We were on a mission trip to Mexico in 1988. On the team was an eighteen year old girl who had looked forward to the trip for months. As part of the preparation, their church had prayed for the team and as a part of that prayer time a member of the church predicted (prophesied) that there would be a miracle on the trip. As we finished an outdoor service there in Mexico, she pointed to the blind woman who had come, and told me she thought that the blind lady was the miracle.

I directed her to speak to the pastor to get his approval to pray for the lady, which he granted. Within a few minutes I heard the joyous shouts of the formerly blind lady who received her sight as the team members prayed for her.

That kind of miracle is the kind that Jesus seemed to so easily and commonly participate in. Some would say we could and should see that kind of activity in all of our church services. At that moment in Mexico, it seemed we had entered into that fullness of the New Testament power of healing and miracles.

But I think we all know it is not that easy. With experience in over two hundred mission trips, I have settled on a few practices and methods. These have helped us to pray for thousands of people with as good a result as you can hope for from “just regular people” who go on a short term mission adventure.

First, do not be in a hurry, even if there are lots of people to pray for. You are better off to train your teams and put them in twos to pray, than to just pray one prayer over everyone or quickly rush through a group of people.

Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. 1Timothy 5:22

You need to talk to them and try to figure out their real need and what might be the real issues. Assuming you know why they came forward for prayer can be a big mistake.

News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. Matthew 4:24

As you can see from just this one Scripture, diseases, pain, demon possession, seizures, and the paralyzed all have different symptoms and manifestations. Jesus never prayed the same way twice, even when he was praying about the same set of symptoms. Some blind people were spit on; he covered other’s eyes in mud, others he simply touched. There is a lesson there for us. Each of us is unique and our situation is interwoven in that uniqueness. Take it slowly and at a pace where you can hear His voice to know the particulars and have the faith that you will need.

Going slowly also helps you to pray and gain faith. Being in the presence of God not only raises your faith level but also helps clarify the possible sources and solutions that will apply to the unique individual that is there before you. Without that faith, often nothing will happen.

And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. Matthew 13:58

Giving the process enough time also helps us to avoid some of the common mistakes that can be devastating when praying for sick people. Demons are not responsible for all disease and sickness. Sometimes people have just neglected their own personal health. Helping them to see their neglect is better than casting out a non-existent demon.

A headache caused by stress, lack of sleep, too much caffeine, no caffeine, or dehydration needs to be dealt with; without casting out a demon. If we use that as the source of all symptoms then if it does not work, the person may assume that the God we are talking about is not as strong as the demon that we tried to deal with. Getting a good night’s sleep or drinking a large glass of water can be the real cure and not an aggressive prayer of ignorance.

On another mission trip, we were asked to pray for an elderly lady who was dying. We visited her home and found she was in great pain. Every step she took caused her to wince. We prayed a quick prayer first and then realized we needed to really pray for her. Getting to our knees we prayed, worshipped, sang a little, and really sensed the Lord’s presence. After that time of prayer she started to speak, “my hands, my feet, my arms.” She went through the list of her body parts that no longer hurt, and eventually realized she had been healed. Do not be in a hurry.

Next, we show compassion throughout the process, regardless of the outcome. We can guarantee that people will experience love no matter what else they experience. They are not an object of pity, scorn, or experimentation. They are loved by God and us in as tangible a way as possible.

That can mean simple acts of service, cleaning their home, taking a walk with them, listening, or just sitting nearby. Each of these can give us better insight to the real problems and help their faith rise as they see Christ’s love through us.

Those two consistent acts have been the foundations that our teams build upon for their faith challenges in the areas of healing. We also work hard at helping prepare them for the health issues they will face as they carry out the mission in sometimes difficult situations.

We cannot ignore our own health either. It cannot be taken for granted. There are examples of some of the early followers of Christ whose noble efforts of hard work and sacrifice actually put them at death’s door.

But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me. Philippians 2:25-30

From the beginning of our planning and training, we encourage them to get in shape and come to the trip rested and ready for what may lie ahead. It is not uncommon to walk five to ten miles a day on a trip. For many people that is more exercise than they do in a week.

Being rested before the trip is a challenge because so many people are taking care of last minute preparations, but a good night’s sleep the night before goes a long way towards alleviating the challenges of travel.

Once on the trip we make sure there is enough good water around for everyone and that we sleep an appropriate amount. Participants who have lived through a day of walking and working and new activities need their sleep. If we deprive them of it we could put them at risk for sickness or accidents. That also means that when they get home they will have lived a lifestyle on the trip that they could also live at home.

If we push too hard and send them home exhausted they may forget the great things they were a part of and make a negative impression on those they return to. Pushing too hard on a trip also makes it difficult to fulfill the basic issues for prayer for the sick as well as, “don’t be in a hurry”, and “showing love.”

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25

Often participants return home in better shape and spirits than when they came. Good healthy food, plenty of water, helpful exercise, and a good night’s sleep will help anyone get back on track with their lives.

These simple guidelines have helped us to take over three thousand people on teams and see a great variety of the miraculous on these trips. When Jesus said to “go” he wasn’t just referring to adult, well trained, professional disciples. He was speaking to all of us. Often when we go for a short term trip we realize what our long term life is all about. If you can be a part of something like this, as a planner, or participant, you will know what I mean.

Mark Schaufler is an author and the founder of Finish-the-Race.org, a youth ministry training program in the United States. He also started and is the CEO of MST Ministries, providing evangelistic preaching, training, and resources; leading numerous short term missions on six continents since 1984. Visit www.mstgo.com to find out more about Mark’s ministry.
The New International Version of the Bible has been referenced.