Our family is leading a team of Ukrainian young people, including our entire family (minus Broderic, we miss you bud!) this coming May 19-23 to Minsk, Belarus.

We will be joining area believers in a Worship & Prayer Event.  We believe this will be a powerful time of exposure and encouragement for our young people – including our own kids to experience what God is doing in our neighbors to the north.

Besides our own family costs we are stepping out in faith and taking some of our own young people from Club 180 and a few others – about 18 of us in all, Lord willing.

This is the beginning of a long held desire to expose Ukrainian youth to God’s Kingdom at work in other Nations.   For most it will be their first out of country experience, and for all their first extended time of worship and prayer with 100’s of other believer in this type of atmosphere.

Our prayer is that through this exposure, the heart of God is birthed in young people, and they are filled with His mission to reach their world for Christ.

Would you be able to contribute towards making this happen?  We are only charging $20 per student, which is not a small amount for Ukrainian students who live on a small monthly stipend.   This will only partially cover this 5 day trip (2 days travel, 3 days in Minsk), and help would be amazing.

Total Goal: $1,000

This amount would help us greatly with Visas, Transportation, Housing and Food for trip.

To give ANY amount please visit our donation page here!

We will notify immediately if and when goal is reached.

Thank you friends,

Bruce & Deborah Crowe

PS (Also, please pray for our family as we consider possibly staying in Minsk for an extended period of time after the event – we feel a strong connection with what God is doing there through the Bible College and young people.  Even now they are working thru the bureaucracy to host such an event, you wouldn’t believe the obstacles they face – right down to rules for WHO owns the actual stage determines rules for WHO is legally able to sing/share from it).

Zhenya and his team from Kiev are down this week serving those most in need with free garden cultivation.  Beautiful weather and grateful recipients – so far we’ve helped a few soldiers, and elderly who don’t have family to do the heavier work.  Gardens are not just a hobby here, they are life – especially for pensioners who literally survive from what they are able to grow.

One grandfather was especially thankful – his son is serving in the army and he is watching his two grand kids by himself.  Additionally, several area believers were blessed from the tractor today.

Thankful for last night.  The college up the street that closed for 2 weeks has re-opened.  I’m not sure if they received funds for their electricity/gas but students are trickling back – several of the boys we’ve missed that have been coming on Wednesday nights to Club 180 returned – it was sweet to hug them and see their faces.   It was nice to join some of the previous students with some new ones from the past month.

I shared on the Kingdom war, no middle ground, the human heart is the battleground.  The only way to be transferred into the eternal Kingdom through Jesus Christ and faith in Him alone.  The gospel is so simple, so amazing.  I pray these students receive His word deep in their hearts and are conquered by the one true King!   Pray with us for that!

We are starting to plan a special trip to Minsk to join our friends there for a very cool event on May 20.  We will be taking, Lord willing, a handful of the youth we’ve been investing into, as well as our entire family.   Please pray for this with us, a lot of details to discover and decide upon – especially for those under 18 leaving the country.

Bruce & Deb

Morning view of Red Square. Couldn’t get any close, didn’t open until 10am.

It was privilege to teach with the Discipleship Training School students in Vladivostock, Russia this past week with our friends David & Masha Wittwer.

Due to the political problems between Russia and Ukraine, you can no longer fly directly from one country to the other. So, I took a train from Kiev to Moscow (14hrs), then flew from Moscow direct to Vladivostok (9hrs).

The train arrived at 5am, so I had plenty of time to wander around the impressive Metro System. They are as deep as Kiev’s, but with three times as many stations and lines – huge underground fortresses of art and history on display. It’s a cheap way to enjoy some of Russia’s history. But it was so cold!

Alexander and I meeting in Moscow at his facility he manages for local churches that can’t afford or legally need a place to meet.

During my stopover in Moscow I had several hours to fill, and met up with a former Union director (church network) Alexander. We have common friends in Minsk, where we’ve both taught at the Bible School there. Alex didn’t speak English, so it was a healthy test of my Russian. For ten years Alex oversaw 900 churches in Russia within the Pentecostal church. He has since stepped down and God is using him in some really cool ways as he completes his doctorate in theology. He’s able with his personal property in the center to enable/support local churches in Moscow – rented and used by over 15 different church gathering and outreaches weekly.

We shared some of the very same desires for this next generation, to pioneer and see God expand upon the limited effectiveness of local church gatherings – as a way of winning the culture for Christ. The Russian church has copied the west for the most part in ‘how to do church’ – and even persecutes and looks down upon fresh ways of engaging the lost all around. Alex started a Cafe 10yrs ago in Moscow, and we share several other similar experiences. He has 7 kids and a few grandkids. We look forward to coming back to Moscow and building on this friendship for the Kingdom!

Vladivostok is nestled next to China and the Sea of Japan. It’s Asian influence is clear to see from the people mulling around the city, to the many restaurants and products available. This photo was from our final evening (above), it is not even edited! Beauty.

During the week I taught on the Kingdom of God. We traced through some of Israel’s history and understanding of God’s Kingdom, the promises of God’s restoration, and it’s ultimate fulfillment in the King coming to ransom men from sin. It’s an amazing study which greatly encouraged my own understanding of God’s overarching plan. Where the King goes, His power and rule is established. This King will reign forever, His Kingdom will know no end – but for now, a battle ensues between another Kingdom, one of this age, who’s power is visible and real today.

It’s also cool to see how a small act of faith, with our friends David and Masha (whom we met in Rostov teaching few years ago) God is blessing. God is raising up a generation in Russia to serve and take His light into the darkness – and how does He do this? Through humble normal folks who take steps of faith. We love you guys.

What King dominates your heart? Have you surrendered and put your trust in the eternal King who is Jesus Christ?  Don’t be on the outside looking in!  So many parables (read Matthew 13 alone!) on the Kingdom, it was the central message of John the Baptist, and Jesus. He was crucified for being King in the end – He was crucified by His own creation, for His creation, and raised to life to save us.   In fact, scripture says that God Himself was in Christ, reconciling the world (us) to Himself.  He does the heavy lifting, the unshackling from sin – we simply must surrender and believe it.  It’s not about performance, it’s about faith.  The battle is in believing.

Was really cool to get to know some more young people, ages 19-25 range that are offering their lives in service of the King. Some from Far North Russia (no sunlight in the winter), to even further East towards Alaska where they host international dog sled competitions. Even an American from Oregon mixed in there among the group 🙂

There was a second group which met on Saturday and Tuesday. We talked about dreams, and callings. This is something that has recently become a favorite topic of mine as I navigate through my own journey and continued discovery. I don’t think we should ever stop learning, nor in faith taking steps of faith in our service to the King. To many of us get sidelined with serving in areas we aren’t gifted in, nor lack legitimate God-given passion for – We talked about determining our personality make-up, whether we are Pioneers or Settlers, and how God’s Kingdom advances with both.

So I’m back. Back with my amazing bride and family. I love returning home. I love relishing in God’s blessings, which stand out all the more when you’ve been away. I am typing from the Cafe, where my friends labor around and with us to bring the Kingdom of God in and around us every day. God is so great, so patient, and loving isn’t He? Some day we will see the King face to face – but not yet. Until then we rejoice in Christ, the only way into the Kingdom, by His righteousness and power. Let your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven, it was Jesus prayer – I’m trying to realize that more every day.

Lots of catching up to do, thank you for your prayers and support. God encourage you to live for eternal things – love those around you today, it’s the Kingdoms greatest weapon.

Bruce & Deb

If you have a moment, this minute long clip captures a taste of the Awaken Worship Evenings.  Believers from various local churches, and even those that aren’t part of a local fellowship attend, and experience the presence of God.

Listen past the first part, the last 20 seconds brings me back to the corporate moments of silence, before the King – in the presence of Majesty, where we receive our hope and strength.

Those that have attended from other towns have begun hosting their own evenings of worship – God is doing what no man can do – awakening hearts to His love and presence.

Pray for Ukraine and this next generation of believers!