I’ve had the privilege to spend ten incredible years running the Pioneer programme. It has been a challenging, humbling and profoundly encouraging time.
This is a crucial ministry - not just for the Pioneers, the students of this course, but also for the broader mission of the Church.
The programme is a testament to God’s relentless love for the marginalised and overlooked. It provides hope for those whom society often forgets and reveals so much about the nature of God and his heart for the least of these.
A testament to God’s relentless love for the marginalised and overlooked
Who are Pioneers?
The Pioneer Programme is a missional training course for individuals who are typically considered unreachable or untrainable by conventional standards. These are people who, due to a lack of academic credentials, financial resources or social standing, are often dismissed by mainstream educational and religious institutions.
We intentionally seek out these individuals, offering them training and the opportunity to transform their communities from within. As one of our participants, a former gang leader from Brixton, once put it, he "didn’t think this was going to work out," but he joined because he "had nothing to lose."
Today, he is a passionate missionary, mobilising churches to share the gospel and helping others in his community find their way to Christ.
I have taught theology to some incredible individuals during the last ten years. And this is what I have learned.
100+ CHURCHES
Across London, located in disadvantaged communities, have benefited immensely from a current or former student pioneering mission in their local area.
God doesn't give up on people. We shouldn't either.
First and foremost, I’ve learned not to give up on people, especially those who are often seen as “hopeless cases.” The world may see them as "non-contributing members" of society, but in God’s eyes, they are his children, made in his image and with immense potential.
The programme has shown me that when we invest in these individuals — when we honour and value them — we begin to see the beauty and blessing that God has placed within them. Their transformation is a powerful reminder that God’s word is true and that his plans for these individuals are far greater than anything we could have imagined.
For example, one Pioneer was a former sex worker, someone who might have been dismissed as beyond redemption by many. Yet, through the programme, she found her calling.
She now leads women’s ministries, reaching out to others who are marginalised and stigmatised, helping them find hope and purpose. Her story, like so many others, shows the power of God’s grace to transform the life of every individual. Here and now, as well as for eternity.
54 GRADUATES
From diverse backgrounds and cultures. Each worker results in a church reaching more deprived communities where the gospel is rarely heard. This will continue to grow year-on-year.
We cannot make a difference on our own.
Another lesson I’ve learned is the immense power of partnership. The Pioneer Programme wouldn’t be possible without the support of countless individuals, churches and organisations who believe in our mission.
Whether it’s financial contributions or prayer, the body of Christ working together is what fuels this initiative. The programme is like an aeroplane, and our supporters provide the fuel for it to fly. Without them, the plane would never get off the ground, no matter how well-built.
Their support has been a shared victory, a collective testimony to what can be achieved when we work together for God’s kingdom.
We cannot make a difference on our own.
God is great, and he is worth it.
Finally, perhaps most importantly, God is great. His provision for his people is astounding, and his plans are always better than ours. Time and time again, I’ve seen God work in ways that we couldn’t have orchestrated on our own. He deliberately chooses the unlikely, the overlooked, and the broken to fulfil his purposes. It’s a reminder that no one is beyond God’s reach and that he often works through those the world deems unworthy.
The Pioneer programme reveals so much about God’s heart. It shows us that he is a God who loves the marginalised, seeks out the lost and desires to see people in his kingdom.
It’s a reflection of Jesus’ parable in Luke 14:15-23, where, angered by the excuses people have made to his invitation to his feast, the master sends his servant into the streets and alleys to bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame — those who are often ignored by society. The kingdom of heaven is open to all who will accept that invitation.
My prayer for the future
As I look forward to the next ten years and beyond, I pray I’ll see even more lives transformed through the Pioneer programme. We are already oversubscribed, with more people wanting to join than we can accommodate. But with God’s continued provision and the support of his people, I believe we can expand this programme to reach even more of those who are least likely to hear the gospel. Whether it’s seniors, the young, the homeless, migrants or those of other faiths, our goal remains the same: to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to those who need it most.
I am grateful for what God has done through the programme and for what he will continue to do. It’s a privilege to be a part of this work, and I am excited to see how God will use these incredible Pioneers to further his kingdom.
