Speaker

Dwight K. Nelson

Dwight Nelson served as lead pastor of the Pioneer Memorial Church on the campus of Andrews University from 1983 to 2023. During his time at Pioneer he spoke on the “New Perceptions” telecast, taught at the theological seminary and has written books, including The Chosen. He and his wife, Karen, are blessed with two married children and 2 granddaughters.

Offering

Part 3 of a 5 Part series
Saturday, September 28, 2013

More In This Series

08/31/2013
Part 1 of a 5 Part series
09/07/2013
Part 2 of a 5 Part series
10/05/2013
Part 4 of a 5 Part series
10/12/2013
Part 5 of a 5 Part series

“The Galilean”—3

www.pmchurch.tv

  • □  Isaiah 43:19/44:3—“I will do a new thing. . . . I will pour water on those who are thirsty and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants and My blessing on your offspring.”
  • □  Matthew 4:16—“The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has dawned.”
  • □  Matthew 15:25—“The woman came and knelt before him. ‘Lord, help me!’ she said.”
    •   Clark Pinnock: “The triune God is a missionary God. . . . Missions are part of God’s strategy for transforming the world and changing history. One goal of missions is quantitative, to baptize and form congregations. The other goal is qualitative, to change life’s atmosphere, to infect people with hope, love, and responsibility for the world.” (A Wideness in God’s Mercy: The Finality of Jesus Christ in a World of Religions 78, 178)
    •   David Platt: “Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell. We owe Christ to the world—to the least person and to the greatest person, to the richest person and to the poorest person, to the best person and to the worst person. We are in debt to the nations. Encompassed with this debt, though, in our contemporary approach to missions, we have subtly taken ourselves out from under the weight of a lost and dying world, wrung our hands in pious concern, and said, ‘I’m sorry. I’m just not called to that.’

      “The result is tragic. A majority of individuals supposedly saved from eternal damnation by the gospel are now sitting back and making excuses for not sharing that gospel with the rest of the world.
      “But what if we don’t need to sit back and wait for a call to foreign missions? What if the very reason we have breath is because we have been saved for global mission? And what if anything less than passionate involvement in global mission is actually selling God short by frustrating the very purpose for which he created us?” (Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream 74, 75 emphasis supplied)

    •   Ellen White: “Jesus is calling for many missionaries, for men and women who will consecrate themselves to God, willing to spend and be spent in his service. O, can we not remember that there is a world to labor for? Shall we not move forward step by step, letting God use us as his helping hand? Shall we not place ourselves on the altar of service? Then the love of Christ will touch and transform us, making us willing for his sake to do and dare.” (CEv 42)
    •   Robert Moffat to young David Livingstone: “Many a morning have I stood on the porch of my house, and looking northward, have seen the smoke arise from villages that have never heard of Jesus Christ. I have seen, at different times, the smoke of a thousand villages— villages whose people are without Christ, without God, and without hope in the world . . . the smoke of a thousand villages . . . the smoke of a thousand villages.”

Will you go for Jesus? Will you give for Jesus? 

Offering for May 16, 2026

Pioneer Operating Budget

Our churches should be sanctuaries, places of safety, not only in their physical structure but also in their psychological and spiritual atmosphere. Every person who enters, whether a regular attendee or a visitor, should feel genuinely welcomed and valued. We must be careful not to judge or criticize others based on appearances or perceived shortcomings. The church is not a place for the perfect—it is a hospital for sinners in need of healing and grace. Kathryn Davis, host of the Magnify podcast and seminary teacher, reminds us that “hiding our imperfections or harshly judging ourselves or others for those imperfections can be [harmful] to our mental health.”1

Jesus Himself faced criticism for spending time with sinners. His response was clear: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17, NIV).

As a church, our mission is to reflect Christ’s love and create a space where people can grow in faith without fear of rejection. Jesus was patient and kind, while Satan, the “accuser of the brethren,” seeks to bring shame and make us feel unworthy. Yet, Jesus reassures us, just as He did the woman condemned by the Pharisees: “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no
more” (John 8:11, NKJV).

As we return our offerings today, let us also recommit to supporting a church that embodies Christ’s love—a safe and welcoming home for all.

1 https://www.ldsliving.com/how-to-make-our-church-communities-the-safest-place-to-make mistakes/s/11798

North American Division Stewardship Ministries

The Tent 2026

 

Once again, the Junior High students at Ruth Murdoch Elementary School will lead The Tent this year. This inspiring evangelistic initiative, organized by the 7th and 8th graders, is anticipated to result in several baptisms. The special event will be held nightly from May 8–17 (except Tuesday, May 12), from 7:00–8:00 PM on weeknights, with two meetings on Saturdays at 5:00–6:00 PM and 7:00–8:00 PM. Gather with us at the Tent on M139, in front of Andrews University, to support our students as they share their faith and spread God's love.

 

SCHEDULE

 

Friday, May 8

– Bostith — Whispers of the Enemy

Sabbath, May 9

– Isabel — Hand in Hand

– Anna — Don’t Let God Spit You Out

Sunday, May 10

– Asher — Unseen Protection

Monday, May 11

– Lia — Knowing vs. Learning

Tuesday, May 12

– Concert Night (No Tent)

Wednesday, May 13

– Beya — All Things

Thursday, May 14

– Hady — What Is the “Light”?

Friday, May 15

– Cora — What Prayer Has to Offer, Even When We Don’t See It

– Ariana — Our Identity

Sabbath, May 16

– Diego — Spiritual Transformation

– Maddi — Be Not Afraid, for God Gives Peace

Sunday, May 17

– Sofia — Love Brings Change

Something in Common Sabbath School

Join us for the “Love Like You Mean It” Series! Sessions will be held in the Pioneer Commons each Sabbath morning from 10:30 to 11:30. Everyone is welcome!

  • March 28: Session One - Everything Minus Love = Nothing
  • April 11: Session Two - Love is Patient
  • April 18: Session Three - Love is Kind
  • April 25: Session Four - Love is Humble
  • May 2: Session Five - Love is Generous
  • May 9: Session Six - Love is Easy Going
  • May 23: Session Seven - Love is Virtuous
  • May 30: Session Eight - Love is Honest
  • June 6: Session Nine - Love is Tenacious
  • June 13: Session Ten - Love Never Fails