Mission Training International

Name

Mission Training International

Legal name

Mission Training International

Website

https://mti.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cross-Cultural Missionary Training Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disaster Relief & Humanitarian Aid Volunteering (EDAIAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Behavioral Health & MTSS/RTI Tiered SEL Supports (EDAKAMAE), Volunteer Safety, Safeguarding & Risk Management Services (EDAIAGAN)

Keywords

• Missionary training programs
• Cross-cultural worker preparation
• Pre-field missionary training
• Debriefing and renewal services
• Language acquisition training

Headquarters

HQ city

Palmer Lake

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: MTI charges tuition/program fees for its residential training programs including Compass (pre-field training), DAR (debriefing and renewal), Essentials in Debriefing ($1,900 per individual, all-inclusive), and MHM conference ($525 per attendee). Fees cover lodging, meals, and materials.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: MTI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies heavily on charitable donations from individuals, churches, and partner organizations. The donate page offers multiple giving options: MTI Ministry Fund, Support a Staff Member, DAF grants, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, gifts of stock/securities, and gifts-in-kind. All donated funds go directly to MTI programs with no administrative fee deduction.
3. Internship Program Fees / Stipends: MTI offers paid internship programs. CHIPs interns receive a $300 weekly stipend. Operations interns receive a stipend of up to $2,000 with the opportunity to raise an additional $2,000 in support-based funding.
4. Missionary Respite (Facility Use): Missionary Respite offers MTI's facility to missionaries on furlough at no charge, with meals provided during program weeks only. This generates goodwill with sending agencies and supports the mission of caring for cross-cultural workers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Mission Training International (MTI) is a nonprofit that delivers residential training and support programs for missionaries and cross-cultural workers, including a 4-week pre-field training program (Compass), a Debriefing & Renewal (DAR) program for workers in transition, and the parallel Children's Intercultural Programs (CHIPs). The organization also operates annual conferences (MHM, ICLL), training intensives (Essentials in Debriefing), partner collaboration events (MTI Connect), a research arm (John Powell Institute), complimentary facility respite for missionaries on furlough, and facility rental.

Product overview

Mission Training International (MTI) offers a comprehensive suite of training and support programs for cross-cultural workers and missionaries. The core portfolio centers on Compass (4-week pre-field training), DAR (Debriefing and Renewal for those in transition), and CHIPs (Children's Intercultural Programs running parallel to both). MTI also delivers supplemental programs including Mental Health & Missions annual conference, Essentials in Debriefing training, International Congress on Language Learning (ICLL), MTI Connect partner events, Missionary Respite lodging, and the John Powell Institute research arm. The organization also offers its facility for external bookings. Programs serve individuals, couples, and families with age-specific tracks from nursery through teens.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Compass: Pre-field training program that prepares missionaries for longevity and success on the mission field through practical skills in language acquisition, cultural awareness, and personal vitality.
• DAR (Debriefing and Renewal)
• MTI Connect
• Mental Health and Missions (MHM)
• International Congress on Language Learning (ICLL)
• Essentials in Debriefing
• John Powell Institute (JPI)
• Missionary Respite
• CHIPs (Children's Intercultural Programs)

Products and services

• Compass (Pre-Field Training) A 4-week residential pre-field training program held at MTI's Palmer Lake, Colorado campus that equips missionaries and their families with practical skills in language acquisition, cultural adaptation, communication, leadership, and personal vitality before deploying to overseas service. Participants include singles, couples, and families with children.
• DAR (Debriefing and Renewal) A residential debriefing and renewal program for cross-cultural workers in transition, designed for individuals and families who have served at least 2 years on the field. Uses the DAR framework with five components: Content, Individual/Couple Debriefing, Participant Interaction, CHIPs for children, and Setting.
• CHIPs (Children's Intercultural Programs) Age-specific children's programs that run parallel to Compass and DAR, providing Third Culture Kids (TCKs) from 6 weeks old through high school graduation with age-appropriate language, activities, and processing for cross-cultural experiences across five age clusters: Nursery, Beginnings, Discovery, Breakthrough, and Teens.
• Mental Health & Missions (MHM) Conference Annual 3-night professional conference bringing together Christian mental health professionals (counselors, psychologists, social workers, member care personnel) devoted to the well-being of cross-cultural workers. Features workshops, plenary sessions, and a Research & Resource Fair. Registration $525 per attendee.
• Essentials in Debriefing 5-night all-inclusive residential training at MTI's Palmer Lake, CO facility that equips participants with basic skills and tools to facilitate healthy personal debriefing for those in cross-cultural ministry across different age groups. $1,900 per individual (all-inclusive: food, housing, retreat materials).
• International Congress on Language Learning (ICLL) A congress held every 18 months (alternating online and in-person) that brings together language learning professionals to explore best practices in field-based language learning, coaching, and second language acquisition. ICLL 2026 (Congress 14) scheduled October 5-9 in Richmond, VA.
• MTI Connect Partner-focused residential collaboration event at MTI's Colorado campus for mission agency personnel (leadership, mobilization, HR, member care, TCK care). Includes facilitated discussions, staff introductions, and facility tours. Free for participants; recommended 2-3 individuals per agency attend.
• Missionary Respite Complimentary lodging program offering up to one week of free facility access at MTI's Palmer Lake, Colorado campus for missionaries on furlough or returning from the field. Meals are provided during program weeks only.
• John Powell Institute (JPI) The research arm of MTI, an evidence-informed think tank conducting collaborative research sprints on cross-cultural worker thriving. Includes the Thrive Outcomes Project and the Shared Foundations Initiative, collaborating with over 10 organizations and 14 leaders.
• Facility Booking Event space rental at MTI's Palmer Lake, Colorado facility, including access to a training room (capacity 50), board room (capacity 16), 5 small meeting rooms (capacity 8 each), classrooms, community spaces with indoor/outdoor fireplaces, game room, playground, climbing rocks, and hiking trails, plus residential guest rooms with private bathrooms.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50,000+ cross-cultural workers equipped since 1954
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• MissioNexus — Shared Foundations Initiative (SFI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025The Shared Foundations Initiative was originally launched by the People Care & Development track of MissioNexus Leaders Conference in partnership with the John Powell Institute at MTI. In September 2025, SFI was launched as a stand-alone collaborative effort with 14 leaders representing over 10 organizations. The initiative aims to build shared foundations for People Care & Development in Western-based sending organizations. A symposium and pre-conference are planned for Missio Nexus Leaders Conference in Orlando, FL (September 22-23, 2026).
• Wycliffe Bible TranslatorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWycliffe Bible Translators is one of the many sending agencies that refer missionaries to MTI's Compass pre-field training and DAR debriefing programs. Dwight Gradin, a Wycliffe veteran, serves on MTI's staff and developed the PILAT language learning methodology.
• FrontierscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrontiers is one of over 90 sending agencies that partner with MTI, referring staff members for pre-field training and debriefing. Frontiers workers attending MTI programs represent the agency's commitment to comprehensive missionary preparation.
• PioneerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPioneers is a mission agency that refers missionaries to MTI's training and debriefing programs. Pioneer staff members attend Compass and DAR as part of their preparation and transition cycles.
• The NavigatorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Navigators is a mission organization that sends staff to MTI programs. Sally Strnad served with The Navigators for 12 years before joining MTI. Vern Salter previously served with The Navigators for 25 years. Multiple Navigator staff have attended MTI programs.
• OMF International (Overseas Missionary Fellowship)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOMF is a sending agency whose missionaries attend MTI programs for pre-field preparation and debriefing support during transitions.
• Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCru is a major mission agency whose workers attend MTI's Compass and DAR programs. Deb Heefner served with Cru for 28.5 years before joining MTI as Director of Compass.
• SIM (Serving In Mission)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIM is a global mission agency with long-standing ties to MTI. SIM workers attend MTI programs for training and debriefing as part of their missionary lifecycle support.
• SEND InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEND International is a mission agency whose missionaries attend MTI's pre-field and debriefing programs for comprehensive preparation and renewal.
• SergecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSerge is a mission agency whose workers attend MTI's training programs. MTI lists Serge among its partner sending agencies.
• MissioNexuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMissioNexus is a network of evangelical mission organizations that MTI participates in. MissioNexus hosts the annual Leaders Conference where MTI co-hosts events including the Shared Foundations Initiative symposium (September 22) and pre-conference (September 23) in Orlando, FL in 2026.
• MAF (Missionary Aviation Fellowship)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAF is an aviation mission agency whose personnel attend MTI programs as part of their missionary preparation and transition support.
• InterservecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterserve is an international mission agency that sends cross-cultural workers to MTI for Compass and DAR programs.
• Commission to Every NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommission to Every Nation (CTEN) is a sending agency whose workers attend MTI programs. Jaci Grooters previously worked at CTEN's home office developing their missionary kids care program before joining MTI.
• Youth for ChristcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth for Christ is an international youth ministry organization whose workers attend MTI programs as part of their cross-cultural preparation.
• World VisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization whose workers attend MTI training programs for cross-cultural preparation and debriefing support.
• Samaritan's PursecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSamaritan's Purse is a Christian humanitarian organization whose missionaries attend MTI programs as part of their cross-cultural missionary preparation.
• IJM (International Justice Mission)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIJM is a Christian human rights organization whose staff attend MTI programs for cross-cultural training and debriefing.
• BeyondcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeyond is a sending agency whose missionaries attend MTI's pre-field and debriefing programs.
• Free Methodist World MissionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree Methodist World Missions is a denominational mission agency whose workers attend MTI programs for missionary preparation and debriefing.
• Fellowship of Evangelical ChurchescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFellowship of Evangelical Churches is a denominational mission agency partnering with MTI for the preparation of its cross-cultural workers.
• Global Outreach InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Outreach International is a sending agency whose missionaries attend MTI programs for comprehensive preparation and ongoing support.
• Encompass World PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEncompass World Partners is a mission agency whose cross-cultural workers attend MTI programs as part of their missionary preparation pipeline.
• Heart of Africa Mission (HAM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeart of Africa Mission is one of the sending agencies listed as an MTI partner, referring missionaries to MTI's training and debriefing programs.
• Cure InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCure International is a Christian health organization whose cross-cultural medical professionals attend MTI programs for preparation and debriefing support.
• Navigators (additional)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull list of partner agencies includes: Antioch Partners, Bible Pathway Ministries, BMM, Church of God Ministries, Cornerstone, EMA, FCA, GEM, Hellenic Ministries, Hope International, IncaLink, JV, Kids Alive, Lifesong, LiveDead, Makarios, Mustard Seed Network, NAB, New International, One Challenge, OPC, Path International, People International, Reach Beyond, Reformed Church in America, Sacred Road, Send International, stumo, Team Expansion, TMS, To Every Tribe, TWR, UMN, WGM, IPHC, World Team, WV, YL, and many others — totaling over 90 sending agencies represented in MTI's partner network.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Barnabas International: Barnabas International specializes in debriefing, member care consulting, and re-entry support for cross-cultural workers. Its service model directly parallels MTI's DAR program and Essentials in Debriefing training, serving overlapping mission agency partners.
• Member Care Associates: Member Care Associates offers member care training, consultation, and resources for mission agencies. It overlaps with MTI's debriefing and care programming and serves a similar evangelical mission agency customer base.
• Center for Mission Mobilization: CMM (formerly Caleb Project) mobilizes and trains cross-cultural workers and church leaders globally. It serves overlapping segments with MTI through pre-field training and mobilization resources for mission candidates.
• Jubilee Member Care Center: Jubilee provides residential member care, debriefing, and renewal programs for missionaries and their families. Its facility-based care model is directly comparable to MTI's DAR program and missionary respite offering.
• Rosedale International: Rosedale International offers residential pre-field training and member care for missionaries in Ohio, closely paralleling MTI's Compass and DAR programs. Both organizations serve cross-cultural workers and their families through facility-based programs and partner-agency referral models.
• Insights International: Insights International provides member care consulting, crisis response, and debriefing services for mission agencies and missionaries worldwide. It competes directly with MTI in the cross-cultural worker care and debriefing space.
• Link Care Center: Link Care Center provides residential debriefing, counseling, and member care for missionaries and their families in California. It directly overlaps with MTI's DAR (Debriefing and Renewal) program and serves a similar referral-driven customer base from evangelical mission agencies.

Broad incumbents

• SEND International: SEND International is a major evangelical mission agency that operates its own internal pre-field training and member care programs. As both a partner referral source for MTI and a potential in-house competitor, SEND represents the broader sending-agency incumbent landscape.
• Frontiers: Frontiers is a large evangelical mission-sending agency with its own pre-field preparation and member care programs. As both a current MTI partner and a potential internal-training developer, Frontiers represents the broad-incumbent sending agency category.
• Wycliffe Global Alliance: Wycliffe Global Alliance is a major Bible translation mission network with extensive in-house member care and language training infrastructure. MTI's PILAT methodology was originally developed by a Wycliffe veteran, and Wycliffe remains a core partner—creating overlap and partnership dynamics with MTI.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/mission.training.international

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mission Training International