Spiritual Leaders and Other Public Personalities I Have Met and Others I Would Like to Meet

by Gabriel of Urantia

I have been blessed by God in this life to meet very special souls that have made a difference in this world to millions of people who have in their own way fought for human rights, justice, and spiritual ascension. I have had an opportunity to share ideas of spiritual and social natures with some of these people in my earlier ministry. Some laid hands on me and prayed for my beginning ministry.

Two of these great souls—now deceased—were Kathryn Kuhlman, evangelist and healer, who was my spiritual advisor in my early spiritual growth days in the early seventies, and Titus, one of the oldest living Hopi Elders at the time of his death, who I met on his farm in Hopi land in 1994. He died two weeks after I met him.

I would like to meet those still living again and talk with them. I have tried to reach them with no success. If anyone can get this into their hands, I feel that they may see that as a sign of God's will to talk with me again.

I would want to meet these people to talk about epochal revelation to present the most expanded understanding of Jesus of Nazareth, who is our local universe Father and Creator Son. His name is Michael of Nebadon. All humanity need only to call ourselves ascending sons and daughters of God. This will bring unity in the common bond of spiritual consciousness of the Creator Son of this universe and the Universal Father of all. I want to share the Fifth Epochal Revelation, The URANTIA Book and The Cosmic Family volumes with them. If truth is built on a strong foundation, then nothing can shake it. I am open to change my opinion and let the spirit of God work within me, and I would hope and pray that they would do the same.

Spiritual or Political Leaders I Have Met

Father Michael Scanlan —Former President of SteubenVille College, now Chancellor, who I met when he was at St. Francis Seminary in Laretta, Pennsylvania, in the infancy of the charismatic renewal in the Catholic Church, approximately 1970.
Bishop Desmond Tutu — I met in 1971 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at the Episcopalian Cathedral in Oakland, when I was a young minister, at 25 years old. He laid his hands on my shoulders and prayed for my future ministry to the world.
Rev. David Wilkerson — Founder of Teen Challenge and Author of The Cross and The Switchblade who I met in his ranch chapel in Tyler, Texas, December 10, 1975, and who had a special prophecy for me which he personally handed me.
Rev. Nicky Cruz — Once leader of a New York Puerto Rican gang of thirty thousand, who helped start the first Teen Challenge in New York with David Wilkerson and later founded the Nicky Cruz Half-Way House programs. I worked as a counselor for Nicky Cruz's halfway houses in Huntington, WV and Fayetteville, NC for two years.
Agatha Von Trapp — I met her mother, Maria Von Trapp, and Agatha and other sisters of The Sound of Music fame at a Catholic Charismatic prayer meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1972. I was blessed to have lunch with her and even considered going to New Guinea with her to be a missionary.
Dennis Banks — Native American leader, teacher, lecturer, activist and author. Dennis is an Anishinabe born on Leech Lake Indian Reservation in northern Minnesota. In 1968 he co-founded the American Indian Movement (AIM). I met with Dennis Banks and did an interview with him in January 2004 which will be on satellite in the near future, in a program called Spiritualution for the New Millennium.
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Wallace Black Elk — Lakota Sioux Elder who I met in 1994. He brings the prophecy of his uncle from the book Black Elk Speaks .

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Update (since I started to write this in January of 2001)

May 5, 2001 weekend with Wallace Black Elk speaking at Future Studios, having a forum with Native American elders at Avalon Gardens, and a sweat which attracted more than 200 visitors was a most exciting and sacred weekend. I had the opportunity to spend many private hours with Wallace Black Elk. This prayer has been answered. At 82 years old he continues to amaze with his energy. Wallace is one of the first native elders to embrace all that is good of New Age thought with the best of the traditional ways of his Lakota upbringing. He believes in the Creator "Wakan Tanka." I thank God for the opportunity to meet with this man twice in my life and to spend quality time discussing the unity of all mankind.

Note: Wallace Black Elk left this planet and went to the other side on January 25, 2004.

Clyde Bellecourt/Nee-Gon-Nway-Wee-Dung — Anishinabe, Minnesota; Co-founder of American Indian Movement (AIM), February 21, 2001 (photo below, far right)

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Harry Charger/WaAnaton — Lakota Elder, February 21, 2001 (photo below, far left)

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Russell Means — Oglala/Lakota activist, actor from the movie Last of the Mohicans.

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Milton Shapp — Governor of Pennsylvania from 1971 to 1979. When I was 24, I was sent to Philadelphia as a union representative of Columbia Steel where I worked in office administration. I have a picture taken with him. He passed on in 1994, but I would be happy to meet with any of his family who are alive and concerned about changing the world.

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Clyde Seth — CENTRUM Director. I was appointed by the Board of Directors of CENTRUM to be the Director of their facility for Christian music and theater on Hollywood Blvd. On the board was Debbie Boone (Pat Boone's daughter) and Katherine B. DeMille Quinn (Cecil B. DeMille's daughter and Anthony Quinn's wife). Clyde Seth was appointed Hollywood's Man-of-the-Year by the Chamber of Commerce in 1981 for his humanitarian efforts with his halfway houses in the Hollywood area.
Marianne Williamson — I was asked to play a few of my spiritual songs before her talk at the Unity Church in Santa Monica, California in 1986. I had conversations with her at various times after that performance.
Father Anthony Scannell — Met him in 1984 and again in 1986. We discussed possibly recording musical and television productions. He is the director of the Franciscan Communications Center in Los Angeles.

Musicians of Higher Consciousness I Have Met

Petra — the original contemporary Christian Rock group who received a Grammy award; I was the opening artist for them twice in Tucson, Arizona in the late 1970s. The whole band stayed with me at my home and ministry on Fourth Avenue. It was a beautiful experience.
Johnny Rivers — I met him in Los Angeles California at the Vineyard Fellowship. We talked about my new appointment as the director of a facility on Hollywood Blvd.
Bernie Leadon — original band member of The Eagles, who I also met in Los Angeles at a luncheon and discussed spiritual music with.
The Marcells — of “Blue Moon” fame. In my early teen years they practiced a block away from where I lived in a little house on the 1600 block of Watson Street. I learned my early harmony licks by sitting in with them when possible.
Jimmy Beaumont — of The Skyliners. I auditioned for The Skyliners when I was 14 years old. Of course they said I was too young. A few years later, I was playing nightclubes with The Skyliners—they at one end of the club and my band (T.J. and the Knightcaps) at the other of the room (yes, it was a big room) where we took turns playing.
Dave Porter — songwriter who co-wrote with Isaac Hayes, "Hold on, I'm Comin" (and many other songs) which was made famous by Sam & Dave and which I used to sing in my early music career. I met and talked with Dave Porter in Memphis, Tennessee in 1985 at a music convention at the famous Peabody Hotel.
Sheldon Cohen — longtime assistant musical conductor of the Doc Severinsen orchestra of the Johnny Carson Show up until Carson's retirement. I met Sheldon at the NBC Studios in Burbank, California in which Sheldon invited me. He took me to the set of Johnny Carson's live show, which was very exciting for me at the time. He was going to produce my second album and first CD ( Holy City ), which I ended up producing myself.
André Crouch — famous black gospel artist. While I was with the Nicky Cruz Organization in 1971 in Huntington, West Virginia, I went to one of André's concerts in Cleveland with a black DJ friend of André's by the name of Bill Dobson where we had front row seats. Afterwards, I was taken to his motel where I met the band, talked with André and played video arcade games. I also met and talked to Danniebelle, a spiritual musician with André's band at the time who became famous on her own. (She passed on in December 2000.) In talking with her I learned we had lived on the same street at different times—Paulson Avenue in East Liberty in Pittsburgh, PA.
Resurrection Band — the original band from Cornerstone Magazine and Community in Chicago. About 40 members of that community came on a big bus to my community at Sonlight Ministries in Tucson, Arizona and stayed with us for a few days. We did a concert together at the University of Arizona. They were a huge Christian Rock Band and I was their opening artist. I would like to talk to any who were in this band and stayed at my home and ministry.
The Liberated Wailing Wall — Messianic Jews were also at that time call Jews for Jesus. I met them in Pennsylvania at a Messianic Jewish convention and also again in Tucson, Arizona, where they played music outside of my ministry on Fourth Avenue. I would like to talk to any of them from that original group.
Sammy Mysels — met him at the Italian Beneficial Brotherhood Association (IBBA) club in downtown Pittsburgh at approximately 3 a.m. where I was playing with TJ and The Nightcaps. He was brought up to me by the owners, Salvator and Junior who introduced me to him. Sammy gave me a copy of his latest song, "After, the Hangover's Over." He was also the famous songwriter of "Bim Bam Baby," "We Three, My Echo, My Shadow, and Me," "We Had It All," and "Yesterday's Gardenias. He said to me, "Kid, that's as good as I ever heard "Summertime" sung. You're going somewhere kid. If you ever need a song, let me know." I shouted back, "I write my own songs." He said, "Well you're singing this one here. You didn't write that one." I said, "I want to write my own songs." He said "I understand kid; have a cigar." He gave me a very long cigar which I gave to my father from Sammy. Even my father knew who he was. That was special.
The Original Isley Brothers of "Twist and Shout" fame — I met them at Synder Recording Company in Cleveland, Ohio, where I was recording 45s at the time. I was approximately 18 years old. They had their very famous song, "Twist and Shout," playing as a hit on the radio at the time. I remember talking to them about my group at the time, called The Fuzzies. They laughed about our name and the fact we all had goatees. So they should remember who I am. They stood for a song and knew I was the lead singer. They shook my hand and one commented, "Great stuff, man. You guys are good." I never saw them again.
The Mills Brothers — When I was 19, I was playing across the street from the famous Holiday House in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (which was the place to go in that city for top acts). I was playing at a club called The Kaleidoscope, which was a new venue and dance hall for younger people, with my band, called at that time, TJ and the Domineers (I was TJ). In between their shows The Mills Brothers came across the street and saw my act. I believe there were four of them. All wished me well, shook my hand and said that I should be playing across the street with them. It was quite a complement that I never forgot. If any of them are alive, and this message gets to them, they should remember it — let's talk.
Thomas Mapfumo — The Lion of Zimbabwe. Thomas and his band, The Blacks Unlimited have played three times at Future Studios. I met with Thomas on April 23, 2002, and did an interview with him which will be on satellite in the near future in the series Spiritualution for the New Millennium.

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Other People of Higher Consciousness in the Entertainment Industry I Have Met

Paul Davids — Producer/Filmmaker/UFO Writer & Speaker; Roswell , Timothy Leary Is Dead, and Starry Night (about the life of Van Gogh). Paul Davids did a film interview with Niann and I. The video will be available sometime in the near future. May God give us quality time again in the near future.

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Linda Gordon — who I met in Santa Monica, California, a spiritual aid to a spiritual leader, and a radio commentator; wife of astronaut Richard Gordon.
Al Kasha — two-time Academy Award winner for "Best Song of the Year" and other famous songs; Messianic Jew who is an ordained minister who I met several times in Beverly Hills, California, in the late 1970s and first premiered in his home my song, "The Morning Song" now on my CD Holy City.
Susan Munao — Donna Summers Manager from approximately 1979 to 1983; I met her in Beverly Hills, California, and had several conversations with her. I would like to share with her about the future of spiritual music.
Melissa Gilbert — met her on the set of Father Murphy working a scene where I bought a ticket and then sat down next to her. At that time I was a professional extra (besides being an ordained minister). I also met the late Victor French (star of the TV series Highway to Heaven with Michael Landon and a character actor in Father Murphy with Merlin Olsen) earlier on another set in which he gave a complimentary comment about me to an actress. I talked to him later that day and requested a line in the scene with Melissa Gilbert in order to get my Screen Actors Guild card. He smiled and said, "Wish I could give you the line, kid." He passed on in 1989.
Leslie Martino—Al Martino's daughter who is a URANTIA Book reader. Al Martino is a wonderful ballad singer who also starred in the movie The Godfather ; he played Johnny Fontaine who sang at the wedding. He wanted Marlon Brando to get him a part in a movie. I met Leslie in Boulder, Colorado, where Niánn and I stayed in an apartment below the former URANTIA Book School where Leslie was house-sitting, an apartment which was actually rented by Robert Venosa , the famous artist.

I have met many other wonderful men and women of God in various religions who are not publicly known. Many of them I would call "great." However, because they're not public figures, I do not think it appropriate to mention their names.

Artists & Architects I Have Met

Ted DeGrazia, famous artist of Indian children with the big eyes — I met him in 1977 in Tucson, Arizona, when I was a young Christian minister. He invited me to his studio and home several times. I wished I would have met him when I was older, as I feel I would have had much more to share with him. He died in the 1980s. (photo below, center. Young Gabriel of Urantia, left)

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Paulo Soleri — Arcosanti builder; visionary and builder of futuristic city; I talked to him for half an hour on his birthday at Arcosonti in Prescott, Arizona, in 1988.

Speakers of the Paranormal I Have Met

Nancy Red Star

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News Commentators I Have Met

John Reid, journalist and poet who interviewed Niánn and I (Click here to watch the interview on Global Change Television, note: it's an 80 minute inteview, you may want to come back to it)

Alphabetical by last name

Spiritual or Political Leaders I Would Like To Meet

The Dalai Lama
Louis Farrakhan
Billy Graham
Major Bo Gritz — Christian minister, Vietnam war hero, most decorated soldier, patriotic activist.
Thich Nhat Hanh (Buddhist monk)
President Vaclav Havel of The Czech Rebublic
Dr. Albert Lincoln, Secretary General of Bahá'i International
President Kim of South Korea
Dennis Kucinich, presidential candidate
Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Adhokshjanand Tirathji Maharaj — Hindu spiritual leader trying to keep the peace between India and Pakistan. Like most true spiritual leaders, he has been discredited by world corporate press and little known in American New Age magazines.
Nelson Mandela
Khozh Ahmed Noukhaev — people's choice for the President of Chechna (see French documentary The Making of a Republic )
Barack Obama, presidential candidate
Pope Benedict
Elizabeth Clare Prophet

Social Activists From Various Walks Of Life I Would Like To Meet

Maya Angelou
Noam Chomsky
Martin Espada — A Latino poet who won the American Book Award. He wrote, Rebellion Is The Circle Of A Lovers Hand and A Mayan Astronomer In Hell's Kitchen . His poems have appeared in The New York Times , Harper's , and The Nation . His experiences have ranged from bouncer to tenet lawyer. He's the editor of Poetry Like Bread; Poets of the Political Imagination. He's also a professor in the Department of English at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Naomi Klein — Journalist and activist against corporate power and globalization
Michael Moore
Ralph Nader
Steven Spielberg
Rigoberta Menchu Tum — Rigoberta Menchu was born on January 9, 1959 and raised in the Quiche branch of Mayan culture. She soon became involved in social reform activities through the Catholic Church, and became prominent in the women's rights movement when still only a teenager. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992 and is a Heroine of Peace.
Owens Wiwa (brother of Nigerian activist and martyr Ken Saro Wiwa, who I wrote "The Freedom Song" for on my Holy City CD). I did receive a letter of thanks from him and his family.
Winona LaDuke, Native American activist

Speakers of the Paranormal I Would Like To Meet

Joe Firmage

Television Commentators I Would Like To Meet

Dick Cavett
Phil Donahue
Bill Moyers
Bill Maher
Oprah Winfrey
Lara Logan, journalist

Actors/Actresses I Would Like To Meet

Alan Arkin
Alessandro Baricco, author, Legend of 1900
Bernie Casey
Sean Connery
Peter Coyote
Bill Cosby
Kirk Douglas
Polly Draper—actress, screenwriter; wrote and acted in Tic Code with Gregory Hines
Jane Fonda (activist)
Janeane Garofalo
Tom Hanks
Charlton Heston
Dustin Hoffman
Angelica Huston—actress and daughter of John Huston, granddaughter of Walter Huston
Nick Nolte
Edward James Olmos (activist)
Sean Penn
Tim Roth, actor, Legend of 1900
Jeffery Rush
Saki Takakoa (Japanese Actress)
Melanie Thierry, actress Legend of 1900
Giuseppe Tornatore, screenwriter and director, Legend of 1900
Francesco Tornatore, producer, Legend of 1900
Robin Williams, actor, one-time roommate of Santeen's in Hollywood
Mel Gibson, actor and director.
Tim Robbins

Musicians I Would Like To Meet

Harry Belafonte - African American singer, actor, producer, and activist for human rights.
Ani DiFranco — Singer, songwriter, activist out of New York State.
Donovan
Bob Dylan
Steven MacDonald (CD — Sons of Somerled )
Davy Spillane
Buffy St. Marie (activist)
Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam)
James Taylor
Sinead O'Connor
Linda Ronstadt

People in the Entertainment Business I Would Like To Meet

Richard Branson, President of Virgin Records
Rick Rubin, Record Producer
George Gallo, Film Writer and Director

Artists I Would Like To Meet

Robert Venosa — I never met Venosa, but I saw many of his original paintings when Niánn and I stayed in his apartment for one week in Boulder, Colorado. (He was in Europe while we stayed there.) While staying in the apartment for that week, I was, of course, in contact with many of the celestial beings he had drawn (the midwayers and a finaliter had already contacted me)—beings that he had read about in The URANTIA Book. I had no idea that soon many other spirit beings would be contacting me. With what I know now I sure would like to go back to that apartment. We definitely need to meet and talk.

Famous Public Personalities I Almost Met

Mother Theresa — a most significant person that I almost met in my life was Mother Theresa. While I was in Los Angeles in 1984, thousands of people were gathered there to see her. I was up in one of the high rows. We all said the rosary, and then she spoke. After she spoke I had one destination, and that was to go meet her and talk to her. I got up and started walking towards her—so did a few hundred others. Trying to get in between the few thousand others to get to her without being forceful and trying to obey the law was quite a task. I ended up after much prayer, getting within twenty feet of her. At that point, some very big guards were blocking the way as they were pulling up a limousine for her to get into. I actually witnessed her refuse to get into the limousine, basically saying, especially through her actions, "My Lord would not drive in such opulence." So they had to bring another vehicle that was much more humble and which she did agree to go into. All the time, I was asking if I could just get to touch her, when His inner voice said to me so clearly, I'll never forget—"In India the poor and afflicted get to touch her everyday."

I will be adding to this list the names of those I forgot I met, and also those who I just found out about that I should meet.