Category: Bruce Posts (Page 83 of 211)

Our custom lighthouse slide, without the slide.. our kids are loving climbing on it but the park is not yet open to public.

The cold weather has swept in along with rainy overcast clouds.  Leaves are turning quickly preparing for their final glorious declaration.  Winter is coming, get ready or suffer the consequences!

Yesterday we had a full return of students for music practice on the 2nd Floor of the Cafe.   Several drummers, guitarist and aspiring ‘hey I’ll try anything’ students hanging out and making a lot of noise.  In the end, we managed to play something pretty cool together – it was a special moment and sign of potential this semester!

This past Wednesday we met for the first time in our normal 180 format.  We had a nice turnout of new folks and a few of the regulars.  The schools here are so random, sending some students off to work without warning – so we rarely have the same crew.  I was able to spent 30 minutes on the nature of sin, our brokenness and need for a Savior.  For many, I think it was their first time hearing about God’s redemptive work – why Jesus came.

We are focused this year to pray more for the students, for God’s spirit to awaken the inner dead, sleeping spirit of man:

“Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”  Eph 4:13

The longer I walk with Jesus, the more I become aware of His work in the journey that is salvation.  He draws, He opens the heart and prepares it for moments of revelation.  We must be faithful to pray, and join Him in this effort, however all we can really do is elevate Jesus and the love of God through His death and resurrection.

Our town gathers to celebrate it’s birthday – they say it’s +860yrs old but I have a hard time verifying these sources, but it’s still very old!

We, or rather God doesn’t need more mentally convinced followers, we need passionate undone soldiers who have been moved to total surrender both in mind and spirit.  This salvation thing is a spiritual and mysterious work isn’t it?

We need Him to carry the words of the Gospel deep into the recesses of the dark heart and whisper, “Lazarus.. come forth!”  Without it, we’re trying to make a leopard simply change it’s spots – the leopard needs to be come a sheep, he needs divine renewal, a new heart, to be born again.  God teach us to wholly lean on Jesus power, boldly proclaiming Him as the rightful King of every human heart!

Just returned from driving a bunch of kids to the Pentecostal church here for a kids event.  There were +200 kids crammed into their new building – it was something to behold.  Only 20yrs ago, or even 10, something like this would be unheard of (to be allowed to gather in a ‘sect’ non-orthodox government controlled church – hundreds of little hearts hearing about Jesus and eternal life.   My kids were in there as well, oblivious to the emerging change taking place in the hearts of this generation.

We are planning a worship evening this Sunday night and have heard of several different groups planning to come.  Our planned worship leader is very sick, and now we pray for direction!  We’ve been meeting each morning for prayer and believing God to continue fanning the flame of passion and opening hearts for the gospel.  Please pray with us!

We have some new staff to introduce you to soon!  Also a new website about to be launched for the Cafe and various ministries.  I’m excited to be able to communicate more effectively, although we’ll continue to blog here –

Thank you for your support guys!

Bruce & Deb

Bronwyn our eldest daughter is currently in Germany at a Discipleship Training School with Youth With a Mission.

This specific course is called “Marriage of the Arts” and combines those gifted in music, illustration, painting and photography.  Those of you that have witnessed Bronwyn’s creative gifting emerge the past few years, and maturing heart for God’s heart, know this type of environment is a perfect place for challenge and exploration.

Bronwyn’s Fundraising Page – Click Here to give few dollars and help her raise the amount needed for her 2 month mission trip.

As she puts herself in positions of growth, one of the ‘stretching’ experiences is trusting God for money.  This school was her decision, and the funds she needs rest on her faith and God’s mercy!

At the completion of the classroom phase, she along with +40 classmates will be taking their creative gifts to the nations for a 2 month outreach from December – February.

She needs a total of $3,000.   This covers everything, from airfare, lodging, food and outreach expenses.  She needs $200 immediately (like yesterday), and the rest before November 15 in order to participate.

Please consider both helping at any level and investing in Bronwyn’s faith journey!   Click on the photo of Bronwyn to give.

The funds you donate come to me directly, and we pass them on to the school.

Thank you supporters and friends!

Bruce & Deborah

Last night we hosted our 2nd welcoming event at Lighthouse Cafe for the incoming 1st and 2nd year college students in our town.  These are mostly 15-17yr range students, many from area towns and villages that live during the week in Rzhyschiv.

We never know exactly how many students will come.  Last year we had about 80 show up, this year +130!  This event is about building bridges early with these precious lives and also sow seeds of hope.  Along with our missionary and youth leader partners, we are praying and believing to see a move of God among this generation in Ukraine.   Pray with us!

Credit to our amazing staff that started making pizzas 5hrs before the event – by the grace of God we had just enough pizza for everyone.  Besides acclimating students to the Cafe, our after school creative courses and making them feel welcome, we were able to also unveil a sneak peak of the skatepark.  Though the park is not officially open, we do have an amazing halp-pipe out back thanks to Shane Paxa (helper credit to Josh Neibert and Nazar!) –

Vova (new youth leader in area) sharing to the crowd about the love of God and ways for them to get connected this year.

After the pizza we setup sound out back and were able to each share about the opportunities available to students to grow in their understanding and experience with their God.  Most (maybe 95%) of these students have a cultural religious understanding of God and the Bible through Orthodoxy, but very few know the message of salvation in Jesus through faith or have experienced His life changing power.

It was great to see students visiting the 2nd floor as well, where the music courses take place and 180 meets.

I was reading yesterday in John, after Jesus fed the 5,000.  The followers witnessed a miracle and wanted to know how they could also perform such amazing works. Jesus reply was this, “This is the work of God, that you would believe in Him whom God has sent, and in Him have eternal life.”  Jesus was like, “Guys, it’s not about physical miracles, it’s about faith in me, it’s not about doing cool things, it’s about relationship with the Father through the Son.”   May we stay focused on the essentials of faith in Christ, life in the Son, wherever we live.  I think God blesses where the simplicity of the Gospel is being shown and shared.

Creative courses start next week.  Thanks to Vova for an amazing print design piece that outlined for each student places of engagement through the week from Bible Studies to Club 180, music classes etc.

Last picture, Brent on the halfpipe showing some skilz haha.  Many students then joined in, and we are working with Shane to register the park with the International Skaters Association for future partnership and club.  It has so much potential!  We still need skate equipment however, practice boards and safety equipment if anyone is inclined to help financially – click here.

Also, we just found out our home church has online giving for those wishing to support us one time or regularly but needing a tax receipt – please note you must state on the ‘special instructions to the seller’ link that it’s for UKRAINE MISSIONS – not Bruce & Deb personally.   http://www.ccclongview.com/about/giving

Bruce & Deb

Today the workers completed the stone half-wall which will act as the Kid’s Zone perimeter.  It took 3 weeks to build, 2 weeks longer than they said, but I’m really happy with it.  It will help protect the kids and parents from the crazy flying skateboards, and provide a barrier to the parking lot.

It has however put us behind schedule nicely.. we wanted to be open Sept 1, but it’s looking more like end of the month.

The long metal piping is for an arch sign we still have to make.  You can sort of see the soon to be walkway along the side towards the asphalt pad and halfpipe which is nestled around the back left garage area.

We have spent to date $7k of the $7k raised (halfpipe, asphalt pad, dirt work, fence and Lighthouse playground equipment).  We have accomplished a lot for the amount we are working with, and it’s going to be really cool as soon as we put in the kids stuff.

However we still have a few things I think will be really important out of the gate, and with our budget spent, we’d love a few more sponsors to jump on board:

1. The outside perimeter fence to purchase/install  ($800).  We’ve already dug the trenched, poured cement and bought the metal posts, but it will cost another $800 for the actual metal fencing, and installation.
2. Kid’s Area Grass ($600).  We are putting stones down for the slide area, but it’s going to be muddy if we don’t get some grass in quickly.
3. Safety Equipment ($500) – for 8 youth (knee, elbow pads and helmet). We will provide free of charge if they sign in (and take some lessons.. from Brent!)

Helmet, Elbow and Knee pads – around $50 per set. Consider helping us limit broken bones? 🙂

If you would like to help us complete those items please click here, any amount would be wonderful!

The other day in Kiev I found some decent and affordable safety equipment and purchased a set.  Here is our neighbor Vladik, posing with the actual gear purchased… as he ‘drops-in’ the pipe of death.  These kids are fearless.. remember when we all lacked such wisdom?  🙂

Speaking of the half-pipe, it has already started drawing dozens of kids – and some adventurous parents.  Unfortunately we’ve had now two broken bones already, Clark our son, and now crazy Vlad.  We must start a wall of fame.

I’ve been in touch with metal sign makers in Kiev for our soon to be large posted RULES and also an insurance company for liability coverage… what have we done! 🙂  I’m also rush ordering a large tarp to cover it until the rest of the park can be completed..  last night we had around 8 skating on it, most from our Club 180 youth.

Speaking of 180, the students returned this week and we held our first gathering last night.  It was so cool to have so many returning students.  I heard a couple times how much they all missed being together  – we shared a quick update on the summer, and then from scripture, “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” – our eyes, especially of the envious young, are too often fixed on getting a new phone, or some temporary earthly ‘thing’.  Yet, Christ is the ultimate treasure and we would be wise to make Him or aim, here, and now!  We are believing God to raise up leaders among these young men and women in Ukraine.

Last night we started back up Club 180 – so great to have Josh Neibert here with us as well, he shared a couple songs.

Next week we will host, together with Shane & Jem and Vova the newly appointed Youth leader at the Pentecostal church a FREE PIZZA PARTY for all incoming 1st and 2nd year college students.  We head out tomorrow morning after prayer to the area colleges once again to hang posters, invite students and greet the directors/teachers.  If you read this, please pray a special prayer of blessing over this and the upcoming party – it will be quite an event again I think, we expect at least 100 and believing God to connect us all, as He sees fit to many precious young lives among our area ministries.

Thanks for checking in!

Bruce & Deborah