Autumn 2007 Newsletter
From the Keyboard of Dr. Ross Jutsum
Previous Newsletters

“But you are God’s chosen and special people.  You are a group of royal priests and a holy nation.  God has brought you out of darkness into His marvelous light.  Now you must tell all the wonderful things that He has done!”
 I Peter 2:9

“Give thanks with a grateful heart…”
As the season of Thanksgiving approaches, we give thanks to our wonderful Lord and Savior for His incredible love, His infinite mercy and patience, and His amazing grace. Our hearts are filled to overflowing with joyful gratitude for our family and loved ones who pray for us, and who support and encourage us in this ongoing ministry – now well into our 11th year. To our awesome God be the glory!!!

Family News
Older daughter Heidi and her husband Ryan have been in Guatemala now since the middle of August. They are working to implement a wonderful program called “Just Apparel” in the village of Punabaj, so devastated, first by civil war and then, in October 2005, by the mudslides from Hurricane Stan. Their humanitarian work involves, among other things, helping the widows of the village to get a fair trade or “just” price for the beautiful apparel items they produce, often with intricate embroidery. We are looking forward to visiting for 10 days in December to help Heidi and Ryan with their project, to lead a worship service and to show the love of Jesus to many in need.

Younger daughter Lisa, a junior at Wheaton College near Chicago, Illinois, recently learned that she has been accepted for an internship with “Food for the Hungry.” This will take her to the Democratic Republic of Congo from January through May 2008. Lisa will participate in relief programs in this country where nearly 4 million people have perished since 1998. Though there is a fragile peace today, the misery hasn’t ended. Every day some 1,200 men, women and children die from disease, malnutrition and violence. Thank God for organizations like World Vision and Food for the Hungry who are making a difference in the Congo, a country for the most part neglected and forgotten by the world. If you would like to know more about this wonderful organization you can visit their web site at www.fh.org and, within a few weeks, it will be possible go on-line and to offer support directly for Lisa’s internship at www.fh.org/intern_support

November in New York City
The first weekend in November took me to Jamaica, Queens to lead worship at a service attended by over 500 members of the New York area Church of God 7th Day congregations. We met at the oldest Presbyterian Church in North America (celebrating 345 years.) It was a wonderful time of celebration and praise and I so appreciate the invitation by the President of Church of God 7th Day General Conference, Pastor Whaid Rose, a dear brother in the Lord. The next day, I enjoyed serving as guest speaker and worship leader at New Life in Christ in nearby Richmond Hill, Queens with Pastor Al and Edna Barr.

October ‘07 Ministry Visits
Tammy and I had the wonderful experience of visiting Majorca, Spain for a worship retreat the first week of October and then on to the United Kingdom where I was a guest speaker and worship leader at two WCG congregations in Camberwell and Coulsdon, south of London, and where I also participated in a concert fund-raiser for prostate cancer in the city of Gloucester. The hospitality of Pastors Pedro Rufian, Barry Robinson, Brian Smith and Robert Crawford was so very much appreciated. It was great to have Tammy join me on this trip – finances don’t allow her to accompany me too often, but it was time to use some frequent flier miles this trip! In just six months, we will be celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary!

Other October 2007 ministry opportunities included visits to CentrePointe Church in Grove City OH and the WCG congregation in Chillicothe OH, the Eugene OR congregation of the Church of God 7th Day for a “round-up” day including a worship service, seminar and concert, then leading worship for a weekend retreat at Living Hope Church in Salem OR, attended by folks from a number of churches in Oregon and Washington. It was great to catch up with Pastor John Karlson, Pastor Ken Knoll, and Pastors Tim and Linda Sitterley and Glen and Connie Weber. The last weekend of October took me to serve, for the first time, in the Netherlands (Holland!) I was a guest speaker/worship leader at a 3-day spiritual retreat with Pastor Frans and Lamberta Danenberg. It was a real delight to be with our wonderful Dutch brethren!

August/September ’07 Ministry Visits
A return visit to Yucaipa CA Presbyterian Church was a wonderful time with our dear friends Pastor Dan and Karen Allen. Then a trip to Austin TX allowed me to serve at the Heart of Worship church (Pastor Joe Davila,) at Family Christian Fellowship (Pastor Lee and Sue Berger) and also at the First Baptist Church of Dodge TX (not of “get out of Dodge fame!” – that’s in Kansas, I think!) It was wonderful to be reunited with Pastor Jason Bay and his family who I had met previously at their last pastorate in Waco TX. The next weekend took me to Phoenix AZ where I led combined services for the WCG congregation (Pastor Albert Yeager) and Community of Hope (Pastor Tim Disney,) and the next day in Tucson AZ at God of Grace Fellowship (Pastor Zita Mickens.) August ended with delightful return visits to the WCG congregations in Bellflower and Orange CA (Pastor Richard and Sally Parker.)

September took us to Las Vegas NV where I was privileged to serve both at the English-speaking congregation of the Church of God 7th Day, and also at the WCG congregation whose pastor, our dear friend Tom Melear, also served as a wonderful host to Tammy and me! A Labor Day weekend trip to Dallas TX allowed Tammy and me to watch Lisa play volleyball with her Wheaton Thunder women’s volleyball team. Wheaton won 3 out of 4 of their tournament matches! Then, while Tammy spent some time with Lisa and dear friends in Dallas, I drove to Aimwell LA to serve at the First Baptist Church there at the invitation of my long-time friend, Dr. Roy Taylor. Home in California for a weekend (!) I served at the San Diego Church of God 7th Day, and on Sunday morning at Pasadena Convenant Church where that evening I gave my second concert – this time with our dear friend Martha Williamson as a special guest. A worship service and concert at Clarenceville Methodist Church in Livonia MI, along with two worship services for the Detroit area WCG congregations rounded out September.

Web Site Updated – Donations to the Ministry
To check out our “new and improved” web site, please go to www.stateoftheheart.org.  We are especially pleased with the 5-minute introductory video clip which gives an overview of the ministry.  The new site will enable more effective e-mail communication to friends, prayer partners and potential supporters.  We are established as a 501C3 California non-profit corporation.  If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to help in the work of our ministry, our mailing address is State of the Heart Ministries, P.O. Box 56, Sierra Madre, CA  91025-0056.  You can also call us at (626) 836-4686 (between 9 A.M. and 6 P.M. Pacific Time) or you can visit our web site at www.stateoftheheart.org   You can reach us by e-mail anytime at rossjutsum@stateoftheheart.org