Category: Bruce Posts (Page 124 of 211)

It’s been a while since I used our nice camera, busted it out for some photos this afternoon.  This week we will find out if I receive my invitation letter for Rostov, Russia.  I’m finishing off preparations for teaching 1st Corinthians and really hoping our visas will process in time.  The Russian consulate has confirmed they will expedite them and assuming all our documents are in order, things should complete in time for the April 14th class.

I was encouraged the other day by the Apostle Paul’s words to the Corinthian church.  He says at the close of the letter, “But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.”

It’s interesting that Paul saw a great opportunity for the Kingdom that was WITH opposition.   For many of us western Christians, we’d see the presence of opposition or personal danger as a ‘sign’ of a closed door!  Not Paul.  The opposition was not a sign to hop on a boat and get out of there, but to dig in because God was at work.

I don’t consider a trip to Russia right now as a dangerous trip, although my Canadian family would most likely differ!  It is however an opportunity for ministry that we’ve prayed about for quite a while, for me it’s a great open door to share and encourage future Kingdom leaders in Russia.   If the Lord wills, we will go and appreciate your prayers that the time would indeed be fruitful.

Noah whittling a branch into a spear (weapon of choice for hunger games).

We took Clarke’s cast off his arm today – he’s cautiously excited as are we all.

Brent and Tucker have taken up skateboarding (and ripstick). I think we need to build a skate park as there is literally nothing smooth in this town.

Today we hosted a little good-bye to our friends the Susidko’s.  They will be moving to Australia in two weeks to work with the offices of their sending organization (OMS).

Both Sergei and Tanya have been exploring some new opportunities in Ukraine for quite some time.  I appreciate their heart to think fresh and build new relationships with un-churched.  Several doors have opened up for the as they’ve been praying and waiting on God.  One of them includes representing a Christian ministry (Hope 61) that works to educate at-risk young people in the area of human-trafficking.

Sergei & Tany sitting at the front while friends share some encouraging words.

In any case, they are family friends and we will miss them.  Sergei is always willing to help me when I get in a bind, and I’ve enjoyed each time we’ve prayed or served together in some way.  Tanya and Deb had grown closer this past year as well, so that’s a bummer.  They have 3 younger kids that enjoy playing together with ours.  I have a feeling it won’t be until 2-3 months from now that we’ll feel the full weight of their absence personally.  They had a desire to open a Coffee Shop early on, it’s a pity they won’t see the completion of it.  They would have been such an asset – but it’s a good move for them to get a fresh start, in the context of a solid organization and reset vision for the next few years.

It was interesting to see how most of the people gathered in the front lobby area and stayed there.

We opened the Cafe for a few hrs and served around 40-50 including kids during the good-bye.

Abbey blowing out her heart cake – made by sister Bronwyn.

It was a good test run for Dema & Shane as they put the Coffee machine through the paces.  The only downside is that quite a lot of folks downtown saw what was happening and might think we are open.. which leads to more, ‘So when are you guys opening?’.. the dreaded question that is hard to respond to with a straight face… we’ve been saying ‘soon’ for 2yrs.

It’s kind of like asking when the Lord Jesus will return.  We can say soon, and it’s true.. but it might be another 500yrs, who knows?  I can’t imagine the Apostle Paul would have imagined 2000yrs would pass.. I’m not sure they would have said soon!  The truth is though, like Jesus’ return, the Cafe will open sooner today than soon was yesterday:)

Bruce & Deb

Today was a fruitful day!  We met with the Vice-Mayor of Khargalyk in an effort to help our friends who are building the Christian Camp / Rehab Center just north of us.

Then, we drove directly to an impromptu meeting with our own Mayor.  He agreed to host another Skype Video Conference Call with Kilgore, our Texas sister city.   We’ll be lining up the dates and agenda soon and hope to host possibly as soon as next week.

After this we hosted at the Cafe a Summer Youth Outreach planning meeting.  Zhenya and his team from Kiev, some of whom plan to live at the new Camp once housing goes up, joined as well as representatives from the 3 local churches here in Rz.  It was encouraging to listen to a fully Ukrainian led meeting, even though I didn’t understand half of it.

There will be a week long ‘event’ in our town that consists of morning kids club, afternoon games, and evening young adult concerts through the week (with gospel presented).  The mayor is totally on board, and wants to help provide anything they can to support.  In addition the Mayor wants to help create some follow up clubs or sponsored activities that continue to promote Christian values.

It’s a very open time right now.  Economically the country and local communities have always been ‘open’ to things if you pay for them.  They have very little options to fund events of any kind.  However, right now, with the ‘purging’ of corrupt government and the ‘shedding off’ of that image it feels as though the opportunities have ripened even more.

May the Lord continue to lift up a witness, which would grow in consistency, and effectiveness for His Kingdom here.  We believe the Lighthouse Cafe will be a rallying point regionally for contemporary creative evangelism and fellowship.   Pray this thing will open soon, we’re pushing on as much as we can humanly.. the rest, we give to Him!

Bruce & Deb

Today a few of us guys were able to visit with Vlad for a couple of hours outside the prison. It was a fruitful time of encouragement in Christ. I was able to personally catching up on his short term hopes pertaining to his situation.

Essentially Vlad is hoping for an early release, which becomes more of reality at the 50% mark of his term. His ‘mid term’ is around October/November of this year. At that point, there is a pathway, albeit thru the shady justice system that is Ukraine, which will enable Vlad to pursue freedom. He knows some former inmates that have been able to successfully acquire freedom, and is doing his utmost to keep on good terms with the authorities.

Without going into a lot of details, we will be updating our friends and supporters of Vlad later this summer regarding ways we can all pray, and potentially give towards his release. Vlad is focused on Christmas and the thought of spending it with his family this year is keeping his hopes alive.

It’s an interesting time in Ukraine, and for Vlad who is in the belly of the beast so to speak when it comes to the corruption former governments have enabled. In one sense the hope is that he can just get to the mid-way point and get out prison. On the other hand improvements to the corruption through the new governments efforts could actually work against Vlad and keep him in even longer. It’s just terrible that our brother is subject to such a situation.

What I admire most about Vlad is his steadfastness, and desire to trust God. He has suffered, and continues to be the aim of persecution for his faith. He mentioned how being ‘weak’ or viewed as such in prison is a recipe for strife, and yet he doesn’t want to tarnish the reputation of Christ by being fleshly either.

Pray for Vlad that his faith would impact those around him. That when reviled or aggravated, he would respond with wisdom and the Spirit. That his silent suffering would reflect His Savior’s pattern, and that of the Apostles who were God’s instruments of mercy to a violent and mean world. May Vlad continue to run well, finish his race, and bring glory to God through this trial. This is his heart, his request and aim. We would bless him the most by praying with him for these results.