¤¤
00:00:00.20\00:00:05.53
>> ¤ Holy, holy, holy ¤
¤ Let us all adore Thee ¤
00:00:09.47\00:00:21.38
¤ Casting down
our golden crowns ¤
00:00:21.38\00:00:26.12
¤ Around the glassy sea ¤
00:00:26.12\00:00:32.99
¤ Cherubim and seraphim ¤ ¤
Falling down before Thee ¤ ¤
Which wert and art ¤
00:00:33.16\00:00:49.14
¤ And evermore
shall be ¤ [ Song ends ]
00:00:49.14\00:01:00.09
>> Let's stand as we pray.
00:01:03.79\00:01:06.59
Holy Father, is it okay to
sing "Happy Birthday" in church?
00:01:12.53\00:01:17.77
The Pioneer Memorial
Church -- 60 years old today.
00:01:17.77\00:01:21.08
What else can we sing but
"Praise God, From Whom All
00:01:21.08\00:01:24.58
Blessings Flow"?
00:01:24.58\00:01:25.98
For six decades, You've come
down to meet with us beneath
these towering arches and
00:01:26.15\00:01:30.59
jubilant pipes, and we thank
You. For 60 years, You've come
00:01:30.59\00:01:35.06
down for the joy of weddings and
graduations, for the grief of
death and funerals, for the
00:01:35.06\00:01:39.83
birth of babies and the baptism
of sinners, and we thank You.
"Crown Him with many crowns, the
00:01:39.83\00:01:46.84
Lamb upon His throne." That's
what they sang on that first
Sabbath 60 years ago, and
00:01:46.84\00:01:52.87
so we sing it, too, but let it
be Your music today, blended
with our birthday praises, as we
00:01:52.87\00:01:58.91
worship You now in the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
00:01:58.91\00:02:04.75
[ "Crown Him with
Many Crowns" begins ]
00:02:08.76\00:02:12.93
¤¤ ¤¤
00:02:16.56\00:02:36.58
¤¤ ¤¤
00:02:36.58\00:02:56.57
¤¤ ¤¤
00:02:56.57\00:03:16.66
¤¤ ¤¤
00:03:16.66\00:03:36.64
¤¤ ¤¤
00:03:36.64\00:03:56.63
¤¤ ¤¤
00:03:56.63\00:04:16.72
¤¤ ¤¤
00:04:16.72\00:04:36.71
¤¤ ¤¤
00:04:36.71\00:04:56.73
¤¤ ¤¤
00:04:56.73\00:05:16.78
¤¤ ¤¤
00:05:16.78\00:05:36.77
¤¤ [ Song ends ]
00:05:36.77\00:05:45.74
>> You may be seated.
00:05:45.74\00:05:47.98
[ "Majesty" begins ]
00:05:53.28\00:05:54.72
¤¤ ¤¤
00:05:58.32\00:06:18.37
¤¤ ¤¤
00:06:18.37\00:06:38.39
¤¤ ¤¤
00:06:38.39\00:06:58.38
¤¤ ¤¤
00:06:58.38\00:07:18.43
¤¤ ¤¤
00:07:18.43\00:07:31.15
[ Song ends, "Great
Is the Lord" begins ]
00:07:31.15\00:07:34.25
¤¤ ¤¤
00:07:36.58\00:07:56.57
¤¤ ¤¤
00:07:56.57\00:08:16.66
¤¤ ¤¤
00:08:16.66\00:08:36.64
¤¤ ¤¤
00:08:36.64\00:08:56.63
¤¤ [ Song ends,
00:08:56.63\00:09:00.94
"Agnus Dei" begins ]
00:09:00.94\00:09:03.37
¤¤ ¤¤
00:09:06.31\00:09:26.33
¤¤ ¤¤
00:09:26.33\00:09:46.31
¤¤ ¤¤
00:09:46.31\00:10:06.30
¤¤ ¤¤
00:10:06.30\00:10:26.32
¤¤ ¤¤
00:10:26.32\00:10:46.31
¤¤ ¤¤
00:10:46.31\00:11:06.39
¤¤ ¤¤
00:11:06.39\00:11:26.38
[ Song ends ] In 1
Samuel, it says, "There is
00:11:26.38\00:11:30.72
none holy like our God," and
He deserves our worship and our
00:11:30.72\00:11:35.42
total praise. So, at
this time, if you want to
00:11:35.42\00:11:38.86
give your praise to Him or you
have a burden that you'd like to
00:11:38.86\00:11:42.46
bring to Him, I just invite you
to come forward at this time.
00:11:42.46\00:11:46.00
And I invite you
to stand as we sing.
00:11:46.00\00:11:49.30
[ "Total Praise" begins ]
00:11:49.30\00:11:51.34
¤¤ ¤¤
00:11:55.98\00:12:16.03
¤¤ ¤¤
00:12:16.03\00:12:36.05
¤¤ ¤¤
00:12:36.05\00:12:56.04
¤¤ ¤¤
00:12:56.04\00:13:16.12
¤¤ ¤¤
00:13:16.12\00:13:35.61
¤¤ ¤¤
00:13:35.61\00:13:55.60
¤¤ [ Flourish, song ends ]
00:13:55.60\00:14:07.08
>> It was a big day 60 years ago
when they opened these doors to
00:14:10.01\00:14:14.48
the world and that crowd -- and
we're gonna look at pictures in
00:14:14.48\00:14:17.25
just a moment -- that
crowd came flowing in.
00:14:17.25\00:14:19.25
It was a huge deal. In
fact, the next day, we ended
00:14:19.25\00:14:21.56
up on the front page
of the South Bend Tribune.
00:14:21.56\00:14:26.26
I have the South Bend
Tribune here -- Sunday morning.
00:14:26.26\00:14:29.30
So Valentine's Day
was a Sabbath in 1959.
00:14:29.30\00:14:32.67
Sunday morning, front page, they
had to move the articles around
to get two beautiful pictures.
00:14:32.83\00:14:38.24
So here's the picture of the
filled, brand-new, for the first
time Pioneer Memorial Church
00:14:38.24\00:14:43.41
sanctuary, and underneath it,
these words -- "Adventist Church
filled for first worship
00:14:43.41\00:14:48.45
service. A capacity audience
of 2,000 persons --" they didn't
00:14:48.45\00:14:52.39
have double services back then
-- "2,000 persons attended
worship services in the new
00:14:52.39\00:15:00.16
$440,000 campus
church." [ Laughter ] Man.
00:15:00.16\00:15:02.70
Can you imagine building a
church for $440,000? We spent 10
00:15:02.70\00:15:11.14
times that amount just to put
these two wings on. Anyway, "The
service marked the first time
00:15:11.14\00:15:17.35
the newly completed structure
had been used. The inaugural
service was led by Pastor J.L.
00:15:17.35\00:15:23.89
Tucker, campus pastor, Pioneer
Memorial Church. An house of
prayer for all people."
00:15:23.89\00:15:30.13
Not to be outdone -- and I'll
put this one on the screen for
you because we do have this in
00:15:30.13\00:15:34.03
our archives. "Student
Movement, February 23, 1959."
00:15:34.03\00:15:39.27
Can we put that up there? There
it is. "Student Movement, Campus
00:15:39.27\00:15:43.91
Edition. Emmanuel Missionary
College." Here's how the piece
00:15:43.91\00:15:47.51
opens. "Jesus -- central theme
rings in the new church."
Quoting J.L. Tucker, the first
00:15:47.51\00:15:52.38
pastor, "'I have no other
central theme than Jesus,' as
Tucker began the first sermon in
00:15:52.38\00:15:58.79
EMC's new church on February 14.
'It shall ring from the nave,
the balcony, the classrooms of
00:15:58.79\00:16:04.93
this church,' he continued.
'With David of old, we say I was
glad when they said unto me, let
00:16:04.93\00:16:09.70
us go into the house of the
Lord. With gladness, we welcome
00:16:09.70\00:16:13.50
our visitors and members to this
first service in our new church
00:16:13.50\00:16:17.91
home. It is to be an house of
prayer for all people.'" What
did the church look like
00:16:17.91\00:16:22.78
back then? What did it feel like
when they began to, brick by
00:16:22.78\00:16:27.18
brick, raise up this place of
worship? Let's pull out an old
00:16:27.18\00:16:32.55
family album. We're all black
and white back then. Here's
00:16:32.55\00:16:36.76
where they were worshipping
before this church was erected.
That's the old auditorium.
00:16:36.76\00:16:41.56
Can you see a balcony up in the
corner? That balcony wrapped all
00:16:41.56\00:16:45.93
the way around the auditorium.
It had a sloping floor, and this
is where the students, this is
00:16:45.93\00:16:50.07
where the faculty, this is where
the community -- this is where
everybody worshipped.
00:16:50.07\00:16:54.24
But then comes a student
movement to raise money, and
soon the walls begin going up.
00:16:54.24\00:17:00.85
Take a look at this picture.
Next pictures, please. Well,
this is groundbreaking.
00:17:00.85\00:17:06.19
I don't recognize a soul in that
picture, do you? [ Laughter ]
00:17:06.19\00:17:10.03
I don't. By the way, I
forgot to do this in second.
00:17:10.03\00:17:13.03
We did this in first. Was there
anybody -- Is there anybody here
00:17:13.03\00:17:20.64
who was in Pioneer Memorial
Church February 14, 1959?
00:17:20.64\00:17:24.37
Anybody here? Just put your hand
up. I was surprised in first
church, and you're gonna see
00:17:24.37\00:17:28.11
behind me. Anybody here? I see
a hand over there, Ray Phillips.
00:17:28.11\00:17:31.35
All right. Ray Roberts,
sorry. I see Ray Roberts.
00:17:31.35\00:17:35.55
I see a hand right -- Rosie,
you were here? Good night!
00:17:35.55\00:17:40.39
>> Choir! >> No, don't
-- [ Indistinct shouting ]
00:17:40.39\00:17:43.19
What? [ Shouting continues ]
Oh, there are people behind me?
00:17:43.19\00:17:46.13
[ Laughter ] Are
they standing? >> Yes.
00:17:46.13\00:17:48.56
>> Are they the same ones
that stood in first service? [
00:17:48.56\00:17:52.37
Laughter ] Okay. We've
got Judy, Joann, and Rick.
00:17:52.37\00:17:56.30
Can you believe that? Put your
hands together for people who
00:17:56.30\00:18:00.84
were here 60 years
ago! [ Applause ] All right.
00:18:00.84\00:18:08.02
Let's go back to our family
album. So, there comes the
00:18:08.02\00:18:11.09
church on campus. We're gonna
get an aerial view in just a
00:18:11.09\00:18:13.82
moment. You're gonna love
the aerial view. Okay, so there
00:18:13.82\00:18:16.99
they're going up. These are our
walls. Those are our rafters.
00:18:16.99\00:18:20.70
Next, please. Now beginning to
extend. Nice. Next, please.
That's a picture taken from
00:18:20.70\00:18:27.47
right here, looking out over the
campus, and you're gonna see
what kind of a campus was out
00:18:27.47\00:18:31.64
that front door in a moment.
Next, please. Okay, the mortar.
00:18:31.64\00:18:35.88
Beautiful Indiana limestone
going up, as well. Next, please.
00:18:35.88\00:18:40.58
Ah! Pews. The
assembling of the first pews.
00:18:40.58\00:18:45.22
You know what? These pews have
been putting up with your weight
00:18:45.22\00:18:50.06
for 60 years. [ Laughter ] And
this is about the end. We're
gonna put in brand-new
00:18:50.06\00:18:54.36
pews come May. May, June, July,
and August, we're gonna put in
00:18:54.36\00:18:58.80
brand-new pews. We'll have
padding on the back. You're
00:18:58.80\00:19:02.70
gonna love it. Okay, pews.
Next, please. Ah, there it is --
00:19:02.70\00:19:05.51
College Avenue and Westwood
Drive. Yeah, we can picture it.
00:19:05.51\00:19:08.98
Next, please. Okay, there's
the aerial view. Hold that up.
00:19:08.98\00:19:13.35
Okay, try to guess where the
campus is back then as compared
to what you know about now.
00:19:13.35\00:19:18.15
So, we see Pioneer, of course,
here at the bottom, on the left.
There's nothing in front of
00:19:18.15\00:19:23.09
Pioneer. It's just a field.
There's no James White Library,
00:19:23.09\00:19:26.59
there's no seminary, there's
no "ad" building -- there's
00:19:26.59\00:19:30.27
nothing. There's just a parking
lot to the north of Pioneer. We
00:19:30.27\00:19:35.24
see Lamson. You see Lamson
beyond Pioneer, and then there's
00:19:35.24\00:19:38.61
a field. There's an old building
or two. Let's not worry about
trying to guess the names of the
00:19:38.61\00:19:43.41
buildings, but the point is, 60
years ago, when they opened
these doors, that was the campus
00:19:43.41\00:19:48.55
of Andrews University.
Let's look at the next picture,
00:19:48.55\00:19:52.42
please. That is opening Sabbath.
And we know it's Michigan
because of the snow on the
00:19:52.42\00:19:57.39
ground, and nothing's changed in
60 years, and here's everybody
00:19:57.39\00:20:02.10
going in. And there in the front
-- For you aficionados, there in
the front is a Rambler.
00:20:02.10\00:20:07.20
[ Laughter ] Rambler
went to church that day, yep.
00:20:07.20\00:20:10.24
Those were the days. Is this the
last -- No, we're gonna go to
00:20:10.24\00:20:14.41
Sabbath school. Go downstairs
for a moment please. See how big
00:20:14.41\00:20:18.71
the rooms were? We've had to put
walls in over the years just to
accommodate more and more
00:20:18.71\00:20:23.05
divisions, and for awhile, we
were meeting in every classroom
on this campus, it felt like,
00:20:23.05\00:20:27.42
until we built these two wings
back in '96 and '98, but there
is the Sabbath-school room and
00:20:27.42\00:20:33.70
our beloved pastor. Next
picture, please. Oh, not quite
right yet. This is the church.
00:20:33.70\00:20:37.50
Minnie Iverson Wood led the
combined corral -- 250 voices.
We used to have, when I came,
00:20:37.50\00:20:43.57
the choir benches that went that
way -- permanent benches tiered
up to the top near the pipes.
00:20:43.57\00:20:50.01
But there they are on opening
Sabbath. Now we have Pastor J.L.
00:20:50.01\00:20:54.95
Tucker, the beloved first pastor
of the Pioneer Memorial Church.
And you know what, folks?
00:20:54.95\00:21:00.32
The student body of Emmanuel
Missionary College -- it didn't
become Andrews until
00:21:00.32\00:21:04.69
'61. The student body of EMC
initiated the fundraising for
00:21:04.69\00:21:09.93
this church. They raised the
money. In fact, I want you to
00:21:09.93\00:21:17.34
hear -- this is unbelievable,
but the president of the student
association was in the class of
00:21:17.34\00:21:23.01
1953 -- he was the president in
'52/'53 school year -- he lives
right here in Berrien Springs.
00:21:23.01\00:21:31.99
We took our cameras in, sat down
in the comfort of his family
room -- Fred Stephan, my friend
00:21:31.99\00:21:37.79
Fred Stephan, been a longtime
Adventist educator for years
across North America.
00:21:37.79\00:21:44.43
He remembers the fundraising,
and let's listen to him tell the
00:21:44.43\00:21:47.97
story. Fred
Stephan on the big screen.
00:21:47.97\00:21:50.44
>> Well, I graduated from
Cedar Lake Academy, and it was
00:21:50.61\00:21:56.41
just a thing for us to do, and I
know I was the first one in our
00:21:56.41\00:22:02.22
family to go to college, and
I elected to come here -- to EMC
00:22:02.22\00:22:07.76
in those days.
00:22:07.76\00:22:09.16
South Hall or North Hall -- one
of those -- but it was this
large room that had the balcony
00:22:11.83\00:22:18.37
came all the way around
and with a slanting floor.
00:22:18.37\00:22:23.87
And that's where we
had our church services.
00:22:24.04\00:22:27.58
We met with the student council
and started to lay out some
00:22:33.11\00:22:37.89
plans for the year. We
dealt with the picnic and
00:22:37.89\00:22:41.89
various activities, and I
suppose that the idea was out
00:22:41.89\00:22:49.46
there that we needed a
church, and we certainly did.
00:22:49.46\00:22:54.17
¤¤ We passed out
little honey bears
00:22:58.61\00:23:02.84
that were about 8 inches tall,
little pink/yellow bears, and
00:23:02.84\00:23:08.28
encouraged them to save their
money -- coins, whatever -- and
00:23:08.28\00:23:15.96
I recall one student, a dorm
student, donated a very valuable
00:23:15.96\00:23:23.57
coin collection.
00:23:23.57\00:23:25.13
And we would initiate programs,
like we would encourage students
to give up their dessert for a
00:23:25.30\00:23:33.34
month or any period of time and
contribute the money for their
desserts toward the building of
00:23:33.34\00:23:39.61
the church. And there were
other activities that we would
00:23:39.61\00:23:45.92
encourage them to donate
toward the church, and they were
00:23:45.92\00:23:50.73
active. We had a good response.
00:23:50.89\00:23:53.40
In the early '60s,
because I became principal of
00:23:57.87\00:24:02.10
Wisconsin Academy, and
we brought students over.
00:24:02.10\00:24:06.31
And I recall going to the church
and looking at it and going
00:24:06.31\00:24:13.45
through it at that time.
00:24:13.45\00:24:15.02
Well, I was really happy to see
it, and you get that feeling --
00:24:16.52\00:24:20.72
"I wish we would've
had this nice building."
00:24:20.72\00:24:24.56
I would hope that it
might continue to focus on its
00:24:28.50\00:24:34.40
mission, that we could
hasten the coming of the Lord.
00:24:34.40\00:24:39.61
¤¤
00:24:42.34\00:24:43.91
>> Good morning. Good morning.
It is so good to see you guys up
00:24:48.68\00:24:53.46
here. There are just a few of
-- We're gonna let everybody get
00:24:53.46\00:24:57.26
settled, and then we're
gonna do something a little bit
00:24:57.26\00:25:00.70
different. Now, you guys really
missed out by coming to second,
00:25:00.86\00:25:04.43
because first service, we did
this, and I'm gonna be honest --
00:25:04.43\00:25:08.24
we had no idea how it was gonna
go. It was exciting, to say the
00:25:08.24\00:25:11.94
least, but we're going to try it
again, so things could still go
00:25:11.94\00:25:15.78
awry.
00:25:15.78\00:25:16.68
So it's good that you're here
still. So, Emmett, come up here
00:25:16.85\00:25:22.52
for a minute.
00:25:22.52\00:25:24.05
We're gonna give Emmett a little
quiz. He did pretty well in
00:25:27.79\00:25:33.76
first, but we're gonna see how
he does now. Okay, Emmett, come
here. Can you tell us when
00:25:33.76\00:25:45.44
Christmas is?
00:25:45.44\00:25:46.54
>> No. [ Laughter ]
00:25:50.68\00:25:52.95
>> Oh. Okay. How
about Thanksgiving?
00:25:52.95\00:25:56.45
>> No. >> Okay. We're
gonna make this a little
00:25:56.62\00:26:01.56
easier. How about the
Fourth of July? >> No.
00:26:01.56\00:26:05.03
[ Laughter ] >> Okay.
Maybe something a little bit
00:26:05.03\00:26:09.00
more recent? Can you tell
me when Valentine's Day was?
00:26:09.00\00:26:12.67
>> No. [ Laughter ] >> Okay.
00:26:12.67\00:26:15.74
Well, hold on. Hold on. Can
you tell me, Emmett, when your
00:26:15.74\00:26:24.65
birthday is? >> October 11. >>
Okay, okay. Thank you so much,
00:26:24.65\00:26:31.12
Emmett. You did a fantastic job.
Here's the thing. You guys, you
00:26:31.12\00:26:36.32
know when your birthdays
are, don't you? >> Yes! >> Yeah.
00:26:36.32\00:26:40.66
Because our birthdays are a
very, very special day. >> I
00:26:40.66\00:26:47.94
know my birthday. >> I'm sure
you do. And here's the thing. I
like my birthday, too.
00:26:47.94\00:26:54.88
I remember it was my eighth
birthday, it was getting close,
and I was looking forward to it.
00:26:54.88\00:26:59.38
I was starting to get excited.
You know how it is. You start
counting off the days,
00:26:59.38\00:27:03.55
and when you're in your birthday
month, it is getting close. And
I was excited, except there
00:27:03.55\00:27:10.96
was a problem. Every time I
seemed to bring up my birthday
to my parents, they
00:27:10.96\00:27:16.63
kind of changed the subject. It
was like they weren't planning
anything, and it was
00:27:16.63\00:27:22.77
getting closer and closer and
closer, and, pretty soon, my
birthday was going to be the
00:27:22.77\00:27:27.41
very next week, and it didn't
seem like they had any plans at
00:27:27.41\00:27:32.98
all. This is troubling for
a middle child. [ Laughter ]
00:27:32.98\00:27:37.75
And so, finally -- I remember my
birthday fell on a Sunday that
00:27:37.75\00:27:44.19
year. And so, finally, Sunday
came along, and, all of a
sudden, people started showing
00:27:44.19\00:27:49.56
up at the house, and my parents
threw a surprise party for me.
But there are good surprises,
00:27:49.56\00:27:55.84
and then there are other
surprises, aren't there? And the
other surprise was none
00:27:55.84\00:28:02.71
of my friends had been invited
to the party. It was a party for
00:28:02.71\00:28:08.75
all my parents' friends, and I
was so disappointed. But, guys,
00:28:08.75\00:28:14.36
if you think birthdays are a big
party, a bigger party is coming.
Jesus is coming again, and it's
00:28:14.36\00:28:20.50
gonna be a party like absolutely
no other because the entire
universe is gonna be celebrating
00:28:20.50\00:28:27.17
this party. There is gonna be
nothing like it, and if you want
00:28:27.17\00:28:32.04
to talk about a party you can
look forward to, the Second
Coming is that party.
00:28:32.04\00:28:35.81
Are you guys excited
about the Second Coming? >> Yes!
00:28:35.81\00:28:38.85
>> Are you excited
about seeing Jesus? >> Yes!
00:28:38.85\00:28:43.79
>> My question for you then is,
"Have you invited your friends
00:28:43.79\00:28:49.76
to the party?" >> Yes. >>
Because we can't always rely on
our parents to invite our
00:28:49.76\00:28:56.00
friends, can we? [ Laughter ]
We need to make sure that we're
00:28:56.00\00:28:59.73
inviting our friends for
ourselves, and you guys -- you
guys already are old enough to
00:28:59.73\00:29:04.91
know how to invite your friends,
aren't you? So how many of you
00:29:04.91\00:29:09.78
guys are willing to commit to
you are going to invite your
friends to the Second Coming?
00:29:09.78\00:29:16.22
Okay. Thank you so much. And
now I need one more volunteer.
00:29:16.22\00:29:19.62
Oh, you guys are really brave.
You're raising your hands before
I even tell you what this is
00:29:19.62\00:29:24.56
for. This is dangerous.
Okay, I need one volunteer for
00:29:24.56\00:29:28.80
prayer, and you right
there, come on forward.
00:29:28.80\00:29:33.07
And what is your
name? >> German. >> German.
00:29:41.24\00:29:44.35
Okay. So, let us bow our heads
and close our eyes while she
00:29:44.35\00:29:48.62
prays and thanks God for the big
party He has planned and help us
to remember to invite people to
00:29:48.62\00:29:56.26
the party. >> Dear Father, we
thank You that You have brought
00:29:56.26\00:30:01.36
us to church. Thank You
for that You protect us.
00:30:01.36\00:30:05.20
Please help us to remember to
invite our friends to the party.
00:30:05.20\00:30:10.81
Amen. >> Amen. And as you go
back to your seat, start
thinking about the friends
00:30:10.81\00:30:14.54
you want at that party.
00:30:14.54\00:30:17.08
[ "Praise God, From Whom
All Blessings Flow" begins ]
00:30:21.28\00:30:25.05
¤¤ ¤¤
00:30:28.22\00:30:48.21
¤¤ ¤¤
00:30:48.21\00:31:03.86
[ Song ends ] Blessed
Father, You have, for 60
00:31:03.86\00:31:07.86
years, rained down upon
this piece of terra firma.
00:31:07.86\00:31:13.84
And we have stood before You now
and declared our gratitude and
our praise for what the
00:31:14.00\00:31:21.24
Lord of hosts, the Lord of angel
armies, has done. And You're not
00:31:21.24\00:31:27.85
through yet. We pivot on our
heels and now look forward. What
00:31:27.85\00:31:38.66
is yet to come? Renovate heart
and house. We've talked about
the house for the last few
00:31:38.66\00:31:43.93
moments. Now, Father, renovate
heart, renovate all our hearts.
As Your family, we pray in
00:31:43.93\00:31:49.20
Jesus' name.
00:31:49.20\00:31:50.27
Let all the people
say... >> All: Amen.
00:31:50.44\00:31:53.07
>> And amen. Be seated, please.
Want to share a story with you
00:31:53.07\00:31:57.95
that Krish Kandiah wrote in the
most recent Christianity Today
00:31:57.95\00:32:02.58
magazine. It's a great story.
00:32:02.58\00:32:05.02
Happened over in
England. Here we go.
00:32:05.02\00:32:09.62
There in England, this "little
boy was playing in the street,
00:32:09.62\00:32:12.59
kicking the dust,
jumping off walls.
00:32:12.59\00:32:14.46
My wife happened to walk
past him with our five children,
00:32:14.46\00:32:17.27
which caught
the lad's attention.
00:32:17.27\00:32:19.30
He watched from a distance for a
while and then plucked up the
courage to jog over and ask,
00:32:19.47\00:32:24.27
'Are you going to have a party?'
My wife quickly answered, 'Yes,
00:32:24.27\00:32:28.21
we are! We call it church. If
you go and check with your mum,
00:32:28.21\00:32:32.11
you can come with us.' That
little boy ran home and was back
in a couple of minutes with
00:32:32.11\00:32:35.95
a huge smile on his face. That
Sunday, he stayed for a cup of
hot chocolate and left before
00:32:35.95\00:32:40.76
the services began. But he was
back the next week and the week
00:32:40.76\00:32:45.46
after that. And, pretty soon, he
had brought his mother, his
brother, and a couple of his
00:32:45.46\00:32:49.23
cousins. Eight years later, they
are an integral part of our
church. One of the most moving
00:32:49.23\00:32:54.77
moments of those years was when
the boy's mother was baptized,"
as we saw just a moment ago.
00:32:54.77\00:32:59.24
"Standing waist-high in the
water, she explained a little of
her traumatic childhood, her
00:32:59.24\00:33:03.98
years living rough, and
something of the struggles of
trying to hold her own family
00:33:03.98\00:33:08.38
together. Her face shone, and
her voice clearly articulated
00:33:08.38\00:33:12.29
her love for the God who had
found her and welcomed her home.
The idea that had caught her
00:33:12.29\00:33:17.59
son's imagination was that the
church was like a party and that
he and his family were invited
00:33:17.59\00:33:23.57
to it. Until then, they had
sadly mostly experienced what it
00:33:23.57\00:33:27.87
was like to be excluded, but the
discovery that church wasn't so
much an event you turn up to as
00:33:27.87\00:33:33.78
a family you belong to was
life-changing for them. In fact,
it was life-changing
00:33:33.78\00:33:39.01
for the whole church." Isn't
that good? Did you catch that
00:33:39.01\00:33:44.32
last line? The church isn't so
much an event you turn up to as
a family you belong to, and it
00:33:44.32\00:33:50.89
is a life-changing discovery.
It'll change you forever and
ever, once you realize we are
00:33:50.89\00:33:57.67
family. That's not some
new-fangled notion that comes
00:33:57.67\00:34:02.57
with the third millennium. Are
you kidding? That's as old as
00:34:02.57\00:34:05.87
Scripture. You take the apostle
Paul -- he's scribbling off a
letter to his young ministerial
00:34:05.87\00:34:12.18
protégé, young pastor Timothy,
and Paul gives this counsel. Put
it on the screen for you.
00:34:12.18\00:34:16.35
Look at it there
-- 1 Timothy 5:1-2.
00:34:16.35\00:34:19.39
"Do not rebuke an older man
harshly, but instead exhort him
00:34:19.55\00:34:23.69
as if he were your --" what?
"...as if he were your father."
00:34:23.69\00:34:27.76
Keep going. "Treat
younger men as your --"
00:34:27.76\00:34:30.67
what? And older
women as your what?
00:34:30.67\00:34:33.17
Mm-hmm. And
younger women as your
00:34:33.17\00:34:36.94
sisters, "with absolute purity."
Just in case there is a young
00:34:36.94\00:34:40.34
seminarian that has wandered
into this space for worship
00:34:40.34\00:34:43.45
today on our 60th anniversary,
I want to say to you that that
00:34:43.45\00:34:46.78
line, taught to me by my dad and
first initiated by the apostle
00:34:46.78\00:34:50.39
Paul, has been the credo
that I've sought to live by.
00:34:50.39\00:34:53.92
I'm telling you what, guys,
ladies, if you'll treat the
older women as your mother and
00:34:54.09\00:35:03.20
the younger women as your
sisters, you won't have any
00:35:03.20\00:35:08.94
problem at all. You know why?
This isn't just about sexual
ethics, by the way, whether
00:35:08.94\00:35:13.04
you're male or female. This
is about the metaphor "we are
00:35:13.04\00:35:18.28
family." We're family. That's
the whole idea of the Church.
00:35:18.28\00:35:21.45
We are family. Paul goes on --
in the letter to the church in
00:35:21.45\00:35:28.39
Rome, he scribbles a
little P.S. at the end.
00:35:28.39\00:35:29.79
"I want you to pass my hugs
and kisses on to some in the
00:35:29.96\00:35:32.06
congregation," so here we
go. I'll put it on the screen.
00:35:32.06\00:35:34.13
Romans 16:1, 13. "I
commend to you our sister --"
00:35:34.13\00:35:38.33
where'd you come up with that?
Family metaphor, of course.
00:35:38.33\00:35:41.64
"I commend to you our sister
Phoebe, a deacon of the church
00:35:41.64\00:35:44.97
in Cenchrea..." Oh,
and by the way, "Greet
00:35:44.97\00:35:47.51
Rufus, chosen in the Lord,
and his mother, who has been a
00:35:47.51\00:35:50.78
mother to me, too.
Give her my love and hugs."
00:35:50.78\00:35:54.95
Why? Because the Church
is family. We are family.
00:35:55.12\00:36:00.39
That wasn't original with Paul.
The Lord Jesus, when He was
here, that was His metaphor.
00:36:00.39\00:36:05.49
You remember that day that Jesus
is teaching away, and, all of a
sudden, his mother and his
00:36:05.49\00:36:09.60
half-brothers show up at the
back of the crowd, and they sent
a word by somebody, and they
00:36:09.60\00:36:13.67
say, "Your family's here, and
they want to talk to you." Jesus
00:36:13.67\00:36:17.67
then speaks. Watch this
-- put it on the screen.
00:36:17.84\00:36:19.31
This is Matthew 12:49-50.
"Pointing to his disciples,
00:36:19.31\00:36:24.78
Jesus then said --" hey, guys,
look -- "'Here are my mother and
00:36:24.78\00:36:28.62
my brothers. For
whoever does the will of my
00:36:28.62\00:36:31.15
Father in heaven is my
brother and sister and mother.'"
00:36:31.15\00:36:34.52
Why? Because we...are...family.
00:36:34.52\00:36:37.46
Jesus went on Luke chapter
18. Put that up, please --
00:36:37.46\00:36:40.20
Luke 18: 29-30. "'I
tell you the truth --" he
00:36:40.20\00:36:44.73
said to another crowd -- "'no
one who has left home or wife or
00:36:44.73\00:36:48.70
brothers or parents or
children for the sake of the
00:36:48.70\00:36:52.01
Kingdom of God will fail to
receive many times as much in
00:36:52.01\00:36:55.61
this age and, in the
age to come, eternal life.'"
00:36:55.61\00:36:58.81
In the 60 years that we
have watched these baptismal
00:36:58.81\00:37:01.62
curtains open, time and
time again, there have been
00:37:01.62\00:37:04.32
occasions -- you haven't known
about it -- when men, women,
00:37:04.32\00:37:07.36
young adults, teenagers, and
sometimes kids standing in that
00:37:07.36\00:37:10.46
baptistery have done so
at great relational cost to
00:37:10.46\00:37:17.13
themselves, and they have
subsequently been ostracized by
00:37:17.13\00:37:21.30
their most tender and
precious relationships.
00:37:21.30\00:37:24.91
Jesus says, "You may lose those
biological relationships when
you follow me, but guess what.
00:37:25.07\00:37:31.25
You're gonna get 100 times more
in the community I have for you
because we are family.
00:37:31.25\00:37:37.09
We are family." Yeah, it's a big
deal [Chuckles] for Paul, for
00:37:37.09\00:37:44.53
Jesus, for Scripture. "Church
isn't so much an event you turn
up to as a family you
00:37:44.53\00:37:50.10
belong to." And it's just
the very same way with the last
00:37:50.10\00:37:55.27
letter ever written in the
Bible, bar none. It's the last
letter to the seven churches.
00:37:55.27\00:38:00.38
It's to the church living at the
end of time. It's the letter to
00:38:00.38\00:38:04.11
Laodicea. That's been our little
winter theme. Just a few more
00:38:04.11\00:38:07.62
parts left, and we're done, but
let's go to Revelation chapter
3, the last letter.
00:38:07.62\00:38:11.02
Jesus dictated it to John there
on the isle of Patmos. But
what's the letter say?
00:38:11.02\00:38:16.19
Well, may I show you that, if we
read between the lines, we see
that it's still big on family?
00:38:16.19\00:38:21.66
Watch this. Revelation 3:14...
00:38:21.83\00:38:24.57
You can stop it right there.
He calls himself, "I am the
00:38:34.34\00:38:37.61
ruler of God's
creation." And guess what.
00:38:37.61\00:38:40.12
The ruler of God's creation
is the inventor of the family.
00:38:40.12\00:38:44.39
He's the one who said, "You'll
be male, and you'll be female,
and, oh, by the way, will you
00:38:44.55\00:38:50.09
please go and multiply?" The
creator of the universe, who
created us, is the Lord of
00:38:50.09\00:38:56.06
families. He says, "By the way,
I'm the one who's sending you
00:38:56.06\00:39:00.30
this letter. I'm big on family."
But we know He's even just as
00:39:00.30\00:39:03.97
big on family by another clue
tucked away. Let's look at that
00:39:03.97\00:39:07.71
verse 14 we just read a moment
ago and just use the opening
line. "To the angel of the
00:39:07.71\00:39:12.01
church in Laodicea..." Because
you know what? When Laodicea
00:39:12.01\00:39:16.15
existed as a church, they didn't
have edifices. They didn't have
00:39:16.15\00:39:20.46
Gothic arches like this. They
didn't have cathedrals. They had
00:39:20.46\00:39:24.33
nothing. All they had was
somebody's house. Church
happened in a home, a
00:39:24.33\00:39:28.50
family circle. That's what
happened. The families gathered
00:39:28.50\00:39:32.83
together in a house and
worshipped every seventh-day
Sabbath. Embedded between the
00:39:32.83\00:39:40.38
lines -- "We are family." That's
why Jesus comes along here in
verse 20 -- This is
00:39:40.38\00:39:46.45
something else. This is the one
line that everybody who knows
00:39:46.45\00:39:50.29
Scripture remembers.
00:39:50.29\00:39:51.19
"Oh, this is the only
part of the letter I remember."
00:39:51.35\00:39:53.36
Verse 20. "Here I
am!" Jesus speaking...
00:39:53.36\00:39:55.96
The door is a family house.
It's the door to a family home.
00:40:04.47\00:40:08.44
"Hey, yo, family, you're having
a big party in there, but do you
00:40:08.44\00:40:13.27
know that I'm not in there?
00:40:13.27\00:40:15.18
Anybody open the door for
me, I'll come in, and we'll be
00:40:15.34\00:40:19.81
family together. We'll share
that meal together." Yeah, why?
Because we...are...family.
00:40:19.81\00:40:28.72
"Church isn't so much an event
you turn up to as a family you
00:40:28.72\00:40:35.06
belong to." And that's why
"Renovate" is not just about
house. "Renovate" is about heart
00:40:35.06\00:40:42.00
and house, and right now you and
I are thinking "heart." In fact,
nothing has brought
00:40:42.00\00:40:48.44
this reality into sharper focus
for us here at Pioneer than what
has been happening over the last
00:40:48.44\00:40:53.95
few years. I have a friend
who told me years ago, "Our
00:40:53.95\00:40:57.15
business, okay --" so he's
talking about the Church. "Our
business," as a Church, "is
00:40:57.15\00:41:00.69
to find the wave the Holy Spirit
is creating and then to surf
00:41:00.69\00:41:06.66
it." Now, you have to to be a
surfer to get this, and I have
my young friend Michael Von
00:41:06.66\00:41:10.37
Dorpowski here, and he's a
top-flight surfer. And, so,
Michael, let's put a
00:41:10.37\00:41:14.87
picture of the wave -- let's
see a picture of the wave on the
00:41:14.87\00:41:17.77
screen. That's a big wave, isn't
it? And Michael will tell you
the first thing you got to do is
00:41:17.77\00:41:21.44
you got to have the wave. If you
don't have a wave, you're not
surfing -- you're paddling,
00:41:21.44\00:41:25.38
right? Once you get the wave,
once you see the wave, then
00:41:25.38\00:41:29.22
[Snaps fingers] you ride it, you
surf it for all you're worth.
The Holy Spirit has been
00:41:29.22\00:41:38.53
creating a wave around here, and
we didn't even note it. We
didn't even see it till the
00:41:38.53\00:41:44.00
other day. Oh, my, let me show
you. You're saying, "Dwight,
00:41:44.00\00:41:47.47
what's that wave?" Let me show
you a picture from this morning
about eight minutes
00:41:47.47\00:41:51.34
ago. Let's put that
picture on the screen, please.
00:41:51.34\00:41:54.11
Recognize those faces? That was
taken just eight minutes ago.
00:41:54.11\00:41:58.55
That's not the whole group.
That's the only part that we
could get into the lens.
00:41:58.55\00:42:04.25
You know who those are? Yeah,
those are children. For months
00:42:04.25\00:42:09.22
now, the number of children
coming forward for the
children's story each Sabbath
00:42:09.22\00:42:13.93
has been unbelievable, and it's
still growing. Where did these
children come from?
00:42:13.93\00:42:16.67
I'll give you a little hint.
They came from their parents,
00:42:16.67\00:42:20.30
all right? [ Laughter ] Where do
the parents come from? The
parents have come from all
00:42:20.30\00:42:23.10
over campus, they've come from
around the community, they've
come from around the county.
00:42:23.10\00:42:27.14
They're coming. "Why are
they coming here, Dwight?"
00:42:27.14\00:42:30.18
I'll tell you why. Because
what Pioneer does for children,
00:42:30.18\00:42:34.12
that's why. In just the one hour
allotted for the Sabbath-school
time each Saturday morning, what
00:42:34.12\00:42:39.12
Pioneer does is without
parallel. You say, "You're just
biased." Of course I am, but let
00:42:39.12\00:42:43.89
me tell you something -- the
reputation is heard on the
street, around the world.
00:42:43.89\00:42:47.46
I travel, and people come up and
say, "Yo, I know about your
church -- the children's Sabbath
00:42:47.46\00:42:51.90
schools."
00:42:51.90\00:42:53.23
We have the finest, we have the
most creative children's Sabbath
schools on Earth, bar none, and
00:42:56.54\00:43:02.28
they're known throughout
the denomination. And as you can
00:43:02.28\00:43:06.78
see, they enjoy the same
reputation here at home. That's
why they're showing up.
00:43:06.78\00:43:10.82
You throw in a Pathfinder Club
second to none and an Adventurer
00:43:10.82\00:43:15.69
Club that is the largest in
North America, and it all adds
up -- voilà -- Pioneer's future.
00:43:15.69\00:43:20.23
The Holy Spirit has created a
wave, and we've got to surf that
wave for all we're worth as long
00:43:20.23\00:43:25.87
as the wave is here. See, that's
the deal. And so the confluence
00:43:25.87\00:43:31.34
of two compelling realities has
convincingly shown us the wave
of the Holy Spirit here that
00:43:31.34\00:43:38.35
He's created in Pioneer. Okay,
what are the two realities?
00:43:38.35\00:43:41.05
Well, one I've already given you
-- number one, the throngs of
children that now occupy this
00:43:41.05\00:43:45.09
space, and number-two reality is
the highly motivated, visionary
volunteer leadership that the
00:43:45.09\00:43:51.09
Spirit has anointed and
appointed. Back in September, I
00:43:51.09\00:43:55.13
sat down in my office here at
the church with Laurence Burn,
who's children's Sabbath-school
00:43:55.13\00:43:59.30
superintendent from birth
through grade 1, and Glynis
00:43:59.30\00:44:03.07
Bradfield, who's children's
Sabbath-school superintendent
from grade 2 through early
00:44:03.07\00:44:07.34
teens, and they were brimming --
[Chuckles] I'm listening to them
-- brimming with ideas about how
00:44:07.34\00:44:11.31
to grow children, and not just
the children, but to grow their
families, and not just the
00:44:11.31\00:44:14.92
families, but grow the Kingdom
in the process, and, this
morning, while you were wherever
00:44:14.92\00:44:18.82
you were during Sabbath school,
they were packing that youth
00:44:18.82\00:44:22.09
chapel out. We took a picture,
and I want to put the picture on
the screen for you.
00:44:22.09\00:44:25.29
You know what they did? They had
all the Sabbath schools
downstairs come upstairs,
00:44:25.29\00:44:29.86
parents and children alike --
276, head-count right there. And
they put on a humdinger of a
00:44:29.86\00:44:36.20
program, and they sent the teams
who were having their youth
Sabbath school there down into
00:44:36.20\00:44:40.58
those rooms downstairs to teach
little classes up and down the
00:44:40.58\00:44:45.05
hallway. That's the kind of
creativity that the Spirit is
raising up. He's created a
00:44:45.05\00:44:49.65
[Chuckles] wave. We got to surf
this wave. And so, after much
prayer and planning with our
00:44:49.65\00:44:55.79
team here and with our
Conference administration, we
are pleased, on this 60th
00:44:55.79\00:45:00.40
birthday Sabbath, to announce a
major paradigm shift in the
pastoral team at the Pioneer
00:45:00.40\00:45:05.27
Memorial Church on the campus of
Andrews University, and here it
00:45:05.27\00:45:09.37
is. Jim Collins, in his mega
best-seller, "Good to Great,"
uses the leadership metaphor of
00:45:09.37\00:45:13.91
the bus. He says, "Listen,
the deal is, you got to get the
00:45:13.91\00:45:17.78
right people on the bus first,
and after you have them on the
bus, you've got to get them in
00:45:17.78\00:45:22.85
the right seats." Well, that's
exactly what we've realized, and
that's what we're about to
00:45:22.85\00:45:27.22
announce. In keeping with that,
we're moving two pastors to new
seats on the Pioneer bus.
00:45:27.22\00:45:33.76
To respond to this wave that the
Holy Spirit has already created
with our children, we are asking
00:45:33.76\00:45:38.23
Ben Martin -- you met him just a
moment ago, that precious little
Emmett, his boy, and Arlo --
00:45:38.23\00:45:43.71
we're asking Pastor Ben, our
present youth pastor, to become
our new pastor for children and
00:45:43.71\00:45:49.31
family discipling, giving
special leadership and oversight
to children from birth through
00:45:49.31\00:45:54.58
early teens. Ben has long
had a passion for reaching the
00:45:54.58\00:46:00.79
youngest of the members of God's
family, and he's shown a
proclivity to that skill, and
00:46:00.79\00:46:06.70
we're very grateful that he has
accepted this invitation. It's a
perfect shift to surf the
00:46:06.70\00:46:11.33
Spirit's wave. Now, his
departure from youth ministry
means that our team
00:46:11.33\00:46:16.14
will only be complete when we
bring in a new youth pastor on
board to join the Pioneer
00:46:16.14\00:46:21.61
team, and our new youth
pastor will be a woman. >> Amen!
00:46:21.61\00:46:26.05
>> Amen! >> Well, two of you are
happy. [ Laughter, applause ]
00:46:26.05\00:46:31.25
I knew you would. Yeah, amen.
Our new youth pastor will be a
00:46:31.25\00:46:37.96
woman. We don't know who it is
yet, but we know it'll be a
woman. You say, "How do you know
00:46:37.96\00:46:41.50
that, Dwight?" Because those are
the only names we've turned in.
00:46:41.50\00:46:43.93
And I just was on the phone with
the Conference president, Jim
Micheff -- who's a great
00:46:43.93\00:46:49.10
supporter of Pioneer --
yesterday, and we got the date
for the interviews.
00:46:49.10\00:46:53.61
They're gonna happen all on the
same day, in just a few days. So
we know that God will be
00:46:53.61\00:47:00.22
sending a woman to Pioneer to
begin to lead, spiritually lead
00:47:00.22\00:47:06.72
our teens. Hmm. But with the
recent retirement of Pastor
Sharon Terrell, we've
00:47:06.72\00:47:12.86
had to bring two people in.
Pastor Sharon has been our
finance and stewardship pastor.
00:47:12.86\00:47:21.24
We're making two shifts. We've
asked Joann Siagian, our
accountant, to become our new
00:47:21.24\00:47:26.17
church treasurer, and she's
accepted a new responsibility
and is doing great.
00:47:26.17\00:47:30.68
And we're asking José Bourget,
our campus chaplain, to become
our new executive pastor.
00:47:30.68\00:47:35.28
For the first time in the
history of the Pioneer Memorial
00:47:35.28\00:47:38.89
Church, we have now a leadership
position called "XP," executive
pastor. "Why are you doing that,
00:47:38.89\00:47:43.66
Dwight?" Because I need, because
we need someone with a passion
00:47:43.66\00:47:49.60
for administration to oversee
the vision mission of Pioneer as
we now move into the seventh
00:47:49.60\00:47:55.50
decade as a campus congregation.
José's task will be to lead the
annual strategic-planning
00:47:55.50\00:48:00.64
process, reviewing the mission
vision and core values,
developing key objectives and
00:48:00.64\00:48:05.65
tactics, and establishing three-
to five-year goals for the
Pioneer Memorial Church.
00:48:05.65\00:48:10.65
We need it. Which means
now we've got to find a gifted
00:48:10.65\00:48:16.42
campus chaplain to fill Jose's
position. And we're now
beginning that search process,
00:48:16.42\00:48:22.56
as well. Well, the Spirit will
lead us. I'm not worried about
it. The Holy Spirit will lead us
00:48:22.56\00:48:25.97
to the right person. By the way,
there's one other major change
00:48:25.97\00:48:28.90
that I need to announce to you,
and that is our GROW Group
pastor, that is vacant when
00:48:28.90\00:48:37.81
Sabine Vatel left to become a
hospital chaplain, but we're
very grateful already that
00:48:37.81\00:48:43.12
Pastor Rodlie has agreed to step
into that leadership position,
GROW Group discipleship
00:48:43.12\00:48:47.92
ministry, along with the
community-outreach ministry that
he already is carrying in his
00:48:47.92\00:48:52.39
portfolio. And Brianna Martin --
we just met her a few moments
ago -- will continue to assist
00:48:52.39\00:48:58.40
Pastor Rodlie in this critical
ministry of GROW Groups,
providing discipleship for this
00:48:58.40\00:49:04.81
congregation. So we have the
right people on the bus, and, by
00:49:04.81\00:49:11.15
the grace of God, they're
occupying the right seats on the
bus. And with the arrival of our
00:49:11.15\00:49:16.35
new youth pastor and our campus
chaplain, this team, at last,
will be complete again, to which
00:49:16.35\00:49:21.99
I'm gonna say, "Hallelujah.
Thank you, Lord." Yeah.
00:49:21.99\00:49:26.13
¤ We are family ¤ They ought to
write a song like that sometime,
00:49:26.13\00:49:32.70
you know? [ Laughter ] I mean,
seriously. It just has something
00:49:32.70\00:49:36.04
to it. ¤ We are fa-mily ¤ Little
bit of Pauline syncopation
00:49:36.04\00:49:42.48
perhaps. But that's family. By
the way, I'm putting it on the
00:49:42.48\00:49:46.01
screen for you. That's "Family"
with a capital F. I want to end
00:49:46.01\00:49:49.45
with a quotation. One more time
-- the words of Krish Kandiah,
from his Christianity Today
00:49:49.45\00:49:53.52
piece. This is
profound. On the screen...
00:49:53.52\00:49:55.92
"It can be an antidote to more
individualistic --" which is
00:50:01.30\00:50:04.50
society today -- "sadly even
consumptive --" Everybody's a
00:50:04.50\00:50:07.64
consumer, consumer.
We're always trying to attract
00:50:07.64\00:50:10.41
consumers, something new to
get consumers to come to us.
00:50:10.41\00:50:13.48
No. "...sadly even consumptive
00:50:13.48\00:50:15.31
models of church participation
that are common today."
00:50:15.31\00:50:18.28
We don't want
that, he's writing.
00:50:18.28\00:50:20.25
Now read...
00:50:20.25\00:50:21.85
To which I say amen. So
let there be no question that
00:50:37.70\00:50:43.51
the God who for six decades has
led this mighty congregation,
00:50:43.51\00:50:48.71
beginning 60 years ago right
now, is the God who will guide
00:50:48.71\00:50:53.78
us. "Oh, Thou great Jehovah,
00:50:53.78\00:50:56.22
pilgrims through this barren
land, we are weak, but Thou art
00:50:56.22\00:51:00.69
mighty. Hold us
with Thy powerful hand."
00:51:00.69\00:51:04.29
And He will, for He is the God
of Abraham and Sarah, He is the
God of Isaac and Rebecca, He is
00:51:04.46\00:51:10.03
the God of Jacob and Leah
and Rachel. He's the God of the
00:51:10.03\00:51:14.20
pioneers, for whom this church
is a memorial, and you know
what? I have good news for you
00:51:14.20\00:51:19.41
today. He is still the Lord
of Pioneer. What do you say? >>
00:51:19.41\00:51:23.38
All: Amen. >> Amen. Amen,
because we are family -- all are
00:51:23.38\00:51:32.22
family. Amen. Invite you to turn
your worship bulletin over, and
00:51:32.22\00:51:37.66
on the back cover is the Litany
of Dedication that we are going
00:51:37.66\00:51:44.80
to read right now. Find your
bulletin. Turn it over, back
cover. And Karen is gonna join
00:51:44.80\00:51:53.17
me as we invite you to stand.
She'll lead the congregation in
this Litany of Dedication, after
00:51:53.17\00:52:00.62
which we'll sing the mighty
"Lord's Prayer" together, all
00:52:00.62\00:52:08.42
right? "Almighty God, we give
You thanks for the work You have
done through Christ in this
00:52:08.42\00:52:15.00
place." >> All: "We thank You
for adopting us into Your family
00:52:15.00\00:52:20.40
as Your sons and daughters." >>
"You have sent Your Holy Spirit
to heal and comfort
00:52:20.40\00:52:25.97
our hurts, our sorrows, our
infirmities, and our losses." >>
All: "You have listened to
00:52:25.97\00:52:31.81
our confessions and forgiven our
sins." >> "Lord, thank You for
00:52:31.81\00:52:36.62
drawing us a congregation to
become part of Your global
Church." >> All: "Thank You for
00:52:36.62\00:52:42.02
our pioneers and founders who
obediently listened to Your
voice to raise up both our
00:52:42.02\00:52:48.30
church and our congregation for
Your sacred purposes." >> "Help
us to teach our young
00:52:48.30\00:52:55.77
Your Word and Your ways so they
will know who they are and whom
You call them to be."
00:52:55.77\00:53:01.88
>> All: "Inspire us with a
vision for Your glory, to be a
house of prayer for all people,
00:53:01.88\00:53:09.45
and use that vision to direct
the path of this congregation."
>> "Continue to empower us with
00:53:09.45\00:53:16.73
Your Spirit, that we might
connect, grow, serve, and go
with the Gospel of Jesus Christ
00:53:16.73\00:53:22.50
as Lord and Savior to
all people." >> All: "In our
00:53:22.50\00:53:27.54
families, in our community, and
to the ends of the Earth." >>
"Help us to witness to the
00:53:27.54\00:53:32.97
good news of Jesus Christ until
people of every nation, tribe,
tongue, and people worship Your
00:53:32.97\00:53:39.48
holy name." >> All: "May all
glory and honor be Yours, in and
00:53:39.48\00:53:46.35
through Your Church, and in
Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen."
00:53:46.35\00:53:51.13
>> Let us sing
together the "Lord's Prayer."
00:53:51.19\00:53:54.60
[ The "Lord's Prayer" begins ]
00:53:54.60\00:53:57.20
¤¤ ¤¤
00:54:02.10\00:54:22.12
¤¤ ¤¤
00:54:22.12\00:54:42.11
¤¤ ¤¤
00:54:42.11\00:55:02.16
¤¤ ¤¤
00:55:02.16\00:55:22.18
¤¤ ¤¤
00:55:22.18\00:55:42.17
¤¤ ¤¤
00:55:42.17\00:56:02.26
¤¤ ¤¤
00:56:02.26\00:56:22.24
¤¤ ¤¤
00:56:22.24\00:56:42.23
¤¤ Amen.
00:56:42.23\00:56:46.90
¤¤ [ Song ends ]
00:56:46.90\00:56:56.24
>> Before you go, let me take an
extra moment to share with you
00:56:58.85\00:57:01.32
an opportunity to get into
the Bible in a fresh, new way.
00:57:01.32\00:57:04.29
All across the world, more and
more people are hearing the call
00:57:04.29\00:57:07.36
to examine
Scriptures for themselves.
00:57:07.36\00:57:09.29
If you felt drawn to learn more
about God's Word, but you don't
00:57:09.29\00:57:12.19
know where to start or you're
just looking for a more in-depth
00:57:12.19\00:57:15.00
examination of Bible truths,
then I have something right here
00:57:15.00\00:57:18.13
that I believe
you're going to enjoy.
00:57:18.13\00:57:20.07
I want to send a series
of guides to get you started.
00:57:20.07\00:57:22.67
This one's entitled, "Why
Does God Allow Suffering?"
00:57:22.67\00:57:25.41
Each guide begins with a story,
an introduction of the subject.
00:57:25.41\00:57:28.51
Then, through a
series of focus questions,
00:57:28.51\00:57:30.41
you'll be learning portions
of the Bible you may never
00:57:30.41\00:57:32.55
have known before, and when
you're through, you'll be able
00:57:32.55\00:57:34.78
to share with others some of
these inspiring Bible truths.
00:57:34.78\00:57:38.05
So just call our
toll-free number.
00:57:38.05\00:57:39.42
It's on the screen --
877 -- the two words --
00:57:39.42\00:57:42.02
HIS-WILL. Our friendly operators
00:57:42.02\00:57:44.26
are standing by to send
these study guides to you.
00:57:44.26\00:57:46.23
Once again, that's 877-HIS-WILL.
00:57:46.23\00:57:49.56
Call that number, and
then, again, join me next week
00:57:49.56\00:57:54.00
right here at the same
time. "New Perceptions."
00:57:54.00\00:57:57.07
¤¤ ¤¤
00:58:00.51\00:58:17.53
¤¤
00:58:17.53\00:58:26.90