Missionary Training School

Five-Month Intensive Program

We prepare individuals with the head (knowledge), heart (character), and hands (practical experience) to make them effective in cross-cultural ministry locally or overseas.


We have already trained over 500 missionaries. Are you ready?

What Does the Training Involve?

HEAD

  • ~20 hours of learning labs each week including videos, Bible studies, activities, and case studies on relevant topics facilitated by our training staff with decades of missions experience
  • Socratic, discussion-based learning where you "learn how to think, not what to think"
  • ~5 hours of independent reading and reflection assignments
  • College Credit available


HEART

  • Personal discipleship and mentoring with our long-term staff members
  • Weekly accountability groups to process and apply what you learn in the classroom
  • Spiritual formation, habits, and disciplines lived out in the context of loving community
  • Corporate prayer and worship


HANDS

  • 12-15 hours of cross-cultural ministry each week serving among refugees and international students
  • Serve alongside long-term cross-cultural workers and missionaries that have decades of experience
  • Practice evangelism and disciple-making styles in a very multi-ethnic setting
  • Partner and walk alongside with international brothers and sisters as well as ethnic churches


“In just a few weeks, God has opened my eyes to the world around me and given me a renewed heart for others.” – Read more from a student’s perspective

Program Overview:

  • Experience authentic Christian community sharing life and doing ministry together while serving among unreached people groups.
  • Live in Clarkston (Atlanta), a refugee resettlement city in the state of Georgia, often called "the most diverse square mile in America"!
  • Get mentored and coached by veteran missionaries who have spent decades serving Jesus overseas and in cross-cultural contexts.
  • Pursue our Missionary Training School "Specializations", including our Agriculture Program, Business as Mission (BAM), and an Intercultural Studies Degree program. These opportunities provide certifications and may open doors in creative access countries.

What Does the Training Involve?

Head

  • 20 hours of class each week discussing relevant topics, facilitated by our training staff
  • Reading and homework assignments due weekly
  • College Credit available upon qualification*

Heart

  • Personal discipleship time with a staff discipler
  • Weekly accountability groups
  • Spiritual formation emphasis

Hands

  • 12-15 hours of cross-cultural ministry each week
  • Ministry alongside experienced long-term workers
  • Applying disciple-making techniques in a multi-ethnic setting
  • Partnering with international brothers and sisters

* There is an additional $850 tuition cost if doing the training for college credit. Upon acceptance to MTS, there are additional steps required to qualify for college credit.


“In just a few weeks, God has opened my eyes to the world around me and given me a renewed heart for others.” – Read more from a student’s perspective

Who Should Attend MTS?

  • A high school or college graduate looking to be mentored by experienced cross-cultural workers before going into missions.
  • A young professional and/or married couple wanting to take the next step toward the missions vision God has given you.
  • A missionary who has been on the field and realized better preparation was needed, or just want ongoing professional development. 
  • An experienced missionary or retiree offering your wisdom and experience to disciple the next generation.


Don’t let the term "school" and "student" turn you away! We have designed our training using adult-learning methods that involve in-depth classroom discussions and provide space for individuals to grapple with every aspect of missionary life. This accompanies scheduled mentoring from practitioners and relevant on-the-job training.

91% of our alumni on the mission field recommend this program. Read the report!

Missionary Training School: Dates and Costs


July 26, 2025 – December 16, 2025

Applications due June 1, 2025!


January 10, 2026 – May 26, 2026

Applications due November 1, 2025!


  • The total program cost* of $4,500 ($900/month) includes housing, utilities, and tuition.
  • Limited scholarships are available with priority for those coming from partner organizations or from the Global South


* Tuition cost does not include personal expenses. Cost is for single students who will live in group housing. Married students or students who don’t require GFM housing should check out these MTS FAQs.


Connect with a Missions Advisor!

GFM not only taught me some very practical and necessary skills for the mission field, it also created an environment to apply the teaching while ministering to internationals. This allowed me to better determine the area of ministry God was directing me towards.


MTS Graduate

Share by: