Not Just for the Bush

At Anchored International, we often hear the question: “Isn’t your training just for those heading into the bush?” The answer is simple: no.

While every participant experiences a month-long bush segment, our Elite Missionary Training (EMT) is designed for all missionaries—whether they’re going to the jungle, the city, or anywhere in between. The bush segment isn’t about geography. It’s about formation. Let me explain.

1. The Pressure Test — Revealing What’s Inside

We’ve learned that anyone can hold it together for a weekend mission trip or a classroom course. But when you place someone in a stressful, unfamiliar environment for several weeks, their true character surfaces. During our Primitive Phase, we see what rises to the surface—whether it’s resilience, humility, or hidden cracks in maturity.

It’s in this stage that we often identify the heart issues that could one day send someone home from the field: marital tension, pride, poor communication, or an inability to ask for forgiveness. Our goal isn’t to break people—it’s to refine them. We’d rather face those challenges here, in a controlled environment, than have them implode overseas.

2. Building Empathy and Contextual Understanding

Even missionaries who serve in modern, urban settings will encounter people who live differently—often more simply, with fewer resources. The bush segment gives our trainees firsthand understanding of the realities most of the world faces.

That empathy changes the way they teach, disciple, and serve. It builds compassion and shapes a more contextualized gospel, one that connects deeply with the people they’re sent to reach.

3. Cultivating Grit and Confidence

We live in a generation often told that comfort is the goal and hardship should be avoided. The bush segment flips that narrative. It puts participants in a difficult situation—with the right support—and helps them succeed.

The result? Confidence. They leave knowing they can do hard things. And that confidence carries over into the countless challenges they’ll face on the field, whether that’s navigating cultural barriers, enduring loneliness, or persevering when ministry feels fruitless.

Beyond the Jungle: Preparing for Every “Hard Place”

Today, there are no easy mission fields. Cities like London, Paris, or New York may look comfortable on the surface—but they’re spiritual warzones filled with isolation, relativism, and people from every corner of the world.



Because of globalization and the refugee crisis, the nations have come to our cities. That means the urban missionary doesn’t need less training—they need more. More resilience. More cross-cultural understanding. More emotional and spiritual endurance.

Elite Missionary Training provides that. It prepares missionaries not just to survive the field—but to thrive in whatever hard place God sends them.

And yes, for those with physical limitations, we can adapt the bush phase to ensure everyone can participate meaningfully.