Spring 2008 Newsletter
From the Keyboard of Dr. Ross Jutsum
Previous Newsletters

“…that you may declare the praises of Him who called you
out of darkness into His wonderful light!” I Peter 2:9

Lisa’s Congo Adventure Extended!
Our younger daughter Lisa has now been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for two and a half months and has been asked to extend her internship by a little more than a month, which will mean she will return home to the U.S. now around June 20th. I am looking forward to an upcoming trip to South Africa where I will serve in four different churches in Capetown, Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg, AND I will have a visit from Lisa for four days in between the two weekends! Lisa will fly from the Congo to Kigali, Rwanda and then down to meet me in Johannesburg. The work she is doing is very stressful and somewhat emotionally draining and so I am looking forward to giving her a little break – we might even see some lions, tigers and elephants in the wild! Lisa’s blog from the Congo is fascinating and can be located at the following address: http://sunshineli-lj.blogspot.com/ Your prayers for safe travel and for the Lord’s provision for Lisa’s ongoing internship are most appreciated.

Heidi and Ryan Guatemala Update
Well into the second half of their adventures in Central America, older daughter Heidi and her husband Ryan, are currently “stateside” for a few days of meetings with the International Humanitarian Foundation (Heidi currently serves as its CEO) and for Ryan to check out several graduate programs for enrollment this coming August. He has been accepted by Harvard, Yale and Notre Dame and will make a decision shortly. Ryan followed Heidi’s dream, serving alongside her in Guatemala (and Panama, Equador, Bolivia, among others) for the first two years of their married life, and now Heidi will have the chance to help him succeed through his graduate degrees. We are very proud of both of them (and Lisa, of course!) and ask for your prayers that God would guide these important decisions and bless them always!

January Ministry Visits
What better place to begin the New Year than in sunny Florida?! My first January trip took me to the Fort Lauderdale area where I served for the first time as a guest speaker and worship leader at the Church of God in Del Rey at the invitation of Pastor Anthony Donaldson. Also, I was delighted to make return visits to the WCG congregation in North Broward and to the Port Saint Lucie Faith Fellowship, both pastored by long-time friend Larry Hinkle. The following weekend took me once again to the East coast where I served for the third time as a guest at the Pleasant Hills Christian Church in Harrisburg PA (with Pastor Bruce and Mary Chesney) and then at Living Hope Christian Fellowship in Vienna VA. Another highlight was the opportunity to lead worship at Grangeview Nursing Home. The hospitality of the Van Acker family was most appreciated as was the impromptu musical evening enjoyed around the piano! The month rounded out with my third trip back east to North Carolina where I made return visits to the WCG congregations in Murphy and Asheville, and to Church of the Living Waters in Charlotte and New Beginnings in Hickory. The weather cooperated for the 700 plus miles of driving that weekend. Many thanks to the Vischers and Kurts for their wonderful hospitality!

February Ministry Visits
February began with a long trip to the beautiful island of Barbados where I had been invited to help celebrate the 40th anniversary of the WCG congregation there. Hosted by dear friends Clifton and Pearl Charles, I was also afforded the privilege of ministering at Second Chance Ministries pastored by Bishop Winston Clark. Next a Houston trip gave me the opportunity for a third visit to the Church of God 7th Day congregation in Galena Park with Pastor Alex Cuirana, and to Community Christian Fellowship where I was delighted to welcome 15 guests, friends living in the Houston area I haven’t seen in years! The hospitality of the Quinns and Lohrs was so kind and welcome! Then, after 5 straight weekends far away, it was wonderful to be closer to home with worship services at the Bellflower and Orange County CA WCG congregations. February concluded with a visit to the East Texas area where I was delighted to lead worship at two seminars given by theologian and friend Baxter Kruger, and to serve as a guest at the First Baptist Church of Gilmer and Calvary Baptist in Gladewater. It was great to be with our dear friends Dennis and Janet Robertson, who graciously opened their home to me.

March Ministry Visits
When I learned that the WCG congregation in Martinique was celebrating their 45th anniversary and their guest speaker had to postpone a visit, I quickly agreed to make my second trip to that beautiful island. My French is a little rusty although I managed to sing several songs in French and make basic conversation with my brothers and sisters. Thankfully I had an outstanding translator in Madame Betty Brunet, who, along with her husband Jack, were also my wonderful hosts! Not only was the worship service truly memorable, but so was the evening outreach concert where choirs from at least 4 other area churches joined us in a truly outstanding ecumenical evening! A quick flight over to St. Lucia enabled me to share a Sunday evening Concert of Praise with about 50 wonderful folks there also. A Concert of Praise at the Church of God 7th Day at Springvale Academy in Owosso MI, along with serving as guest speaker and worship leader at the WCG congregation in Eastpointe MI were memorable – unfortunately a visit to the Toledo WCG congregation the same weekend had to be postponed due to blowing snow. Another welcome Southern California weekend took me to Glendora to guest both at the WCG congregation and the Friend’s Church, thanks to Pastors Neil Earle and Bruce Butler. Then it was back to the cold and a trip to New Jersey that included a return visit to Beth Tefilah, a wonderful Messianic congregation in Queens near the JFK airport, and also at the WCG congregation in Lakehurst NJ and at Grace Christian Fellowship in Kenilworth NJ. Thanks so much to Pastor John Adams for his fine hospitality!