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The Pugwash Factor:

How to Turn Mission into Possible

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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

Learn 7 reasons why the mission in your life is to fulfill His mission of seeking to save the lost.
Saturday, August 29, 2015

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“The Pugwash Factor: How to Turn Mission into Possible”

www.pmchurch.tv

 

  • The Mission: Matthew 28:18-20/Mark 16:15/Luke 24:46, 47/John 20:21/Acts 1:8
  • The Gospel: Euangellion = eu (good) + angellion (message) = “good message” “good news”
    • Ellen White: “The message from God to me for you is ‘Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out’ (John 6:37). If you have nothing else to plead before God but this one promise from your Lord and Saviour, you have the assurance that you will never, never be turned away. It may seem to you that you are hanging upon a single promise, but appropriate that one promise, and it will open to you the whole treasure house of the riches of the grace of Christ. Cling to that promise and you are safe. . . . and you are as safe as though inside the city of God.” (Manuscript Releases 10:175)
  • 7 Reasons for Your Life Mission:
    • Reason #1—Because you were for mission.
      • 2 Corinthians 5:18 TEV: “Christ changed us from enemies into his friends and gave us the   of making others his friends also.”
      • Steps to Christ 78: “No sooner does one come to Christ than there is born in his heart a desire to   to others what a precious friend he has found in Jesus; the saving and sanctifying truth cannot be shut up in his heart. . . . We shall seek to present to them the attractions of Christ and the unseen realities of the world to come.”
    • Reason #2—Because your mission is a of Jesus’ mission on earth.
      • Matthew 28:19-20 Message: “Go out and train everyone you meet,  far and near, in this way of life. . . . I’ll be as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”
      • Desire of Ages 340: “It is in working to spread the good news of salvation that we are brought near to the .”
    • Reason #3—Because your mission is a wonderful .
      • 2 Corinthians 6:1—“We are workers together with .”
      • Testimonies to the Church 9:102-103: “As I have thought of that cup trembling in the hands of Christ [in Gethsemane]; as I have realized that He might have refused to drink, and left the world to perish in its sin, I have pledged that every energy of my life should be devoted to the work of   to Him.”
    • Reason #4—Because telling others how they can have eternal life is the you can do for them.
      • Acts 4:12 NCV—“Jesus is the who can save people.”
      • Desire of Ages 568: “Jesus knows the circumstances of every soul. You may say, I am sinful, very sinful. You may be; but the worse you are, the more you need Jesus. He turns no weeping, contrite one away. He does not tell to any all that He might reveal, but He bids every trembling soul take courage. Freely will He pardon who come to Him for forgiveness and restoration.”
    • Reason #5—Because your mission has significance.
      • John 9:4 NLT—“All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent me, because there is little time left before the night falls and all work comes to .”
      • Christ’s Object Lessons 197: “In this work all the   of heaven are ready to co-operate. All the resources of heaven are at the command of those who are seeking to save the lost. will help you to reach the most careless and the most hardened.”
    • Reason #6—Because your mission gives your life .
      • Acts 20:24 NLT—“My life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work   to me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about God’s wonderful kindness and love.”
      • Christ’s Object Lessons 419: “It is the   of every soul to be a living channel through which God can communicate to the world the treasures of His grace, the unsearchable riches of Christ.”
    • Reason #7—Because God’s timetable for history’s is connected to the completion of our commission.
      • Matthew 24:14 NKJV—“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then will come.”
      • Desire of Ages 634: “Those who watch for the Lord’s coming are not waiting in idle expectancy. . . . With vigilant watching they combine earnest working. Because they know that the Lord   the door, their zeal is quickened to co-operate with the divine intelligences in working for the salvation of souls.”

The mission in your life is to fullfill your life mission.

Offering for April 18, 2026

Pioneer Operating Budget

The Bible makes this interesting analogy: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17, NIV). Today, we are sitting in church because someone sharpened you and shared the gospel story. This is so true in the life of Riley. Anthony (the writer of this appeal) had driven for approximately an hour on a cold fall day to fulfill a stewardship weekend appointment he had with a small congregation. The service went well.

He preached on the topic, “It’s a matter of the heart.” After the hymn of consecration and the benediction, during the transition time before potluck, he chose to mingle and talk to people. He chose to start with brother Riley, who was sitting at the media booth. After introducing himself, he asked Riley if he was the one responsible for streaming. Anthony had brought with him a recorded instructional video on how to complete the newly designed tithe and offering envelope.

They didn’t get very far into that part of the conversation before Riley began to share with him how he started to attend the church. He identified three people who showed unwavering love and acceptance to him. He eventually got baptized.

Riley’s testimony reminds us of the words of Jeremiah 31:3, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have drawn you with loving kindness” (KJV). Let’s remember the job we have as a local church to sharpen each other. As we give to help our local church programs, may we experience and show God’s unrelenting love.

—North American Division Stewardship Ministries

Young Adult Mission Trip in Peru!

Maranatha Volunteers International invites young adults, ages 18-28, to join Catalyst, a service experience for their age group. Build a church for the Calapuja Adventist Church, operate medical clinics, and lead VBS programs. Learn more at Maranatha.org/volunteer or call 916-774-7700. 

ZOOM IN! Summer Camp 2026

 ZOOM IN! to God’s Amazing World at The Crayon Box Summer Camp, running June 1–August 20, 2026. Children entering Kindergarten through age 12 will enjoy a summer filled with nature, science, creativity, teamwork, and play as they explore how God’s hand is at work all around them. Each themed week encourages campers to notice the small wonders, big ideas, and amazing details of God’s creation. Located on the beautiful campus of Andrews University, The Crayon Box offers a safe, joyful, faith-centered place for children to spend their summer vacation with on-campus adventures, campus field trips, and visits from zoo and wildlife educators. Enrollment is open now at andrews.edu/services/crayonbox/summercamp. Space is limited. Forms are due May 18, 2026.