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The Chosen

Why You Are the Most Unique Person on Earth

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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

Was your conception unplanned, your birth an "accident"? Are you handicapped? Too young to contribute, or too old to make a difference any more? Ah, but if you only knew what it took for you to get here, and what it means that you've been chosen! That discovery marks the first step toward determining your destiny - your special place and role on earth.
Saturday, September 01, 2007

More In This Series

09/08/2007
Why We Are the Most Unique People on Earth
Sometimes God chooses in ways that seem so politically incorrect. But choose He did, back then; and choose He does, today! "It is a fearful thing to be chosen," especially so if all we want is to be accepted.
09/15/2007
Not a Big Head, but a Big Heart
Chosen? Maybe. But on what basis? And for what purpose? The answers make a huge difference in what it means to be chosen.
09/29/2007
Children of the Waldenses
What happens when one generation of the chosen visits the site where a previous generation gave their all for Christ? Pastor Dwight interviews some of the students he accompanied on the tour and were impacted.
10/06/2007
Blood on the Doorpost
Forgetting can be lethal. Remembering keeps a chosen movement, or person, alive and advancing. And for the divinely chosen, there is much to remember.
10/13/2007
How to Stone the Prophet
Within the wider community of God's chosen, a select few were always chosen as His mouthpiece to the many. As it happened in the Biblical era, so it happened in our own. The chosen community of old most often ignored God's chosen one among them. What's our response to His chosen one among us? And why does it matter?
10/27/2007
How to Eat, Drink and Be Merry Without Getting Stoned
Think that addiction is only about alcoholism and drug use? Or that Christians are immune? Consider the bad news about addiction and the good news for the addicted.
11/03/2007
How Much of Naked is Acceptable?
Is a little cleavage a spiritual issue? What about a little ornamental jewelry? Is it time to revise some old standards, or to reaffirm them? If the Bible is our guide and "the chosen" our identity?
11/10/2007
How to Live Without Sex (for Awhile)
This is not your grandmother's traditional sermon on sex. The three realms of fake intimacy discussed could be the greatest threat facing our nation, our church and personal faith. A non-simplistic and workable four-fold "Life and Sex Strategy" provides a map to wholesome exercise of God's gift within His prescribed restraints.
11/24/2007
An American Thanksgiving in Canaan
The God you gratefully remember is the God you will faithfully obey. Discover the secret to sustained gratitude.
12/01/2007
Snakes in the Cradle
Strange symbols represent the medical profession--two snakes entwined around a pole. Strange unless you understand the Biblical story of the snake on the pole and the ultimate antigen it created for divine healing. This message provides an essential corrective to the inherent risk run in The Chosen sermon series.
12/08/2007
Crossing Over
The story of a leader who never crossed over, and how mercy still had the last word. Vital lessons for leaders in nations, work places, social groups, families, etcetera.
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Mission and Strategy Statements Town Hall Meetings
Pioneer Youth Chapel

The Elders have finished! After many months of prayerful and concerted work, the draft of Pioneer's potential new mission and strategy statements are ready for your review.  

Please join us at any of the identical Town Hall/Q & A sessions listed below to hear Pastor Shane and our elders present the drafts for your feedback.  Our goal is to take your input, modify the drafts as needed, sent them back to the church board for final review, and begin implementation in the Fall.  

Please join us for any of these important and impactful meetings that will help guide Pioneer's witness for years to come!

May 13, Tuesday, 7:00-9:00 PM

May 18, Sunday, 9:00-11:00 AM

May 22, Thursday, 7:00-9:00 PM (Zoom only)

The Tent

Join us for a special Evangelistic Series presented by the Jr. High Students of Ruth Murdoch Elementary School. We hope you can join us in big white tent near Griggs Hall at 7pm starting Friday May 9 through May 18. There will be no meeting on Tuesday. Come and be inspired as our students share messages of hope, love, and the good news of Jesus. Your presence will encourage them, and more importantly, you can help bring someone closer to Christ. Bring a friend or family member and experience God's message together!

Holding Onto Jesus

Sunday, May 25, 3-5 PM Pioneer Youth Chapel What do we do when our life is shaken by illness, a great loss, or some other devastation? How do we find God when it feels like He isn’t there? Women of all ages are invited to hear Emily Gibbs share her testimony, and explore ways that we can have resilience in the midst of difficult experiences. Register by texting TRIALS to 269-281-2345. Questions? Email women@pmchurch.org.

AdventistGiving Online (AGO) Contributors

 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."

Adventist Seniors of Michiana Meeting May 18.

Seniors 55 and up are invited to the Adventist Seniors of Michiana program to be held in the PMC Commons May 18. Bring a dish and enjoy the potluck starting at 1 PM followed by a program featuring Ken Denslow, recently retired Lake Union Conference President. His topic will be Project Amigo and Other Missions. For any questions call Cheryl Doss at 269-277-0767

Offering for May 10, 2025

Disaster & Famine Relief

This Sabbath, our church joins many others in collecting a special offering to support ongoing disaster relief efforts. Funds collected today support both Adventist humanitarian organizations, Adventist Community Services and Adventist Development and Relief Agency. Each serves in different geographical areas. Adventist Community Services responds to disasters of all kinds across the North American Division which includes the United States, Canada, Bermuda, Guam, and Micronesia. As we approach Christ’s return, the Bible tells us that crisis events will increase. Emergency Management records have tracked disasters for over 50 years and confirm tornadoes are touching down with greater impact, hurricanes are moving at greater speeds, and violent killings in the form of mass shootings increase with alarming frequency. Adventist Community Services stands ready to serve those affected by these and other tragedies. Some services provided are:

  • open collection centers to receive and sort donations, sending them to areas of greatest need,
  • provide emotional and spiritual care to the distraught,
  • and deliver essential supplies to areas hardest hit by a disaster.

1 John 3:18 tells us to love with action and in truth. Today, we ask that you give liberally, and we thank you for joining the team who extends the hand of mercy to people in crisis. Together we are serving communities in Christ’s name. 

—North American Division Stewardship Ministries

Love on the Move

 Would you like to make a difference in our community? God's Hands 4 Kids has ways you can do that. GH4K loves the "True religion way to love the least of these" James 1:27. The Foster Parent Appreciation Dinner is being held on May 16 in a church in our community. We are working with the Berrien County Department of Health and Human Services to put this on.  We are looking for childcare help. Also seeking gift baskets, gifts or gift cards. For more information contact Carol Jordan at Godshands4kids@gmail.com There is a presentation this Friday evening from Unaccompanied Refugee Minors. Ask for more info if interested.

Music Camp at Pioneer!

The Institute of Young Musicians for Christ is excited to be having a music camp at Pioneer Memorial Church! At our music camps young people ages 6-17 are offered an immersive, week-long musical experience. Our quality musical training—combined with fun, friends, and faith-building encounters— provides a truly incredible opportunity. The camp offers tracks for children 6-12 with or without musical experience and a track for teenagers with significant musical experience. To learn more and register, visit iymcsda.org/michigan. We hope to see you there!

Lamson Hall Upgrades with Maranatha

From May 11–June 8, 2025, Maranatha Volunteers International will be working at Andrews University to update the Lamson Hall residential rooms and suite bathrooms. Please consider volunteering and letting your family and friends know of this opportunity. All individuals (including local) should sign up at the Maranatha website: https://maranatha.org/volunteer-opportunities/.