You know, ever since you were a child growing up on printed and spoken mission stories, that the real adventures in Christianity are to be found when you’re surrendered to God’s will. When the Spirit whispers, “Saddle up your horses, there’s a trail to blaze,” you know there’ll be wind in your face, a racing heart, and you’ll be flying into the unknown—with the Lord leading.

You’ll have the passion of an apostle, who wrote: “And God, whom I so love to worship and serve by spreading the good news of his Son—the Message!—knows that every time I think of you in my prayers, which is practically all the time, I ask him to clear the way for me to come and see you. The longer this waiting goes on, the deeper the ache. I so want to be there to deliver God's gift in person and watch you grow stronger right before my eyes!” Romans 1:8 MSG.

The Quiet Hour and ShareHim, partners in world evangelism, have for many years empowered, educated, and enabled both lay people and pastors to reach far beyond their social and financial boundaries, to places where millions of people are famished for the Living Bread, and thirsty for the Water of Life.

The Quiet Hour is looking for people with passion to preach, teach, heal, help, build, translate, and love.

Evangelism is more than “just” preaching a sermon every night for two weeks, although the speaking job is very challenging and the most visible part of the framework. Scores, perhaps hundreds, of people are standing behind that preacher, for about a year before and a year after that volunteer preacher has come and gone.

Bible workers, local pastors, and church members in your target area are giving individual and small-group Bible studies, knocking on doors and becoming acquainted—and eventually friends—with their neighbors, and leading those people to a personal relationship with Jesus. They’re arranging for meeting and baptismal sites, negotiating materials and transport, discovering needs, and setting a multitude of events in motion for your arrival. The local church conferences, missions, and unions are making arrangements for your safety and comfort, government permits, and other details. All these and much more are coordinated through ShareHim and The Quiet Hour. Then the countries and needs are posted on their websites, and you get to choose which country (or is it really the Holy Spirit?) is “calling” you.

There are also months of follow-up ministry as the new converts are taught the principles of living in Jesus, and nurtured in their faith and Christian culture. On some Quiet Hour events, particularly our Youth Mission Adventure, chapels and school buildings are built in addition to the evangelism meetings, to assist the local gospel work.

On many occasions during the evangelism series, free medical, dental, and vision clinics help relieve pain and begin a healing process, furthering Jesus’ healing ministry (and attracting attendees for the nightly preaching). Recently, quick-thinking pastors preached to the patients as they waited for their appointments, and an additional 79 people chose baptism in Jesus—from the teaching they received at the daytime clinic waiting rooms!

The meetings usually span two weeks, with team members arriving a few days before to acclimate to the culture and become oriented to the evangelism agenda.

Most evening meeting sites have four elements: health and family talks, a children’s program, and the Bible-based preaching.

• Health programs: The Quiet Hour has prepared PowerPoint notes to help teach the importance of healthful living through basic subjects such as foods, rest and exercise, temperance, and hygiene. These talks precede the preaching each evening.
• Family talks: The Quiet Hour also emphasizes healthy family relationships, and teaches respect and honor for family members as depicted in the Bible.
• A children’s program is much like a Vacation Bible School, but includes an invitation to join the family of God. In addition to music and craft-making, The Quiet Hour brings a set of Bible-story felts, and/or hand-made puppets and scripts to perform short morality plays for the children. The puppets and scripts are donated to the host church for use after the teams have gone.
• Preaching: A sermon series complete with graphics is prepared for every speaker, who can customize the sermon outlines. Local translators, usually pastors, relay your English words into the native language.

What happens to the “interests” when our time there is over?
You’ll be overcome with joy at seeing scores or hundreds of people baptized at the end of the meetings, but at least that many more people have dedicated themselves to Jesus and will study the Bible toward the day they’ll also be baptized. This is the “Keep” phase of The Quiet Hour’s Seek-Reap-Keep philosophy of evangelism. Sometimes, so many people join God’s family that there is no room to house them for worship and learning the Bible, so The Quiet Hour may raise funds for, or even build, a chapel or church. Our team members have also felt called by God to contribute funds directly to their new pet projects, whether a stove for a church kitchen, staple foods or a washer for a Christian orphanage, or even land for a chapel. So the relationship continues!

Who should consider a short-term mission trip?

• Boomers and empty-nesters are likely to have stopped thinking about children’s Christian tuition bills, or acquiring more “stuff” that eventually will fill their garages. They are thinking about how to enrich their lives by helping others. And volunteer vacations, sometimes called voluntourism, fit their desire to change the world.
• Single adults of any age who may not feel comfortable striking off alone for several weeks will enjoy the fellowship and adventure of working closely with a group of mission-minded Christians who will bond as lifelong friends during the trip.
• Small groups who regularly meet for Bible study, a Sabbath School class, a service ministry, or prayer partners, can form their own evangelism teams, or financially sponsor an individual or team.
• Teens (14 years and older) and young adults often appreciate an element of “extreme” adventure along with their evangelism activities and a building project. So The Quiet Hour developed a youth outreach called Youth Mission Adventure. From small groups to a “mob” of about 150, they’re led by Pastor Joedy and Judy Melashenko, who offer several opportunities each year.
• Families with kids: School-age children have often accompanied their parents on Quiet Hour evangelism teams, and their ministry is significant. They assist adults by sorting eyeglasses by size and prescription, sterilizing medical and dental instruments, praying with patients to calm them, entertaining other kids who may be fearful of clinicians, distributing gifts and supplies, helping other kids with craft projects, playing soccer and communicating with local children, visiting and praying in hospitals and orphanages, giving a testimony or singing a song at the evening meetings, and sometimes, they’ve even preached! They can carry water and tools to adults who may be working on a building site. Their presence on a visitation team will open doors and soften hearts. In short, they minister in the name of Jesus. This experience can give them a minister’s heart—for life!

How does one finance a short-term mission?
Besides your vacation savings account, you may choose to involve your co-workers (who might be surprisingly receptive to your desire to benefit humanity) or church members in fund-raising activities, whether from passing the hat or offering plate, or from participating in fun runs, bake sales, or car washes. Church groups usually feel “paid back” for their donations when you return with an enthusiastic report and a PowerPoint show of your mission adventure. The Quiet Hour sponsors some team leaders upon application. Short-term mission expenses may be tax-deductible, so check with a tax adviser.

How should one prepare for a rewarding mission trip?

• You can’t even start without prayer. Ask God where and how you fit in His plan, and for Him to begin warming hearts in the mission field. Ask Him to bless those you will serve, and the local evangelists and lay people already working in fellowship and Bible study at the site.
• Be ready for changes in plans, because you’re going on God’s errands, not your own. (God’s way will be much more adventuresome!)
• Have the heart of a servant. Look to the Lord and your team leaders for advice and instruction for the task. Labor as unto the Lord.
• Be sensitive to the culture you’re visiting. Before you go, learn some of the language and customs, recent politics, ancient history, and geography of the region. (Use the Internet, watch the international pages of the newspaper, and visit the public library.)
• Be sensitive to the local ministers you’ll work with. Their experience and expectations may clash with yours, but they’re the ones who remain after you’ve gone home. Do everything in your power to strengthen their ministry.
• If you’re a presenter, memorize the major points of your sermon or talk, and decide where your God-given talent and experience fits in. Practice funny voices for puppet ministry. If you’ll help on a building project, get acquainted with the tools. Learn how to lead a person to Jesus in a few minutes.
• Above all, remember that you are on the mission to represent and model Jesus’ love and grace, and His ministry of redemption and reconciliation. It’s not about enlarging the denomination, but the family of God!

Why am I needed? Aren’t there professionals for this sort of thing?
In some countries, like Honduras, there are only 19 pastors to cover more than 200 church groups—of people already in the faith; but there are thousands of “unbelievers” in every area who also need to find salvation. In Papua New Guinea, villages are separated by jungles, mountains, and other barriers, and their pastors, teachers, and healthcare providers must be flown in. These challenges are worldwide, and you are not just one more “placeholder.” Your spiritual gifts and your willing hands are vitally needed.

“My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God's truth, don't write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering away from God.” James 5:19-20 MSG.

You’ve convinced me! Where do I apply?
Contact The Quiet Hour’s Evangelism department for an application and all information (and eventually, resources) about your voluntourism trip. Canadian applicants, please contact Pastor Roy West, or 800-538-0331. Residents of the United States and other countries, e-mail Charlene West, or call 800-900-9021.

Saddle up your horses!