We’ve started back up our evening worship and prayer last night. It was packed on the 2nd floor, I think the most we’ve had yet, with only a handful of foreigners. We never know who is going to come, if anyone at all, but each night a different crowd assembles in around 7:00p. One of things that makes these gatherings unique, I think, is I don’t believe anyone is coming out of religious obligation or duty. Something about thinking we’re being righteous simply by gathering on certain times or days limits the moving of God’s spirit in our gatherings.  Our motivations are huge to God in private, and no less important in public.

Those God has drawn thus far, probably about 100 from 5-6 different churches, are coming with a measure of faith and hunger that is encouraging.

One of the biggest encouragements thus far for me personally has been the level of passion among the Ukrainians. I’ve often labelled Ukrainians (and Russians) as spiritually apathetic, overly quite and subdued in their faith – however the past few weeks have shown me my ignorance. They, at least those from the churches here in RZ and Khargalyk, are hungry for more of His presence, for God to work and move in their world – we pray this fire grows and spreads in and through their local bodies.  After all, an awakening must reside in the hearts of the indigenous church if it’s going to gain any significant momentum.

We’re simply providing, by His grace, a worship atmosphere and vehicle for the Spirit of God to speak and engage. Yesterday all day I felt the Lord pointing us to move outward in our prayers, from “Lord touch us” to “Lord touch this nation”. There’s a point at which we are personally filled and overflowing, and we must channel this spiritual desire towards Kingdom service.   We prayed for Ukraine after 30 minutes of worship, and it was moving for me personally. God is near the broken hearted, and it was obvious in the room the people were hurting for their nation, yet not without hope. There is a battle in the spiritual realm, it’s one that reverberates on earth – and Jesus both invites and instructs us to enter this battle regularly, united, and with faith.

God restored doubt last night in many, and touched some new visitors with His presence. I heard several times, “I wish I could come every night”. We had about 15 just from nearby Khargalyk, a slightly larger town 20km to the west of us.

Today the YWAM team is in Kiev doing some evangelism. They won’t be back for our time tonight, but we’re going to move forward with whoever the Lord provides to worship and pray for continued awakening. We’re going to start doing some outdoor worship/evangelism in public areas during our market days as well – please pray that God would draw, touch and cross the obvious cultural barriers, and also give us wisdom as we do some more public things with the gospel.

View of boys each morning being dropped off for school – Tucker, Clark and Noah still going to Ukrainian school, even though they have way too many holidays here.

Kolya cutting down a dying tree on our property downtown. We hope to get permission soon to bulldoze and level it for parking and potentially a park (skateboarders hopeful!).

View from across the Dnepr River – a 10 minute boat ride.

Princess birthday party the other day for visiting Myers family. Abbey sporting the Cinderella attire. Was pretty sweet 🙂

Sunday night closing prayer, sending off Elsa back to her home in Far East Russia (Vladivostock). Was a blessing to have her stay with us and help us with our Russian – and also join the body of Christ in Ukraine over the past 2 weeks.

The team here has brought added activity. The creative courses were slammed today with extra students and even a busload from another town today surprising us. I forgot to pick up my boys from school, a town over.

Eventually found them, and took them around with me to visit several of the workshops, snapped a picture of Clark and Noah – fresh in their school attire.

Deb reminded me that we had a picture similar from a few years ago. Oh Lord teach us to number our days, and remember what is important!

The weather is simply amazing right now. It’s amazing how our little town can go from a barren winter wasteland to a bustling community as soon as warm hits. We’ve hired a few extra hands at the Cafe to help with the increased business. The team has been jumping in to help as well, free labor!

Last night worship and prayer was great. Liz led, wife of Mike, mother of Caedmon. They are living in our little Ukrainian house at the bottom of the hill. Mike was a science teacher and Liz involved with live productions prior laying things down, starting a family and joining YWAM. I look forward to getting to know them, and more of the team in the coming weeks. It’s always so encouraging to hear the stories of God’s pursuit and lives moving by faith.

I wish I could press pause, gather this talented group together and do some recording. Through this process of evening worship, I’ve been astounded at the lack of translated worship material available. I would love to write and record Russian/Ukrainian original and more contemporary options for the church. We must at least get a basic studio setup, while they are here. Please pray for us in this, there’s so much talent untapped, and I believe it would be a major attraction to many believers to come and record. Pray for funds and the time to try some of this!

Elsa and I started translated one of our favorite recent worship songs “Future Past.” I don’t believe it’s translated yet into Russian and definitely not Ukrainian. We’re almost finished, just need a few more hours to finish the final verse. It’s very tricky to find the right words, meanings, and make it syncopate together into something that captures the original song. I’ll let you know how it goes.. we hope to sing it at an upcoming evening.

Bruce & Deb

Our 2nd week is now underway for Awaken 2015. We had a great turnout for the initial classes late week, with over 50 students and 90 actual sign ups. Most of the workshops will be hosted on our 2nd floor during 3-5pm, however a few will be held remote (photography) as well as at the town’s cultural building.

Today the students came back and filled the 2nd floor en mass. Our heart is to give, to love on these students. We’re not trying to get them into church services or more Christian activities. We want to value them and pour into them – with the desire to pull out of them untapped talent and gifts. Obviously opportunities will present themselves, but I’m convinced the best kind of outreach is when your ‘end game’ is placing value on people – that’s being like Christ.

We’ve met now 6 times on the 2nd floor for worship. Each evening we’ve hosted a different mix of believers and visitors, usually around 15-25 plus our team. It’s been snug in our main room, but never too crowded. Some have come every time, others just once. Everyone we’ve talked to wants to return again as their schedule allows. Each evening the team designates a worship leader for the time, who brings their own style and focus. We’ve had multiple instruments playing, to just one guitar and even an incredible 15-20 minutes last week of just Ukrainian voices that carried on like an angelic anthem – it was deeply moving. Worship is about engaging our creator – and I believe this is happening in a fresh way for many.

It’s been on my heart to see unity beyond occasional ‘services’ that churches do together, but genuine worship and prayer together among the emerging body of Christ – the church in Rz, though pretty small in number, is alive and there is a passion and hunger that is real. So many more need to be awakened to the presence of God and let go of forms of religion. Literally thousands in our town have no concept of the love, joy or hope in Christ, this must and can change! If the 2-3% protestant Christian population here become 10% or even 20%, it would be a spiritual awakening that would shake the fabric of the culture.

Para-church ministries aren’t anything new in the West or even in larger cities here in Ukraine, but we feel like we’re forging new ground by not being ‘a church’ but rather serving ‘the’ church, strengthening and encouraging the family of God. I can totally envision God birthing, if he’s not already, a missional base or discipleship hub of some kind here with the Lighthouse. We’ve already been in talks with YWAM Kiev about hosting a week of their DTS on the 2nd floor, just as a secondary location for their school which could be combined into more outreach – for now we are thankful for God working and continue to trust Him for the next steps. For now, what we’re doing feels right, focus on God’s Kingdom, His people all around us, and for His Spirit to break out of the predictable boxes we too often put Him in.

The church, the household of faith, is God’s instrument to win the world. A healthy, diverse and unified body is a potentially powerful witness to the life that is in Jesus Christ. Our town has a long way to go, but God is at work. Nothing is impossible for God. We’re praying big prayers. Could God use our little town to showcase His love to the Nations? Could an army of passionate soldiers go in and out from here, impacting a generation? Everything starts with a seed.

This coming week we’ll be busy with the workshops, responding to the many needs that arise along the way. We’ll be nightly worshipping and praying for God to awaken His people and draw more to Himself. 3 more weeks to go, seems like a long time but I know it will fly by.

We’ve already witnessed some very powerful heart changes. I won’t go into detail on our blog, but we praise Him for revealing Himself in some incredible ways to some people we’ve been praying for a lot lately, that God has put in our lives. If we’re able, we’ll try to video some testimonies along the way – it’s always best to hear directly from the person in these situations, allow them to give the most glory to God.

We’ve enjoyed the team here from YWAM. We appreciate their expectation to hear from God in many situations, from direction for prayer meetings, to outreach opportunities. They really want to follow the Shepherd, and it’s encouraged us to stay alert as well, listening and not just charging ahead with good ideas.

It’s always interesting having a group of foreigners doing life with you for a season. I’m admittedly not the best tourist, but glad we have Ukrainian friends and helpers to proudly explain and help them understand their new context. For some of the team it’s the first experience outside of the US – while others have travelled quite a bit. I don’t envy their ‘stretching’, even if the houses are actually quite nice or food is pretty good. New environments, new routines, new people, languages.. it all adds up to become a challenge for anyone after a few days. So far they are adjusting like champs.

The Cafe itself has been extremely busy. We’ve doubled in customer count since the team arrived. It used to be an uncommon thing to find all our tables full, but the past few weeks it’s been quite normal during lunch. The beautiful weather helps for sure, the town is alive again with activity. Today I talked to a guy that spoke english quite well – he was working for the past year in Spain, providing for his family. He’s returned and couldn’t believe how nice the Cafe was – he said his wife had been talking about it and enjoys coming. Thankful for Dema and the staff, they have been truly stretched and continue to grow with all the growth. Now that we don’t have to pay for heat, we should be able to break even this month!!

Thank you God for loving us. For giving us your Spirit. For sending Kingdom resources to help advance your heart. Thank you for the family of God, here and abroad. Thank you for praying with and for us.

Sorry no picture this blog! We’ve been posting to facebook and encourage you to check them out there.

Bruce & Deb

Last night was amazing.  I say this with much sobriety.  The presence of God filled the 2nd floor, and several hearts were directly moved.  The Americans and Ukrainians were as seamless in passionate worship as I’ve witnessed in my entire time in Ukraine.  It was as if the Ukrainians who came last night were waiting, anticipating and simply poured out their hearts, without coaxing, instruction or manipulation.  God was glorified!

I believe each night God will work in a unique way, with whomever comes to worship Him in spirit, truth and with humility.  We want to see Jesus conquer hearts, take ground and build his army for this hungry generation.

You can join us tonight, and if you are up during our afternoons, watch some classes in the main room!