Since 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.
More In This Series
“Roommates, Bad Dates and Soul Mates”—3
www.newperceptions.tv
» Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
• #1—“Two are better than one” because you have someone to share the . (Financial benefit)
- “Research has shown the financial benefits of marriage. Long-term marriage offers a 77% better rate of return than staying single and total wealth of married persons increases 16% year over year. In other words, the you are married, the more money you make. . . . [I]f this was the reported returns on a stock growth fund, we’d all be jumping in.” (www.moneyunder30.com/financial-benefits-of-marriage)
• #2—“Two are better than one” because you have someone to help you . (Emotional benefit)
• #3—“Two are better than one” because you have someone to keep you . (Physical benefit)
• #4—“Two are better than one” because you have someone to help you . (Security benefit)
» A great love story most have never heard . . .
- C. S. Lewis: “We feasted on love; every mode of it, solemn and merry, romantic and realistic, sometimes as dramatic as a thunderstorm, sometimes comfortable and unemphatic as putting on your soft slippers. She was my pupil and my teacher, my subject and my sovereign, my trusty comrade, friend, shipmate, fellow-soldier. My mistress, but at the same time all that any man friend has ever been to me.” (Quoted in Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts 142)
- Les and Leslie Parrott: “If there is a lesson to be gained from this amazing love story, it must be that partners without a spiritual depth of oneness can never compete with the fullness of love that enjoy. Marriage, when it is healthy, has a mystical way of revealing God; a way of bringing a smiling peace to our restless hearts.” (142)
» The third strand
• Jeremiah 9:24—“Let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know [yada] me, that I am the LORD.”
• Genesis 4:1—“Adam made love [yada] to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant.”
• God takes the same word for “making love” [yada] and declares “That’s what I want in a relationship with you—the between a husband and a wife—I want you to know me like Adam knew Eve.”
• Alan McGinnis: “There can be no intimacy without .” (The Friendship Factor 105)
• Alice Fryling: “[Sex] is an expression of intimacy, not the to intimacy. True intimacy springs from verbal and emotional communion. True intimacy is built on a commitment to honesty, love and freedom. True intimacy is not primarily a sexual encounter. Intimacy, in fact, has almost nothing to do with our organs. A prostitute may expose her body, but her relationships are hardly intimate.” (www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/three-lies-about-premarital-sex/)
• Don’t miss Adventist Engaged Encounter with Jeff/Twyla Smith (Nov 1-3).
• Ecclesiastes 4:12—“A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
- The Third Strand—Proverbs 18:24/John 15:13-14
- #1 Felt Need—How to grow a relationship with God
- Jennifer Schwirzer calls it “going .”
- “A New Way to Pray” (www.newperceptions.tv/newwaytopray)
• R
• R
• R
“Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners!”
Steven Atkins, Biology & Earth Science Teacher at Andrews Academy snapped this shot of a rainbow during a rainstorm on September 21. Steven says, "here at Pioneer we worship together and learn of so many spiritual treasures God wants to share with us." In turn he wanted to share the reminder of God's promise to us.
We grieve the death of Stephen Tarangle, who passed away on September 20, 2021. We pray for his wife, Esther, and his daughters Alana and Stephanie. A private graveside service for intimate, close family only, will be conducted on Monday, September 27. The date for a memorial service will be announced later.
Glenn Russell, Religion Professor at Andrews University, leads "Scriptural Pursuit," a Bible lesson study, with a special Alumni Sabbath feature. His guests include Ranko Stefanovic, PhD, Religion Professor, and Freshman student, Joseph Burton.
Please note that there will be no live Sabbath School program in the Pioneer Sanctuary on Sabbath, September 25.
The Seminary Sabbath School class taught by Ranko Stefanovic, Jiri Moskala, Denis Fortin, and Jacques Doukhan will resume on October 2. We appreciate your help in spreading this information to other class members and hope to see you there.
Michigan Advance Partners – Camp Au Sable
The funds given through Michigan Advance Partners or MAP are used all over the Michigan Conference in a variety of ways. One area of God's work here in the Michigan Conference, which receives a portion of every MAP dollar given, is beautiful Camp Au Sable.
Camp Au Sable is the Michigan conference youth camp located in Grayling, Michigan. Camp Au Sable has been used by God since 1948 to reach young people as well as adults. It is here on these 828.9 acres that thousands have met Jesus and have accepted Him as their personal savior. That is still the purpose of Camp Au Sable today.
Camp Au Sable operates as a summer camp for youth ages 8-18, where Jesus can be seen in activities such as horseback riding, swimming, nature study and much more. It is also a summer camping destination for entire families. During the remainder of the year Camp Au Sable is used for many church and school retreats as well as numerous conference events.
Part of the funding for this extensive evangelistic outreach is from your faithful, systematic gifts to Michigan Advance Partners. By returning a faithful tithe, giving 1% of your income to MAP, and giving to all aspects of God's work, God is able to multiply our meager offerings many times over and above what we could ever imagine.
God has blessed us with the opportunity to reach out to thousands of His people through the programs and facilities of Camp Au Sable. Your offerings today will continue to move God's work forward in this part of His vineyard and beyond. Thank you for your faithfulness and support of MAP here in the Michigan Conference.
—North American Division Stewardship Ministries
Volunteers are needed by the Fellowship Dinner teams to assist with the preparation and service of the fellowship dinners which we hope to be able to resume soon. Teams serve about three times a year, so the time commitment is minimal, but your help is invaluable. Please let us know you if can help by emailing Ben Chilson at bennettc43@gmail.com. You will be assigned to a team that fits your schedule.
Our Pathfinder and Adventurer Clubs are back in session this fall. Join below:
Pathfinders text "PMCEP" to 269-281-2345 or join online.
Pathfinder Staff Members text "EPSTAFF" to 269-281-2345 or join online
Adventurers text "PMCFF" to 269-281-2345 or join online
The Darkness Will Not Overcome, with Pastor Richie Halversen, is an 8-part series that will inspire, equip, and empower you to live your best life possible. In every presentation you will learn practical ways we can experience healing, hope, and change. Whatever your "darkness" is—an addiction, a mental health struggle, dysfunction, past trauma, broken relationships, or lack of direction—the Darkness Will Not Overcome! Beginning Friday, October 1.
Pioneer Women's Ministries is hosting a ladies' Sabbath Delight Summit with guest speakers Jo Ann Davidson and Yolande Robertson. We will be sharing some practical ideas on how we can celebrate the Sabbath using all five senses, especially as we open and close the Sabbath. You are invited to explore with us how to celebrate using all the senses in delighting in this wonderful gift from God, and experience the rest and healing God is promising to us.
Friday check-in begins at 6:00 PM with the meeting following after. Programming resumes 3:00 - 8:00 PM on Saturday. For gluten-free options email yolande.robertson@pmchurch.org. Registration is required for meals, gifts, and supplies. Text DELIGHT to (269) 281-2345 or register online before October 20.
October 29-30, 2021
Andrews University Seminary Chapel
