"Any believer who leaves his country with the purpose of teaching and serving the Cause is considered a pioneer. The International Teaching Center has clarified that even volunteers who offer a year of service are to be considered short-term pioneers.
Pioneers are not required to serve the Faith full-time. Many pioneers work full-time and/or study and raise a family. Some believers have expressed that they do not wish to be considered pioneers because they only came to work, to retire or to study. Often these “non-pioneers” are the most active members of the community. There are also those friends who consider themselves to be pioneers, but are not very involved in the activities of the community. Only Blessed Beauty can know what it in each believer’s heart."

From a letter of the Continental Pioneering Committee of the Americas written to a National Spiritual Assembly

“...the adventurous spirit which they possess and the vigor, the alertness and optimism they have thus far so consistently shown, qualify them to play an active part in arousing the interest and in securing the allegiance of their fellow youth in those countries”.

Shoghi Effendi