Dear Church Family, We have much to be thankful for as we near the completion of our piping project. God has blessed us with skilled hands and willing hearts who gave their time and talents to make this project possible. We are deeply grateful to R.W. LaPine, who replaced the piping and completed the work two weeks before the schedule. We also thank Randal Mack of Randy’s Quality Painting, who refreshed the children’s Sabbath School classrooms with his excellent painting work. Matthew Karpinski also deserves our appreciation for reinstalling the ceiling grids. Last but certainly not least, a very special thank you goes to William Colwell, our maintenance manager. William’s leadership, faithfulness, and diligence have been central to seeing this project through. William has been a steady and reliable force throughout the process, from assisting me with coordinating each step of the work to replacing the ceiling tiles and other relevant tasks. If you see him around, please take a moment to thank him personally for his tireless commitment to our church. Where are we now? Most ceiling tiles are in, and while there are other minor tasks, the final major task ahead is the installation of new carpet. We’ve been informed that the carpet is expected sometime in November, bringing us very close to the joyful completion of this entire project. Thank you, church family, for your prayers, encouragement, and support during this time of renewal in our building. We look forward to celebrating once everything is complete!
SOLD OUT!
SOLD OUT! - Part 1
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
More In This Series
“SOLD OUT!”—1
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James Surowiecki’s The Wisdom of Crowds
- An experiment with college students
- Not surprisingly “70 percent of the subjects changed their real opinion at least once, and a third of the subjects went along with the group at least half the time.” (38)
- But when one of the control group joined the subject in selecting the correct answer, “that was enough to make a huge difference. Having even one other person in the group who felt as they did made the subjects happy to announce their thoughts, and the rate of conformity plummeted.” (39)
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Let’s call it “the power of .”
- All it takes is one other person to agree with you—and you will find courage to take the stand you believed was right all along.
- Or, all it takes is for one student, one person, to step out of the crowd and take a stand for what he or she believes is the right answer—and someone else, who would otherwise have probably gone along with the group, finds courage to also take the very same stand.
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Matthew 18:15-20
- v 15—“Just between the of you.” Like the old proverb says, “The best way to dispose of your enemies it to make with them.”
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v 16—“Take one or others along.”
- Deuteronomy 19:15
- Desire of Ages: “While we seek to correct the errors of a brother [or sister], the Spirit of Christ will lead us to shield [them], as far as possible, from the criticism of even [their own spiritual family], and how much more from the censure of the unbelieving world. We are erring, and need Christ’s pity and forgiveness, and just as we wish Him to deal with us, He bids us deal with one another.” (441)
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v 17—Who are the “pagans” and “tax collectors”? They are those who are the very of the church.
vv 12-14—the parable of the lost sheep
What are we doing to reconnect with the “lost sheep” of our own ? -
v 18—Jesus is describing an astounding between the church down here and Heaven up there.
Whichever one acts first, the other . -
Thus the point is inescapable: The church is a very big deal to .
- God is on the church!
- David Watson: “The existence of the Christian community of the church in its ideal form is the revelation of God that the world can at present see.” (I Believe in the Church 84)
- Ellen White: “Enfeebled and defective as it may appear, the church is the one object upon which God bestows in a special sense His regard” (Acts of the Apostles 12).
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No wonder the New Testament—building on Christ’s foundational teaching of the church here in Matthew—offers these stirring metaphors of the church:
- The B of Christ—with Christ as the Husband. (2 Cor 11:2; Eph 5:25-27; Rev 21:2)
- The B of Christ—with Christ as the Head. (1 Cor 12:27; Eph 1:22-23)
- The B of Christ)—with Christ as the Cornerstone. (1 Cor 3:11, 16; Eph 2:19-22)
- The B of Christ—with Christ as the Captain. (Eph 6:13-17; Heb 2:10 NKJV)
- You can’t be close to the Head without being close to the .
- Zechariah 2:8—“This is what the LORD Almighty says: Whoever touches you [Zion] touches the of His eye.”
- You cannot be to Christ and from His church.
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vv 19-20—The Greek reads: “For where two or three are ‘’ in My name, there am I with them.”
- By his intentional use of the verb form of “synagogue,” Matthew is describing the formal, organized, institutional church of the New Testament that meets every with appointed and recognized to God, study His and carry out His on earth all week long.
- “The power of two”—the power of Christ and His church.
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That’s why like Jesus I too am . . .
“SOLD OUT on the Church”
Reggie and Ladye Love Smith are two of the world’s most sought-after vocalists. They have been performing as part of the award-winning “Gaither Gospel Series” which airs weekly on television networks all over North America and Europe. Reggie is currently a member of the Gaither Vocal Band and Lady is touring with the band as a soloist on their nationwide tours. With unending energy, plus a wealth of talent and a genuinely sweet spirit, this couple makes beautiful music wherever they go. Join us at the Howard Performing Arts Center on November 2, 2025 at 7:00 pm and enjoy an exceptional evening of Christian music. Please go to https://howard.andrews.edu to purchase your tickets or you can drop by the Howard Performing Arts Center on the campus of Andrews University, in person, to purchase your tickets.
Pioneer Operating Budget
My wife and I were committed to teaching our children to be self-reliant from an early age. We encouraged them to master basic tasks such as washing hands and dressing, and to take responsibility for their life choices, including choosing life partners and careers.
However, while cultivating their independence was a priority, we also wanted them to understand the importance of spiritual dependence. In a spiritual sense, the Bible does not promote self reliance.
Instead, it champions the idea of depending on God in all aspects of life. It teaches us that we must learn to trust God completely and surrender our worries and plans to Him. In our pursuit of self-reliance, we often find it difficult to let go and trust God.
We worry about our jobs, our health, our finances, and our future. We fret over things we cannot control, which leaves us anxious and stressed. This anxiety and stress consume our thoughts and energy, diverting us from the time we should be devoting to prayer, worship, and service to others.
We must learn to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6, NKJV). This reliance on God is achieved when we place our complete trust in Him, rather than depending on our own wisdom.
—North American Division Stewardship Ministries
The Family Life Committee invites our church family to the Annual Hayride at Five Pines Ministries. Come enjoy hayrides through the woods, a bonfire with s'mores, warm food, and even warmer fellowship. Sunday, October 12, 5-7 PM, 6597 Smith Rd in Berrien Center. Join us for this fun, autumn tradition!
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among individuals 15 to 29-year-olds. Sadly, more than 720 000 people die due to suicide every year with 49,000 reported in the USA. According to the World Health Organization, in wealthier countries, suicide is often linked to mental health conditions like depression, alcohol problems, or a history of suicide attempts. Still, many suicides happen suddenly in moments of crisis, when people feel unable to cope with challenges such as money troubles, relationship conflicts, long-term pain, or illness. Suicide is preventable and help is available. Call 988 for assistance if you or someone needs immediate intervention. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Rom, 15:13).
Pizza & Parables, Where faith meets flavor! Every Wednesday from 6:30–7:30 PM, high school students are invited for pizza, Bible study, and friends. Come hungry for both food and the Word! Meet in the Pioneer Youth Chapel.
The Lake Michigan College Sonography Program at the Benton Harbor campus is offering a free 4D Ultrasound for pregnant volunteers. Appointments are available on Tuesdays in October and November. Volunteers must be between 21 and 35 weeks at time of scan. This free opportunity helps to support the LMC sonography students.
A Memorial Service for Dr. Russell Staples, Professor Emeritus and longtime Pioneer member who passed away in April will be held on Sunday, October 5, at 2:00 PM, in the Seminary Chapel.
Please join us for House of Prayer Wednesday evenings at 7pm in the Earliteen Loft for a time of singing, Bible study and prayer.
Small groups for PMC, known as Grow Groups, are now beginning for the fall semester. Please text "JOIN" to 269-281-2345 to view the groups and choose one or more that interests you. If would would like to lead your own group, text "LEAD" to the same number, and complete and submit the form.