Steve Richardson and Nathan Burns from Pioneers share their organization's extraordinary journey of bringing the gospel to unreached people groups around the world. Through personal stories and strategic insights, they reveal how cross-cultural understanding, team-based approaches, and innovative methods are accelerating global mission work.
• Founded 46 years ago, Pioneers now has 3,000 workers serving in over 100 countries among 441 unreached people groups
• Steve grew up in a tribe of cannibal headhunters in New Guinea, witnessing his father's breakthrough using the "Peace Child" cultural concept
• Teams typically aim for three couples/singles initially but can grow based on the size and needs of the target group
• Pioneers focuses on matching missionaries' unique gifts with strategic needs rather than forcing standard roles
• Mission work increasingly leverages technology, business partnerships, and involves people of all ages and backgrounds
• Former mission fields are becoming mission forces – Mongolia now sends about 40 missionaries through Pioneers
• Pioneers' 10-year vision aims to engage 250 additional unreached people groups beyond their current 441
• Steve is writing a book called "Silver and Bold" challenging those 55+ to invest 5-10 years in missions
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