January - March 2008 Newsletter
From the Keyboard of Dr. Ross Jutsum
Previous Newsletters

“Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven!”
Matthew 5:16

Lisa to the Congo for 4 months!
After two intensive days of orientation in Phoenix, AZ with “Food for the Hungry,” Lisa began her 36 hour trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) January 16 and will spend four months in the Bukavu area of the Congo serving as the first-ever intern that this wonderful organization has assigned to the DRC. Though Lisa and her co-workers will be housed and working in a secure U.N. compound, this is still an extremely dangerous place to be. We ask all our friends and ministry partners -- brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ around the world – to lift up Lisa in regular prayer during the next four months. Lisa will be posting a blog on the Internet of her experiences and we will let you know how to access that as soon as possible. More information is available at “Food for the Hungry web site – www.fh.org

Visit to see Heidi and Ryan in Guatemala
During our ten-day visit to Guatemala in December, we were able to witness first-hand the work that our daughter Heidi and son-in-law Ryan have been doing there since August ’07. They are working with a group of Mayan Indian women, many of whom are widows, and a number among those who lost their houses and even loved ones during the mudslides that ravaged the village of Punabaj in October 2005. Heidi and Ryan are working with the women under the auspices of the non-profit organization “Just Apparel.” They are training the women to embroider sweatshirts and other apparel for sale in the U.S. and other markets at fair trade prices. This, in turn, will enable the women to better feed and educate their children and provide for their families. It was such a treat for us to be able to join the women with their children for an end-of-year party in Santiago Atitlan. Everyone thought it was rather funny that I was so tall, hitting my head on the standard door jams there! It was a privilege to lead a singalong of carols and to meet and talk with, through an interpreter, the women and children. It was very moving to see the devastation caused by the mudslide and sobering to see the temporary living conditions so many have to endure – it certainly caused me to yearn even more for “Thy Kingdom come!”

November ’07 Ministry Visits
Leading pre-Thanksgiving services in the South Bay Christian Church in San Jose CA and also at the One In Christ Community Church in San Leandro CA were wonderful opportunities in November. As always, the hospitality of Pastor Mel and Barbara Dahlgren and Pastor Jim and Hazel Roberts, along with that of special ministry partners and friends Larry and Betty Shamus, was most appreciated. The next trip was to Denver CO for a return visit to lead worship and give a Concert of Praise for the Church of God 7th Day with hosts Pastor Mike and Debbie Vlad. After the concert it was a 3 hour drive north to Wyoming where on the Sunday, I was privileged to serve as guest worship leader/speaker at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Douglas WY, at the invitation of Pastor Carol Prochaska. Following an afternoon concert for the community, I drove back down to Wheatland WY where I was privileged to be a guest at the community Thanksgiving service at First Christian Church with at least a dozen of the town’s churches participating. Many thanks to Pastor David Weber for this opportunity.

The weekend after Thanksgiving took me to Ontario, Canada for concerts at St. David’s Anglican Church in Windsor and Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Lucan, for worship services at Family of Faith Christian Fellowship in London. A memorable highlight was the opportunity to share a Concert of Praise at two retirement facilities – one being Sunrise Senior Living in Windsor, and the other Criagwiel Gardens in Ailsa Craig, sponsored by the Nairn Mennonite Church. A gentleman in Windsor came up to me after the program with tears in his eyes and said he wished his wife could have enjoyed the program with him but she was sleeping. He explained how, after caring for her at home for several years, the doctor had insisted his wife needed full-time professional care for dementia, and he could no longer care for her by himself. This lovely man didn’t need to be at this facility, but he couldn’t bear to leave his wife’s side!

December ‘07 Ministry Visits
December began with wonderful worship services in Chatsworth and Oxnard CA and at Desert Oasis Community Church in Lancaster CA. Much appreciation goes to hosts, Pastor Rand Holm, Fred and Karen Becker, and Pastor Jonathan and Susanna Martinez. The next week my first ever guest visit to Iglesia de Dios Evangelica Ministerios Luz y Verdad was truly a delight, thanks to my wonderful interpreter, Pastor Heber Ticas! The weekend before we departed for Guatemala, I was supposed to travel to the Northeast to minister at Beth Tefilah, a Messianic synagogue in Queens NY, as well as at churches in Meriden and Newington CT. However, an ice-storm caused this trip to be postponed to the Spring of ’08.

Web Site Updated – Donations to the Ministry
To check out our “new and improved” web site, please go to www.stateoftheheart.org. 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.) You can reach us by e-mail anytime at rossjutsum@stateoftheheart.org