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 2 of a 4 Part Series
Saturday, April 06, 2013

More In This Series

The Secret of the Seed: Unleashing the Divine Potential in You”—2

www.pmchurch.tv

□ One Verse

  • Ecclesiastes 11:1 NIV—“Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return.”

□ Three Calls

  • #1—a call from God to international students
  • #2—a call from God to all
    •   “The home missionary work [work for Christ at home] will be farther advanced in every way when a more liberal, self-denying, self-sacrificing spirit is manifested for the prosperity of foreign missions [work for Christ across the sea]; for the prosperity of the home work depends largely, under God, upon the reflex influence of the evangelical work done in countries afar off.” (Christian Service 170)
    •   Sabbath School Missions: www.pmchurch.org (click on to “adventist giving”)
    •   Adventist Frontier Missions: www.afmonline.org
    •   REACH International: www.reach.org
    •   Quiet Hour: www.qhministries.org
    •   Student Missions: www.andrews.edu/cm/change/missions
  •   #3—a call from God to a select group

 Hudson Taylor:
“How are we going to treat the Lord Jesus Christ with reference to this command [Mark 16:15—‘Go to every creature’]? Shall we definitely drop the title Lord as applied to Him, and take the ground that we are quite willing to recognize Him as our Savior, so far as the penalty of sin is concerned, but are not prepared to own ourselves ‘bought with a price’ (1 Cor 6:20), or Him as having any claim to our unquestioning obedience? Shall we say that we are our own masters, willing to yield something as His due, who bought us with His blood, provided He does not ask too much ? Our lives, our loved ones, our possessions are our own, not His; we will give Him what we think fit, and obey any of His requirements that do not demand too great a sacrifice? To be taken to heaven by Jesus Christ we are more than willing, but we will not have this Man to reign over us [Luke 19:14]?

“The heart of every Christian will undoubtedly reject the proposition, so formulated ; but have not countless lives in each generation been lived as though it were proper ground to take? How few of the Lord's people have practically recognized the truth that Christ is either Lord of all, or is not Lord at all! If we can judge God's Word instead of being judged by that Word, if we can give to God as much or as little as we like, then we are lords and He is the indebted one, to be grateful for our dole and obliged by our compliance with His wishes. If, on the other hand, He is Lord, let us treat Him as such. `Why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?’ (Luke 6:46).” (Spiritual Secret of Hudson Taylor 375-376)

 Will you go?

The Secret of the Seed:
The farther away the planting, the greater by far the reaping. 

Offering for December 20, 2025

Pioneer Operating Budget

My then six-year-old son came up to me and said, “Dad, I need a lot of money, and I need to make it fast!” I smiled and inquired, “Why do you need a lot of money quickly?” I didn’t know what my son was thinking of doing with all this fast cash and why he needed the funds so urgently. I thought maybe he wanted to buy a new toy or bike for himself. He said, “Well, Mom’s birthday is coming up and I want to buy a nice gift for her!” That sure cheered my heart, and so I gave him the funds! My son was asking for money, not for selfish reasons but out of love for his mom.

When I think about church offerings, every gift we give should be measured by the unfathomable Gift of heaven. The greatest offering we received from God is Jesus, and there is no way we can measure His love and sacrifice for us. Anything we give would appear as nothing in comparison. “How vain the endeavor to measure with mathematical rules, time, money, and love against a love and sacrifice that is measureless and incomputable!” (Testimonies for the Church, Vol.4, p.119). Let’s return our tithes and offerings in response to the abundance of God’s love for us. 

North American Division Stewardship Ministries

Church Office Holiday Closure: 12/22-12/26 & 12/29-01/02

Please note that the church office will be closed from December 22 to 26 and again from December 29 to January 2 for the holiday season. We will reopen on January 5. Our church services will proceed as always. If you have any announcements, please submit those no later than December 19. Thank you for your understanding. We wish you a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year!

Christmas Blessing Opportunity

Be part of a Christmas blessing this year! Chiang Mai Adventist Academy, which serves primarily Buddhist students from around the country, is looking for a set of Bible story felts to use in teaching the Bible in their Sabbath schools. FARM STEW missionaries will be going to Thailand in January and deliver them. If you have a felt set you would like to donate or would like to donate towards buying a new set, please contact Deby Andvik. (andvik@andrews.edu or call/text 269-277-4145

Christmas Breakfast

Let’s celebrate the joy of Christmas with good food, warm community, and grateful hearts! Join us on December 20, from 9:00 to 10:30 AM, before our main worship service. Bring your favorite breakfast dish to share and enjoy a wonderful time of fellowship as we celebrate the season together.
 

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.

House of Prayer
Pioneer Earlyteen Loft

Please join us for House of Prayer Wednesday evenings at 7pm in the Earliteen Loft for a time of singing, Bible study and prayer.