Training Missionaries, Pastors & Church Planters to Reach Their Own Nations
The Fire Over Africa Missionary Training Institute (FOAMTI) exists to train indigenous missionaries, church planters, and pastors across Africa to reach their own nations with the good news of Jesus Christ. Founded by Dr. Gary Munson, FOAMTI draws on 35+ years of experience training church leaders in Africa and Asia.
Well-trained and prepared indigenous missionaries and church planters are the most effective and successful way to reach nations with the gospel. The Apostle Paul's method of training, discipling, mentoring, and releasing local missionaries remains the best method available to us.
Three Pillars of Nations Training
FOAMTI's curriculum integrates three inseparable components. None stands alone — a trained missionary needs all three to be effective and faithful.
Pillar One
Academic Study
63 courses across 10 categories covering biblical foundations, Christian doctrine, evangelism, discipleship, church planting, missions, Muslim outreach, leadership, and ministry operations. Each course has 10 sessions with video teaching, lecture notes, discussion questions, quizzes, and practical assignments.
Pillar Two
Practical Experience
FOAMTI works in partnership with churches, denominations, fellowships, and missionary sending organizations who provide the practical training component — outreach activities, church planting experience, small group leadership, and going out two by two for evangelism. Ministry is built upon relationship.
Pillar Three
Spiritual Formation
The goal is not to teach good theology but to bring people into proper relationship with God. Daily personal prayer and devotion, small group accountability, seasons of fasting, family devotions, and character development through the Holy Spirit — formation, not just information.
"Jesus told us to make disciples, not audiences. Every believer is a participant in the mission, not a spectator."
Founder, FOAMTI · 35+ Years in Africa & Asia
FOAMTI teaches both the missionaries and the trainers who send them. All materials are available free to indigenous African Christians, churches, and ministries through the online learning management system and the "Going for Jesus" smartphone app — in English, Amharic, French, Arabic, and more.
- LMS
- App
- EN
- AM
- FR
- AR
Core Commitments That Guide Everything
Every course, every session, every sentence is shaped by these non-negotiable theological anchors drawn from Scripture and Dr. Munson's decades of ministry.
Christocentricity
Jesus Christ is the center — not theology, not statements of faith, not even the Bible as an abstraction. Christ is the hermeneutical key to all Scripture, the model for all leadership, and the content of all proclamation.
Scripture as God's Self-Revelation
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, written by humans led by the Spirit. It is sufficient for faith and life, yet God continues to speak by His Spirit in ways that never contradict Scripture.
The Primacy of the Holy Spirit
The Spirit brings grace, empowers for holy living and service, leads and guides the believer, gives gifts for ministry, and is the agent of transformation. All gifts of the Spirit are operative today.
Theology as Lived, Not Merely Known
"What we believe is revealed by our actions and living; therefore there is no good theology outside of godly living." Academic theology separated from character is deficient.
Missional Identity
The church exists to make disciples of all people groups. Every believer is a participant in the mission, not a spectator. Paul's method of training and releasing local missionaries remains the best method.
Unity, Not Divisiveness
Jesus prayed for the unity of the church. Theology should bring Christians together, not drive them apart. FOAMTI avoids denominational polemics and seeks common ground in Christ.
Contextual Sensitivity Without Syncretism
Content respects African cultural realities — oral traditions, communal identity, extended family, and spiritual worldview — while maintaining Jesus as the absolute center and rejecting any mixture.
Formation Over Information
The goal of Christianity is not to teach good theology but to bring humans into proper relationship with God. FOAMTI prioritizes character formation through the Holy Spirit alongside academic study.
Dr. Gary Munson — A Life Devoted to Training Africa's Missionaries
Origins & Calling
FOAMTI grew out of Dr. Gary Munson's 35+ years of experience training indigenous church leaders. Dr. Munson has initiated, built, and managed leadership development programs extensively in Africa and Asia. During his time living in Ethiopia between 2008 and 2013, he developed and led a missionary training program that became the foundation for what FOAMTI is today.
"The goal of Christianity and the work of Christ is not to teach good theology but to bring humans into proper relationship with God. Good theology is helpful in that process, but not the purpose of Jesus."
— Dr. Gary Munson
"What we believe is revealed by our actions and living; therefore there is no good theology outside of godly living."
— Dr. Gary Munson
FOAMTI's Revival
After returning to the United States, the original Ethiopia-based program was discontinued. But in 2022, Dr. Munson picked up the vision again through Fire Over Africa. The program has been revised and improved based upon lessons learned and extensive research into instructional design, adult learning, and cross-cultural education.
Teaching Philosophy
Dr. Munson's teaching voice is informal and conversational — not lecturing at students but walking with them. He is warm, pastoral, and relational, treating every learner as a valued brother or sister in Christ. He uses humor appropriately, tells stories from 35 years of ministry across Africa and Asia, and always points to Scripture and the work of the Holy Spirit. He believes that lack of education does not equal lack of intelligence.
Dr. Munson holds two doctoral degrees and brings deep formation from his studies under Violet Kiteley at Shiloh Bible College. His theology is Christocentric, Spirit-empowered, and missional. He has extensive experience among the Chinese house church movement, across East Africa, and in cross-cultural settings throughout Asia — all of which shapes FOAMTI's curriculum.
Missionary Candidate Prerequisites
Before beginning FOAMTI's training, we recommend the following faith foundations. These are not barriers — they are building blocks that ensure fruitful training.
Faith Foundation
These represent the spiritual readiness that positions a learner to get the most from FOAMTI's curriculum.
Practical Training Activities
These hands-on activities are done alongside your church or sending partner while you study through FOAMTI's courses.
What Our Learners Have to Say
"The Basic Missionary Training Certificate gave me a solid foundation in Scripture, prayer, and evangelism. I was eager to serve but lacked the biblical depth I needed. Now I am equipped and confident to share the gospel in my community."
Abebe Bekele
Church Planter, Ethiopia"The Outreach to Muslims certificate transformed my approach entirely. Instead of debate, I learned patience, love, and how to walk through the Bible's story with my Muslim neighbors starting from Genesis. God is opening doors I never expected."
Fatima Abdi
Missionary, Kenya"I study on my phone in French after my work is done. The courses respect our African context — they don't teach from a Western perspective but from Scripture applied to our daily realities. The character formation emphasis is what sets this apart."
Jean-Claude Ndayisaba
Pastor, DR Congo
Begin Your Journey — Free
for All African Believers
All 63 courses, all 5 certificate programs, all materials — completely free to indigenous African Christians, churches, and ministries. Available online and on the "Going for Jesus" smartphone app.