ABOUT US
Our Story
Founded in 1979 by Ted Fletcher, Pioneers is committed to finding creative and innovative ways to share the gospel. Our more than 3,000 global members come from diverse professions—business, education, healthcare, the arts, and more—use their unique skills to serve and disciple others. Whether in urban cities or remote villages, our teams immerse themselves in local cultures, learn new languages, and share the gospel in culturally meaningful ways.
Ted Fletcher
In 1952, Ted Fletcher was a Marine fighting in the Korean War. Losing friends in battle, he wondered if he was ready to die. It was then, when a young Billy Graham came to Korea and preached to the soldiers. Ted heard the gospel message and believed.
Four years later, Ted married his sweetheart Peggy. He climbed the corporate ladder, working for companies like Fidelity, Mobil Oil, and the Wall Street Journal. He shared his faith when possible, even leaving tracts in the newsroom. But Ted was troubled by the thought of people worldwide dying without ever meeting a Christian or hearing about Jesus. He wondered, "What did it really matter how many people read the Wall Street Journal?"
After ten years, he submitted his resignation and applied to multiple mission agencies, but they all turned him down due to a lack of a Bible degree, lack of qualifications, old age, and having too many children. A friend suggested he start his own mission board, which he did. Pioneers sent its first missionary to Nigeria in 1979. The office was in the basement of Ted and Peggy's home in Virginia.
"Why should some hear the life-giving message many times before some had the chance to hear it once?"
Ted Fletcher, Founder of Pioneers
Our Journey
1979
Ted Fletcher (1931-2003) and his wife Peggy stepped out in faith and founded Pioneers, driven by a desire to see unreached people come to know Christ.
1994
Pioneers Canada formed out of a merger with World Outreach Fellowship, an organisation focused on the unreached in South America. Pioneers Africa was established as a mobilisation base.
1997
Representatives from Australia, New Zealand, Ghana, and Canada joined with Pioneers USA to agree to become a global mission structure.
1998
Pioneers Europe and Pioneers InAsia were founded. Asia Pacific Christian Mission and South Seas Evangelical Mission became Pioneers Australia and Pioneers New Zealand.
Pioneers International was officially formed, and Ted’s vision for the development of an international network of mobilisation gateways was fully realised.
2005
Pioneers Brazil was formed.
2007
Sudan United Mission/Action Partners became Pioneers UK.
2009
Ameritribes merged with Pioneers to expand a ministry focus to the unreached tribal groups in the western United States and Mexico.
2010
Pioneers and Arab World Ministries merged to strengthen the mission to bring the gospel to the Middle East and North Africa, focusing on this critical region where many remain unreached.
New Horizons, a ministry focused on mobilising Peruvian believers, became Pioneers Peru.
2013
Dominican Haitian Mission Agency became Pioneers Dominican Republic, a pathway to mobilise Christians from the Dominican Republic to the unreached.
2013
Pioneers East Africa was founded.
2025
Today, Pioneers is an ever-growing international organisation with over 3,000 members, continuing to innovate and share the hope of Jesus with those who have yet to hear.
Now
Billions of souls still haven't heard - our part of the Great Commission continues