We at Pioneer were richly blessed by the ministry of Pastor Ben Martin. Unfortunately, due to tithe shortfalls (not at Pioneer, but in other portions of the conference), Michigan Conference administration has determined that his position will not be filled at this time. Please combine your prayers and patience with mine as we work to cover Pastor Ben’s duties with existing pastoral staff members and volunteers. - Pastor Shane
Gone Fishin'
Part 3
Speaker
Dwight K. NelsonDwight 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
Saturday, April 22, 2017
Program:
As We Begin
Praise to the Lord • Johann Walther | Worship Suite (Isaiah 12): Praise the Lord • Kenneth Logan
Praise
I Will Lift up Your Name • Sweet Sweet Spirit • Still
Prayer
Robert Machado
GO Projects Report
Rodlie Ortiz
Baby Dedication
Eleana Chen Meng presented by Adam & Beverly Brown with José Bourget
Tithes & Offerings
Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy • Traditional American Melody
Children's Story
Gabriel Palacios
Bible Reading
Matthew 13:47-50 NIV
Worship in Music
With a Voice of Singing • Martin Shaw
Sermon
"Gone Fishin'"—3 • Dwight K. Nelson
Connect Card
I Will Make You Fishers of Men
Benediction
I Will Trust
As We Depart
Fantasie • Johann Sebastian Bach
"Gone Fishin'"—3
www.newperceptions.tv
- A fishing story
- Matthew 13:47-51
- The Big Fisherman to the little fishermen: “You must learn this lesson: you do the —I do the .”
- Three points
- Point #1—When the Gospel Net is let down it catches all of fish.
- Point #2—The fish (people) get separated at the the world.
- Point #3—The ones who do the sorting at the end of the world (in the Great Judgement) are the , not the .
- “Don’t be afraid—from now on you will fish for .” (Luke 5:10)
- Three anxiety relievers
- Anxiety Reliever #1—I don’t have to decide who gets “netted” for .
- Anxiety Reliever #2—I don’t have to decide who gets “netted” for .
- Anxiety Reliever #3—Because I don’t have to do the —all I need to do is the .
Jim Cymbala: “Christians often hesitate to reach out to those who are . They want God to clean the fish before they catch them. If someone’s gold ring is attached to an unusual body part, if the person doesn’t smell the best, or if the skin color is not the same, Christians tend to hesitate. But think for a moment about God reaching out to us. If ever there was a “reach,” that was it: the holy, pure Deity extending himself to us who were soiled, evil-hearted, unholy. God could have said, ‘You’re so different from me, so distasteful, I would really rather not get too close to you.’ But he didn’t say that. It was our very that drew his hand of love.” (Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire: What Happens When God’s Spirit Invades the Hearts of His People 141)
- Ellen White: “[Christ] has not committed to us the work of judging character and motive. He knows our nature too well to entrust this work to us. Should we try to uproot from the church those whom we suppose to be spurious Christians, we should be sure to make mistakes. Often we regard as hopeless subjects the very ones whom Christ is drawing to Himself.” (Christ’s Object Lessons 71)
- How to fish for people
- Ask God at the beginning of every day to lead you to someone who needs what can offer.
- Ask God to help you make an to someone.
- “The Big Day” (September)
- “Unlocking Revelation (October)
- “God’s Boot Camp” (October)
- Ask God every morning to be at work in the lives of people you know who need Jesus.
- A story: “This is the smell of the world I died for.”
We do the fishing—He does the sorting
Update on Pastoral Transition at Pioneer
Fellowship Dinner
Pioneer Commons
There will not be any fellowship dinner this Sabbath.
Honduras Mission Team January 2026
The Pioneer Youth Missions team is getting ready for the January 2-12 project in Honduras. The team will be conducting a camp directed by Scott Schalk for about 100 children from the Hogar de Niños and the surrounding community. Additionally there will be many worships, activities and projects at the children's home. Your financial support and prayers are requested. For more information, contact Glenn Russell (glenn@andrews.edu)
Belong: Soup for Students
Soup for Students is just around the corner! Sunday, December 7, at 6 PM in the PMC Commons. We’d love to know what you’re planning to bring—soup, bread, your smile, or all of the above! Simply text “NOURISH” to 269-281-2345 to sign up
Belong: Angel Tree
This holiday season, help make Christmas special for a student/student family by selecting a card from one of the Christmas trees at church. Each card includes a family’s list of needs and wishes—simply choose a card, shop, and deliver your items by December 14th. No need to wrap—we’ll handle that for you! Let’s spread joy together with Belong Ministries this Christmas!
Spring Semester GROW Groups
Spring semester GROW Groups will begin the 1st week of February. If you would like to lead a group please text LEAD to 269-281-2345 or click the link below to submit the attached form on or before December 15. https://pmchurch.org/ministries/growgroups/register
Dr. Woodrow Whidden, 10/15/1944 - 11/11/2025
Woodrow Whidden died peacefully at home beside his loving wife, Peggy, on Tuesday, November 11. He lived a full life devoted to his family, the ministry, teaching and academic writing. Pioneer has been his home church since 1990 when he began teaching at Andrews. Your love, generosity and comforting presence in the days since Woody's passing have meant so much to our family. Everyone is invited to a public memorial service here at PMC on Friday, December 5, at 11 AM. Love and Thanks from The Whidden Family
Offering for November 22, 2025
Michigan Advance Partners
I remember the moment when my wife and I said, “I do” on our wedding day. We made a covenant promise and pledge before God that we would love and be faithful and true to each other. We expressed this covenant of love with words, actions, and gifts to each other! The day we all accepted the Lord, we too made a covenant of love with Him. We honor Him when we take time to worship Him and share His love with others by acts of kindness. But another way we develop our relationship with God and honor and glorify Him is when we return our gifts of time, talents, and our tithes and offerings to Him. "The Lord made a special covenant with men, that if they would regularly set apart the portion designated for the advancement of Christ’s kingdom, the Lord would bless them abundantly, so there would not be room to receive His gifts" (Counsels on Stewardship, p.77).
God has given us this opportunity to enter into a partnership with the Ruler of the universe who is not only interested in the orderly operation of the great galaxies of heaven but also interested in every detail of our lives. Have you set aside your gifts for Him today? Let’s support the ministries around our conference that help people learn more about our God of love.
—Melvin Santos, Kansas/Nebraska Conference in partnership with the North American Division Stewardship Ministries
Happy Health Cooking Demonstration
The Happy, Healthy Holiday 2025 Cooking demonstration will be on Sunday, Nov. 23 from 3:00 to 5:30 PM in the Youth Chapel, with samples for everyone downstairs. They are featuring vegan foods suitable for festive events. This event is being co-hosted by Pioneer Health and Wellness, Healthy Together Friends, and RMES Home and School. To register text "FOOD" to 269-281-2345. Questions: please contact Evelyn Kissinger at evelynkissinger@gmail.com.
Pioneer Women's Ministries 2025 Advent Devotionals
Pioneer Women’s Ministries’ Advent devotionals will highlight a few of the promises of Jesus. To receive the “Red Letter Promises” daily devotionals by email for the first 25 days of December, text the word “ADVENT” to 269-281-2345. You can also receive a short daily text message preview of each day's devotional by providing your cell phone number when you register. We pray you will sense the nearness of Jesus during this holy season through these devotionals.
