Interdenominational organization with ministry to young people through churches; founded in 1939 as the Girls Guild, a division of Christian Service Brigade; renamed Pioneer Girls, 1941; first incorporated with a constitution, 1943; became independent from Brigade, 1944; established to provide weekly activity program for girls in local churches; aimed to stimulate growth in all areas of life, provide recreation, and offer an environment in which to learn to live a Christ-centered life; program consisted of weekly meetings, summer camping, leadership training conferences, an emphasis on missions, an achievement program for individual development, and publishing materials for both participants and leaders; encouraged development of similar programs in other countries and provided leadership education and materials to assist these sister movements; began pilot clubs for boys, 1979; changed name from Pioneer Girls to Pioneer Ministries and began program for boys paralleling its long established program for girls, 1980; restructured to three divisions: Pioneer Clubs, Leader Enrichment, and Camp Cherith Camping.
From the description of Records of Pioneer Ministries, 1939-1983. (Wheaton College). WorldCat record id: 31200217
