Overland Missions

What Overland Missions does

Overland Missions is a 501(c)(3) Christian non-profit organization headquartered in Cocoa, Florida, founded in 1999 by Dr. Phil and Sharon Smethurst to spread the Gospel to remote and neglected people groups. The organization operates in 22+ countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, South America, Southeast Asia, MENA, Central Asia, and South Asia, with over 20 physical bases in Africa alone and 100+ long-term missionaries in the field. Its offerings are structured in three core tiers: Expeditions (short-term 2–6 week trips priced at $3,000–$5,500 per participant), Advanced Mission Training (AMT, a three-month training program priced at $7,700–$8,700), and Sector (long-term full-time missionary deployment). Supporting programs include the annual Conference in Jacksonville, FL, the Venue church-partnership revival program, the Overland Missions Music worship brand distributed on Spotify and Apple Music, and ancillary Africa-based initiatives such as Kids on Fire, Sustain, Water Projects, Health Initiatives, and Vulnerable Women's Ministry.

The underlying technology stack is minimal and non-differentiated: a Webflow-hosted marketing website, an online application and donation portal (portal.overlandmissions.com) integrated with Authorize.net for payment processing, and third-party streaming distribution for music releases. Worship song charts are made available in Planning Center Services format for partner churches. There is no proprietary software product, no disclosed AI/ML capability, and no app; the donor portal and website are the primary digital touchpoints.

The business and revenue model is a hybrid of charitable giving and program fees, all structured as tax-deductible donations for the participant. Primary revenue comes from recurring donor support underwriting the 100+ career missionaries, supplemented by one-time per-participant fees for Expeditions and AMT. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer through the website, supplemented by church-based mobilization via the Connections coordinator program, annual conference recruitment, and word-of-mouth through the Venue revival events. Customer segments are individual Christian participants seeking short-term mission experience, aspiring career missionaries entering through AMT, and sending churches — a fragmented base rather than enterprise accounts. EIN: 59-3648501.

Name

Overland Missions

Legal name

Overland Missions

Website

https://overlandmissions.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Overland Missions is a 501(c)(3) Christian non-profit that mobilizes short-term expedition teams, runs a three-month Advanced Mission Training program, and deploys 100+ long-term missionaries across 22+ countries, funded primarily through tax-deductible donations from individuals and supporting churches.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Missionary and Religious Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Tour Operators (56152), Tour Operators (561520)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs (EDAIAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adventure & Expedition Travel Agencies (THAKAFAB), Eco-Adventure Multi-Day Expeditions (Trekking, Hut-to-Hut, Pack Trips) (THAAAEAJ), Guided Tours & Interpretive Services (Ranger-Led, Naturalist, Cultural Interpretation) (THAAAGAB), Language Immersion Programs & Camps (Local/Seasonal) (EDAMAFAL)

Keywords

• Short-term mission trips
• Missionary training programs
• Faith-based nonprofit
• Church mission mobilization
• Global gospel outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Cocoa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Overland Missions operates primarily through tax-deductible donations from individuals, churches, and organizations. Donors can give to specific missionaries or general ministry work. EIN: 59-3648501.
2. Expedition Participation Fees: Participants pay trip costs that cover in-country expenses including accommodation, food, local transportation, and ministry logistics. These are structured as donations toward the mission work. Estimated total costs range from approximately $3,000 to $5,500 depending on destination and duration.
3. Advanced Mission Training (AMT) Program Fees: Three-month missionary training program generates revenue through program fees. Costs include trip fees ($5,000-$6,000), airfare ($2,200-$3,100), and other costs ($200-$500), with total estimated costs of $7,700-$8,700 depending on location and year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Overland Missions operates short-term mission expeditions (2–6 weeks) to remote regions, a three-month Advanced Mission Training (AMT) program to equip career missionaries, and a long-term Sector missionary deployment program for sustained ministry. Supporting offerings include worship music distribution, an annual conference, and the Venue church partnership program that brings revival events and evangelism training to local congregations.

Product overview

Overland Missions is a Christian nonprofit organization (501(c)(3)) operating a multi-product missionary outreach platform. The core offerings include Expeditions (short-term 2-6 week mission trips), Advanced Mission Training (AMT, a 3-month training program with Phase 1 at Rapid 14 in Zambia and Phase 2 at international locations), and Sector (long-term missionary deployment). Supporting programs include Overland Missions Music (worship music production and distribution), Conference (annual gathering), Venue (church partnership program), and various Africa-based initiatives including Kids on Fire, Sustain, Water Projects, Health Initiatives, and Vulnerable Women's Ministry. The Donor Portal enables charitable giving and missionary support management. The organization has presence in over 22 nations across Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and South America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Expeditions: Short-term mission trips lasting 2-6 weeks to remote locations for evangelism and Gospel preaching
• AMT (Advanced Mission Training)
• Sector
• Overland Missions Music
• Venue
• Overland Missions Conference

Quantifiable outcome

• 25+ years of consistent ministry in Zambia with established relationships with Chiefs and local leaders
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Operation Mobilisation (OM): Global evangelical mission organization operating in 110+ countries with short-term outreach programs and long-term worker deployment. Closely comparable to Overland's expedition + Sector missionary model.
• Mercy Ships: Faith-based nonprofit operating hospital ships providing free healthcare in developing nations. Comparable in faith-based donor model, international field logistics, and trained volunteer mobilization to remote regions.
• Youth With A Mission (YWAM): One of the largest global mission organizations running short-term outreach trips (DTS - Discipleship Training School) and long-term missionary deployment across 180+ countries. Directly comparable to Overland Missions' AMT training and Sector model at much greater global scale.
• Samaritan's Purse: Large evangelical relief and mission organization running Operation Christmas Child, disaster relief, and medical missions globally. Comparable in faith-based donor model and international field operations, though at substantially larger scale.

Direct peers

• Latin America Mission (LAM): Faith-based mission organization serving South America including the Amazon basin. Directly comparable to Overland's Brazil operations and South American expedition offerings like Peru.
• Africa Inland Mission (AIM): Faith-based mission organization focused on Sub-Saharan Africa with long-term missionary deployment and training programs. Direct geographic overlap with Overland's Africa operations across Zambia, DRC, Tanzania, and Madagascar.
• Pioneers: Faith-based mission organization focused on unreached people groups with church-planting teams. Comparable to Overland's Sector model emphasizing long-term missionaries establishing sustainable indigenous leadership.
• Christ for the Nations Institute (CFNI): Missionary training institute equipping Christians for cross-cultural ministry, comparable to Overland's AMT training program model of intensive 3-month field-based preparation.
• Adventures in Missions: Faith-based nonprofit operating short-term mission trips (the World Race) and long-term missions programs across multiple continents. Closely aligned with Overland Missions' expedition model, participant fee structure ($3,000-$5,500 range), and church mobilization approach.

Emerging players

• Greater Europe Mission (GEM): Faith-based mission organization working across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. Comparable to Overland's MENA expedition presence and church-planting focus in restricted-access regions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/overlandmissions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/overlandmissions

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Overland Missions