One of the most admired guitarists in music today, Phil Keaggy continues to delight audiences all over the US, performing primarily acoustic shows and occasional concerts with a band. Aware that God gave him a calling to deliver the Gospel through his music, Phil has been grateful to do just that for the last 40 years, and will hopefully continue to do so. 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.
Mission Possible
Urban Decay - Angels in the Inner City
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
Saturday, November 14, 2015
Program:
As We Begin
More About Jesus I Would Know • John Sweney
Praise
Prayer
Adrianne Magsipoc
"By the Word of Their Testimony" Baptism
Korollos Abdelmalak with Rodlie Ortiz
Children's Story
José Bourget / Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven • Timothy Waugh
Worship in Music
Capriccio • Kevin McChesney
Sermon
“Mission Possible: Urban Decay—Angels in the Inner City” • Dwight K. Nelson
Connect Cards, Tithes & Offerings
Hymn
I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go • 573
As We Depart
O God, Faithful God • Johannes Brahms
More In This Series
“Mission Possible:
Urban Decay—Angels in the Inner City”
□ This World of Pagans
· The daughter of Bertrand Russell: “His whole life was a search for God. . . . Somewhere at the back of my father’s mind, at the bottom of his heart, in the depths of his soul, there was an empty space that had once been filled by God, and he never found anything else to put in it.”
· Bertrand Russell: “There is darkness without and when I die there will be darkness within.” (Mysticism and Logic)
· His daughter: “I would have liked to convince my father that I had found what he had been looking for, the ineffable something he had longed for all his life. I would have liked to persuade him that the search for God does not have to be vain. But it was hopeless. He had known too many blind Christians, bleak moralists who sucked the joy from life and persecuted their opponents; he would never have been able to see the truth they were hiding.” (In Philip Yancey’s Vanishing Grace, 32-33)
□ His Love for Pagans
· Exhibit A—God and the pagan king
§ Genesis 20
· Exhibit B—God and the pagan city
§ Jonah 4:11
§ Clark Pinnock: “. . . the book of Jonah stands in the canon to testify to the universal salvific will of God.” (A Wideness in God’s Mercy 28)
· Exhibit C—God and the pagan city
§ Jeremiah 51:44-45
§ Revelation 18:4
· Exhibit D—God and the lost city
§ Luke 19:35-42
§ Desire of Ages: “While the westering sun was tinting and gilding the heavens, its resplendent glory lighted up the pure white marble of the temple walls, and sparkled on its gold-capped pillars. . . . [which] caught the splendor of the setting sun, shining as if with a glory borrowed from heaven. Jesus gazes upon the scene . . . His eyes fill with tears, and His body rock[s] to and fro like a tree before the tempest, while a wail of anguish bursts from His quivering lips, as if from the depths of a broken heart.” (575)
· Exhibit E—God, Giuseppe, Sonya and the pagan city Bergamo, Italy
· Exhibit F—God and the pagan city
§ Acts 18:9-10
§ NASB: “Do not be afraid any longer.”
§ Prophets and Kings: “In every city, filled though it may be with violence and crime, there are many who with proper teaching may learn to become followers of Jesus. Thousands may thus be reached with saving truth and be led to receive Christ as a personal Saviour.” (278)
The question is:
Are you willing to go?
Howard Center Presents... Phil Keaggy
Howard Center Presents... Cerus Quartet
Cerus Quartet is dedicated to showcasing the dynamic and versatile sound of the saxophone quartet. They champion both new music and timeless repertoire. With a repertoire spanning contemporary compositions and transcriptions of classical masterworks, the quartet seeks to establish the saxophone quartet as a leading voice in 21st century classical music. Among many other awards, the quartet has recently received the Gold Medal in the 2025 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition. 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.
Offering for August 23, 2025
Michigan Advance Partners
Some think that asking for offerings needs to be a polished “sales pitch” to convince people to give or give more. There are two types of givers. One group says, “they give until it hurts!” and the other group says, “every time they give, it hurts!”
The apostle Paul says we should give “not out of necessity or grudgingly. For God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7, NKJV). The Bible is clear about not making people feel guilty or obligated to give. Otherwise, they will give with an attitude that is not pleasing to God.
So how does one become a cheerful giver? The Bible tells us that our offerings must be given willingly and freely. This springs from the principle of love for Christ. As our love for God grows with the help of the Holy Spirit, we will want to share His love with other people so they, too, can learn of God’s love. This should prompt us to be giving a “love” offering or a “free will” offering that is not “urged” or “begged.”
When we do this, God will fill our hearts until they’re completely free of earthliness and blend with the divine. He removes selfish motives. Let’s give cheerfully, gladly, willingly, while being thankful that we advance God's kingdom in the world.
—North American Division Stewardship Ministries
Something in Common Sabbath School
Overcoming Emotions that Destroy - a DVD series with Chip Ingram
We all struggle with angry feelings, brought on by tension, pressure, and the blocked goals and frustrations of day-to-day life. The broken and stressed relationships that result from these feelings can overwhelm us. But there is hope. With the right help, you too can overcome those emotions that destroy. Everyone is welcome to join us each Sabbath through October 11. We meet in PMC Board Room.
Calling All Families: Sabbath Delight Challenge
Pioneer Children and Family Discipleship is excited to embark on a special journey of intentionally experiencing the delight of the Sabbath during the 2025-2026 school year. Please sign up for occasional notices about Pioneer-sponsored Sabbath Delight events as well as ideas for things you and your family can do to cultivate a deeper appreciation for Sabbath. We will also look forward to hearing from you about what you and your family are doing each week to call the Sabbath a delight. All are welcome. To sign up for the challenge, please text SABBATH to 269-281-2345.
Looking for a Prayer Group to Join?
Join us for the Midweek House of Prayer, held online every Wednesday morning from 7:00 to 8:00 AM. We are currently studying the Gospel of Mark. Come and see how your contributions can benefit everyone in the group! The Zoom link is https://andrews.zoom.us/j/9889172131.
Fellowship Dinner
Pioneer Commons
There will not be a fellowship dinner during the months of July and August, 2025.