Volume 14, Issue 1
ESPECIAL WITNESSES
The Seventy Newsletter
A New Year: A good time to reflect on our role as seventies by John S. Wight, senior president of seventy “Lovingly invite others to experience the good news of new life in community with Christ. Opportunities abound in your daily lives if you choose to see them.” ‐‐Words of Counsel, 2013, President Stephen M. Veazey These words seem particularly meaningful as we have recently begun a new year. Once again, the church has been reminded of the importance of intentional invitation. And we, as Seventies, have been reminded of the importance of providing encouragement and leadership in this aspect of Christ’s mission which is our mission. All five Mission Initiatives are of equal importance, but as members of one of the “leading missionary quorums” of the church (as indicated in the Doctrine and Covenants), Seventies have a special connection with the initiative Invite People to Christ. Indeed, if we as disciples of Jesus Christ are not diligent in our efforts to reach out to new persons, it will be difficult to pursue the other four Mission Initiatives. I would like to invite all seventies to join me in including in our prayers on a regular basis three specific points: 
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Praise and thanksgiving for the ways that the Holy Spirit has gone and goes before us, preparing the way to reach out to and invite others Renewal of or continuation of the enthusiasm that we, as Seventies, feel for proclaiming Jesus Christ ourselves and for helping others to do the same That God would provide “laborers for the harvest” so that all five Mission Initiatives can be pursued in a wholistic way throughout the world. May God bless you in this New Year as you continue your ministry as an especial witness and forerunner of Christ’s peace. Launch of Seventy Education Certificate Delayed The Council of Presidents of Seventy announced at the 2013 World Conference that a revised Seventy Certificate program would be launched later in the year. However, as part of the continuing emphasis on Ministry and Priesthood, the First Presidency has asked that all office‐
centered, pre‐ordination courses be written using a common template and approach. This decision will make it necessary to review the current pre‐ordination course, Forerunners of Christ’s Peace, to determine if it can be adjusted to fit into the new template and approach of if it will need to be completely revised. By extension, such revisions could impact the overall Seventy Certificate program. A week‐long “writers’ summit” is scheduled for February, 2014 at which designated writers for each of the office‐centered courses will gather to hear an explanation of the common template and approach. They will then actually write or revised the specific courses during that week. We are sorry for the delay in launching the revised Seventy Certificate program. However, we believe it will be helpful for the Seventy program to be aligned with the overall priesthood education of the church. The Council of Presidents of Seventy will be working closely with the Quorum Education Officers to implement the new program as soon as possible. +
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News from Quorum 6
OFF TO NEW ADVENTURES
Zac Harmon McLaughlin and wife Katie just moved to Wickliffe Ohio so Katie could take a new ministry position as Spiritual Formation Ministries Specialist in Kirtland. We bid a fond farewell to Zac and look forward to hearing about his new adventures sharing Christ’s peace in Ohio. We send our love and prayers with Zac and Katie. Ministry continues to blossom
Ministry with Latter‐day Seekers continues to blossom in Utah. On May 12 Seventy JoAnn Fisher baptized Jordan Kersey and assisted President of Seventy Robin Linkhart in the confirmation. In August 74 Latter‐day Seekers joined us for communion worship bringing our attendance that day to 95 in Salt Lake City, a congregation which usually averages 6‐8 on Sunday morning. The Spirit is leading the way and we are running to catch up. JOY!” + + + + + Ellie the missionary Several years ago a scraggly, near death dog jumped in the back of my car while I lived in Independence. I could tell that she was hurt badly and when she refused to get out of my car, I drove to a local vet to seek out care for this stray dog that had the kindest face I've ever seen on a dog. The vet would save her life and after 3 other rescues (one from the local dog pound), Ellie would become my dog. I realized her potential for ministry soon after the church had moved me and my dog to the east coast USA. Ellie had become my shadow, following me from room to room in my new house and from congregation to congregation in my new mission center. One day, after a long drive with Ellie through Pennsylvania, after a long winded sermon by the speaker (me), and another equally long congregational business meeting, I was asked to visit an elderly woman who was now in the nursing home. Of course I agreed, as I have found ministry in these places to be inspiring and powerful. As I shared in this sweet woman's room, I noticed that her fingers and body were wracked with pain and disfigured from rheumatoid arthritis, a particular insidious and cruel disease as she had been the piano and organ player for the mission center for so many years. As I asked her if they were helping her, she said "what do you mean." "From the pain" I replied. "O they can control the pain, but it's the loneliness that they can't treat. You see, I used to live on a farm surrounded by my animals, and I loved them. But in here, I am lonely most of the time.” My thoughts immediately went to Ellie, who waited patiently in my car outside. I asked the pastor quietly what he thought, and he remembered that he had seen dogs in the nursing home as "therapists". I asked at the nurses’ station, who quickly said yes, knowing our friends condition and her love of animals. I was uneasy, because though I had known my dog know for several years to be a gentle loving creature, how would she react in an unfamiliar place with people she did not know? I said a prayer as I put on her collar and leash and she limped inside the home. People who had been motionless in their wheelchairs in the hallway suddenly came to life wheeling towards us all wanting to pet Ellie. My fears quickly faded as my sweet friend began to wag her tail furiously and quickened her painful gait to the traffic jam of wheelchair and occupants rolling dangerously towards us. It took us some time to make it back to Ellen's room, but when we did, her face lit up and she sat up in the bed and exclaimed "put her on the bed with me!” Ellie is a 42 pound excited pit bull terrier and Helen was connected to tubes and leads so I talked her into letting Ellie stay on the floor but put her front paws on the bed. Ellie stayed there as Helen stroked her lovingly as we administered to her. Though it seemed like forever with a long winded prayer offered by a long winded Seventy (me), Ellie stayed at the edge of her bed wagging her tail. It was a wonderful and powerful moment. A sense of calm and overwhelming joy came over Helen's face in that moment. She was so happy. And it seems, so was Ellie. Tears of joy and inspiration ran down our cheeks at that divine intersection of love and pain. And it seems that the lady in the bed next to us was happy as well. She excitedly said, "What about me?" Me next. We moved to her bed and then I began to explain the sacrament of administration, quite proud of ourselves that this lady wanted to be prayed for. She interrupted me, "yeah yeah, that's fine but I want to pet the dog during the long prayer that you will be praying for me!" We left that room some 30 minutes later to the protests of both of our friends, as that meant Ellie would be going back with me. It was like I wasn't even there! We made the long trip back to the car as more residents had heard that a crippled dog with a heart on her face (her colors form a heart across her face‐something I had overlooked until a resident pointed it out to me) was walking through the home. "There she is!" they screamed as we left Helen's room. We stayed as long as we could, letting the laughter and smiles linger in the home that day. I called my friend Everett Graffeo from my car as we left for the long drive home. "Who knew Ellie was such a good minister?" I asked my old friend. He had tried to get me to adopt the dog who lived on my porch for 3 weeks. "I knew" he replied ever so wise... I got a call later that week that Helen had passed away within a couple of days after we left. The pastor of the Bloomfield congregation said that all she talked about before she died was how happy she was to have gotten to hear Ellie's story of being abandoned, hurt and lonely until she jumped in my car that day. But Helen also told Hank the pastor that God had brought Ellie to me to rescue me from loneliness. She was right. And God is good at that. Ellie had brought so much joy that day. She was the minister's dog that came to visit. Or maybe it was more that I was the helper for the dog who was a great minister that day. Ellie has since moved with me to London and continues to minister to people in my neighbourhood (correct spelling now considering where we live). She is the minister's dog is what people say where we live. Little do they realize that I am the friend to the minister who limps around my neighbourhood bringing joy and hope that life does not have to be lonely. Keith McMillan, President of Seventy Quorum Updates
New Seventies
We would like to take this opportunity to welcome the following individuals who
have accepted calls and/or been ordained since our last newsletter:
Kuzma Brudsky
Carlos Castellón
Mercelo Mejia
Sylvestre Ban Goun
Terry Hess
Faith Johnson
Jerry Harbstreit
Sean Langdon
Skyla Mann
Dorothy Wilgus
Annette Henstra
Ukraine
Honduras
Honduras
Ivory Coast
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
USA
The Netherlands
New Ministry Opportunities
We would like to recognize with appreciation the years of ministry in the office of
given by Charlie Brown of Florida, USA and Karen Tillery of Missouri, USA who
were ordained to the office of High Priest.
Superannuation
The honor of superannuation was granted to Bruce Moore of Arizona, USA, David
Smith of Michigan, USA, and Jo Anne Webb of California, USA.
In Memoriam
We also want to recognize and honor the many years of ministry as a seventy given
by the following individuals who passed away since our last newsletter:
A.V. Peavey
Kent Ellithorpe
Ray Valley
USA
USA
USA
Roe Hallmark
Pete Ahuna
USA
USA New Seventies Ordained in Quorum Ten Sarah Allen, left, and Julie Bock are ordained to the office of Seventy by President of Seventy John Wight and Apostle Stassi Cramm during the recent Michigan Mission Center Conference held in Saginaw, Michigan, USA. Also recently ordained and joining the Tenth Quorum of Seventy was Scott Blair (Central Mission Center) and Fay Elder (Headwaters Mission Center). Yahoo Group—Another Tool The Yahoo Group Cofc70s was created and is maintained to give seventies and missionary
coordinators a tool to help them in their ministries. We want to encourage its use, but would ask
that you carefully consider what you put on the site. It was designed to provide a forum to share
testimonies, ideas, ask questions, share prayer concerns, etc. Please use discretion in what
you post to the web site. It is probably best not to forward items to the site such as virus
warnings, unbelievable deals, and other similar items which usually turn out to be bogus.
As we continue down this exciting road of inviting people to Christ in harmony with the other
Mission Initiatives, this tool can be a major asset for seeking advice and sharing successful
ideas. In addition to the “conversations” which can occur, the site also has stored files including
the most up-to-date Seventy Roster.
If you are not currently registered as a user, please follow the following instructions:
1. Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cofc70s/
2. Click on the “Join This Group!’ button.
3. If you already have a Yahoo User ID, type it and your password in. If you don’t have a
Yahoo User ID, go to the Sign Up link and it will walk you through the process to set up a
Yahoo ID. (If you already have an email address at which you would prefer receiving
notices from the Yahoo Group, you can enter that in the alternate email box during the
sign up process.)
4. Once you establish your Yahoo ID, you will be sent to a page with three steps which are
self explanatory. Under Step 1 there is a box that says tell the group owner about
yourself. . . It is very important that you specifically identify yourself by name
indicating that you are a seventy. (Sometimes it is impossible to tell by the Yahoo ID
who you are.)
5. Once you have completed these steps, an email will be sent to us so that we can
approve your request to join the group.
6. If you have any problems or questions, please contact John Wight at [email protected]
or 816-224-4921.
We look forward to the participation of those who have not yet been involved. You may have
just the idea or testimony that someone needs to hear to launch a new ministry or get an
existing ministry moving at an accelerated pace.
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Quorum 4 gathers in Pittsburgh
by Brad Bryant, Secretary of Quorum Four
Twenty‐five members of the Fourth Quorum of Seventy and spouses gathered for a quorum retreat on the weekend of October 11‐13. We were blessed to be hosted at the Bethel Park Pennsylvania congregation. Among those in attendance were, Apostle Barbara Carter, Apostolic Assistant Michele McGrath, Cindy Tristani, Eastern Great Lakes Mission Center President, supported the event with her presence and participation also in attendance was Field Financial Officer Ron Ross and his wife. Apostle Barbara Carter shared with us about her role as "yoked with the 70", and how "daunting" that is sometimes. Mostly, the challenge for her is "keeping up" with the 70, as we are "forerunners", and how she is often experiencing the 'tail wind' of what we've been doing in the lives of people. She is experiencing follow‐up ministry, as she often follows the paths that the Seventy have pioneered. Zac & Katie Harmon‐McLaughlin shared with us in worship & spiritual practices at various times during the weekend experience. Lachlan Mackay, Cindy, Evelyn and Zac shared scripture and an opening focus time, encouraging us to "listen to the voice" that calls us to "build Zion" and the journey that is ahead of us. That journey is unfolding each day, and becomes our "story", which helps give us a glimpse of God's kingdom as it CAN BE, watching God work through the lives of other people. As forerunners of Christ's Peace, we're called to share the "especial witness" of Jesus Christ. In that role, Larry affirms and commits to the following:  Spiritual Practices and the Daily Missionary Prayer Through these, we're shaped for Mission Helps us be open to God's disruptive grace Leads us to discernment, helping us to become a prophetic people  Experiment in Mission Spiritual disciplines help us be engaged in a Spirit led Mission Stay focused on the Kingdom in the NOW Don't rely on past successes Transform lives Courageously invite, invite, invite  Model and Invite into Generosity and Hospitality Restore healthy and righteous relationships with God, others, self Partner with MCFO and CFOs, to help proclaim a future of blessing & surplus Be in sacred relationships God's hope is larger than any check book Model a life of generosity and invite others to participate too Be accountable to each other Lean on one another Our quorum is celebrating two new calls:  Jerry Harbstreit (Washington IN; wife Sue), pastor of Washington IN congregation & Sheriff. 29 baptisms during a recent revival. Call will be considered in November.  Faith Johnson (Chicago MC, OnEdge pastor). Approved last weekend at Chicago MC conference. Classes & ordination to be planned. Lachlan Mackay, Community of Christ Historic Sites Director, led one of the main presentations for our retreat. Lach provided an exceptional overview of the "Latter‐day Seekers" ministry, resources, and how to share Community of Christ with those who are "seeking" a new faith home. Many of the contacts are coming from those no longer active in their LDS faith and they are being led to seek us out, in their quest for a new perspective on the restoration story. Lach shared with us many useful learning and reference resources are available at www.Latter‐
DaySeekers.org. Katie reminded us that our Guests & Seekers, LDS or otherwise, stand at our door, and invite us to become who we say we are. For Sunday, several in our group were scheduled to participate in worship services at area congregations. The Seventy were encouraged to "spread out" and attend/support local ministries and church services, as a blessing to those congregations. Our time of fellowship, learning and mutual support was a blessing to all who attended. We look forward to our next opportunity to gather, and the blessings that will be encountered.