Out of His deep love for humanity, God changes our lives and asks us to move His love into our community and world. We are uniquely positioned at Andrews University to share the story of God’s love from the residence halls to the farthest parts of the earth. We accomplish our mission by engaging people across generations to be disciples of Jesus through the process of Connect. Grow. Serve. Go.
Pioneer Media supports the local ministry needs related to classroom and teaching technology. It also creates content for and manages Pioneer's online presence and produces our broadcast television program.
We have volunteer teams that help you to serve the church and the neighborhood in a variety of ways. The best place to serve is where you’re using your God-given gifts, talents, and passions the most.
Your financial gift helps support ministry here at Pioneer. From local to global ministry, keeping our facility safe and clean, to outreach and family growth activities, it all provides a space to worship, learn, and grow together. We invite you to Give Purposefully, Give Faithfully, and Give Joyfully.
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.
Hymns of Holistic Wellness: A Hymn Cycle—O for a Thousand Tongues (st. 1, 3, 5-6 of No. 250), It Is Well With My Soul (No. 530), Praise to the Lord (No. 1), The Blood, Above All
Prayer
José Bourget
Children's Story
Deck Yourself, My Soul, With Gladness • Johannes Brahms
Worship in Music
O Be Joyful • Philip Stopford
Homily
“A DIY Guide How to Become the Healthiest University in the World (When Well-being Means More Than Being Well)”
• Waldinger: “It's not just the number of friends you have, and it's not whether or not you're in a committed relationship. It's the quality of your close relationships that matters.”
• Harvard psychiatrist George Vaillant re two foundational elements to the study: “One is love. The other is finding a way of coping with life that does not push love away.”
» 3 John 1-2—a prayer for Mens, Corpus, Spiritus
• English study of retirees: “Spirituality and religion appear to . . . bring [1] a sense of personal meaning; [2] control beyond one's own resources; [3] comfort; and [4] intimacy with a higher power; and they are life transforming, leading people to replace old values with new. . . The findings suggest that older adults who derive a sense of meaning in life from religion tend to have higher levels of life satisfaction, self-esteem, and optimism.” (www.academic.oup.com/psychsocgerontology/article/59/3/P123/563604)
» A DIY guide—5 strategies to grow spiritually (University of Northern Iowa)
• Be . Spiritual truths often come in the form of a still small voice that is difficult to hear above the chaos and confusion of a frantic lifestyle. Set aside time for solitude and meditation. [Go to www.pmchurch.org/projects/newwaytopray]
• Be to the spiritual. Spiritual experiences often come in unexpected forms and packages.
• Be and curious. An attitude of active searching increases your options and your potential for spiritual centering. Meditation may very well allow you to experience tranquility and peace.
• Be to pain and grief. Pain helps us focus on the widest questions of our being. It's a deepener. A life without pain leads to a sparse, shallow existence. Allow yourself to feel your pain fully, then ask, “What is it trying to teach me?”
• Be . Play is a pleasurable, freeing experience. It breeds spontaneous enthusiasm and celebration. When you make music, laugh, sing however you play—listen for sounds of the Spirit. (www.studentwellness.uni.edu/spirituality)
» 1 John 4:19, 10—L-O-V-E
• Steps to Christ: “Such love is without a parallel. . . . The matchless love of God for a world that did not love Him! . . . The more we study the divine character in the light of the cross, the more we see mercy, tenderness, and forgiveness blended with equity and justice, and the more clearly we discern innumerable evidences of a love that is infinite and a tender pity surpassing a mother's yearning sympathy for her wayward child.” (15)
• The love story of Robert and Muriel McQuilken
“O Love that will not let me go”
Offering for January 4, 2025
Pioneer Operating Budget
The first Sabbath of the New Year is an opportunity to press the reset button of our lives, goals, and relationship with God.
If you keep a prayer journal, take it out sometime today and reflect on how God has led in your life and your family’s life. During this self-evaluation, ask God what changes you need to make for the coming year. Then pray for the Holy Spirit to give you strength to transform each area of your life that needs a fix. Jesus emphasized the great principle of life when He said, “But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33, NKJV).
The key word is FIRST. Many people seek the kingdom of God, but they allow the cares of this life to dominate and consume them so they don’t have anything left to give to God. Let’s put Christ and His kingdom first. Jesus didn’t say not to ask for other things such as happiness, security, success, or even money.
When God comes first, He will reorder our lives and show His power by blessing us in all ways according to His purpose. Sometimes He may even bless us through trials. Let’s ask God to empty us of self and fill us with the Holy Spirit each day of this year so we can do what He wants us to. North American Division Stewardship Ministries
—North American Division Stewardship Ministries
Pioneer 2024 Contribution Statements
Contribution Statements for 2024 will be emailed to you toward the end of January 2025. Please ensure that your email address is current. Should you have any questions regarding your email, please contact the church office. If you require a paper copy of your statement, please notify claudia.sowler@pmchurch.org.
AdventistGiving Online (AGO) Contributions
Your faithfulness is very much appreciated. To ensure that your donations are properly credited to your account, when contributing through Adventist Giving, please log in under your name, instead of contributing as a "Guest."
Spanish Sabbath School Class
Sabbath School is the perfect setting to rediscover the power of Bible study and prayer. In one of the most diverse campuses in the nation, we aspire to allow all our church members, students, and guests to study and learn in their language. To further this, we are establishing the Spanish Sabbath School Class so all our Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters can join us in learning together in our weekly Sabbath School. With that, please grab your Spanish sabbath school lesson and join us starting Sabbath, January 4, 2025.
Something in Common Sabbath School
Something in Common Sabbath School presents "Marriage Oneness" by Tim Lundy and Robert Lewis
December 28 - Sexual Intimacy and Marriage Oneness
January 4 - Roles, Responsibilities and Marriage Oneness
January 11 - Family, Friends and Marriage Oneness
Everyone is welcome each Sabbath at 10:30-11:30 in Pioneer Room 141.
Care for Cuba
A group of students from Andrews University are preparing to embark on a life-changing mission in March of 2025. They will engage in evangelism, health care, and community outreach in Cuba. This mission trip has been going on for 11 years, and the impact has been tremendous, thanks to your help. Would you support this mission once again by donating right here in your church or give at www.careforcuba.org/donate? Thank you for your prayers as they prepare to send off students to serve and share Jesus!