This past month, our focus as a Live Dead community was Pioneering.

Not simply going somewhere new.

But being willing to go first—to step into places where the gospel has not yet taken root and help create a pathway for the Church to emerge.

Pioneering requires a willingness to enter the unknown. There may not be a roadmap, an established church, a familiar ministry model, or someone else who has already figured it out. Sometimes the first step is simply showing up, learning the language, building relationships, and asking God what comes next.

One of our Live Dead teams shared a story that captures this value:

“This summer, my husband and I had the chance to do some traveling to the countryside for some camping. It was a beautiful trip but the further and further we went into some of the remote villages we realized how truly remote they are. You could see villages far in the distance in the countryside and mountains. There would not be many reasons for someone to stop at those little places. It brought into new light to me the fact that there are so many that have still not heard the Good News. At one point on our road trip, there was a woman at a small stand in the middle of nowhere making traditional bread on a burning hot stove. It was a really hot day, so truly I do not know how she was doing it. I tried making conversation with her, but she was quite preoccupied. However, I felt led to tell her that God loves her before we left. I cannot say that something big happened or a big conversation, but I felt very convicted when we were leaving to continue our journey. There are so many people who still do not know that God loves them! I hope this lady heard what I said and truly took it to heart: that God really does love her and He loves you!”

Pioneering often begins with small steps.

A conversation.
A new relationship.
A willingness to cross a cultural barrier.
A decision to stay when things are difficult.
A simple act of obedience that creates an opportunity for someone else to encounter Jesus.

The goal isn’t simply to be first. The goal is to make a way for others to follow.

That’s what makes pioneering different from simply going somewhere unreached. We aren’t looking for the next adventure. We’re looking for places where people still don’t have meaningful access to the gospel and asking, “What would it take for a church to exist here?”

That question changes everything.

It means thinking beyond our own ministry and toward the future. It means laying foundations we may never see completed. It means investing in people who will eventually lead their own churches, reach their own communities, and carry the gospel farther than we ever could.

Pioneering requires courage, but it also requires patience.

There will be moments when progress is slow and the path forward isn’t clear. There will be things that don’t work. There will be times when we have to start again. But the uncertainty doesn’t mean God isn’t working.

Sometimes pioneering simply means trusting Him enough to take the next step.

For those of us preparing to serve among the unreached, this value challenges us to ask:

Where is God inviting me to go beyond what is familiar?

Am I willing to begin something I may not get to finish?

Am I more concerned with building something that bears my name, or creating a pathway for the Church to grow?

The unreached don’t just need someone willing to go.

They need pioneers who are willing to stay, learn, adapt, build relationships, make disciples, and lay foundations for a church that can continue long after they are gone.

That’s the kind of pioneering Jesus invites us into.

Looking Ahead

As we move into this new month, we turn our focus to the next core value: Sacrifice.

Because pioneering will always require something from us. Going first means leaving the familiar, embracing uncertainty, and choosing the mission over comfort. But when Jesus is worth it, we discover that what we give up is never greater than what we gain in Him.