What happens when the gospel first comes to an isolated tribe whose culture in which violence and treachery are considered virtues? In this bonus episode, produced by our friends at the Compelled Podcast, Pioneers president Steve Richardson tells the story of being raised by missionary parents in the jungles of Papua, Indonesia (formerly Irian Jaya) and seeing firsthand how the gospel transformed the Sawi culture. Be sure to check out other episodes of Compelled for more stories of transformation.

Fifty years after arriving in the jungle as a baby, Steve returns, with his father and two brothers. Never the Same is a short film Pioneers produced that documents their trip, including firsthand accounts from people who were alive when they arrived.

The missions classic Peace Child tells the story from the perspective of Don Richardson (Steve’s father). An edition for younger readers was recently released titled Treachery on the Twisted River.

Ready to take the next step, but not sure what it looks like? Schedule a call with our team at Pioneers.org/Start, or chat today.

Do you have to take a test? Should you be fluent in a foreign language? Are you too old? Too young? In a nutshell, what does it look like to join Pioneers? In this bonus episode of the podcast, we talk with Kim, one of our Mission Mentors, about the process of joining a mission organization. Kim shares a bit about her personal story of being a “high maintenance” missionary serving refugees in Western Europe—as well as a bit about her current role, as she helps people discern whether God is calling them to serve among the unreached.

**BONUS Content** Who stole baby Jesus? That’s what everyone was asking when a doll disappeared after a ministry outreach Kim was leading. You’re not going to believe where the doll reappeared, and how God used the incident to bring an entire family to faith in Jesus.

Check out our president, Steve Richardson’s book, Is the Commission Still Great? Steve’s book addresses many of the misconceptions people have about what missions is all about. We’ve got a free small-group curriculum and links to purchase the book at Pioneers.org/myths.

Explore is the first orientation in the process of finding out whether Pioneers is a good fit. You can find out more about what the week looks like here.

Ready to chat with Kim or one of our other Mission Mentors? Go to Pioneers.org/Start to schedule a call.

The Arabian Peninsula is a land of contrasts. Starbucks coffee shops may be ubiquitous, but ancient traditions are hard to overcome. Still, God is at work, and local gatherings of believers are growing. Our guest in this episode has loads of encouraging stories about discipling Arab seekers, and he gives us a glimpse of what church planting looks like in this challenging but rewarding part of the world.

**BONUS Content** Local authorities in our guest’s host city began investigating them, and they had to leave the country in the middle of the night. Less than a year later, they were back on the field in a nearby country. Our guest reflects on how God showed Himself faithful in this unexpected redirection. Getting redirected—either before you go to the field or while you’re there—is a common occurrence for missionaries.

Check out Pioneers’ new book, Items May Have Shifted: When Missionaries Get Rerouted, for five stories of divine disruption.

Check out this article that answers the question, “What does it take to go to the hard places?”

Our Multiply video series gives a glimpse of what church planting looks like in different locations and cultures around the world.

Ready to take the next step, but not sure what it looks like? Schedule a call with our team at Pioneers.org/Start, or chat today.

Have you enjoyed this season of the Relentless Pursuit Podcast? Be sure to give us a five-star rating and leave a review. Also, stay tuned for a few bonus episodes, dropping in the weeks to come.