From March 16-27, the PMC Youth Missions Team served the campuses of Middle East University and the Adventist School Bouchrieh in Beirut, Lebanon. Most days began at 6:30 AM as the team presents 3 or 4 meetings each day for elementary, secondary, college and community groups. This was the 23rd year that Pioneer has sponsored the Friendship Team to Lebanon. Team members led worship, preached, prayed and made friends with students on the two campuses. Additionally they ministered to children at the ALC Syrian refugee center in nearby Beirut. Evening and morning meetings included special prayer times and prayer journaling. The team also spent time with the over 700 Muslim students at the Adventist School Mouseitbeh and visited a local mosque to learn more about ministry in a Muslim context. Though Lebanon is experiencing a severe financial crises, the country allows religious freedom for Christians and Muslims. There are many challenges for missions in this cross-cultural context but there were so many answers to prayer. We were able to give four Andrews Study Bibles to theology majors from Iran, Iraq, and Egypt. These Bibles are precious treasurers for these pastors in training. For example, Jackie, one of the team members, became friends with a couple of high-school age girls and invited them to the Friday evening meeting. They came, bringing their mother
who had graduated from Middle East University over 20 years ago and had not been back since. She was so thankful to be on campus and rejoiced in worshipping with the church family again. We continue to pray for her spiritual journey with Jesus. Glenn Russell, team leader, states that this mission trip would have been impossible without the prayer and financial support of the PMC congregation.
Stories in the Rearview Mirror
Why I Believe in the Third Person's Last Rain
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 in the Third Person’s Last Rain”
- Waggoner and White
- EJW: “I was sitting a little apart from the body of the congregation in the large tent at a camp meeting in Healdsburg, one gloomy Sabbath afternoon. . . . All that has remained with me was what I saw. Suddenly a light shone round me, and the tent was more brilliantly lighted than if the noon-day sun had been shining, and I saw Christ hanging on the cross, crucified for me. In that moment I had my first positive knowledge which came like an overwhelming flood, that God loved me, and that Christ died for me. God and I were the only beings I was conscious of in the universe. I knew then, by actual sight, God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself; I was the whole world with its sin. I am sure that Paul’s experience on the way to Damascus was no more real than mine.” (Ron Duffield, The Return of the Latter Rain, 45)
- EJW: “I knew that in the Bible I should find the message of God’s love for individual sinners, and I resolved that the rest of my life should be devoted to finding it there, and making it plain to others. The light that shone upon me that day from the cross of Christ has been my guide in all my Bible study; wherever I have turned in the Sacred Book, I have found Christ set forth as the power of God, to the salvation of individuals and I have never found anything else.” (Ibid)
- EGW: “I have been instructed [by God] that the terrible experience at the Minneapolis Conference is one of the saddest chapters in the history of the believers in present truth.” (The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials 1796)
- EGW: “I have had the question asked, ‘What do you think of this light that these men are presenting? Why, I have been presenting it to you for the last 45 years—the matchless charms of Christ. This is what I have been trying to present before your minds. When Brother Waggoner brought out these ideas in Minneapolis, it was the first clear teaching on this subject from any human lips I had heard, excepting the conversations between myself and my husband. . . . [E]very fiber of my heart said, Amen.” (1888 Materials 348)
- Woodrow Whidden: “In the face of the stiff opposition to Waggoner’s emphases, Ellen White gave strong personal support to his (and Jones’s) basic theological thrust. Her outspoken affirmations of Jones and Waggoner’s Christ- and grace-centered emphasis would be sustained until at least 1896. . . . The Christ-centered focus of Jones and Waggoner was the inspiration for the most concerted emphasis that Ellen White would ever make on ‘justification by faith’ in the ‘imputed [credited to our account] merits of Christ.’ When all that she ever wrote on justification by faith from 1844 to 1902 is surveyed, roughly forty-five percent of the entire mass was written between late 1888 and late 1892.” (The Ellen G. White Encyclopedia 535)
- Jesus and Andrews
- Jesus: “When the Spirit comes, He will testify of Me” (John 15:26; 16:14).
- EGW: “The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones. This message was to bring more prominently before the world the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. Many had lost sight of Jesus. They needed to have their eyes directed to His divine person, His merits, and His changeless love for the human family. All power is given into His hands, that He may dispense rich gifts unto men, imparting the priceless gift of His own righteousness to the helpless human agent. This is the message that God commanded to be given to the world. It is the third angel’s message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure [latter rain].” (Testimonies to Ministers 91-92)
- EGW: “Meetings were held in the College which were intensely interesting. The Spirit of the Lord wrought upon hearts, and there was a precious work done in the conversion of souls. There has been no excitement felt or manifested. The work has been accomplished by the deep movings of the Spirit of God, and [students] have moved intelligently and in faith. . . . He [Jesus] who had been to them as a root out of dry ground, without form or comeliness, became ‘the chiefest among ten thousand,’ and the one altogether lovely.” (Review and Herald February 12, 1889)
- EGW: “Thursday at 5:00 p.m. I spoke to the college students. The Lord gave me the word which seemed to reach hearts. Professor Prescott [the college president] arose and attempted to speak, but his heart was too full. There he stood for five minutes in complete silence, weeping. When he did speak he said, ‘I am glad I am a Christian.’ He made very pointed remarks. His heart seemed to be broken by the Spirit of the Lord. I invited those who had not accepted the truth, and those who had not the evidence of their acceptance with God, to come forward. It seemed that the whole company were on the move.” (Arthur White The Lonely Years 421)
- EGW: “The promise [Mt 18:19, 20] is made on condition that the united prayers of the church are offered, and in answer to these prayers there may be expected a power greater than that which comes in answer to private prayer. The power given will be proportionate to the unity of the members and their love for God and for one another.” (Manuscript Releases 9:303)
- What if the daughter of Battle Creek College asked God to pour out the Spirit of Jesus upon us like He did 127 years ago?
What if we kept asking until He did?
There is no fellowship dinner this Sabbath, April 1.
The Project: The foundation for the elevator is poured. The entrance to the elevator waiting area is open but not finished. The new offices for the media team are painted. It’s getting done! Fundraising: As of 3/28/23, there is $570,566.00 that’s been given. Thank You! Please remember Renovate 2.0 in your giving plans and pray for its success!
Pioneer's main entrance at the canopy will be closed on Sabbath, April 1, 2023. There will be no access to the Lower Level via the stairs from the reception booth on the main level. (This entrance also remains closed Mondays to Fridays until further notice). We look forward to having you join us for in-person worship at Pioneer on April 1 as we celebrate the truth, beauty, and transforming power of the Cross. Please use the entrance at the Lower-Level Welcome Center and the stairs or the elevator to access the Sanctuary and Earliteen Loft, and the entrance opposite Andreasen Wellness Center for access to the Youth Chapel, Media Suite, and Collegiate SS. Thank you for your patience and ongoing prayers as together we continue to be Love on the Move.
Community Messiah Sing - The Eau Claire SDA Church is celebrating the sacred glory of the Easter season by hosting a Community Sing-Along of Handel's Messiah Sing-Along. You are invited to this inter-faith Christian sing-along in celebration of the death and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. We will sing to the recorded “accompaniment” of a Baroque Chamber Orchestra featuring the type of instrumentation the original performance of Handel’s Messiah oratorio had. Come join us on Saturday, April 8 from 5-6 PM at 6562 Naomi Road in Eau Claire. Bring a Messiah score if you have one or one will be provided. A light vegetarian supper will be served afterwards in the Fellowship Hall. More info? 269-405-5026
Pioneer Operating
Happy April Fools’ Day—a day of frequent pranks followed by someone gleefully spouting, “April Fools!” The Bible mentions the term “fool” a number of times, but never in a glib or “happy trickster” sort of way. Twice in the Psalms we read, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’” (Ps. 14:1 and Ps. 53:1). If you’re in church today, you probably aren’t the fool found in Psalms. We’re more susceptible to being the “fool” found in Luke 12. Christ’s parable warns against the natural trigger called “greed.” In this story, a farmer realized some bumper crops, so he decided to enlarge his storage capacity, then take an early retirement so he could just “eat, drink and be merry” (Luke 12:19).
Sound inviting?
Jesus came down harshly, not because of what the farmer had, but because of what he didn’t have. According to v. 21 (NLT), “A person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” One way to have a rich relationship with God is to give offerings with a thankful heart.
Does this mean we’re fools if we don’t put everything we have into the offering? Not necessarily. It does mean that when we make our relationship with God our highest priority, the result is wisdom (Prov. 9:10) rather than being a fool—on April Fools’ Day or on any other day.
—North American Division Stewardship Ministries
Pioneer Women’s Ministries
Easter Reflections 2023
April 1-9
“Who Is This King Of Glory?”
Psalm 24:8-10
This is our third year of Easter Reflections. You will receive a daily email and a text meditation for nine days on the events that happened during the Passion week. Let us reflect on what Jesus did for us. How does it relate to me today? To receive this daily short blessing, text "GLORY" to 269-281-2345
In light of the nearness of the Second Coming of Jesus, we need to do everything possible to improve our prayer life. Come hear and see for yourself the "Miracles of Prayer," as presented by Sari Butler, former Andrews Academy Counselor. Bring a friend and a dish or two for the potluck and enjoy Sari's presentation as together we learn what we can do to have an intimate connection with Jesus. The monthly ASM is open to all Adventists in Michiana (age 55 or more) and next meets at 1 PM on Sunday, April 9 in the Village SDA Church Fellowship Hall. We will see you there! --Cleon White, President, 269-471-5553, whitehkaa@gmail.com
Former AU faculty and PMC member, Dr. Sandra Camp, passed away March 9, 2023, in Walla Walla, WA. All 4 of her daughters were with her. She had recently moved to Walla Walla from Berrien Springs. A small family memorial gathering was held in Walla Walla. During her career at AU (1978-1988), Dr.Camp was Professor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy in the Music Dept. Dr. Camp also taught piano lessons to countless area students for many decades, until her move in June, 2022. There are plans to establish a memorial scholarship in her name. Dr. Camp is survived by her daughters Connie (Ben) Gish, Tonya (Marty) Wessman, Jill (Jeff) Howell, and MerrieLi (Michele) Camp; 6 grandchildren, and 9 great
grandchildren. Messages may be sent to 817 SE Tuscany Dr, College Place, WA 99324.
Celebrate Christ's death and resurrection with the PMC francophone group in a special Easter service at the Seminary Chapel on April 8. Sabbath School is at 10:30am, and the worship service at 11:45am. A simple Agape meal will follow. Tout le monde est bienvenu!