Frequently Asked Questions

Are you exploring how God is leading you toward serving cross-culturally or trying to understand how Pioneers sends and supports? Here are some questions you might be asking. If you don’t find the answers to your questions here, please reach out to us at [email protected] .

Why Pioneers

What is Pioneers mission statement?

Pioneers mobilizes teams to glorify God among unreached peoples by initiating church planting movements in partnership with local churches. Learn more about our values and belief here.

What is Pioneers focus? In what part of the world and with what people groups does it work?

Pioneers focuses on church planting among unreached peoples, with emphasis on five major unreached people blocs that are found around the world: T (Tribal) H (Hindu) U (Unreligious/Secular) M (Muslim) B (Buddhist).

How does Pioneers determine how to do ministry?

Our organization operates with flexibility at its core. Rather than relying on rigid policies or rules, we prioritize adaptability—recognizing the value of tailoring approaches to suit diverse individuals and evolving circumstances. Field-driven teams are empowered to adopt practices that best reflect their unique contexts, with field leadership ensuring accountability and alignment. While we embrace this decentralized and responsive model, we remain fully compliant with all CRA regulations and Ontario Employment Standards.

How big is Pioneers?

Pioneers currently has around 3000 personnel worldwide sent from mobilization bases in Canada, the United States, Ghana, Singapore, UK, Australia and New Zealand. A dozen more mobilization gateways are emerging around the globe. We continue to see our membership grow.

How old is Pioneers?

Pioneers was started in the US in 1979. The first few teams were sent to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Africa. Pioneers Canada was formed out of a merger with World Outreach Fellowship in 1993. WOF had served the Canadian church since 1982 in sending short-term teams through SPRINT and in sending long-term workers primarily to unreached areas of Latin America. In 2010, Pioneers and Arab World Ministries united to strengthen the work in the Middle East and North Africa.

What is Pioneers denominational affiliation?

Pioneers is an interdenominational organization. Our Statement of Faith can be found here. In matters not addressed by our Statement of Faith, Pioneers acknowledges differing points of view provided they are based on the Bible as the supreme authority, and that no interpretation or practice will undermine the work of the gospel or the unity among those with whom we serve. We seek to live, work, and relate to one another in a spirit of love and humility, as outlined in Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 13, and other passages.

Cross-Cultural Ministry and Church Planting

The local church is a core value of Pioneers; we require that each of our members have a relationship with their local, sending church. The local church is essential in providing accountability, encouragement, prayer and financial support.

As much as possible, teams work together with others who share the same vision, collaborating toward making disciples in the local context.

Being team-centered is a core value, and Pioneers prefers that all members serve on teams. However, in order to respond to new visions and opportunities, Pioneers will sometimes send out individuals. These individuals will commit to working with mobilization bases to recruit more people to join them.

Rather than holding to a particular method of planting churches, Pioneers workers, in dependence on the empowering of the Holy Spirit, seek to make disciples and plant churches following Biblical examples (as opposed to following our own cultural traditions and experiences). Since Pioneers follows a field-led leadership model, teams have the flexibility to engage in church planting efforts that suit their unique cultural context.

Yes, Innovation and Flexibility is a core value of Pioneers.

Within the framework of team, Pioneers empowers members to pursue the calling that God has placed on their lives. Workers apply to serve on a team and the team will evaluate whether your vision and the way they are serving in the community align before accepting you to the team. On the field, team members collaborate to determine their ministry focus.

Team decisions are usually made by consensus. If the Team Leader wants further input, he or she will consult with other Pioneers leadership.

In matters not addressed by our Statement of Faith, Pioneers acknowledges differing points of view provided they are based on the Bible as the supreme authority, and that no interpretation or practice will undermine the work of the gospel or the unity among those with whom we serve. We seek to live, work, and relate to one another in a spirit of love and humility, as outlined in Romans 14, I Corinthians 13, and other passages.

Member Care

In matters not addressed by our Statement of Faith, Pioneers acknowledges differing points of view provided they are based on the Bible as the supreme authority, and that no interpretation or practice will undermine the work of the gospel or the unity among those with whom we serve. We seek to live, work, and relate to one another in a spirit of love and humility, as outlined in Romans 14, I Corinthians 13, and other passages.

As with member care, accountability on the field occurs primarily within the framework of the team, but also on a variety of different levels. Team members are to hold each other accountable for life/ministry issues on a regular basis. Each year, team members are to complete an Annual Ministry Plan (AMP) for ministry, personal, and spiritual growth. Team leaders are responsible for holding team members accountable to the AMP. Other areas of accountability include area leaders, member care staff and the local church.

Education of children is at the discretion of the parents. Given the situation, parents may home school or send their child(ren) to a national school, a Christian school, an international school or a boarding school. Pioneers Member Care Team can work in conjunction with the parents to evaluate the options for the care and education of their children if requested.

Pioneers takes child safety very seriously. All new members must provide a criminal background check and participate in Pioneers Safeguarding Training, which explains our practices for safeguarding those in the vulnerable sector (children and vulnerable adults). Every member also completes safeguarding training annually and agrees to abide by Pioneers safeguarding policy to ensure we are holding to the highest safeguarding standards.

Financial FAQs for Donors

Before missionaries begin serving on the field, we retain 10% of every contribution for administrative expenses. These include the cost of receipting gifts, sending donor statements and maintaining legal compliance with our financial activity. Once they are overseas, we retain an additional 2% for international leadership. This provides care and accountability for missionaries and missionary teams.

Pioneers is a faith-based mission in which the majority of personnel depend on the Lord for the provision of their paycheque. Teams of churches and individuals partner together with each worker to provide their necessary prayer support, salary and work expenses. That said, they are also employees of Pioneers. Each month they receive a set salary that is determined by the needs of their family and ministry and the standards of living in their part of the world. Regardless of fluctuations in the amount of donations received, they receive the same salary each month, provided the funds are available. All the gifts given to support missionaries are available to them if they have special ministry needs above their salary.

If you desire to give a gift to a missionary for their birthday or Christmas or simply to bless them, and you are not wanting a tax-deductible receipt for it, we suggest you give it to them directly. There is no need for us to process these gifts, and it is nice for them to receive directly from you.

We intentionally leave missionary names and project numbers off the website for their safety.

You can click on the Let’s Talk icon on the top of your screen to communicate with a representative, or call us at 519.268.8778 or email us at [email protected]

To cancel a recurring gift login to your Portal and click on the recurring gift tab to make any changes. You can also always call us at 519.268.8778 or email us at [email protected]

To update your contact information you can login to your Portal and make changes to your accouont.You can also always call us at 519.268.8778 or email us at [email protected]

You can update your credit card information you can login to your Portal and make changes to your accouont.You can also always call us at 519.268.8778 or email us at [email protected]

Yes, please indicate how you would like to receive it when you set up the donation, or change it in your profile at any time, or contact us at [email protected]

If you have any questions or if we can help you further in any way, please email us at [email protected]

Finances for Goers

This varies on country, city, team and your personal or family situation. You will work with our finance team and the leader of the team you are joining to create an appropriate personal and ministry budget.

Pioneers members have the option to enrol in our group medical insurance plan.

In most cases, Pioneers requires that all debt is paid off before leaving for the field, however, this can be discussed during the interview and appointment process. Disclosure of school loans or personal debt should be addressed before someone applies to join Pioneers.

All donations are given to the organization not to an individual. The donor gets a tax-deductible receipt. We honor the donor’s wishes and put the funds in the worker’s approved ministry or project account to be used for the worker’s salary, ministry, and/or project expenses.

Employees may hold a second job or own a business as long as it does not conflict with their Pioneers responsibilities. Often the other employment enhances ministry by opening doors and providing ministry opportunities. Missionary support schedules will take other employment into consideration when determining the amount of funds a worker needs to raise.>

Qualifications and steps to become a missionary

  • Evidence of the fruit of the Spirit and healthy interpersonal relationships.
  • Faithfulness and some measure of effectiveness in ministry. Foundational understanding of biblical, theological, and missiological concepts.
  • Committed to personal growth and ongoing learning and reflection within a diverse international fellowship.
  • Testimony to God’s leading to cross-cultural service.
  • Written recommendation and endorsement of the Sending Church.
  • Agreement with Pioneers’ Statement of Faith.

All missionaries must be 18 years old or older. We also welcome those considering missions later in life to explore possibilities with Pioneers; the experience, skills, and maturity that the Lord has given you over the course of your life could lead to rich, eternal impact for His kingdom.

Long term workers and Venture interns are required to have a solid and growing understanding of the Bible. As a minimum, it is recommended that you have completed the following courses:
  • Survey of the Old Testament
  • Survey of the New Testament
  • Overview of Bible doctrine
  • How to study the Bible
  • Principles and history of missions
    • These courses do not have to be formal classroom training and can be completed online. Each person will be assessed during their interview and requirements and recommendations may be given. Bible courses can be completed after the interview but should be completed prior to the start of full-time ministry.

    All long-term workers are required to attend our Candidate Orientation Program (COP) and complete safeguarding (child protection) training, peacemaking (conflict resolution), and security training. Further individualized training requirements are determined during your interview. Pioneers offers in-person cross-cultural ministry training including Discipleship Training Communities.

    Divorce will not disqualify anyone from consideration. We look at each person’s case individually. We apply grace while maintaining respect for Biblical standards regarding the issue.

    Next Steps

    If you still have questions, or want to talk to us about joining Pioneers please connect with us.

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