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Seventy Times Seven: Jesus’s Path to Conflict Transformation
What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ when we feel stirred up with anger in our families, neighborhoods, wards, workplaces, online communities, and public forums? It is challenging to heed prophetic invitations to take more seriously the Savior’s call to “love your enemies” and to be peacemakers while maintaining integrity. As a professor of peacebuilding, a conflict mediator, and a follower of Jesus, Chad Ford offers valuable perspectives on how to avoid or reconcile contention when life’s inevitable disagreements arise. Step by step, he shows how Jesus’s path of practicing forgiveness and reconciliation 70×7 has the power to repair relationships by transforming destructive conflict into constructive peace.
- GenresReligionLdsNonfiction
214 pages, Paperback
Published April 7, 2025
9 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Chad Ford
3 books8 followersCHAD FORD is an international conflict mediator, facilitator, and peace educator.
While most people know him for his work at ESPN, being a basketball analyst and writer was actually his side-gig for most of the last two decades. Chad’s peacebuilding work is what defines him.
After completing a Master’s degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University and a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University Law School in 2000, Chad was poised to begin his career as a conflict mediator and facilitator.
Chad seved as the Director of the David O. McKay Center for Intercultural Understanding at BYU-Hawaii. for nearly twenty years where he created a major and certificate program in intercultural peacebuilding.
In 2024, Chad left his position at BYU-Hawaii to join the faculty at Utah State University. Chad is serving a joint appointment with the Religious Studies department and the Heravi Peace Institute. Chad teaches courses in Religion, Violence and Peace; Bridging Religious Differences; Introduction to Peacebuilding; and Transformative Mediation.
Chad’s work has frequently taken him out of the classroom and into conflict zones around the world. He’s made more than 50 trips to the Middle East and has worked on numerous other conflicts around the world in Ireland, Cyprus, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Oceania, China and throughout the United States, as both a mediator and a facilitator. Chad has served as a speaker and conflict facilitator for numerous organizations — working with governments, NGOs and corporations like Nike and the US Olympic team. He’s been able to combine his expertise on both sports and conflict by serving as an executive board member of the non-profit peacebuilding organization PeacePlayers.
His first book, Dangerous Love, weaves Chad’s experiences into a deeply personal step-by-step exploration of how we transform fear and conflict. Dangerous Love has been described as the "single best book about conflict and peace for a general readership.”
His second book, 70x7, draws on Chad’s experiences as a Christian peacebuilder. What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus when we feel stirred up with anger in our families, neighborhoods, wards, workplaces, online communities, and public forums? He shows how Jesus’s path of practicing 70×7 has the power to repair relationships by transforming destructive conflict into constructive peace.
Chad’s work with young people in the classroom, athletes on the basketball court, struggling families in the living room, executives in the boardroom, and divided communities in some of the most challenging conflicts in the world gives him a unique perspective and voice to the conflicts that plague our families, our organizations, and the world.
While most people know him for his work at ESPN, being a basketball analyst and writer was actually his side-gig for most of the last two decades. Chad’s peacebuilding work is what defines him.
After completing a Master’s degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University and a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University Law School in 2000, Chad was poised to begin his career as a conflict mediator and facilitator.
Chad seved as the Director of the David O. McKay Center for Intercultural Understanding at BYU-Hawaii. for nearly twenty years where he created a major and certificate program in intercultural peacebuilding.
In 2024, Chad left his position at BYU-Hawaii to join the faculty at Utah State University. Chad is serving a joint appointment with the Religious Studies department and the Heravi Peace Institute. Chad teaches courses in Religion, Violence and Peace; Bridging Religious Differences; Introduction to Peacebuilding; and Transformative Mediation.
Chad’s work has frequently taken him out of the classroom and into conflict zones around the world. He’s made more than 50 trips to the Middle East and has worked on numerous other conflicts around the world in Ireland, Cyprus, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Oceania, China and throughout the United States, as both a mediator and a facilitator. Chad has served as a speaker and conflict facilitator for numerous organizations — working with governments, NGOs and corporations like Nike and the US Olympic team. He’s been able to combine his expertise on both sports and conflict by serving as an executive board member of the non-profit peacebuilding organization PeacePlayers.
His first book, Dangerous Love, weaves Chad’s experiences into a deeply personal step-by-step exploration of how we transform fear and conflict. Dangerous Love has been described as the "single best book about conflict and peace for a general readership.”
His second book, 70x7, draws on Chad’s experiences as a Christian peacebuilder. What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus when we feel stirred up with anger in our families, neighborhoods, wards, workplaces, online communities, and public forums? He shows how Jesus’s path of practicing 70×7 has the power to repair relationships by transforming destructive conflict into constructive peace.
Chad’s work with young people in the classroom, athletes on the basketball court, struggling families in the living room, executives in the boardroom, and divided communities in some of the most challenging conflicts in the world gives him a unique perspective and voice to the conflicts that plague our families, our organizations, and the world.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 27, 2025
"Jesus came to teach us how to love in a broken world, not a fair one."
I think once you understand this truth, everything else falls into place. A lot of what Jesus taught is simply unintuitive and goes against our natural instincts. Some of it even feels dangerous. But it's the only thing that works in the long run.
I have loved learning from Chad over the years and I'd say he's shifted the way I see the world more than anyone outside of my own family. And what I love is that this book is not just written from some detached theoretical perspective; Chad is on the ground in Israel, Palestine, and all over using these practical principles to transform conflict on all levels.
This was a great read and a reminder that I have lots more to work on to become the force for love and peace that I want to be!
I think once you understand this truth, everything else falls into place. A lot of what Jesus taught is simply unintuitive and goes against our natural instincts. Some of it even feels dangerous. But it's the only thing that works in the long run.
I have loved learning from Chad over the years and I'd say he's shifted the way I see the world more than anyone outside of my own family. And what I love is that this book is not just written from some detached theoretical perspective; Chad is on the ground in Israel, Palestine, and all over using these practical principles to transform conflict on all levels.
This was a great read and a reminder that I have lots more to work on to become the force for love and peace that I want to be!
November 8, 2025
4.5 stars - a must-read for want-to-be peacemakers. No matter how much I think I know this stuff, it always pricks at me a little, in a good way. Jesus' teachings are really hard to live, but I'm convinced they're the only way that leads to lasting peace.
I enjoyed hearing the author speak about this at BYU a few weeks ago.
I enjoyed hearing the author speak about this at BYU a few weeks ago.
April 30, 2025
Chad Ford's Seventy Times Seven is a remarkable study of how to make peace following Jesus' example. It's a practical handbook, personal, and easy to read, but it's not easy to implement. I've read it a couple of times now and find myself in situations where I can proactively try to be a peacemaker. The book is under my skin, so even when I don't make a wise choice, I recognize what I'm doing and the price I will pay. I'll be re-reading this one.
April 10, 2025
Thought provoking, inspiring, and hopeful. Turned down dozens of corners and marked up several passages!
November 11, 2025
What a fabulous book. I immediately started it over and am going to slowly work through it again. This has so many good insights and methods to prevent conflict and work through conflict. I love the gospel centered message as well. I think I’m going to be listening to this one maybe every year.
2nd Read - I ended up delaying my second read for other books, but still fabulous. I see it much more as a first-timer because I already knew the conflict transformation activities and mindset Chad Ford describes. I see how people might skim through this, sadly. Wonderful doctrine, perspective, and practices.
2nd Read - I ended up delaying my second read for other books, but still fabulous. I see it much more as a first-timer because I already knew the conflict transformation activities and mindset Chad Ford describes. I see how people might skim through this, sadly. Wonderful doctrine, perspective, and practices.
September 25, 2025
4.5 stars. “Blessed are the peacemakers.” A mediator and professor of peace-building walks us through Jesus’s path of conflict transformation. Jesus’s example and teachings on forgiveness, mercy, and love is radical—and even more audacious, he asks us to do the same, to love those we are in conflict with, including our enemies. Ford paints a beautiful picture of peace and Zion to aspire to and work toward. Through the principles and practices described, we learn how to go from conflict to reconciliation and restoration, and in the process we ourselves become transformed into peacemakers. Our families, relationships, communities, and world need more peacemakers like Jesus Christ. If you like this book, I would also recommend Proclaim Peace by Patrick Mason.
1-Love your enemies
-we must start with seeing the divinity of those different than us, those hard to love
-his teachings were just as audacious in his political heated/polarized time
2-Fear Not
-Agape love - love that overcomes fear
-Look at how your actions are affecting the other, not only your hurt
3-Throwing stones
-vs rolling away stones
-Giving good for evil; replaces stones with love
-Standing up for your truth-higher truths of love
-Blessed is he who gives what is needed instead of what is deserved
4-Power and Influence
5-The Prodigal Father
-being willing to go first
6-Assertive love
-replace fear with grace
-we want Jesus to do all the work for us…He will work with us not for us
-big risk, big reward
7-The ministry of restoration—Reconcile
-an ongoing project - not conflict resolution, but conflict transformation (ongoing)
-God called us to love not be right - calling “in” (connection) instead of calling “out” (disconnection)
-Jesus does not erase conflict, he shows us how to transform it from destructive to more constructive
8-The Church of Jesus Christ
-Find heaven by focusing on restoration now
9-Peacemakers needed
1-Love your enemies
-we must start with seeing the divinity of those different than us, those hard to love
-his teachings were just as audacious in his political heated/polarized time
2-Fear Not
-Agape love - love that overcomes fear
-Look at how your actions are affecting the other, not only your hurt
3-Throwing stones
-vs rolling away stones
-Giving good for evil; replaces stones with love
-Standing up for your truth-higher truths of love
-Blessed is he who gives what is needed instead of what is deserved
4-Power and Influence
5-The Prodigal Father
-being willing to go first
6-Assertive love
-replace fear with grace
-we want Jesus to do all the work for us…He will work with us not for us
-big risk, big reward
7-The ministry of restoration—Reconcile
-an ongoing project - not conflict resolution, but conflict transformation (ongoing)
-God called us to love not be right - calling “in” (connection) instead of calling “out” (disconnection)
-Jesus does not erase conflict, he shows us how to transform it from destructive to more constructive
8-The Church of Jesus Christ
-Find heaven by focusing on restoration now
9-Peacemakers needed
June 16, 2025
If you haven't yet had the pleasure of hearing Chad Ford's voice either in his writings or his work as a peace building and conflict resolution professional, this is your chance to dive in—you'll thank me later! By walking us thought the many examples of how Jesus embraced and transformed conflict, and by letting us in on some of his own personal, deeply impactful experiences throughout the course of his life, Chad helps us redefine our relationship with and perspective on conflict—and shows how much potential lies in our ability to be with each other in the spirit of peace amidst differences and diversity. I'm grateful I got to read this book and cherish my signed copy of it.
November 24, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
Ford does a noble thing by endorsing principles of peace in a world where that’s hard to find, he clearly lives it. His writing gives certain perspectives that allow prodding for anyone with unresolved conflicts. That being said for the title and premise I was maybe expecting a little more New Testament pattern-painting from Jesus’ ministry, whereas there were more tangents and examples from Ford’s life where I had to pause and ask how it related.
Ford does a noble thing by endorsing principles of peace in a world where that’s hard to find, he clearly lives it. His writing gives certain perspectives that allow prodding for anyone with unresolved conflicts. That being said for the title and premise I was maybe expecting a little more New Testament pattern-painting from Jesus’ ministry, whereas there were more tangents and examples from Ford’s life where I had to pause and ask how it related.
June 29, 2025
Amazing book!! I will read this again and again.
July 13, 2025
The quote from Dr. Hafoka on p. 144 that Ford includes is so good. I also appreciate the synthesis and inclusion of other books I’ve studied by Adam Miller and Patrick Mason. Excellent work.
August 22, 2025
This one's a must-read!
September 7, 2025
Wow. Hard truths, but wow.
September 21, 2025
4.75 stars
Incredible book about peacemaking and restoration, with practical applications and accessible examples. Highly recommend!
Incredible book about peacemaking and restoration, with practical applications and accessible examples. Highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews