Missionary Training School

About GFM's Missionary Training School

Our Missionary Training School (MTS) is a five-month, intensive program designed to prepare individuals with the head knowledge, heart character, and hands-on experience to make them effective in cross-cultural ministry locally or overseas.

Some Specifics of MTS

  • MTS is offered twice per year, from January through May and August through December.
  • Students live in community with fellow students in Clarkston (Atlanta), a refugee resettlement city in the state of Georgia.
  • Applicants must have at least a high school diploma or equivalent.
  • We offer some MTS "add-ons" such as an agriculture specialization
  • The total program cost* of $4,500 ($900/month) includes housing, utilities, and tuition.
  • Limited scholarships are available.
  • Applications are due two months before the start of the semester.

* 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.

What Does the Training Involve?

Head

  • 15 hours in the classroom each week includes learning activities and case studies on relevant topics facilitated by our training staff
  • Socratic, discussion-based learning, rather than monologues
  • Weekly reading and homework assignments
  • College Credit available upon qualification*


Heart

  • Personal discipleship and mentoring time with staff members
  • Weekly accountability groups
  • Spiritual formation and disciplines
  • Corporate prayer and worship times


Hands

  • 12-15 hours of cross-cultural ministry each week
  • Ministry alongside long-term workers
  • Practicing 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

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?

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. Our training school might be for you if you are:

  • 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 couple with kids who desire to practically learn how to live on mission as a family.
  • A missionary who has been on the field and realizes you need better preparation. 
  • An experienced missionary or retiree offering your wisdom and experience to disciple the next generation.

Check Out Our Alumni Report to See What Others are Saying

Upcoming MTS Dates


August 3, 2024 – December 18, 2024

Applications due June 1, 2024!


January 6, 2025 – May 20, 2025

Applications due November 1, 2024!


Know Someone Who Might Be Interested?

Check Out Our Referral Program

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

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