As we prepare to return to Ukraine in two weeks, our hearts are heavy with the reality of what we will return to.  The war has escalated, more lives are being lost, and the country is hemorrhaging economically.

Two years ago, we embarked on the purchase and renovation of what is now the Lighthouse Cafe.  At worst, we prepared for slow growth and temporary outside support as we got on our feet.   At best, we hoped coffee and food sales would cover our monthly expenses with a small profit to ear-mark for outreach and community involvement.

Before we were able to open, much changed.  The revolution on Maiden ushered the country into a state of economic and political instability.  What little foreign investment Ukraine was enjoying all but ceased as the government began top down reform.  The fragile and antiquated economic engines in Ukraine strained as sanctions, both from the East and West (intended for Russia) has driven the country to the brink of economic collapse.

For a bit more perspective, Ukrainians already make on average less than the equivalent of $300/mo in our town.  Police, school teachers, firemen, etc. eat from their gardens and live on bare necessities.  It is not uncommon for families and pensioners to buy half loaves of bread, literally existing one day at a time.   Unemployment is astounding – nobody truly knows the % out of work, but it’s higher than 30% in my estimation.

Buying a cup of quality coffee is a luxury for most, and one that we provide as inexpensively as possible – averaging around $1 per item on our menu.

Ultimately, the economic situation in Ukraine, and the inability to get the gas company to do their job (so we can sell pizza) has altered the financial trajectory and ministry plans for this year.  For the 4yrs prior, the Ukrainian currency (Hrvnya) hovered at 8:1 to the US dollar.    Over the past year, and specifically past months, embattled in war and with no significant economic reforms to help business, the Hrvnya now sits at 26:1 !  Imagine for a moment what this would look like in any western nation if the currency lost over 3x’s its value in less than a year?   This means our costs have and will continue to rise for coffee, milk, utilities and staff.

What was already an enormous challenge for the Cafe as a business before the revolution is now an impossibility in the short term without financial partners.  Yet conversely, never before has there been the opportunity to shine and provide such a haven for our community. 

Double-edged sword!  We are so thankful that we are in Ukraine for such a time as this, yet the needs are greater than we can handle on our own.  Even though the Cafe has taken off, embraced by the community and we receive a steady flow of daily traffic and many loyal customers, we are forced to keep prices at cost or below in some cases or the place will be empty.

To make matters worse, many men are now serving, by draft or volunteer, in the army. They reluctantly leave behind wives and children to survive on their own, with irregular and dismal army stipends.   The Cafe donated (through our home church in Texas) food packages to families who have a loved one serving in our town.   So many avenues to help and be the hands and feet of Christ.  We want to serve so much more than coffee!

We also have many students that frequent the Cafe, an estimated 60% of our customers are under the age of 20.   These students have very little discretionary income, especially the younger kids who often come with no money at all, just to sit with friends and huddle around a gadget.    We provide younger kids with popcorn and occasional free hot drinks – we love to lose money on these kingdom treasures:)  We must keep the doors open for these guys, and continue to invest in relationships for the long haul.

These are just some of the factors in play for us as we consider both the short and long term sustainability of the Cafe.   Our ultimate passion and vision for the Cafe has not changed.

Besides providing a warm and clean place with great coffee, our primary objective in all things is – “To shine the Light of Jesus Christ” – He is the Light to every nation and we give him this facility to guide in the coming year!

The Challenge: We are currently needing between $500-750 per month to keep the Lighthouse Cafe open through this next year.  We believe this will be a temporary need to weather this economic storm.   As Ukraine stabilizes, we believe we can self sustain – but we don’t know how long that will take.

Our Request: We need a handful of partners (individuals, families, churches or businesses) to contribute towards the Cafe specifically.  It can be a one time gift of any amount, or monthly regular contribution.  Any amount will help, and all will be invested into the Cafe and ministry efforts this year!

I’d love to see, for example, 25 partners giving $25/mo –

How to Help:

A) You can give online, on this site by clicking on DONATE*we use paypal, which accepts all major credit cards – and if you have a free Paypal account you can also setup recurring giving (eg. $25/mo).

B) You can send tax-receipted donations by check to:

Crossroads Community Church

Memo: Ukraine – Lighthouse Cafe
1400 East Loop 281
Longview, TX 75605

C) If you’d like to talk in more detail about any of our projects and needs, I’d be happy to call you personally.

Thank you for taking the time to read and pray about this challenge.

We were so encouraged during our travels this past month and believe God is going to provide – but I know we must do our part to humbly communicate and ask the family of God.  I enjoy raising support for others, but do not find pleasure when it pertains to our own efforts as much – I do believe, however, in the viability and sustainability of this work, and future discipleship that will take place in and out of the property – we’re just in a very precarious season and need money to keep moving forward.

Bruce & Deborah

We returned this Saturday from our US Adventure.  The kids are busy writing papers on the trip, their perspective and things they learned.  One of the highlights for me was introducing our children, especially the older one’s, to more of our spiritual heritage.   We all are on a spiritual journey, and the longer we’re on it, the more obvious relationships are of essential importance.

The kids received hugs and love from passionate Jesus followers wherever went.  This increased their faith and hope that God is alive and at work in this world.

We were able to worship, pray with, and hang out with believers from 6 states.  Reconnecting with family in Florida will be a lifetime memory.

God opened doors for a team to join us in April, and possibly another one in June.  We met with several churches and groups, and had an article printed in the Kilgore News-Herald – click here to read it http://www.kilgorenewsherald.com/news/2015-01-14/Front_Page/OPEN_FOR_BUSINESS.html

Later this week we’ll be posting some more information on the team coming, as well as the vision God has placed on our heart for discipleship this year – and some opportunities to join with us.  We are embarking on some larger faith steps, and need the body of Christ!  The situation in Ukraine is worsening, however we believe God is orchestrating his gospel to move forward and shine it’s grace and hope upon hearts.

Sharing tonight at Men’s Group, then this Friday Deb and I will be sharing to couples at an event with Emmanuel Baptist – contact us for more information, we’d love to see you there!!

Bruce & Deb

It’s with mixed emotions we continued our adventure, leaving Texas this morning.  Our past 10 days have been filled to the brim with meeting new folks, connecting with old friends.  I only wish we had more time – several intended visits.. ran out of time.

A few highlights included sharing with Crossroads body (and new connections!), taking our kids to an amazing Museum in Dallas, our Dallas Stars game with the guys from our business, and our last evening with Bo and Beth (got another steak in!).   We received some neat times of prayer as well, nothing like several dozen folks laying hands on you and lifting up the continued work in Ukraine, and the country itself in these trying times.  We’re hopeful this year, in spite of the war and political tensions, to host at least one short term trip this summer.  It’s clear that more folks are interested in greater levels of involvement, even to moving over for a season – that’s an encouraging sign.

We’re now in New Orleans, having stopped for a visit at Duck Commander, and our dear cajun Mom & Dad, Pete and Kathy Simoneaux.   For 2 yrs we lived on the Bayou in south Louisiana.. 16-18 or so years ago.. I can’t even remember.  It is so neat to reconnect with those in the faith, God has been so faithful to us all.  I look forward to eternity when I think of these sweet folks.  Hopefully God makes them cook there.

Our plans are to continue on tomorrow after another quick visit in the city with another old friend, then onto Florida.. destination – Boca Raton, where Deb’s brother’s family – cousins that haven’t met, a reunion Deb is especially looking forward to.  I too am excited to have a few days of rest after the past few weeks.   We’ve been gone now almost 20 days, living out of suitcases..  but overall been very cool experience.

The Cafe continues to be open daily in Ukraine.  Thankful for Shane who is manning the ‘management’ side of things in my stead.  Still frustratingly dealing with ridiculous billing procedures, and a gas company that hasn’t turn the gas on – but things are progressing.  We do need sales to climb back up, we’re in a post Christmas (Jan 7) and New Year lull.. it’s all new for us.

A few items to pray for :

– continued safety mercies/safety.  So far no issues, van working great, and good conditions.

– couple possible meetings in Jacksonville, FL, as well as connecting with a few friends next week – but nothing like Texas.. just a couple things I pray will be a blessing to folks.

– YWAM is coming to Lighthouse in April!!  A DTS outreach will be partnering with us to see some cool things take place in our area and other parts of Ukraine.  I believe God is at work in this, and the way it has come together is really neat.  Pray with us for God to work this all out in the coming weeks.

– Feb 13 event in Canada at Emmanuel Church – Deb and I will be sharing and the main thrust is to reach some folks that maybe wouldn’t normally darken the doors of a church.  Pray as it gets advertised more that God draws people to this event so we can share our story, some practical tips, but mostly the love of God in the gospel!

Praise Note – This past week while in Texas, a ministry that serves the Persecuted Church in hostile areas of the world, contacted me to discuss a project.  It was a project that we had originally declined on 6 months ago, because our company (Cypress) was trimming back and not taking on any new projects.  Long story short, we are moving ahead and the guys from Texas will be producing a site for this ministry.   I’m thankful that though we passed on it, they continued to pursue us and it now is perfect timing for both parties.  It’s cool how God works like that.

Thanks for checking in,

Bruce

 

Our trip from Canada to Texas was great!  After plowing through NY State’s ice, snow, wind and fog, the roads opened up and was smooth sailing.

The first stop was in Harrisburg, PA, where we have family friends who pastor a dynamic church called Life Center Ministries.  One of our desires on this trip was to expose our kids to a greater ‘swath’ of Christianity, and expressions of it.  The people at Life Center were extremely kind, and welcoming – and their worship band was outstanding.  Noah was busting all sorts of moves on “God’s great dance floor.”

Two highlights were our visit with Charles & Anne Stock, and connecting with Andy Myers who is part of a YWAM leadership group that is focused on artists/musicians.   That connection has led to some serious discussion regarding the possibility of The Lighthouse hosting their team in April/May for a series of Creative Workshops, Concerts and more!  Please pray for us as we make possible commitments this week.   The vision of their DTS track is unbelievably similar to our passion to begin more focused discipleship this fall – God is good!

We then traveled to Tennessee where we had some R&R with some close friends we haven’t seen for too many years.  The kind of friends that, after a few minutes, you are completely relaxed around and you pick up where you left off.  Chris, his wife Becky and 4 sweet kids crammed into one room and gave us the top floor of their house.  We also visited with the Mason’s, whom we have a long history with.

We left edified and with a sense that God is alive, working in the two places we stopped – and challenged to pray with more faith, believing God can also do ‘exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think’ back in ole Ukraine.   Sometimes we need to be around faith and passion to displace our own settled apathy.

Arriving in Texas we were met by 48hrs of drizzling rain and cold weather.   I had told the kids, with my fatherly wisdom, to leave their winter coats, gloves and hats in Canada because, “we’re going south baby!”  Woops.  Had to visit K-Mart and stock up on some things.  Our home church here in Longview is embarking on a full week of 24/7 prayer.  Various prayer stations and focused points of prayer are setup throughout the church building.   We wish we had a few extra weeks as we want to focus in on the prayer, but also have limited time to visit with so many supporters/friends.

The Kilgore paper is featuring an article on our family this Wednesday, and tonight I will be sharing for a few minutes to the City Council in Kilgore on the state of the sister city relationship, as well as general update on the continued tension and fighting.   Ukraine is not on the news as much lately, but still a lot going on.  As best I can, I want to convey both the reality of  what is happening in Ukraine, but also the greatest need to support/pray for a spiritual revolution – which I believe is taking place on some levels through all the prayer already both within and outside of Ukraine.

God has been pouring into my heart personally, some impressive truths from scripture lately.  I’ve been challenged to come to him in prayer, and with His Word and expect substantial spiritual nourishment, not just a few scraps to keep me alive.  We eat so well here in the US, amazing meals, full and tasty – yet there are also a zillion fast food joints serving up terribly greasy ‘pseudo food’.   What do I expect when I come to God for fellowship and mediation?  Do I give Him the time, and do I have faith to believe for something greater than a mere morsel of truth?    I have purchased a book for this year, a journal of sorts, but not like last year’s which turned into a day planner more than anything.   I believe God wants me to use it to write down what He opens my eyes to, and nourishes me with.  I hope to share more spiritual truth this year on the blog – and Lord willing less about the state of the Cafe and our ever unconnected gas!

Speaking of the Cafe, it is open again after a week closed during holidays.  Please pray for our finances, our main ‘big’ costs is electricity, we are paying now over $400/mo for that, which may not seem like a lot for the west, but it’s big bucks for Ukraine and it’s current economic situation.  I’m looking forward to the summer, without the need to heat we will be in the black with our current sales.  Sustainable business, that’s what we want, so we can focus more upstairs and discipleship.

If you read all of this congratulations, I wanted to download this information for record – I’m increasingly desirous of documenting for our kids, their spiritual journey and encouragement – God is faithful – our part is to trust and step out in obedience.

Bruce & Deb Crowe
Missionaries – Ukraine