There will be a fellowship dinner, following the second worship service, in the commons on the lower level.
Stories in the Rearview Mirror
Why I Believe We’re Running Out of Time
Speaker
Dwight K. NelsonSince 1983, Dwight Nelson has served as lead pastor of the Pioneer Memorial Church on the campus of Andrews University. He preaches on the “New Perceptions” telecast, teaches at the theological seminary and has written some books, including The Chosen. He and his wife, Karen, are blessed with two married children and 2 granddaughters.
Offering
More In This Series
“Stories in the Rearview Mirror:
Why I Believe We’re Running Out of Time”
- A Prediction
- Soren Kierkegaard: "In a theater, it happened that a fire started offstage. The clown came out to tell the audience. They thought it was a joke and applauded. He told them again and they became more hilarious. This is the way, I suppose, that the world will be destroyed—amid the universal hilarity of wits and wags who think it is ."
- The Prediction of Jesus
- Matthew 24:32-35, 30
- Story in the Rearview Mirror: William Miller
- September 11, 1814 letter: “Sir: It is over, it is done. The British fleet has struck the American flag. Great slaughter on both sides—they are in plain view here where I am now writing. . . . The sight was majestic, it was noble, it was grand. This morning at 10 o’clock the British opened a destructive fire upon us, both by water and by land. . . . You have no idea of the battle. . . . You must conceive of what we feel, for I cannot describe it. . . . I am satisfied that I can fight. I know I am no coward. . . . Three of my men are wounded by a shell which burst within two feet of me.” (Quoted in Francis D. Nichol, The Midnight Cry 25)
- “I saw that the Bible did bring to view just such a Savior as I needed; and I was perplexed to find how an uninspired book should develop principles so perfectly adapted to the wants of a fallen world. I was constrained to admit that the Scriptures must be a revelation from God; they became my , and in Jesus I found a .” (Apology and Defence 5)
- “I then devoted myself to and the reading of the word. . . . I commenced with Genesis, and read it verse by verse, proceeding no faster than the meaning of the several passages should be so unfolded. . . . Whenever I found anything obscure, my practice was to compare it with all collateral passages; and by the help of Cruden [a concordance] I examined all the texts of Scripture. . . . Then by letting every word have its proper bearing on the subject of the text, if my view of it harmonized with every collateral passage in the Bible, it ceased to be a difficulty.” (Ibid 6)
- “I was thus brought, in 1818 . . . to the solemn conclusion that in about twenty-five years from that time all the affairs of our present state would be wound up. . . . O how bright and glorious the truth appeared. . . . I became nearly settled in my conclusions, and began to wait, and watch, and pray for my Saviour’s coming.” (Ibid 11-13)
- The Millerite movement:
- This Baptist farmer turned preacher preached over 3,200 times.
- By May, 1844, 5 million copies of the Millerite publications had been distributed.
- In New York City Millerite convocations filled the Broadway Tabernacle 3,500 at a time—in Philadelphia 5,000 at a time in the Museum Auditorium.
- The Great Disappointment
- November 10, 1844, letter to Joshua Himes: “Although I have been twice disappointed, I am not yet cast down or discouraged. God has been with me in spirit, and has comforted me. I have now much more evidence that I do believe in God’s Word; and although surrounded with enemies and scoffers, yet my mind is perfectly calm, and my hope in the coming of Christ is as strong as ever. . . . I have fixed my mind upon another time, and here I mean to stand until God gives me more light.—And that is Today, TODAY, and TODAY, until He comes, and I see HIM for whom my soul yearns.” (Quoted in The Midnight Cry 266, 267)
- William Miller’s three passions:
- Passion #1—for the .
- Passion #2—for the of the Savior.
- Passion #3—for the of all.
- How can they become our passions, too?
- Go to the .
- Go to your .
- Go to the .
“Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”
Pioneer Operating Budget
I once met a student who entered college with such a low grade-point average from high school, that it’s amazing he was even admitted to college. He went on to eventually graduate from college with high honors and a perfect grade point average. The only difference for this student between high school and college was that now, for the first time in years, he had a bed. The student had been unhoused in high school, and had bounced around from location to location. The instability had wrecked his ability to focus on his academics as his stomach grumbled in class and he was fighting to stay awake.
Within the last couple of years, I have been blown away by how much my local church has gone above and beyond to support people who have been impacted by the global pandemic. Our church’s in-need fund has helped people with everything from buying groceries to paying their rent when they lost their job due to the pandemic. And what was amazing was that those who were able to, gave even more, knowing that there were many in need. This sounds a lot like the church in the book of Acts. Today’s offering is for our local church budget. Our church can have the ability to meet the needs of those in and outside of our church through outreach. Consider giving a generous offering today to meet the needs of our local church.
By Heather Thompson Day
—North American Division Stewardship Ministries
We are looking for volunteers with flexible schedules to assist new and transfer students with their move into the dorms on Monday, August 19th, 2024. If you're available, please text the words "LOVEONTHEMOVE" to 269-281-2345
We would like our community to know that effective Sunday, September 1, 2024, Neighbor To Neighbor will only take donations Monday through Thursday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Being found on the premises after hours will not be allowed and will be considered trespassing. Thank you for your understanding.
You are invited to a hymn-sing at The Old Rugged Cross Church on August 17 Sabbath, at 4:00 PM. The Old Rugged Cross Church is located at 61041 Vermont Street, Pokagon, MI 49047. Please bring your Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal. A free will offering will help to maintain this historic church where the hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross,” was introduced to the public by the composer. For further information, please contact Melchizedek Ponniah, melponniah@gmail.com, or (269) 876-7476.
We are pleased to collaborate with the Andrews University 150th Celebration Committee to welcome our students back to campus! To make August 24th special, we'll need volunteers in various capacities. If you're extroverted, hosting a table might be the
perfect volunteer role for you. If you're introverted but enjoy volunteering in other ways, maybe cooking a lasagna or setting up the lemonade is the role for you! Either way, you are welcome to sign up by texting the word "PICNIC" to 269-281-2345.
Crazy Like Us video 3 week series with Andy Stanley. Everybody thinks he is. Few people really are. Being generous is not natural, it's not common, and it's not intuitive. In fact, it's a little crazy. Begins Sabbath August 3.
Everyone is welcome in PMC room 141 from 10:30-11:30 Sabbath mornings.
Pioneer Memorial Church is delighted to announce the selection of Jacob Gibbs as a new Associate Pastor. Pastor Jacob was introduced to Pioneer on July 27, 2024, although his official start date was July 18, 2024. Pastor Jacob will serve as Associate Pastor at Pioneer Memorial Church and an Associate Chaplain with the Center for Faith Engagement at Andrews University.
Pastor Jacob Gibbs felt a call to ministry when he accepted Jesus as his Savior in 2002. Over the next nine years, he pursued his purpose and training at Mission College of Evangelism and Andrews University—gaining experience as a Bible Worker and Literature Evangelist. Pastor Jacob graduated from Andrews University in 2011 with a Bachelor's in Art and Theology. He later returned for his Master's Degree in Pastoral Ministry.
During his undergraduate years, he met his wife, Emily Knott, and they were married in 2012. Pastor Jacob has served in the Michigan Conference for 13 years, starting with a three-church district in the central part of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and most recently as the Senior Pastor of the Cedar Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church at Great Lakes Adventist Academy. Pastor Jacob's passions in ministry include hobby-based outreach, small groups, applied arts, and personal Bible studies. Pastor Jacob and Emily have two daughters, Eva and Avianne. They look forward to starting this new chapter of their lives by serving the communities of Andrews University and the Pioneer Memorial Church.