Spring (April-June) 2007 Newsletter
From the Keyboard of Dr. Ross Jutsum

“The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.  Come and see the place where He lay.’”   Matthew 28:5-6

Lisa Returns from Honduras Mission Trip!

One of the ministry highlights of this year was a March 16-19 visit to the Chicago area where I was able to spend a couple of days with our younger daughter Lisa, who is a sophomore at Wheaton College.  Lisa was full of stories of her just-completed mission trip to Honduras, where she and her team hooked up some 90 families with fresh running water for the very first time!  It was a delight to meet many of Lisa’s fellow students, attend several classes, as well as join in worship at two of the college’s chapel services.  What an absolute thrill to sing praises and rejoice with several thousand enthusiastic young people filled with love and devotion to their Lord!   I was able to conduct a worship service for the Milwaukee WCG congregation with Pastor Tracy and Cherie Porter, give an afternoon outreach concert at Abundant Grace Church in Madison WI, and on Sunday morning serve as a guest speaker and worship leader for the first time at New Beginnings Community Church in Fort Wayne IN.  The afternoon provided an opportunity to give a Concert of Praise for combined congregation representing several churches in Elkhart IN, including the host Mennonite church and the WCG congregation.  Then it was back to Wheaton and an evening meal with Lisa and some of her friends.   When I returned the rental car at O’Hare airport on the Monday afternoon, I had put 862 miles on it – a truly delightful, memorable (and somewhat tiring) trip!

10th Anniv. Year Celebrated With CD gifts to Zimbabwe/Gulf Coast Churches!
After a recent meeting with a dear friend, Mike Horchak, who pastors Fellowship Community Church in Tickfaw LA and the WCG congregation in New Orleans, I was deeply moved by his churches’ mission outreach to Africa.  We are pleased to be able to send 600 of our worship CDs as gifts to churches and individuals who will be the recipients of a container of supplies Mike’s churches are sending to Zimbabwe.  Also, we decided to honor each family in his two Louisiana congregations, many of whom have endured so much in the aftermath of Katrina, with a copy of one of our latest worship CDs, “The Heart of Praise” and “The Heart of Worship.”  Please pray for these wonderful folks and for those they are so generously and selflessly serving in Africa.  What truly outstanding ambassadors these disciples are for our Lord Jesus!

New Web Site On-line Soon to be Complete!
Before the end of April, we will have completed an overhaul of the web site for State of the Heart Ministries.  The opening page will feature a 5 minute DVD vignette that briefly tells the story of our ministry.  The site and its pages will be organized in a fresh and more user-friendly way.  There will be a link for ordering CDs, as well as testimonials and more regular updates and useful information.

Heidi and Ryan Still in Central and South America
Our older daughter, Heidi, and her husband, Ryan are still in La Paz, Bolivia, with four months left of their year-long humanitarian fellowship in Central and South America.  They will spend some time in Chile and Peru before returning home at the end of July.  Their work with the indigenous Mayan Indian people is challenging but has borne much fruit.  Please pray for their continued safety and the success of their work.

January ’07 Ministry Visits

January was an exciting month in ministry, beginning with return visits to the Bellflower and Orange County CA WCG congregations and Yucaipa Valley Presbyterian Church.  Then in Edmonton, Alberta I had a good dose of bone-chilling Canadian winter as I was privileged to visit the WCG congregation, hosted by Pastor Bob and Sonya Millman, and Evangel Pentecostal Assembly, hosted by Pastor Wayne and Ruth McNealy, for both morning and evening worship services.  A few days later, Pastor Arnold Clauson kept me busy at his WCG congregations in Dennison and Lewisville TX and then it was over to New Beginnings Christian Fellowship in Big Sandy Sunday morning, Faith Community in Bossier City/Shreveport LA in the afternoon, and then back to First Baptist Church in Gladewater, where I led a Concert of Praise in the evening.  The long weekend ended with 3 public school concerts in the Big Sandy and Gladewater TX School districts.  It was great to be able to share stories, songs and testimony of God’s love with more than 800 elementary school students!

February ‘07 Ministry Visits
February began with four wonderful opportunities to revisit the WCG congregations in West Valley and Port Hueneme, Beaumont and Victorville CA, hosted by Pastor Rand and Beth Holm, and by Pastor Tom and Alberta Ecker.  The following week, in Minnesota, I was a guest at the Living Grace Church in Bloomington, Living Hope Christian Fellowship in Champlin and New Life Christian Fellowship in St. Paul, hosted by Pastors Doug Johannsen and Charles Holliday.  The third weekend took me to the United Kingdom where I led worship services in Watford, West London and Birmingham, and gave concerts at an inter-denominational Nursing Home and at Beeches Evangelical Church, both in Birmingham.  I was so pleased to catch up with Blair and Simon Baker, two of my favorite former students from my days at Ambassador University.   February wrapped up with some wonderful visits to the WCG congregations in Sacramento and Fairfield CA, and Monterey Bay Christian Church in Watsonville.

March ‘07 Ministry Visits
It is always a great pleasure to be a guest at the Baton Rouge and Lafayette LA WCG congregations and to catch up with dear friend and Pastor Anthony Rice, and his wonderful mother Ginny.  Then it was on to Cross Winds Church in Jackson MS where Pastor John Novick welcomed me warmly for my second visit.  Pastor Glen Weber kindly invited me to be a guest at Abundant Grace Fellowship in Vancouver WA, and I was able to combine this with services at the Tacoma WCG, and also at New Hope Christian Fellowship in Federal Way, and finishing with a community outreach Concert at Grace Community Fellowship, Port Orchard WA.  My fifth annual visit to New Beginnings Community Church in Orlando FL was, as always, wonderful, as was the outstanding Youth Talent Showcase.  On this trip I also visited the Tampa WCG congregation and Orlando Church of God Seventh-Day.  I was privileged once again to serve at New Life Christian Fellowship in Pasadena CA on Palm Sunday, and was very pleased that Tammy could join me at this venue, just a few miles from home!

Exempt Status Update/Donations to the Ministry
In a March 27th letter the Director of Exempt Organizations for the Internal Revenue Service notified us that, after the initial 5-year determination period, “since our exempt status was not under consideration, you continue to be classified as an organization exempt from Federal income tax under section 501 (c) (3).”
If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to help in the work of our ministry, our address is State of the Heart Ministries, P.O. Box 56, Sierra Madre, CA  91025-0056 or call us at (626) 836-4686 (between 9 A.M. and 6 P.M. Pacific Time.)   You can also visit our web site at www.stateoftheheart.org