2021
Newsletter – May-July 2021
Featured Images: Ross gives first 2021 Driveway Concert; Our Connecticut family all dressed up for church; Ross has a Zoom video editing session with his editor in Pennsylvania
“I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.” Romans 8:38 (New Living)
Dear family, friends and ministry partners:
Tammy and I hope that this finds you and yours safe and healthy. Needless to say, we have made no ministry trips in the past 15 months and are doing what we can to serve our neighbors, family and friends. I just started up another series of Saturday evening “driveway concerts” this past weekend. About 40 folks spread up and down our cul-de-sac and seemed to thoroughly enjoy the 90-minute program. We offered 20 of these concerts in 2020 but put them on hold during the cooler weather and when I needed time for my back to heal.
I have been using this time to complete a number of ministry projects that I have neglected when I was traveling so much. One is the creation of music videos for more of my original worship songs. These will not only be incorporated into live future worship services, but I plan to share them at no charge on the Internet and via e-mail. If “a picture is worth a thousand words” then perhaps a song is worth ten thousand, especially when accompanied by pictures or videos! Perhaps now more than ever before in human history has this world needed to hear the message of hope and peace and true joy that is declared in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Our Connecticut family, Heidi, Ryan, Grace (7), and Gabriel (5) are looking forward to a summer visit to California after a year and a half at home in Connecticut. Heidi’s work has been busier than ever as her team responds to the dual economic and health crises that the pandemic has triggered in the most vulnerable parts of the world. She has most recently been working tirelessly helping policymakers and organizations throughout South Asia respond to the COVID-19 surge. Ryan is writing two books and is wrapping up his first all-Zoom semester of teaching “Life Worth Living” at Yale. Grace is a budding poet and environmental activist. She enjoys knitting in her rocking chair while listening to audio versions of the Little House books. Gabriel is excited to start kindergarten in the fall. He knows more about dinosaurs than you do! All have been loving joining their church for masked outdoor services on the New Haven Green.
Wonderful Dad Jonathan and Mom Lisa plus 5 in the Middle East; Almost five-year old twins Isaiah and Evelyne holding one-year-old twins Aaron & Noah, with three-year old Solo in the middle
Our family in the Middle East is growing fast! The twin grand-boys just turned one-year-old and sadly, we haven’t met them yet. We hope to rectify that situation later this year. The three older children, twins Evelyne and Isaiah, and middle child Solomon (“Solo”) are really great with the twin boys, entertaining them and gladly playing with them. Lisa texted us yesterday to let us know that their country has just gone into a three-week nationwide lock-down due to the Covid19 surge. It is challenging enough to have five young children but not to be able to take them outside to play in the park or at the sea for three weeks is very disconcerting. Please continue to pray for Lisa and Jonathan and their children for their safety and sanity. They are continuing to do wonderful work from home even though movements have been severely limited.
We have been sorry to learn of the passing of a number of our long-time ministry partners this past year. We greatly miss Suzy Crowell, George Cassat, Don Persyn, Lee Pettijohn, Nick Leaver and Pastor Sammy O’Dell. We long for the time we can be reunited with all our family and friends forever! In the meantime, we pray for you and yours and want you know that our hearts are full of gratitude for your prayers for our family and ministry, and for generous support over these many years, especially in this past challenging one.
With gratitude, love and blessings,
Ross and Tammy
2019
May – July 2019 Newsletter
Our whole family was delighted to participate in the Dedication of baby Solomon Paul on December 23rd. Pastor Roger Van Spronsen, of Life Christian Fellowship in Pasadena, California, conducted the service.
2019
Newsletter — February 2019-April 2019
Our whole family was delighted to participate in the Dedication of baby Solomon Paul on December 23rd. Pastor Roger Van Spronsen, of Life Christian Fellowship in Pasadena, California, conducted the service.
2018
Newsletter — November 2018-January 2019
Baby Solomon will soon turn six months and the twins, Evelyne and Isaiah, are almost two and half. We are so delighted to have had this time with Lisa and Jonathan and their family close by here in Southern California. We treasure our walks to the nearby parks and having Isaiah and Evelyne visit “Grammy Tammy and Grandpa’s house!” The family’s next adventure will take them in the early Spring to serve God’s precious children in the Middle East. Please pray for the family as they make preparations for yet another amazing overseas outreach serving God’s precious children, and please pray that they would succeed in raising the necessary funds to make their important ministry possible.
2018
Newsletter — August-October 2018
Just six weeks after Lisa and Jonathan and family returned from Central Asia, on May 22nd, they welcomed Solomon Paul, little brother to grand-twins Evelyne and Isaiah. We are thrilled to have them close by, at least for the next 10 months or so, before the family moves on to another overseas assignment. It was a delight to have the twins sleep over for 3 nights prior to Solomon’s arrival. Heidi and Ryan, Grace and Gabriel were also able to join us to meet their new nephew and cousin. Heidi and her wonderful family just returned from 3 weeks in Lima, Peru where Heidi was busy with important work for the Innovations for Poverty Action organization where she is Director of Policy and Communications. Heidi is currently in Accra, Ghana, working with their government to improve the lives of many!
2018
Newsletter — May-July 2018
Perhaps one of the quickest and most inspiring international ministry trips took place the last weekend in January. I was invited to visit the United Kingdom, and in particular churches in the cities of Cardiff and Llanelli, Wales, by my dear friends Pastor Gary and Deborah Glenister. A very warm Welsh welcome was extended by the two Grace Communion congregations, the Llanelli (hardest word to properly pronounce in the English/Welsh languages!) Salvation Army and at the Soup Station wonderfully sponsored each Sunday evening by the Llanelli house church, enthusiastically being the hands, lips and eyes of Jesus to so many – a small body of believers with a really big heart!
2018
Newsletter — February-April 2018
November began with a trip to Sacramento CA where I was honored to provide music for a Retirement Dinner and Video Tribute to my dear friends, Pastor Mike and Sandy Swagerty. I was also able to include serving as a guest worship leader/speaker at two Grace Communion congregations – one in Fairfield CA, hosted by Pastor Steve Smith, and the other in Reno, NV, pastored by Ed Kofol. It was wonderful to catch up with dear friends Rae Neller, and Marcia and Dan Fricke, as well as so many from all over California gathered to “roast” the Swagertys!
2017
Newsletter — November 2017-January 2018
For most of three months this past summer, we were busy preparing a worship resource entitled “Worship for Fellowship Groups.” It contained high-definition video renditions of 12 Christmas Worship Songs (carols), as well as 14 “Songs for Kids and Grand-Kids (and the Young at Heart)” and 14 songs for Worship and Praise. In addition, there are accompaniment tracks included for 28 songs (as the Christmas Carols are already purely instrumental.) To order your copy on either USB drive (to download directly into your laptop or PC) or via the File-Sharing Dropbox, please call or e-mail us and we will arrange to get this straight to you.
2017
Newsletter – Aug-Oct 2017
After twenty years of “State of the Heart Ministries” and sharing in hundreds of worship services in quite a variety of places, denominations, worship traditions and situations, we prayerfully considered what would best serve as a worship resource to provide for our many brothers and sisters who meet in homes, in house churches and fellowship groups. More often than not, there is no live accompaniment for the singing, and many folks have chosen to use worship and praise DVDs that are available out there.
2017
Newsletter — May-July 2017
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 7th 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.