Baha’is have many ways they like to share their faith with other people, and one of the ways that has always been apart of Baha’i culture is to travel to other lands, learn about other cultures, and share Baha’u’llah’s message of unity and peace to the world.

Although, Baha’is have traveled since the time of the Baha’u’llah to teach about their Faith, it has only been since the time of the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, that the term pioneering came into use. Shoghi Effendi sent out hundreds of Baha’i pioneers during the 10-year crusade (1953-63). The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (4th Edition) defines pioneering as: “1a. To open up (an area) or prepare (a way)b. To settle (a region). 2. To initiate or participate in the development of…” Baha’i pioneers during that time went to countries that had never heard about Baha’u’llah and the Baha’i Faith. They “opened up” the way for people to learn about and accept the teachings of Baha’u’llah. They “developed” Baha’i communities as they “settled” into their new homes.

Unlike Christian missionaries, who are often full-time in their efforts to teach about their religion, Baha’i pioneers are usually self-subsisting. Baha’is often leave friends and extended family far behind to live in distance lands and many times do not return. They spend the rest of their lives working and teaching in a foreign country. Because of the efforts of those early pioneers, the Baha’i Faith is now the second most widespread religion in the world, only Christianity (with all it’s various denominations) is more widespread than the Baha’i Faith.

Another difference between the Baha’i pioneers and most Christian missionaries is the way we teach about the Baha’i Faith. Missionaries are defined as: “1. One who is sent on a mission, especially one sent to do religious or charitable work in a territory or foreign country. 2. One who attempts to persuade or convert others to a particular program, doctrine, or set of principles; a propagandist.” The Universal House of Justice, the supreme governing body for the Baha’i Faith, advises believers on how we should seek to share our Faith with others: “"It is true that Bahá'u'lláh lays on every Bahá'í the duty to teach His Faith. At the same time, however, we are forbidden to proselytize, so it is important for all the believers to understand the difference between teaching and proselytizing. It is a significant difference and, in some countries where teaching a religion is permitted, but proselytizing is forbidden, the distinction is made in the law of the land. Proselytizing implies bringing undue pressure to bear upon someone to change his Faith. It is also usually understood to imply the making of threats or the offering of material benefits as an inducement to conversion. In some countries mission schools or hospitals, for all the good they do, are regarded with suspicion and even aversion by the local authorities because they are considered to be material inducements to conversion and hence instruments of proselytization."

Baha’is are admonished to respect the beliefs and cultural practices of all people. When we pioneer we are not to impose our own cultural beliefs on the indigenous population of that country, but are encouraged to find the commonalities in our existence, rather than to emphasize our differences.

“The Great Being saith: O ye children of men! The fundamental purpose animating the Faith of God and His Religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race, and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship amongst men. Suffer it not to become a source of dissension and discord, of hate and enmity. This is the straight Path, the fixed and immovable foundation. Whatsoever is raised on this foundation, the changes and chances of the world can never impair its strength, nor will the revolution of countless centuries undermine its structure.”
-Baha'u'llah

For more information about Baha’i pioneering view the website www.bahai.org