For many years, The Quiet Hour has encouraged lay people to participate in short-term missions to countries all over the world. On these mission trips, the good news of God’s love is preached in small groups and vast arenas. On many occasions, free medical, dental, and vision clinics are able to relieve pain and begin a healing process, furthering Jesus’ healing ministry (and attracting attendees for the nightly preaching). On other Quiet Hour events, particularly our MP3 youth missions, chapels and school buildings are built in addition to the evangelism meetings, to assist the local gospel work. 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.
 As you lead others to Christ, you’ll also be transformed. You’ll know the difference you can make in the world when you distinguish between your wants and needs, and compare that with the people you’re now serving. You’ll discover how needy you truly are—when you find yourself completely dependent on God.
For the last several years, most of The Quiet Hour’s evangelism outreaches have been planned and executed in partnership with Share Him, formerly Global Evangelism. Most evangelism teams contain 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.
Children’s program
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 hand-made puppets and scripts to perform little 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” (my new friends) 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 (perhaps ex-hippies and Peace Corps types) 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 ministries outreach called MP3. 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!
Retired men and women: Why wait for your employer to release vacation dates? Ha! No need! Join a mission team, or recruit a friend to work with. In 2006, octogenarians Alma Tucker and Jean Zachary (widows of Pastors LaVerne Tucker and Jim Zachary) did their own Quiet Hour evangelism site in the Philippines. They worked hard, preached, and had technological challenges, but were none the worse for wear! They were thrilled to have made what they called their “sentimental journey” to places they’d ministered to during their careers.
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 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 each team leader for $750. Volunteer vacation expenses may be tax-deductible, so check with a tax adviser.
How should one prepare for a rewarding mission trip?
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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.
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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. (Think social studies report. Use the Internet, and visit the public library.)
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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.
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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. (Think social studies report. Use the Internet, and visit the public library.)
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Practice makes perfect? Hardly. However, if you’re a speaker, memorize the major points of your presentation and decide where your personal testimony 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.
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, 800-538-0331.
Residents of the United States and other countries, contact Charlene West, International Evangelism Coordinator, 800-900-9021.
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