Summer 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 Joyful Return from the Congo
On June 11, Tammy and I were so glad to be at Los Angeles International to welcome younger daughter Lisa home after more than 36 hours of travel from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where she had served for five months as an intern with “Food for the Hungry.” Despite having had a bad bout of malaria and also battling amoebas in her system, Lisa was in great spirits and as excited to see us as we were to see her!  I met up with Lisa in South Africa back in April for a few days, after she had made a rather daunting trip via Kigali, Rwanda and Nairobi, Kenya.  During my 10-day trip to this amazing country of South Africa, I was privileged to serve as a guest speaker and worship leader in churches in Durban, Capetown, Pretoria and Johannesburg, with Lisa joining me to lead worship in the last two cities, as well as to share amazing testimony of her time in the Congo.  A day-long safari with our dear friend Pastor Tim McGuire was an unforgettable experience Lisa and I enjoyed so much, giving Lisa a needed break from the rather stressful but rewarding work with God’s precious children in the DRC.

At Lisa’s blog, http://sunshineli-lj.blogspot.com/ you can read of her amazing experiences.  Hopefully, before long, she will have a video clip posted that is truly remarkable and very inspirational.  Certainly Lisa’s time in the DRC was a life-changing experience.  Please pray for her complete recovery and her transition home and then in August, back to Wheaton College for her challenging senior year.

Update on Heidi and Ryan
We are looking forward to welcoming our older daughter Heidi and her husband Ryan back from Guatemala at the end of July.  They are concluding two years of humanitarian work in Guatemala and several other Central and South American countries. They will spend just two weeks with us before moving back east to New Haven, Connecticut where Ryan will begin his Master of Arts in Religion at Yale University and most likely continue on to a doctoral program.  Heidi will continue her work with the International Humanitarian Foundation where she will serve as CEO.  Like sister Lisa, Heidi and Ryan have a heart for the poor and needy and truly want to allow God to use them as His instruments in the most effective way possible – so please pray for them as well as they travel and make this major transition.

Other April Ministry Visits
My first ever visit to South Africa was outstanding.  In addition to leading worship services in four cities, I was also pleased to lead two worship seminars in Durban and Capetown.  Pastor Trevor Weber was so kind to help me see some of the sights including Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for so many years.  The incredible wealth and beauty of the country stood in stark contrast to the abject poverty and misery in which so many people are forced to live.  My host in Capetown was Terry Murphy and I am indebted to him, as well as dear friends Candida and Grant Millar who made Lisa and I feel so welcome at their home in Pretoria.  I hope to bring Tammy to this wonderful country – maybe next year!

After only a few days home, it was a relatively short trip to Minnesota and the opportunity to serve in the New Covenant of Christ Fellowship in St. Cloud and Disciples of Jesus in Nisswa.  A worship service and evening concert at the Nisswa Community Church was also a delight.  Pastor Dave and Pastor Nevin and Jane were terrific hosts!  The last weekend of April I ministered in Jacksonville, Florida, where dear friends Pastor Marty and Yvonne Davey hosted me for a wonderful and lively worship service. Then I was honored to take part in a Talent Showcase which was amazing in its wide variety and high quality.

May Ministry Visits
It is always a pleasure to visit Amarillo in West Texas and WCG Pastor Sammy and Julia O’Dell usually keep me busy!  This time was no exception as we also included a worship service at the Skellytown Assembly of God and a Sunday evening concert at the First Baptist Church of Groom.  The town of Groom is small but it is home to the largest cross in the U.S. – one that can be seen dozens of miles away on the interstate – reminding us just how great is the Father’s love for us! The last weekend in May offered my first and truly wonderful opportunities to serve in the WCG congregations in Seattle-Bellevue and Everett, Washington.  In addition to two lively worship services, we also squeezed in a wonderful barbecue where I shared some “fun” songs, and an afternoon concert at Wynwood Senior Living.  Pastor Bill and Kathy Miller were great hosts and the feedback from many members suggests another visit soon!

June Ministry Visits
Pastor Leland Lantz invited me to come to Lutheran Church of the Cross in Laguna Woods, California, for my third visit, to lead worship at their three morning services – what a privilege!  The second weekend in June took me once again to Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, where our dear friend Martha Williamson and many from the college music groups of the late 70s and early 80s joined together for a musical Reunion for which I helped out.  This also gave me the chance to serve as a guest worship leader and speaker at the Community Church of Providence, and give a Sunday afternoon concert at Grace Family Church in West Warwick, Rhode Island.  Pastor Richard and Joyce Frankel then hosted me at their two congregations – Christian Family Fellowship, one in Norwood Park, a suburb of Chicago, and the other in Kenosha, Wisconsin.  The wonderful hospitality of dear friend Bill Cocomise was truly appreciated.  The following weekend I led worship at the annual International Service of the WCG congregation in Stratford, Connecticut, and that evening gave my third Concert of Praise at Elim Park Retirement Home, a delightful multi-denominational facility.  The weekend was rounded out with an opportunity to lead worship at Mill Pond Church in Newington, Connecticut, hosted by my dear and long-time friends Pastor Joel and Karen Rissinger.  God is doing wonderful things in all of these churches!

Web Site for Donations and CD Orders
To check out our web site, please go to www.stateoftheheart.org   We are established as a 501C3 California non-profit corporation.  Tax-deductible donations and orders for worship CDs can be done online.  Also, for worship CDs or donations you can reach us by “snail mail” at 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 reach us by
You can reach us by e-mail anytime at rossjutsum@stateoftheheart.org