Category: Bruce Posts (Page 166 of 211)

Have I mentioned on this blog that Deb is expecting?  With facebook everything is so instantaneous, I’m sure you already know.  We are going to have it in Ukraine, Lord willing, kids are very excited.

This week Simeon and Asia and a willing team of volunteers from church are hosting a week long kids camp.  I’ve heard some good reports, between 35-45 kids from around the community.  The weather right now is chilly and rainy unfortunately, but they are marching along down there.  I’ll try and get some pictures.

Cafe construction was put on hold this week as we address some flooding / leaking issues in several houses.  Mine, Neils, and the little house Sergei & Tanya have been renting are getting some repairs done to avoid further damage.  Thankfully we’re almost there.  We hope to resume down at the Cafe on Monday, and complete the fire inspection, ceiling and attempt to texture the walls (nobody has done it, so we’ll be testing and see who does it best:).

The Gollans are off to Poland this weekend, for their visa renewals.  I’ll be attempting to pull together a couple Sunday services, we’re going to go down to the beach this Sunday and fellowship/share down there, get out from four walls while the weather is so nice!

Bible study has been going well, we’re in the middle of John 3, this verse by verse stuff is very slow but ultimately rewarding.  Enjoying mediation on John 3:14-15, Jesus referring to the manner of His death, that the Son of Man would be lifted up, exalted, elevated to the place for all mankind to see and believe upon (like the story of the serpent in Numbers 21).  Only in Christ is the disease of sin eradicated, Christ becomes sin on our behalf, all out of a motivation of love for mankind, what a God!

Couple things to pray for:

– Shane has started this month helping with preparations for the Cafe logistically.  Pray we hook up with a good distributor for ingredients/desserts/coffee/soft drinks.  Also for a decent POS system (display monitor that you punch in pizza orders).  So many things to figure out.

– For new believers and seekers among and around the body of Christ.  It’s been neat to get to know people outside of the small circle, refreshing, and we can’t take this for granted, we and they need prayer to see more steps of faith taken among them.

– For returning and new students.  Those that have taken steps toward God, that they will return with hearts open for more of God.  For new students to find love and support among God’s church here.  For our big outreach in Sept (Rap concert), wisdom and finances to pull it off, we need about $1000 for posters/tickets/rental/package we’re putting together for students.

– Continued unity among missionaries, Ukrainians, and all believers in this town and Region.

Thanks for checking in, and seriously thank you for praying with us.

Bruce & Deb

Funeral in Canada - Grandpa Courneyea

Two weeks ago, just as the TSC group arrived, I received word that my 92yr old grandpa passed away.  No grandpa’s left, just one grandma.  He was a career carpenter, quiet, humble, and hard working.  He raised 13 kids, some better than others (Hi Mom!), a devout Catholic, finishing his life with an open heart of faith toward the Lord.

For as long as I can remember, Grandpa required his hearing aid to even remotely carry a conversion.  His responses were always louder than they needed to be, the years of buzzing saws and hammers caught up to him later in life.  He loved hockey, his team, the Montreal Canadiens, which is listened to regularly during the days of radio.  He found the world we live in incredibly and unnecessarily complex.  I tried to explain the nature of my business countless times, the Internet, computers, that wasn’t anything worth his time but he would chuckle at how confusing everything was.

Was always making something out of wood

I’m thankful I spent time with him last year when we visited Canada.  I’m saddened I didn’t make the funeral, but I hope my families witness blessed him while alive.  It won’t be long before I’m watching my grand-kids run around trying to introduce some new gadget or space time continuum to my unbelieving eyes, I’ll look back and remember poor Grandpa  Death is our most powerful preacher, it’s the brick wall at the end of the line, we’re all racing toward it.  Thank you God for hope supplied through Jesus Christ, and the furnished proof that there is life on the other side.

2 Corinthians 5:1
1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

”In expository preaching the biblical text is neither a conventional introduction to a sermon on a largely different theme, nor a convenient peg on which to hang a ragbag of miscellaneous thoughts, but a master which dictates and controls what is said.” ~ John Stott

Times Square Church serving in Ukraine

A special thanks to the crew from Times Square Church that served us and the Lord with excellence this past week.  The group not only helped with construction efforts, but built up the body of Christ during their stay, encouraging the faith of several Ukrainians and missionaries.  It was a fine example of how the western church can come alongside, even for just a week, and glorify God through serving fellow believers in an entirely different culture.

Thank you Crossroads and those individuals that have invested financial and prayer support to date.  We are seeing the vision for this Cafe come to life before our eyes, it will truly be a Lighthouse in this town and region.

Thank you God for the body of Christ, and for keeping everyone safe and healthy during the entire trip.  Thank you TSC for organizing the trip and encouraging the work of God over in Ukraine!

I’ll be updating us in another week on our remaining needs as we look toward completion and initial opening of the cafe sometime this fall.  Right now, we need a rest, especially my wife who is expecting # 7 this April!!!

Bruce & Deb