaughnessy
Christopher O’Shaughnessy is a passionate and versatile speaker, comedian, and author who uses a unique blend of story-telling, humor, and provocative insight to engage his audiences. Chris’ book, Arrivals, Departures and the Adventures In-Between, has received high praise from the international community as a resource that instills truths, insights and skills essential to navigating life successfully as a TCK.
Website
Will Moore
Born abroad in Germany to a military officer, Brian “Will” Moore spent his formative years as a bonified Third Culture Kid. Bouncing between Europe, Asia, and America while swapping between homeschool, private schools, and international academies, Will has done a whirlwind tour of the world. Having settled down in the states, Will graduated Regent University with two degrees and is pursuing both Law with hopes of prosecuting and the theatrical world as a stage combatant.
Megan Norton
Megan Norton is an intercultural training consultant, facilitator, and researcher focused on supporting cross-cultural families. Growing up as a U.S. diplomat dependent, she lived in 6 countries and has lived in 4 more as an Adult Third Culture Kid. Megan is host and producer of “A Culture Story” - a podcast which explores cultural identity, belonging, and purpose. Megan holds two Master degrees in Intercultural and Business Communication.
Website
C.B.
C.B. is a TCK who was born to British parents in Kenya. When she was 8, her family moved to England and then on to Switzerland- (culture shock!) - but she really loved it. Almost four years later, the family moved to Canada. Today she lives in the Middle East, where she has raised three sons. She spends her time teaching and working in the IT business that she co-owns with her husband. C.B.’s life passion is to know, love and deepen her relationship with Jesus and help others do the same.
Melinda Clark
In an inner city outreach project, cross-cultural agencies, and on a college campus, Melinda Clark has loved the complexity of investing in human beings from all kinds of backgrounds and the joy of inviting them to apprentice themselves to Jesus, too. Married to a pastor for over 20 years and mom of five, she has served as non-profit CEO, director of college community life, interpreter, and mentor to emerging leaders. She currently builds Stateside partnerships to invest in poverty alleviation with a non-profit in the Dominican Republic. Equipping Jesus' family to connect effectively with their neighbors is one of her greatest passions.
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