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God and Mister Rogers

Won't You Be My Neighbor? - Part 1

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Rodlie Ortiz

Rodlie Ortiz is on the pastoral team of Pioneer Memorial Church on the campus of Andrews University where he oversees evangelism and Grow Groups. He recently finished his Doctor of Ministry degree in Missional Leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary. He blogs regularly on modernekklesia.com and enjoys connecting with people that don't know God. He is married to Iveth, a special education teacher, and has two boys—Jonathan and Daniel.

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What do you think about when you hear the words personal evangelism? For most people, those words carry a lot of baggage. It evokes scary memories of going door-to-door or speaking with strangers. But is that what evangelism is actually about? In Part 1 of this series we’ll explore the model that Jesus gives, and here’s the good news—it doesn’t involve speaking with strangers.
Saturday, June 25, 2016
Program: 
As We Begin
Praise to the Lord • Johann Sebastian Bach
Praise
Baby Dedication
Jonathan William presented by Terry & Silvia Vitek with Skip MacCarty
Children's Story
Worship in Music
Have I Done My Best for Jesus? • Harold Storrs
Sermon
"God and Mister Rogers: Won't You Be My Neighbor?"–Part 1 • Rodlie Ortiz
Connect Card, Tithes & Offerings
Hymn
Rescue the Perishing • 367
As We Depart
Allegro assai vivace from Sonata No. 1 • Felix Mendelssohn

More In This Series

08/06/2016
Won't You Be My Neighbor? - Part 7
07/30/2016
Won't You Be My Neighbor? - Part 6
Not our arguments as much as our influence will finish Christ's work, because nobody was ever won to Jesus by a person he didn't like. "The influence of a holy life is the most convincing sermon that can be given in favor of Christianity. Argument, even when unanswerable, may provoke only opposition; but a godly example has a power that it is impossible wholly to resist” (AA 510.2).
07/23/2016
Won't You Be My Neighbor? - Part 5
Part 5 of this sermon series focuses on the question: "Who is my neighbor?" Using the familiar story of the Good Samaritan, we will study the parallels between Jesus'; audience in Jericho that day and those of us who today may still be pondering, "Who is my neighbor?" and how will my actions reflect the principle illustrated by the unwanted, rejected Samaritan who showed mercy to his enemy.
07/16/2016
Won't You Be My Neighbor? - Part 4
07/09/2016
Won't You Be My Neighbor? - Part 3
Part 3 explores the disciples' experience on the road to Emmaus; a story worth retelling because it reminds us that our Christian journey starts with God.
07/02/2016
Won't You Be My Neighbor? - Part 2
The story of Zacchaeus is one that is often set aside for children, in this message however we explore the story to find where we as a church stand. The picture of evangelism and the gospel that unfolds in this story offer something for the followers of Jesus today.
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Fellowship Dinner
Pioneer Commons

 There will be a fellowship dinner following the second worship service in the commons.

Offering for January 10, 2026

Pioneer Operating Budget

You may have heard it said, and it is true that patience is a virtue. What is also true and closely linked to patience is found in the opening verse of the parable of Luke 18:1-8 (NIV). Jesus told his disciples that they should “always pray and not give up” (verse 1). In today’s fast paced, instant, and have-to-get-it-now world, learning to be patient and not lose heart or become discouraged is surely a quality that is desirable. The widow in this parable showed the importance of being patient in one’s petitions and pursuits.

In her attempt to get the judge to defend her against her enemy, who seemed to have been making her life difficult, she kept on asking for his defense. Finally, the judge yielded to her persistence and vindicated her.

The same is true of God. When we are diligent in our prayer life, longsuffering when we are seeking to invoke Christ’s intervention, and faithful in honoring Him in our stewardship, He will move to positive action. Let us remember that unlike the judge we cannot wear out God. 

Today, as we worship Him through the return of our tithes and giving of our offerings, let us practice being persistent in honoring Him with our substance and the first fruit of our increase.

—North American Division Stewardship Ministries