The Seventy are ordained ministers called of God to "preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to be especial witnesses unto the gentiles and in all the world." (DC 104:11e)
A day of fasting and prayer has been called for Seventy Doug Patterson on May 9, 2012. He has been ill from some unknown infection or disease believed to have been picked up while ministering in Africa. Doug returned from Africa in December 2011, and about a month later started feeling ill, and he has progressively worsened. So far the medical profession has been unable to determine what is wrong; and are, therefore, unable to treat him with focused treatments. He is now in intensive care and his children have been called in. Doug will be administered to at 7:15 pm on May 9, 2012. Below is a message sent out by Seventy Jim McKay to the other Seventy concerning Doug's condition.
Brethren:
I have been requested by sister Joy Muir to notify each of you with the urgent request for our brother Doug Patterson. Joy was unable to contact any of the Seventy to get this message out. She left me a message, and we made contact. Patrick and I are being blessed richly. We are presently in Ohio and will be giving a presentation on the book of Mormon this afternoon to the Youngstown Restoration Branch, please remember us in your prayers; but most importantly at this moment, please lift our brother Doug up. He has been taken to the hospital and placed in intensive care. His children are on their way. We need divine intervention.
Seventy Randy Vick will fly back to Kyrgyzstan today, March 20th, after surgery in Vienna. He suffered extended illness that required his transport to other countries for medical care. Please keep him in your prayers as he continues to serve both his God and country in foreign nations.
Each Church of the Restoration shares a common belief in the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon. No single group of Latter Day Saints have exclusive or "privileged access" to this record. The Book of Mormon Festival will draw upon a diverse group of individuals with varied backgrounds presenting a wide range of topics. Through linguistics, theology, anthropology as well as cultural, historical and prophetic trajectories of the Book of Mormon the listeners will be offered a new prism through which to view this remarkable record. Each speaker has a testimony of the books divine nature as they have plumbed its depths to uncover its unfolding treasure of riches. This Book of Mormon Festival is meant to enlarge our belief in and appreciation for this book as well as those who embrace it. Click Here for schedule.
For the many Saints that gathered during the September visit of our brethren of the Church of Jesus Christ, Bickertonites, there was joy in knowing that there are other branches of the restored gospel that hold fast to the Doctrine of Christ and the Book of Mormon.Since that visit we were contacted and asked if we would like to be involved in some shared ministry with their mission in Omaha, Nebraska.
We traveled on Friday November 18 and were graciously invited to stay in the home of Seventy (Evangelist) Clifton Wells.Brother and sister (Valarie Wells made us feel right at home.Two of the brethren from Ohio, Seventy Jon Genaro and Elder Ron Giovannone, flew in late Friday evening to join us in the Wells' home.Long before the official activities of the weekend would begin, we found ourselves in fellowship and discussion over the work of the kingdom.
Saturday morning began with a prayer and fasting service as we gathered with the Saints for united prayer.After experiencing the spirit of singing that accompanies the Church of Jesus Christ, we knelt as a body and the brethren directing the service led out in prayer.It was a joy to see the deep spirit of heart felt petitions to our Heavenly Father as nearly everyone present praised God and laid their concern at the throne of His mercy.After a hearty lunch at the church, we returned to the Wells' home, finding ourselves engaged for several hours, sharing in a round table discussion.A number of topics were reviewed, demonstrating both our common beliefs as well as areas where a different vantage point demonstrates gaps that we each look forward to one day finding resolved.
Saturday's evening activities began with a period of song followed by instruction by brother Patrick on the topic of salvation.He carefully guided us on a journey through the New Testament demonstrating the multitude of witnesses that affirm the testimony that baptism is essential for salvation.
Brother Jim then followed with remarks on the surety of God's word; and clearly defining the difference between the power to forgive, and the power to remit, and its implication of a divinely called ministry.Each session built upon the word of God, demonstrating the truths revealed in these last days.
Following these periods of instruction, we sat and witnessed the serving of the Lord's Supper.Many aspects of this ordinance are different then we experience, yet we rejoiced to see a spirit of unity, broken heartedness and contrition of spirit, as they remembered the Lord's sacrifice and the covenant into which they each have entered.
Fellowship continued into the late hours of the evening, before retiring for needed rest in preparation for the Lord's Day.
We arrived at the church, now more than strangers.We were greeted with warmth and affection.God's love does not discriminate.
In the Church of Jesus Christ, they usually have two of their ministers occupy.This particular morning both of the local ministers, along with Brother Giovannone, shared the pulpit.The primary message that Brother Ron (Giovannone) shared was centered on the 14th chapter of Matthew, verses 20-28.We were challenged to step out in faith, as was Peter in his desire to come unto the Lord as he stood upon the sea.Ron shared the personal testimony of his journey from his time as a young boy until his conversion and baptism in his mid twenties.It was a spirit filled message of hope, and the faithfulness of our Lord as he beckons unto us.
Fellowship continued with another church wide meal, giving us time to mingle and share the story of the Reorganization.
Some may wonder just where such efforts are going, and that is a fair question.We live in the days of fulfillment, days when we shall live to see our world change drastically.It is our testimony that the Lord is opening up doors for healing, and restoration.Days of preparation when He will mend the breaches that have separated true believers in the latter day evangel and the testimony of the Book of Mormon.There is a great deal of work to be done, if we, as a people, will be equipped to assist in the actual building of the city of Zion.There are bridges that need to be constructed in families, in branches, between branches and various organizations that the work may go forward in the power of the Lord.It is our hope that each Saint will take every available opportunity to become a bridge builder, and not a wall builder.
May the God of Heaven richly bless us as we go forth to labor.
Seventy Patrick McKay shares a message about the Puritans Thanksgiving and the work of the Lord in bringing them to America (Click Here for message). Enjoy and give praise to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Seventy Ananda Rao took Ashley and I to several tribal villages and they are in what we would call in a jungle environment.
I will tell you a lot more later, but on Saturday and Sunday we went to a village by the name of Kudikima. There are about 70 members of the "Restored" Church and about 30 members of the CoC church. There is also a number of Catholics, Baptist, etc. There are about 150 people that live in this village.
The main three churches, Restored, CoC and Catholic have very, very loud speakers out in front of their churches and on top of the roof. This is a very small one road village, about, what we would call, 2 city blocks long. The three of them compete to play the loudest music. It becomes unbearable in the evenings and on Sunday morning.
Sunday morning the Restored church had 13 baptisms in a pond at the upper end of the village, then a confirmation service and then a communion service. I will tell you more about those services at another time.
During the communion service, the police came and notified us that the CoC had filed a complaint that there was a missionary from the US and because they, the CoC cannot get visas for missionaries to come to India that I must be here illegally. The police waited until after our service and then demanded that we follow them to the police station, about forty five minutes away.
We asked the Officer, Mr. Behera to ride in our car giving us a chance to have a very nice discussion with him. We arrived at the station and then things got serious as far as asking for my passport, where I was from, why I was here, etc. Serious but on a friendly level.
The officer then left the room and had a discussion with the local, Restoration pastor. We then were told we would have to wait unto the CoC official arrived. We waited for 2 hours without the CoC official arriving. In the mean time, we had a tour of the Police facilities, talked with the officer, found that he has a brother in South Dakota, etc.
He became more friendly and after awhile got a phone call from the CoC and they told him they were dropping the complaint and should let us go. After some more friendly chit chat, we left on very good terms with the officer, telling him that we would let him know any time we would be back in the area.
All of this caused a 3 hour delay for us getting back to Ananda's home and our driver to be delayed for his next appointment. We heard today that the pastors of several villages where we have church's both of the Restoration and CoC were very upset with these charges being brought against us and that they were going to give the CoC official a stern warning never to do this again.
All in all it was quite an experience and shows how evil the CoC has become in trying to stop us in preserving the church."
Everything is going very well. I am flying to Visakhapatnam at 3 in the morning, our time. I do not know when, where or how I will continue to email for the next few days. We are going into the interior, a jungle area with little or no electricity, etc. We are supposed to visit 27 small groups of members in the villiges. Should be very interesting.
Things are going very well here. I have been visiting in the homes of both members and friends every evening. It has been a very busy schedule.
Brother Elder Ashley is married (Rita) and has two sons. One is 6 the other 18 months.
Ashley works in a metal shop that produces trophies and other prize gifts.
Ashley is also helping to support one of his brothers who has a wife and three children.
The brother David and wife Julie and children ages from 11 to 14 are all planning to be baptised next week. They have become very interested in the church and are learning very well. None of them have ever been under water and the baptism seem a little scary to them.
Brother Ashley and I went to the hospital Monday evening to administer to a Catholic friend of his and ended up also administering to a Muslim man and a young Hindu man. This was all done clearly in the name of Jesus Christ to the amazement to the many family members that were in the room. All received a great blessing and all have been released from the hospital.
The Hindu asked for a copy of the prayers that were said. We of course told him that we do not have written prayers and that we pray as led my the spirit of God. He wanted brother Ashley's phone number and said he would be in contact with him.
Brother Ashley lives in a one bedroom flat that is so small that I am staying in a nearby hotel. He used to be in an apartment that was large enough to have church services in but he had lost his job and they had to move into this small flat. He now has a good job and needs to find a large place to rent.
We found him a place, but the problem is that he cannot raise enough funds to pay the first and last months rent and the security deposit. He was going to need about $6000 us dollars, however we found a place this morning that is a beautiful place, two bedroom, full kitchen, bath and plenty of room to hold church and only needs $2000 to move in. We also had to find a place where the landlord would allow church services. Where he is staying now the owner is Hindu and will not allow services.
If we could find him $2000 us dollars, (by this coming Monday) he could move in and have the place for at least a year. He has the funds to cover the rest of the rent and utilities, etc.
I have tried to contact George Gross, Val and others with no response. If you could help me contact these or others and help me raise the fund this would be of a great benefit.
Ashley is not a "rise" christian and he does not know that I am trying to raise thee money. He had just gong out looking to see if he could find a place that he could afford. The place he is in now is just to small. He has been looking for a place for about a year and he has these real estate people calling him every day.
The other good news is that after the baptisms, I have rented a conference room here at the hotel for Sunday, November 6th. We are going to organize the mission into a branch and brother Ashley has agreed with his wife to file their first tithing statements and begin paying the tithes that are due.
I also believe that David Bell and his family are also going to file tithing statements and being paying there tithes. These people are very poor, but they understand that everyone must support the church even if in very small amounts.
This was sent to me and I'm passing it on to all of you because I believe that it is worth your time.
This is a program that is a must for all of us to watch. It is a two part program, just under 30 minutes each, a Messianic Rabbi clearly demonstrates that America has been following the pathway of rebellion which will lead to God's removing his protection from this nation and great judgments to be allowed over our nation in our very near future.
No matter what you believe about who purpetrated the events of 9/11, the history of America's founding events took place on the very property of "Ground Zero" by George Washington and the other Founding Fathers, and the prayer that was uttered by our first President is now falling as judgment against our nation.
Our own national leaders are repeating the same scriptures that will bring national judgment against us just as they did against ancient Israel. (See Isaiah 9:10) Please go to these URL addresses and watch the two videos. Forget the hype about buying the CDs, the information here is sufficient to give us the basics of the message. Take notes and pass this on to our people.
Sid Roth's "It's Supernatural" & Messianic Vision
with Guest: Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, Sept. 19–25, 2011
