Category: Bruce Posts (Page 112 of 211)

Load’m up – Leaving from Canada into a storm in NY. Thankful my Dad’s farm owns a van that fits us all – just smells a bit like a pea field.

Our trip from Canada to Texas was great!  After plowing through NY State’s ice, snow, wind and fog, the roads opened up and was smooth sailing.

The first stop was in Harrisburg, PA, where we have family friends who pastor a dynamic church called Life Center Ministries.  One of our desires on this trip was to expose our kids to a greater ‘swath’ of Christianity, and expressions of it.  The people at Life Center were extremely kind, and welcoming – and their worship band was outstanding.  Noah was busting all sorts of moves on “God’s great dance floor.”

Lunch with Pastor Charles & Anne Stock in Harrisburg, PA

Two highlights were our visit with Charles & Anne Stock, and connecting with Andy Myers who is part of a YWAM leadership group that is focused on artists/musicians.   That connection has led to some serious discussion regarding the possibility of The Lighthouse hosting their team in April/May for a series of Creative Workshops, Concerts and more!  Please pray for us as we make possible commitments this week.   The vision of their DTS track is unbelievably similar to our passion to begin more focused discipleship this fall – God is good!

These are good people, we all married up FOR SURE.  Matt is the worship pastor at Brook Hills in Alabama, and Chris pastors a very diverse group of believers in Memphis area. 

We then traveled to Tennessee where we had some R&R with some close friends we haven’t seen for too many years.  The kind of friends that, after a few minutes, you are completely relaxed around and you pick up where you left off.  Chris, his wife Becky and 4 sweet kids crammed into one room and gave us the top floor of their house.  We also visited with the Mason’s, whom we have a long history with.

Deb and I sharing to 40-50 home group leaders on ‘6 1/2 tips’ – some practical advice on raising families with missional focus. We’re no experts, but we get to practice a lot and love to encourage families.

We left edified and with a sense that God is alive, working in the two places we stopped – and challenged to pray with more faith, believing God can also do ‘exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think’ back in ole Ukraine.   Sometimes we need to be around faith and passion to displace our own settled apathy.

Focused prayer this week – very thankful to belong to a praying church – we feel their support throughout the year.

Arriving in Texas we were met by 48hrs of drizzling rain and cold weather.   I had told the kids, with my fatherly wisdom, to leave their winter coats, gloves and hats in Canada because, “we’re going south baby!”  Woops.  Had to visit K-Mart and stock up on some things.  Our home church here in Longview is embarking on a full week of 24/7 prayer.  Various prayer stations and focused points of prayer are setup throughout the church building.   We wish we had a few extra weeks as we want to focus in on the prayer, but also have limited time to visit with so many supporters/friends.

Our kids love this place – its a good thing they don’t make donuts in Rz…

The Kilgore paper is featuring an article on our family this Wednesday, and tonight I will be sharing for a few minutes to the City Council in Kilgore on the state of the sister city relationship, as well as general update on the continued tension and fighting.   Ukraine is not on the news as much lately, but still a lot going on.  As best I can, I want to convey both the reality of  what is happening in Ukraine, but also the greatest need to support/pray for a spiritual revolution – which I believe is taking place on some levels through all the prayer already both within and outside of Ukraine.

This year we restructured significantly – led by Justin there on the far left, these guys are focused on building amazing stuff for Economic Developers. These guys support what we do in Ukraine.

God has been pouring into my heart personally, some impressive truths from scripture lately.  I’ve been challenged to come to him in prayer, and with His Word and expect substantial spiritual nourishment, not just a few scraps to keep me alive.  We eat so well here in the US, amazing meals, full and tasty – yet there are also a zillion fast food joints serving up terribly greasy ‘pseudo food’.   What do I expect when I come to God for fellowship and mediation?  Do I give Him the time, and do I have faith to believe for something greater than a mere morsel of truth?    I have purchased a book for this year, a journal of sorts, but not like last year’s which turned into a day planner more than anything.   I believe God wants me to use it to write down what He opens my eyes to, and nourishes me with.  I hope to share more spiritual truth this year on the blog – and Lord willing less about the state of the Cafe and our ever unconnected gas!

Speaking of the Cafe, it is open again after a week closed during holidays.  Please pray for our finances, our main ‘big’ costs is electricity, we are paying now over $400/mo for that, which may not seem like a lot for the west, but it’s big bucks for Ukraine and it’s current economic situation.  I’m looking forward to the summer, without the need to heat we will be in the black with our current sales.  Sustainable business, that’s what we want, so we can focus more upstairs and discipleship.

If you read all of this congratulations, I wanted to download this information for record – I’m increasingly desirous of documenting for our kids, their spiritual journey and encouragement – God is faithful – our part is to trust and step out in obedience.

Bruce & Deb Crowe
Missionaries – Ukraine

Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits- Psalm 103:2

If you are like me, you are looking back over the past year and recounting the hills and valleys.  I wanted to document some very amazing things that took place in our family in 2014:

• Claire Deborah Crowe was added to our family, completely healthy!  This was no small event as many of you know.  Early diagnosis was pointing to DS, and we began preparing as best we could.  Although it was emotionally exhausting, it was a rewarding journey as we have gained a much needed appreciation towards those families that are ‘surprised’ with an extra chromosome.
• Russia – if you remember last year, I began to ask the Lord for some opportunities in Russia – to share His Word and begin physically moving into this country that has for so many years been on our hearts and trajectory.  God opened two doors, one on the western border (Rostov-a-Don) and the other on the Pacific coast (Vladivostok).   I am still amazed how that worked out.
• Lighthouse Cafe – After +2yrs of essentially non-stop documents, and physical rennovations, we legally opened!  It is difficult to describe the feeling of relief and joy I feel when I walk in that place and it’s filled with folks from all walks of life in Ukraine – teachers, students, mom’s, old grandpa’s.   I am thanked regularly by people I’ve never met for investing in such a place in our small town – the folks know it’s not a money maker, but they embrace it with gratitude.  What a natural place of relationship building – thank YOU for not giving up, for giving, and praying too.
• Cypress – My US web company has been a continual two edged sword since moving to Ukraine.  It’s been great to have seasons of work/income as we’ve certainly needed it over the years.  Yet, it’s been a major burden to oversee, limiting my capacity as a father, husband and missionary – especially because of time zones.   This year was incredibly hard, but needed to happen as we pruned things back significantly and no longer actively growing that side of the business – it’s a temporary band-aid and one that I continue to pray about, but the timing was AMAZING as literally the Cafe launched during the same month I was freed up more – God is good – but let me tell you, it took some major crying out to God for change, and for a long time – it taught me a lot about prayer, and trusting God in fresh ways (letting go of security and the ‘known’ is never easy).

Those are three major things I am personally thanking God for today as I look back.

What do you thank Him for?  I think the Psalmist David knew like the rest of us that forgetting is part of human nature – we have to remind ourselves not to forget.

Bruce & Deborah

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever – Heb 13:8

God cannot improve upon Himself.  His is perfect, the essence of goodness and light.  Scripture tells us that God’s character cannot change, His promises are sure.

I like new beginnings.  The older I get though, the more I see life through seasons.  We have our mountains and valleys, our seasons of rest and wrestling.  I’ve stopped trying to construct a life of predictability, but bring God into life’s seasonal rhythms.  He’s the one constant as we navigate this adventure.

Christmas Turkey Dinner (this is about 1/2 of our family…)

We’ve been in Canada this past week enjoying family, Christmas and now preparing for our 9,000km journey by van.  We’ll be heading down on Saturday to Pennsylvania and visiting a church in Harrisburg – close to where Deb and I were married 20yrs ago.  They have blessed us with two hotel rooms for our first night.

We’ll then be going to Memphis to connect with good friends (both in our wedding).  Chris is a pastor in Memphis now, and Matt is serving at Brook Hills in Birmingham.  Excited to bring our families together for first time in 20yrs and reconnect again.

After arriving in Texas we’ll be participating in our home church’s Prayer Advance Week – the highlight for us is two nights of foreign mission focused prayer – one evening we’ll be leading and focusing on Ukraine and the future work God would direct this coming year as a church.  We’re laying it all before Him, and believing God is going to work beyond our own limited imagination.

We also have scheduled visits in Oklahoma, and Florida, with several church visits/meetings lined up too before we head back to Canada.  The family is extra excited to see their cousins for the first time in +5yrs.. some of them have never even met (Deb’s brothers family) in Florida.

Noah and Clark enjoying the model train setup in the local mall.  I remember the same setup at their age.

My grandma. She is non-stop work and youth ministry.

Tomorrow night we have a visit with the Missions Committee and Pastor of my parents church here in Ontario, Canada.  It’s directly across from the public school I went to growing up.  God has really blessed this church, in spite of it being 50% full of my relatives (I jest).  We will be sharing a bit about ourselves to those that don’t really know why we are even in Ukraine, as well as ways they could pray and support.   We’re also wanting to host an evening for young couples/families to encourage them specifically – we’ll do this in February Lord willing when we get back.

I feel a bit like Frodo when I’m here among my Canadian roots.. so many relatives, schoolmates, memories at every turn of being a small boy here..this small community is like the Shire.. not many venture out of it.  It all feels so surreal when I think of the places God has taken us since leaving as an 18yr old for Bible School in Dallas, the people we have met and opportunities God has provided.

He is good, He is with us, and this excites me as I think of the New Year.  I hope you look to Him for this new year as well.  We can all do ‘better’ at things, lose weight, eat healthier.. but He is our satisfaction.. as CS Lewis said, “He Himself is the fuel our hearts were designed to burn.”

Please continue to pray for those in Ukraine – today the government passed some significant tax law changes – some are very good but will be difficult to implement.  As much as the potential outbreak of war is ever looming, there has to be short and long term economic reform for the country, and fast.

Our Cafe continues to stay open daily, but the students have left for holidays making our daily sales very low.  Thankful for Shane and Jem who are watching our house, and doing some repairs as well – keeping it warm.. already a few close calls.

Boys riding the 4×4 golf cart.. I don’t know what it’s called but it’s a lot of fun!

Had to show this for our Ukrainian friends.. any flavor of popcorn you want.. in whatever size bag or bucket.. freshly popped… all for ridiculous prices!

For any of our reader’s that would like donate in an ‘end of year’ fashion, we’d be very much willing to accept it towards our ministry in Ukraine.  You can donate online, right here on this website, any amount – just click DONATE at the top of the site – or click here.

We will be posting specific areas of need very soon, but if you’d like to know before January 1st, please email me at bruce@liftupyoureyes.org and let’s talk!

Bruce & Deb

Over the past year in Ukraine, the currency has lost 50% of it’s value.  Reading a report this morning from a cozy warm house in Canada, sites over 120 restaurants in Kiev have closed recently as the value of the Ukrainian currency forces prices to increase and folks to stay at home.

While our Cafe in Ukraine this past week remains busy, it’s a reminder just how difficult it will be to keep the business viable without outside support.  Folks do not have what we in the west would call ‘discretionary income’… it’s virtually non-existent.  We want the Cafe to be a blessing – yet we need to be sustainable and pay our bills.   We pray, we trust the Lord to provide wisdom, and resources to keep shining.

It usually takes 4-5 days too fully adjust to the time zone after travel from Ukraine to North America.  The rule of thumb is a full day for every time zone hour difference.  On day two, my heart woke up thanking God for what He’s done this year – increased ‘time’ to focus on the Cafe, my family, and what God is doing in Eastern Europe.

I had a nice chat with my daughter yesterday on a mini-date.   We marveled how vastly ‘different’ life is over here in Canada as we drove on the smooth orderly roads and looked upon the endless amount of shops lining the streets.

God is the great orchestrator.  He sees and feels the need upon His creation.  A stringed section is determined to swoop in and play, so He sends out a call upon the human heart.  Some hear the call to rosin their bow.  It’s a response of faith, to step out on the water, to surrender to an unseen work.  It takes us to unfamiliar places, sometimes changes our zip codes.

We believe God is working in Eastern Europe.  Shaking nations, opening doors.  Doors that lead into darkness, awaiting the Light of the Nations to bring truth, hope, and purpose.  It’s not about a Cafe for us.  It’s about faith, and obeying by the grace of God to play the notes on our sheet – and trust Him for the outcome.  He sees all, knows all.  Like Noah God calls us to build boats, swing hammers, even if we don’t understand what is fully ahead.  We are just one instrument, but we belong to a massive heaven inspired orchestra.

I don’t subscribe to a ‘last days revival’ in the context of biblical prophecy, but I do believe God is continually searching, looking for those that He can use in His great theater.  His Kingdom is moving, like Aslan.  It’s never defeated, nor stagnant.  God’s people are gathering in Ukraine and Russia, there is a sound beginning to anthem.  It’s been played before, through every generation.   Praying for this coming year – for more to hear the sound, to join in prayer towards the chorus – that many will hear, and put their trust in His name.

We feel the economic pressures in Ukraine, and the fractured relationship with it’s big brother to the East.  We too feel the music of God, the gospel longing to burst forward in this part of the land.  I suspect if you live in Canada, the US, or wherever you might be reading, if you are His child, you too hear it – The earth the Lords!

Bruce & Deborah
Missionaries – Eastern Europe