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How to be More Like Jesus

The Impossible Dream

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Dwight K. Nelson

Since 1983, Dwight Nelson has served as lead pastor of the Pioneer Memorial Church on the campus of Andrews University. He preaches on the “New Perceptions” telecast, teaches at the theological seminary and has written some books, including The Chosen. He and his wife, Karen, are blessed with two married children and 2 granddaughters.

Offering

Living life the way Jesus did. It seems like an impossible dream. But could the secret to living a more Christ-like life be easier than you think?
Saturday, January 11, 2014

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01/18/2014
The Implausible Prayer
"The Implausible Prayer" begins with the latest astronomy headline and ends with a knock at your door. See how this one implausible prayer can help you be more like Jesus.
02/01/2014
The Impregnable Gift
What does God do to protect His most precious possession on Earth? He bestows upon it this Impregnable Gift.
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“How To Be More Like Jesus: The Impossible Dream”

www.pmchurch.tv

□ Revelation 14:1-5, 12, 14

 Stuart Devenish: “Every Christian generation has produced two kinds of Christians: the

common, ordinary garden variety, and those who have discovered the . Some call this deeper life entire sanctification. Others call it the baptism with the Spirit. . . . Whatever the label, it reflects a deep experience of .” (Beyond Well-being: Spirituality and Human Flourishing 58)

□  The Call of Jesus

  •   Matthew 4:19—“‘.’”
  •   Matthew 10:25—“‘It is enough for students to be their teachers, and

    servants their masters.’”

  •   John 13:15—“‘I have set you an example that you should do

    for you.’”

  •   Matthew 11:28, 29—“‘ to me . . . and from me, for I am gentle

    and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

□  The Call of the NT

  •   1 John 2:6—“Whoever says, ‘I abide in Him [Jesus],’ ought to walk

    walked.”

     1 John 2:6 NIV—“Whoever claims to live in Him must as Jesus did.”

  •   1 Peter 2:21—“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an

    example, that you should follow .”

  •   2 Corinthians 3:18—“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory,

    are being transformed into .”

  •   Thomas a Kempis: “Let us therefore see that we endeavour beyond all else to meditate

    on the life of Jesus Christ. . . . Anyone who wishes to understand and to savour the words of Christ to the full must try to make his whole life to the pattern of Christ’s life.” (The Imitation of Christ 37)

  •   Ellen White: “His beautiful and spotless character is before us as an example for us to . We must study and copy and follow Jesus Christ, then we shall bring His loveliness and beauty into our character.” (Christ Triumphant 43)
     That I May Know Him 265: “Christ is our pattern, the perfect and holy example that

    has been given us to follow. We can never equal the Pattern, but we may

    and resemble it according to our ability.”

  •   1 John 3:1-3—“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be

    called of God! And that is what we are! . . . But we know that when Christ appears, we shall him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies themselves, he is pure.”

□  But how?

 I want to be more like Jesus I’m following in His ways

I’m trying to love as He did In all that I do and say

At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice
But I try to listen as the still small voice whispers:

“Love one another as Jesus loves you
Try to show kindness in all that you do

Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought For these are the things Jesus taught.”

I’m trying to love my neighbor
I’m learning to serve my friends

I watch for the day of gladness When Jesus will come again

I try to remember the lessons He taught

Then the Holy Spirit enters into my thoughts saying:

—adapted from Janice Kapp Perry 

Pioneer Memorial Church Announces New Associate Pastor

Pioneer Memorial Church is delighted to announce the selection of Jacob Gibbs as a new Associate Pastor. Pastor Jacob was introduced to Pioneer on July 27, 2024, although his official start date was July 18, 2024. Pastor Jacob will serve as Associate Pastor at Pioneer Memorial Church and an Associate Chaplain with the Center for Faith Engagement at Andrews University.

Pastor Jacob Gibbs felt a call to ministry when he accepted Jesus as his Savior in 2002. Over the next nine years, he pursued his purpose and training at Mission College of Evangelism and Andrews University—gaining experience as a Bible Worker and Literature Evangelist. Pastor Jacob graduated from Andrews University in 2011 with a Bachelor's in Art and Theology. He later returned for his Master's Degree in Pastoral Ministry.

During his undergraduate years, he met his wife, Emily Knott, and they were married in 2012. Pastor Jacob has served in the Michigan Conference for 13 years, starting with a three-church district in the central part of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and most recently as the Senior Pastor of the Cedar Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church at Great Lakes Adventist Academy. Pastor Jacob's passions in ministry include hobby-based outreach, small groups, applied arts, and personal Bible studies. Pastor Jacob and Emily have two daughters, Eva and Avianne. They look forward to starting this new chapter of their lives by serving the communities of Andrews University and the Pioneer Memorial Church.

Offering for July 27, 2024

Michigan Advance Partners

One of the greatest and most significant challenges hindering the advancement of Adventist Education's mission is financial.

A growing percentage of our students require financial support, placing increasing financial pressure on our schools and churches. The Christian Education Scholarship Endowment Fund plays a crucial role in mitigating this challenge, but its current size is insufficient to address the collective problem. This endowment ensures that the funds placed within it remain intact in perpetuity.

In other words, the principle amount is never touched, but the annual earnings are used to provide scholarships for elementary, secondary, and college students. We are grateful that we can currently distribute approximately $100,000 per year to students, making a meaningful impact in the lives of students across this Conference.

If you are inclined and impressed to contribute to this fund, you can specify Michigan Advance Partners on your tithe envelope, donate online or give a loose offering today.

By Heather Thompson Day

—North American Division Stewardship Ministries

AU Sabbath Vespers - Class of 2024

You are invited to join the Andrews University Summer 2024 graduates and their families as we close the Sabbath with music and appreciation at the Howard Performing Arts Center on August 3 at 8 PM.

Requesting Donations of Used Pathfinder Uniforms for Cuba

Cuba seeks help for their Pathfinder Clubs and is asking donations of used formal Pathfinder uniforms by 7/27. Donations can be made to PMC Pathfinder Director, Errol Prentice (email: errol.prentice@pmchurch.org; 269-277-4256). He will take them to Gillette and put them into the shipping container heading to Cuba.

Memorial Service for Linda Thompson

Please join us in celebrating the life of Linda Sherwin Thompson on Sunday, August 4, at 4 PM in the Pioneer Memorial Church sanctuary. Live-streaming will be available for those unable to attend in person.

Family Life Encounter: Summer Challenge

Join us for the Family Life Encounter: Summer Challenge, a Choose Your Own Adventure style activity and reading challenge designed to help strengthen our relationships with each other and God. Text "Challenge" to 269-281-2345 to download the challenge handout.

Download Handout for Challenge

Turn in your challenge handout at the Pioneer reception desk when it is completed to be entered into prize drawings! For more information, contact simplestirrings@yahoo.com.

Annual Backpacks for Berrien "Stuff-the-Bus"

It is time again for our annual Backpacks for Berrien "Stuff-the-bus." Help ensure students come to school this fall with the tools needed to learn. Get the supplies needed for success and deliver them to the bus, July 26 at Apple Valley parking lot from 4:00 - 7:00 pm. For a list of items needed check out our website: backpacks4berrien.org.

Pioneer Memorial Church Announces New Pastor for Administration

Pioneer Memorial Church is delighted to announce the selection of K. Hans Miranda Chavez as the new Pastor for Administration starting July 1, 2024.

Pastor Hans Miranda Chávez was born in Chiclayo, Peru, and moved to the U.S. at the age of six, where he grew up in Massachusetts. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2011 to 2015, he earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts Lowell in 2019. In 2023, Hans married Cassidy, who played an influential role in guiding him towards pastoral ministries. Now, Hans is pursuing a Master of Divinity degree, and his wife, Cassidy Miranda Chávez, is the Marketing and Communications Director at the Center for Youth Evangelism and volunteers with the Pioneer Media Ministry.

Hans and Cassidy are eager to serve the Pioneer Memorial Church community and be part of the church family in this new role. Let's extend our warmest welcome and support them in this new step!

Changes to ADRA Giving Options

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventist have decided to simplify the number of donation options. Historically, a significant number of options have been available when giving to ADRA allowing donors to specify a specific project or program. Going forward all currently existing ADRA donations will be consolidated into 5 major categories.

ADRA Health Programs
Poor health is often at the heart of poverty and suffering. Giving to the ADRA Health fund helps build healthier lives for those we serve by improving access to safe water sources, providing hygiene and sanitation solutions, helping families access nourishing food, supporting pregnant women and mothers, and delivering reliable health support.

ADRA Education Programs
Education for all helps safeguard against chronic poverty, violence, abuse, exploitation, and even reduces vulnerability to natural disasters. The ADRA Education fund will help remove obstacles to learning by providing access to primary, secondary, and tertiary education, delivering school supplies, uniforms, and other resources, teaching adult literacy classes, and providing technical and vocational education.

ADRA Livelihood Programs
Livelihood training is a key contributor to breaking the cycle of poverty. The ADRA Livelihoods fund will help end generational poverty by empowering savings and loan groups in vulnerable communities, preparing communities for climate resiliency, training farmers to improve their methods, and empowering women to become business leaders in their communities.
ADRA Emergency Response and Preparedness
When disaster strikes, those whose lives are the most at risk are often furthest from help. Every year, ADRA responds to more than 100 emergencies around the world: earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, droughts, civil strife, and more. Contributions to the ADRA Emergency Response and Preparedness fund will help support a global network of offices and partners to quickly mobilize resources and bring relief to the hardest-hit areas.

ADRA General Fund
ADRA, the global humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church delivers relief and development assistance to individuals in more than 120 countries. Gifts to ADRA will provide families with emergency aid in times of crisis or natural disaster and longer-term, sustainable assistance to people battling chronic hunger, homelessness, and other life-threatening challenges, so they can live as God intended.

 

Pioneer Spiritual Life Survey

This quick survey will give our church leadership team a better understanding of how to lead our church. All responses are anonymous and every precaution will be taken with the data.

The survey can be found here as well. 


 

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