44. Jason Lee, First Missionary to the Northwest

The arrival of four Nez Perce Natives at the office of William Clark sparked a sweeping vision for the prospect of missionary labors among the tribes of the Pacific Northwest. The 'Macedonian Call' was heeded by many over the next several years, but the first of the Christian adventurers to venture into the great wilderness was Jason Lee, a young Canadian Methodist who opened the way to the vast and untamed regions of Oregon. Widely regarded as the inspiration behind the creation of the Oregon Territory, this faithful missionary devoted his life to the people he loved, leaving an impact that would permanently shape the destiny of countless others, who became the beneficiaries of his investment of life and faith.