Category: Bruce Posts (Page 173 of 211)

Been busy around these parts. Earlier this month I took Deb away for a week to the mountains, a wonderful time of rest and enjoying God’s creation. We returned to receive my parents for a week, their 4th visit (I think). This weekend I plan to take some more pictures of the Cafe, to show you all progress.

Noah goes to the "Haircut Store"

Alyosha and Vitalik have been working every day pouring concrete, we dug up the existing floor as it was not level and poorly done. I wanted to make special note of how God provided today. This week we officially ran out of money. Up until this point all funds have been coming from two sources, and my family was one of them. We are at the point of needing larger amounts for material purchases, and for the first time I had to say ‘no, we don’t have the money’ to Alyosha as he wanted to go to Kiev for some more stuff. We prayed Wednesday morning, and then again this morning I enjoyed a brief time of ‘laying it at God’s feet.’ To be honest, it was sort of nice, I look forward to needing God now come and show Himself, for my own faith, and the faith of the church/others that are witnessing this project come together. Well, this morning a brother stopped in and blessed the project with money, funds from a garage sale at his home church. It was just enough for us to continue on our plan, and get the materials to keep us going another 2 weeks!

My heart rejoices in the way God works. Pray with us that we would be patient and trust God through this, this cafe is ‘unto the Lord’ from the construction to the operation once it opens. He is putting the pieces together now, literally! In total, we need probably another $20-30k to complete the cafe for opening in August, we could spend a lot more on things, but that is a conservative guess. If you believe God wants you to step up and pitch in, don’t neglect being a part of it, every dollar will help we’ll be praising God for it!

Look for some more updates and pictures soon. We’ll also be updating you on prison ministry and our upcoming men’s retreat, some neat things happening there as well we’d like prayer for.

Bruce & Deb

Sergei, a student who has been working and hanging out with several of the Christian guys here, confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of his life a few weeks ago. He decided to brave the frozen Dnepr River for baptism this morning.  With the local church witnessing on the shore, Dan baptized Sergei – It was a bit painful to watch, but they survived:)  Here’s a short clip!

We’re having fun bashing down walls and cleaning out the main floor of the cafe.  Our hope is to purchase kitchen equipment this spring, work all summer and open by August.

Big ticket items we need:

– coffee/espresso machine
– pizza oven
– large fridge / freezer
– tables/chairs
– flooring & new doors

If you’d like to help us, please consider donating toward the $20,000 we need for all of this equipment/materials!  In exchange, we’ll provide you a free pizza in August!

View of Cafe from Bus Station

Brent & Tucker Welcome you!

View from steps of cafe

View coming in front door, with kitchen wall out

Boys looking out the future 'take out' window

This is what the LORD says:

Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be?
Has not my hand made all these things,
and so they came into being? declares the LORD.
These are the ones I look on with favor:
those who are humble and contrite in spirit,
and who tremble at my word.  – Isaiah 66:1-2

What are you doing to impress God?  This week I found myself discouraged by my personal devotion to God.  I was looking at my efforts and my personal weaknesses that don’t ever seem to become strengths.  I was reminded that God is not impressed with outward, but the inward.  Like the Jews, who were overly interested in the beauty of the tabernacle and the intricate details of their services in it, we too get focused on the wrong things sometimes.

A contrite spirit.  A humble heart.  This pleases God?  Yes!  This is true beauty before Him.  We can try to construct a life on the outside that is impressive, or has all the bells and whistles of a life motivated by grace, but we can’t fool God.   God was never impressed or looked with favor on the Jews ability to build and maintain a physical building, it was and is about our response to God’s grace; contrition and a healthy fear.

I can do that!  I only need to look at my weaknesses in a new light, as examples of God’s overwhelming love toward me, to ‘bear with’ me on my journey, never giving up and working in me even when I want to throw in the towel.  As my heart re-focused on the inward condition of my heart, I felt a great release once again from the tired routine of measuring up.

Are you tired?  Do you feel like giving up?  Maybe you, like me, are focusing on your weakness when you should be gazing at the perfect Christ.  He lived the perfect moral life, He suffered in your place, and He reigns security at the side of the Father making intercession for us today.  It’s His life that matters, He’s forgiven your sins and wants you to come to Him today.  Come, like I did, and become re-assured that He’s impressed not with your ability, but your contrite response toward His grace.

We had a great cafe night at our new cafe this past Sunday.  25 students came, mixed in with our own people and we were able to share the gospel in a friendly and warm atmosphere.  Several of the students were first timers.  We are hoping that tonight some more students come to the college home group.

This week, one of the students that has been coming to a few events and is a friend of Kolya (new believer) prayed with Dan to follow Christ.  He has had a marked change in attitude and wants to be baptized!  Now, realize it’s sub zero and the river is frozen, we will have to cut a hole and literally dip him in the river next week.   We need a wet suit! 🙂  Praise God for continuing to work on hearts and for the Holy Spirit drawing more to the Kingdom.

My camera is broken, sorry no pictures.  We are taking a group of 16 to Chernigiv this weekend to a conference.   Chernigiv is 3hrs north of here, up by Belarus.  We appreciate prayer for the event, as well as safety traveling on these wintry roads…. the van is terrible on slippery roads.

Thanks for checking in-

Bruce & Deb