Newsletter — May-July 2017

Celebrating 20 years of ministry (1997-2017)

Jesus said: “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.”       

The Connecticut Family all dressed up: Our older daughter Heidi, son-in-law Ryan and precious grand-chidren Grace Victoria and Gabriel Joseph                                     

January-April 2017 Ministry Visits          

The year began with a delightful visit to Grace Communion in Bellflower CA, a church I have served in at least twenty times in the past twenty years!  The following weekend took me to East Texas serving in the Dallas North and Mount Pleasant congregations of the Church of God 7^th Day, and at New Beginnings Christian Fellowship in Big Sandy, and a jam-packed Monday morning with concerts for both the Big Sandy Junior High and Elementary schools and a program at the Big Sandy Rotary Club!  Many thanks go to pastors Raul, Jose and Jerome, and my wonderful hosts in Longview, dear friends and college classmates, Sue and Lee Berger.        

The first weekend in February I traveled all the way to the United Kingdom where I was a guest worship leader and speaker in London at the Mill Yard Seventh Day Baptist Church and at Grace Communion congregations in Camberwell and Coulsdon. It was wonderful to catch up with Pastors Ancell, Barry and Brian, and many other dear old friends including Albert Lee and his family.  March saw me serving at the 7^th Day Baptist congregation in West Palm Beach FL and at New Beginnings Christian Fellowship in Ocala FL.  I was hosted by dear old friends Jennifer and Paul Mazon and their delightful children Preston and Jessica, who treated me to several piano solos!  Also, an opportunity to spend two days with Tricia and Carl Haywood was extra special, and included a mini college reunion of friends from the 1970s in England.       

Next, Tammy and I drove out to Las Vegas NV to spend almost a week.  There we served at the Church of God 7^th Day and at Grace Communion, as well as attending a Three-Campus Ambassador College Reunion.  For the final banquet, I accompanied and directed a choir and served as master of ceremonies, weaving in some appropriate popular songs!  It was wonderful to catch up with our treasured friends Athena and Mike Wright, and many others at the Reunion.

Other Spring ministry visits included the Miami FL 7^th Day Baptist church and New Life Christian Fellowship in South Miami, and busy four days serving Trinity Wellsprings Church in Satellite Beach FL, Americana Resort in Rockledge FL, Brennity Retirement Community in Melbourne FL, Compass Community Church in Apopka FL and the Melbourne and Orlando congregations of Grace Communion.  My hosts were Pastors Andy and Kay Samuel, Ted and Lacy Ralph, Dale and Sybil Martin, college buddies Pastor Steve and Carol Shantz, Ish and Beatriz Beloso, and Howard and Becky Salter.  Easter weekend took me to serve in Voice of Hope Church of God in Chillicothe OH and CenterPointe Church in Columbus OH, hosted by my dear and precious brother, Pastor Jeff Broadnax.  April’s last weekend visit took me to serve for the first time at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Amarillo TX, hosted by Pastor Chance Perkins.  I also served at the Ronald McDonald House and Baptist Community Services, and drove 450 miles round trip Johnson, Kansas to give an in-home concert for our treasured friend and ministry partner, Mrs. Robbie Trussell, joined by five of her neighbors!             

Ministry Contact Information

Our web site is www.stateoftheheart.org  An established 501C3 California non-profit corporation, tax-deductible donations and orders for worship CDs can be done online, or to State of the Heart Ministries, P.O. Box 56, Sierra Madre, CA  91025 or call 626- 836-4686

Ross’ Ministry Schedule – May-September 2017