I am so surprised to see such a negative review on Pioneers! I lived overseas under Pioneers for two years. I was so grateful for the vetting and training done before the trip and the debriefing afterwards. In fact, I wish before going overseas that I had been a bit more forthright on my own shortcomings so that I could have been even better prepared and perhaps could have lived overseas longer. I had gone to a four year Bible college and taken extensive cross-cultural courses, so I could complain about Pioneers asking anything extra of me. However, I would much rather be over prepared than under prepared. I am glad Pioneers sees preparation and debriefing as pivotal.
I did raise what some might call a lot of support, but Pioneers provided a lot of benefits for that support. Some non-profits don't account for member care or ask their workers to plan for retirement. Pioneers does. They also have you save for emergencies and for trips to and from your place of work. That means when it's time to come back to the States, you aren't trying to buy tickets last minute with no funds. Their overseas care, and the way they prioritize working within teams is excellent.
I worked in the home office for awhile and had mostly wonderful interactions there as well. I had one gentleman up the chain of command that was difficult to work with, and he alone is why I am not giving Pioneers five stars. That gentleman is no longer with Pioneers USA. The people within the organization love the Lord, and they try their best to give him glory while providing for the needs of their workers.
Like all religious and non-profit organizations, Pioneers is comprised of humans, imperfect beings. They do their best, and they do a great job. It is tough to find, prepare, give ongoing care and then after care for so many people in so many places. I am proud of how well Pioneers does it. read more
