Frequently Asked Questions

HealthCare Ministries is the worldwide medical missions outreach of Assemblies of God World Missions and is subject to the authority of that governing body.

The purpose of HCM is to demonstrate God's love and compassion in all aspects of our ministry and to give people an opportunity to know and accept Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives.

As requested by the Assemblies of God foreign fields and missionaries, HealthCare Ministries endeavors to fulfill this purpose through short-term medical evangelism teams, health education and working with national and U.S. professionals in long-term efforts overseas. The ministry also carries out disaster relief efforts when asked to do so.

HealthCare Ministries over the past 25 years has had the privilege of holding 382 clinics in 86 different countries, treating 387,775 patients and seeing approximately 84,755 of the unsaved accept Jesus as their Savior in a one-on-one witness situation. (Statistics as of 4/09)

The home office, which is located in Springfield, Missouri, is staffed by appointed AGWM (Assemblies of God World Missions) missionaries, AGWM missionary associates, General Council of the Assemblies of God employees and volunteers.

Healthcare Ministries is funded by donations from interested people. Our fiscal responsibility is monitored by Assemblies of God World Missions. All official tax-deductible donations are receipted by our parent organization, the General Council of the Assemblies of God. See HCM Trips Information concerning expenses for team members.

HealthCare Ministries has a Church Team Department that can assist the church team in many ways including resources, health education materials, training and consultation as needed. Contact the Church Team Department Coordinator at (417) 866-6311 or send an e-mail to churchteams [at] healthcareministries [dot] org

Yes. There is a registration process for all church teams going on a short-term mission trip. This includes signing an Assumption of Risk form and registering for international insurance. With the increased unrest in the world it is very important for every team to register with AGWM in case an unsafe situation arises in the country of the outreach.

Call Team Processing Assistant (417-862-1447 Ext. 2067) for more information.

Yes. The unreimbursed travel expenses (transportation, meals, lodging) incurred in performing the project are tax deductible. The value of his/her labor is not deductible.

Each medical professional will need to check with his/her malpractice insurance provider. However, generally malpractice insurance does not cover medical practice outside of the USA.

No.

The most significant long-term impact comes from sharing God's love through compassionate care and sharing the plan of salvation with every patient (not in sensitive countries). Medical professionals need to focus on health education esp. for chronic diseases (hypertension, diabetes, heart disease) instead of prescribing a medication when no follow-up care medication supply is available.

Yes, definitely. Although medications can not be dispensed nurse practitioners, physician assistants and nurses can do physical assessments and health teaching for the identified problems. This is true for physical therapists, occupational therapists, etc. Health education should be a focus for all medical interventions.

Be sure to always have several phone numbers for contact in the country i.e. missionary's home, office, cell phone numbers, hotel phone number and national pastor's phone number. It is surprising but many people in foreign countries now have cell phones.

Every country is different and the missionary will need to check on the requirements. In some countries, the medical professionals' documents i.e. licenses, college transcripts are required prior to the teams arrival. Also, some countries will not allow medications to be brought in and the medications need to be purchased in country.

Start all of this process early!

There are many ways you can help! Please see our Get Involved page for specific information and how to contact us. Thank you!

Visit our Supply List for detailed information regarding donations and where to send them.

HCM's emphasis is not on constructing permanent buildings such as hospitals or clinics. HCM focuses on short-term medical evangelism trips, health education, Community Health Evangelism (CHE) trainings and professional consultations in existing medical facilities as requested by AG missionaries or AG national leaders.

The medical teams go where invited by AGWM missionaries and the clinics are one to two weeks in duration. The teams are composed of volunteers who have made application to HCM. After each application is processed and approved, the volunteer is notified that he/she has been approved as an HCM team member. The volunteer requests to participate in a particular trip. Every effort is made to honor the volunteer's preference; however each team is filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. A $200 administrative fee is required to hold a place on a trip and the money is applied toward the team member's total expense for the trip.

There is limited space on the teams for non-medical support people. The size of the team requested by the AG missionary and the medical professionals needed to provide direct services directly affects the number of non-medical volunteers. Often the support positions are filled by spouses of the medical professionals. However, non-medical volunteers are encouraged to contact HCM concerning specific trips.

HealthCare Ministries is primarily engaged in short-term clinics but is also involved in facilitating longer-term assignments.

No. In the application process the applicant has to write a statement concerning his/her Christian beliefs and testimony. A reference letter from the pastor is also required.

No. HCM must be invited by an AGWM missionary and the trip approved by the Assembly of God leaders for the specific region of the world.

Yes. Contact should be made to the HCM Logistics Department to discuss opportunities for specialists.

Yes. Contact should be made to the HCM Logistics Department to discuss opportunities for specialists.

Trips vary from $1600 to $4000, depending on airfare, in-country expenses, visas, etc. A final budget is usually available approximately four months before trip departure.

(1) Download from website application and checklist of items required to accompany the application. Complete, and send to HCM.

(2) If you want to join a specific trip listed under Future Trips, please check under "professionals needed" for any positions still open.

(3) Check with HCM before sending in $200 administrative fee to make sure there is an opening for you on your trip of particular interest (unless you are open to any future trip).

Funds can be raised by through friends, family, home church, etc...See sample fundraiser letter. All funds are "tax deductible donations" and a receipt will be sent to every donor.

Payment number one is due 120 days before trip (dependent on ticketing for flights). Payment number two is due 60 days before trip

You will need to obtain a passport if you do not already have one. Get your passport early, as you may need to send it away to get a visa. Regardless of whether a visa is required, you are required to display your passport when entering or leaving any country. Your passport should be valid for at least six months (preferably one year) beyond your scheduled return date.

HCM will direct you in making travel arrangements after you have been approved for the trip.

The medical evangelism team composition and function on the mission field is based on the missionary's goal for the outreach. This can be a full medical team with medical, optical, dental and pharmacy to a health education team, disabilities outreach team, etc.

The role of a nurse on the team ranges from RN evaluator (assessment and triage), pharmacy, laboratory and treatments to health educator.

Support volunteers are valuable members of the team and are utilized in all area of the clinic as the needs arise. Flexibility and a servant's heart are needed.

This depends on the sensitivity of the country. The AG missionary will direct the team members on how to handle spiritual witnessing. Every team member must follow the instructions of the AG missionary.

HCM has a Church Teams Department.

An annual Medical Evangelism Forum is held to assist churches who are taking medical teams or want to take medical teams.

Yes. Special international travel insurance is provided for all team members.

Yes, medical students are welcome to join a short-term medical team. Also, HCM can assist in securing a longer assignment for individual medical students as requested.