——-Yesterday we hosted the first of four “Cafe Nights.”  They are taking place downtown, in an old soviet theatre we are renting, on Sunday evenings.   This past week several of us went to the surrounding tecnicums and passed out invitations, not really knowing for sure how many would come.  God blessed the evening, we had 40-50 students come in and sit, drink coffee and eat desserts.  We had just enough food. We had a guest Christian rapper from Kiev do a few songs, share his testimony, followed by testimonies from Tanya K (Ukrainian) and Matt Almeter (visiting friend from Texas).  I wrapped things up by sharing simply our hearts for doing the cafe, our desire to build relationships with them, and God’s love already directed/proven through Jesus Christ. We prayed at the end of the evening, and you could sense hearts were engaged.It was very fulfilling to serve with practically everyone from the church. From the baking and serving of home-made desserts, to table setup, decor, and sound equipment.. everyone got involved and we witnessed God blessing our efforts. It’s time for us to share the hope within us, to boldly, and graciously make His name known to our town. Pray for us please, we need to personally carve out more prayer time here, but we also need support, this is a spiritual battle that isn’t going to be won with cool music and free coffee.

[This is one of the local colleges called ‘technicum’]

[Broderic helping rip up an old floor, to be replaced with concrete this week.  We’re completing this house for missionary housing]

Thanks for checking in, please pray this week for:

– The students that came, that seeds would grow, and they’d come back next week and bring more friends.
– Property downtown is ready to purchase on our end for the cafe, we’ve secured a loan to help with this and needs God’s help to pay this back.  Pray that all the documentation is completed properly, it would be great if we could complete the purchase before we leave for North America on Sept 26.
– Kolya, the new believer who is being a major positive influence at his school, he’s bringing most of these students to the cafe.. pray for his spiritual growth and protection from all forms of temptation.
– Sergei & Tanya’s return, they are hoping to be back in November sometime, pray for God to meet their practical needs that may delay their return.

Bruce & Deb

In 4 weeks we’ll be heading back to Canada to visit our family, then to Texas to visit our friends at Crossroads.  The kids are terribly excited.  I haven’t thought about it too much, but have to admit I’m really looking forward to the break.  We’ll be gone an entire month.  We’d like to catch up with as many friends and family as possible during this time, so if you want to grab a coffee or lunch, please let us know and we’ll schedule it.

This past month has been one of the most difficult, yet rewarding seasons here in Ukraine.  As a young leadership team, we’ve been confronted with some challenges that needed attention.  God has used these situations to bring unity, a stronger appreciation for God’s revealed will (scripture) and its authority in our lives.  It’s an interesting principle, I think, that the most personal growth takes place when we are placed in tough situations.  The pressure ‘against’ us, or challenge in front of us strips away those things we hold loosely, and we find ourselves determining matters of ‘conviction’ vs simple ‘opinion.’  When the storm comes, what do you really believe?  When you are faced with adversity, there the trial reveals your moral and spiritual center.

“For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” James 1:3

For me personally, the challenges have thrown me headlong into a renewed adoration for God’s Word.  God hasn’t left us alone, scrambling to figure things out subjectively, groping for solutions to our temporal and eternal realities.   Scripture brings clarity, strengthens resolve, gives hope and deepens my faith.  My faith is tested most in the fire of controversy and conflict.  It’s out of these seasons however I see the most fruit, stuff like patience, forbearance, humility, devotion.

Maybe you are in a fire.  If you aren’t, I’m sure it’s coming soon – it’s life.  I hope they come and leave quickly.  However, the trials should be faced not with pure pragmatism and an attitude of ‘let’s just get this over with.’  If we embrace the situation as an opportunity to grow, I think we find some redemptive value out of even the worst problems.  If we resist, or approach difficulties with anger, bitterness, or other forms of pride, the challenges only serve to reveal our sinful heart, something we all should realize by now anyway.  I think trials are designed to do more than reveal our hearts though, they are designed to fortify our faith in God (in the life of the believer).

Let us cling to God’s Word, let it direct your thoughts, increase your love and ability to forgive, as Christ Jesus forgives us (Eph 4 :25-32).  It’s His grace that will enable us to turn a tough situation into an opportunity to grow.  If you don’t have a living, sincere relationship with God, that should be your greatest ‘issue’ in your life –  dwarfing all other momentary problems.   Go to God in prayer, seek Him while He may be found.   He’s a great God, proven His love for you by becoming Christ, living down here with us, and taking the punishment of sin upon Himself.  But you need to come to Him, you need to choose.   God has turned your greatest problem (sin and resulting separation from God) into your greatest reward (forgiveness and relationship restored!).

In September, every Sunday from 5-7pm we are hosting as a church a “Cafe Night” in our town.  The college students are returning, and we’re reaching out to build relationships with them and others in the town with a relaxed, positive environment.  We’ll have Christian singers/musicians, some drama and testimonies from various Christians through the month.  Please pray for us, this is a big outreach for us and we’re actually canceling all but one Sunday morning service to be ‘fishers of men’ in this format.

Here is the invitation we are using – thought you might find interesting:)

Bruce & Deb

Broderic wore his suit for the first time to a special going-away party for Jon & Ruth.  What a class act!  (everyone else was in shorts!)

Preparing for Ephesians study tonight, chapter 4.  God’s Word has been unbelievably satisfying, particularly appreciating context, staying on course with Paul’s inspired ‘overall’ meaning to the church.   God’s pre-determined plan for you and I to be rescued from our sin, reconciled with God the Father and walking in a new obedience, fueled by grace.  Thank you God for saving us!

We’re committing to new Russian classes in Kiev.  They are weekly lessons with a seasoned professional teacher, and will ensure that Deb and I have a date night again!

Appreciate prayer for our September ‘outreach’ focus.  The church is hosting ‘cafe nights’ every Sunday downtown, in lieu of our morning meetings.  Pray for students to come to this and for the gospel message to penetrate hearts and minds.  We’ll have guest musicians, coffee, testimonies and preaching.

Sincerely,

Bruce & Deb

This week we’re repairing the ‘kotyol’ (Heating System) throughout our house, in preparation for winter.   Sasha, and his son Sasha have been re-installing radiators, installing new piping and taps.  If we have another winter like the last one, and our house doesn’t stay warm, I’m going to rip it all out and do 100% electric.

Brent (below) is enjoying the basketball net we brought over from Texas.  It’s been too hot all summer to set it up, but today the clouds rolled in and have provided some relief.   Can you spot the guy on the pole?  Neil is having electricity installed at his house today, always stuff going on around here.

Tomorrow Neil and Sergei are taking the van to a small village north of Kiev, where the local orphans are attending a camp.  The director asked if someone could help pick them up as they didn’t have any transportation back to the orphanage.  You’d think they would think about this before they went to camp, but provides some opportunity for missionaries to build more relationships and be a blessing with the resources we have.

Deb and the kids are in full swing school mode.  She has them reading quite a bit, and all huddled around the kitchen table daily.  Books and notebooks piled around everywhere, just the way my wife likes it.

Ephesians class tonight again, it’s been very rewarding to prepare for each chapter study.  We’re in chapter 3 now, and we’ve had a solid turnout.  I’m already praying about the next book to work through.

Deb and I are considering a Russian class in Kiev to change things up and force us to continue learning.  We’ve taken a break this summer with our classes but weren’t excited about continuing in the same pattern.  The problem is that we are leaving for Canada/Texas and will be gone the entire month of October.  The school is considering this and will rule on whether they will ‘take us’ or not later this week.  Last night during our men’s meeting I was very frustrated as the guys were enjoying some theological conversations, with many questions and I didn’t have any translation.  I understood probably 20% of the conversation as it was flying around the room.  It was a good frustration though, the kind that motivates to keep pressing toward greater fluency.

Items to Pray For Please:

– Russian language direction and motivation to keep pushing!
– Visa Registration issues, we all (many of the foreigners) need some better solutions and good counsel.
– Property Downtown, God to help things keep progressing, and for finances to do it.
– Deb’s health, she’s had some sores in her mouth that have caused a lot of swelling this week, very painful too.
– September meetings downtown, for God to draw people to hear the gospel and respond.

Thanks for checking in,

Bruce & Deb