Category: Bruce Posts (Page 160 of 211)

There's nothing like Pizza from our hometown in Canada, we even brought some in our suitcase!

This week is a busy one as we take the 6 kids for passport renewals, two Doc visits for Deb in Kiev, and starting back our Wednesday Night bible study on the gospel of John. I’m also still adjusting from a full work load with Cypress in Canada/US, and trying to get back into a healthy and manageable rhythm.

We’ve spent the last two weeks adjusting to the time zone, traveling to Poland for visas, and trying to keep our house warm amid -25C temperatures! This morning was our first Sunday fellowship again, great to see all our friends and church family.

Oscar Schindler' office and desk in Krakow, Poland.

Deborah has now only 8 weeks or less remaining until delivery! She’s attempting to also find a schedule and rhythm with the kids among all her other preparations for #7.

If we could ask for one thing in prayer, it would be that God would help us keep our heads above water, and fill our home. We’ve felt very stressed lately, like carrying more than we can bear. Do you ever feel this way? It has caused us to press into prayer and find rest in Christ, but there is a battle and spiritual component to all of our struggles. We aren’t wrestling with just people and things, God help us to remember this.

We return to a very cold and snowy Ukraine

We are attempting to get our documents in order this week, and then look to order the kitchen equipment for the cafe. We appreciate all that donated toward the remaining items needed, the town is excited and asking everywhere I go “Kogda cafe okreet?” (when will the cafe open!).

We’ll have more updates soon, thanks for checking in.

Bruce & Deborah

We’re sad to inform everyone that Vlad’s appeal was rejected. Please continue to pray for Vlad’s faith, and his hurting family. It’s unclear what his next steps may be, however for now he’ll continue serving his unjust sentence.

No Christian cliches, no comfort in the wicked seemingly having their way. We grieve, and we pray for God to free Vlad, or do something even greater.

This morning I read where Mary & Martha were upset that Jesus didn’t come and heal Lazarus at the specific time they asked.. Jesus delayed, and now it was too late, Lazarus was dead. The Jews began questioning Christ too, wondering how He could open the eyes of the blind, yet not heal his friend? Faith was tested, and hearts were sad.

The story ends in victory however, the confines of the tomb did not sway the power of God. How excellent are His ways, which we can only see in part. We continue to trust in the same Father who loves Vlad.

More than ever, Vlad’s faith will be challenged, heightening the spiritual battle surrounding the situation. Now is the time to pray, trust and not loose heart. Luke 18:1

Sincerely,
Bruce & Deb

Счастливого Рождества и Нового года, чтобы наши украинские друзья!

Our 4 oldest tackle the slopes for the first time (though we look like pros right?)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to our Ukrainian friends! For the first time in 4 years, we’ve enjoyed celebrating in North America, it’s been great to see family and friends but also a bit more hectic and challenging that I anticipated. Yesterday, my company Cypress Interactive completed an 8 month project for The Brooklyn Tabernacle – their brand new website is now life if you’d like to check it out! – click here

Pretty pregnant mom couldn't ski but enjoyed some reading.

We just returned from taking the older kids skiing, it was a blast and thankfully nobody got hurt. We are all very sore. They had internet where we stayed (of course) and I ended up working on and off through it as our guys finished the final programming stages. We will be heading back to Ukraine in two weeks, I’m looking forward to completing the Cafe and working towards opening that this Spring. As well, I miss studying with our Wednesday night group of friends and believers.

The sign says it all.

A few weeks ago I put together a quick video of RZ and the Lighthouse Cafe to show our church in Texas, I’ll be showing it again tomorrow morning at First Baptist here in Canada – I’ve been asked to share the main message as well and thankful for the opportunity to share what God is doing in our Ukrainian town through His people. I hope you enjoy it, we’ll be producing more videos this year, what a great way to show you stuff right?

Thanks for checking in and for all your prayers.  Please remember to pray for Vlad, he has been transferred to Kiev prison in preparation for his Appeal Court Date on Jan 12.

Sincerely,

Bruce & Deborah Crowe
Missionaries
Rzhyschiv, Ukraine

Merry Christmas from all of us!

On behalf of Deb and the kids, we wish all our friends, supporters and family a safe and restful holiday season. We’re currently in Canada, working feverishly to finish some Cypress ‘end of year’ projects so we can shut down and enjoy family all around us.  Tonight we gather with 75+ relatives, aunts, uncles, cousins..

Last Sunday I was able to share at Crossroads to our home church in Texas.  If you’d like to take a listen it’s available online here:

Who Jesus Is from Crossroads Community Church on Vimeo.

I’ve been asked to share next Sunday at a church where I served as the Youth Pastor here in Canada next Sunday. It’s been 14yrs I think since I spoke at this particular church, should be fun as I still know most of the congregation (i think!).

Please pray for Vlad’s court case, it’s coming up on Jan 12. Vlad will be moved from the prison on Jan 6 in preparation for this as the court case is in another city.

We’ve received some donations towards an outreach in RZ coming up in the next week or two. The donations cover the buses that will bring in young students from around the town for a Kiev led ministry play which shares the gospel. This is a wonderful opportunity for continued relationship building in the town with various believers, as well as sowing the seeds of the gospel in young hearts. Last year there were over 400 students bussed in for this event, pray for Yura and all those helping to make this happen.

Sincerely,
Bruce & Deb