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.