© Ivan Steiger MMI

By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:35)

July 2003

REST, RECREATION and REWARDING EXPERIENCE best describes our annual HCJB World Radio European conference hosted in June by the German World Office. The slogan is borrowed from the tourist brochures we received during the conference. Since we had not attended the last two HCJB European Conferences it was good to see each other again. This time we had a much smaller group representing the World offices but the changes and challenges were of no small magnitude. The HCJB Board of Trustees was simultaneously meeting in the USA. Tom Fulghum, a long time missionary with HCJB, will communicate our European concerns to the Board. Tom could relate very well to all of us and to our particular concerns since he served in many HCJB World Radio ministries and responsibilities. We enjoyed his devotional because they were full of real life experiences and testimonies of how the Lord deals with his servants. We do believe that he was the best mission representative to guide us through some deep waters. Tom should write his memoirs.

The atmosphere of the conference was very cordial and supportive. A number of major changes and proposed changes were just mentioned without finality since some of them were responsibilities of the Board of Trustees in Colorado Springs. At the first glance it looks like that HCJB World Radio ministry is undergoing major changes not only in Ecuador but where ever the ministries have been located and developed. After more than seventy years of HCJB World Radio involvement in Latin America most changes are relating to ministries in Ecuador. Broadcasting from Pifo will be reduced to Latin American releases only. Some antennas might be moving to Australia (broadcasting to Asia and Pacific) and Brazil (directed to Africa). During the conference we had the opportunity to concentrate more on European challenges rather than the global scope of HCJB World Radio activities. The consequences are felt in our region as well. What is the outcome? Our changes are not as earthshaking since our region is relatively newer. The Euro-Asia Region (EAR), we are part of, had covered 11 time zones and ministered mostly to Russian speaking countries.

Now we are geographically divided into two sub-regions consisting of mostly smaller Central European countries in the past dominated by Soviet Union and now on the way into EU like Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Czech and Slovak Republics and Hungary, and others like Bulgaria, Romania and some former Yugoslav Republics like Macedonia etc.

The people in Czech and Slovak Republics decided in June REFERENDUM that both countries will join European Union.

Leadership of the former Euro-Asia region was transferred from David Manney to Jason Vincent-Newson. David Manney will continue to work in the new sub-region. He will visit and develop cooperation with ministry partners throughout the region. We all were encouraged to investigate opportunities to broadcast on secular radio stations. The commercial radio stations in some Central European countries are willing other are hostile to Christianity. Most radio stations are not interested in Christian production what so ever. If the door opens the message must be watered down so much that it should not be detected as the Gospel. To receive broadcasting licenses is nearly impossible in many countries. To run a private commercial radio station is a capital and operation cost extensive project. Radio stations depend on advertising, listeners rating, etc… Licenses are valid only for several years, and those who do not have sufficient number of listeners lose them. To pursue a broadcasting license by nationals without strong financial backing is not realistic. Most of us agree that short wave broadcasting in our sub-region is not feasible and practical any longer. To add to this, several partners pulled back and for some language groups this created an additional financial burden and responsibility.

The HCJB Radio planting approach proved to be more difficult (legally and financially) than originally thought. For this reason the former HCJB World offices focus on radio planting is now shifting toward radio training courses, helping with program production and designing and installing studios. We realize that creating radio programs is only a small and most rewarding task of the radio ministry. Future projects should be carried by the nationals in World Offices. Without extensive HCJB World Radio broadcasting involvement (Quito and Pifo) most of us in this sub-region have at this time only a few ways to pursue – (1) Internet, (2) buying (or getting) time from the existing local commercial FM radio stations and (3) satellite. From our own experience we know that we need to be at least one step ahead. Until now the Internet and Christian digest were the most effective tools we have. As a team we constantly explore new possibilities. Gabi has been digitizing programs for months. Others have been translating materials from English, translating and recording Czech programs in Slovak. PTL the cost of the Digest printing, postage and running the Internet was always covered by the local contributions.

Overall picture of our region
In light of the geo-political and technological changes we realize along with our HCJB World Radio headquarters that major restructuraliza- tion has been necessary. Ray Thurgood, director of HCJB-UK, summarized the situation:

"Many of you will have heard that, at the end of May, we reach the end of an era – the end of another language (English and German) transmissions to Europe. The whole discussion was started about 5 years ago by the Government of Ecuador's proposal to locate the new Quito Airport on or near our existing transmitter site in Pifo. This necessitated moving the whole facility (over 40 acres). HCJB has bought a site on the coast near Guyaquil. This enforced move caused the mission to re-think its strategy in the interests of good stewardship. The facts are that, unpalatable as it may seem, short wave broadcasting is falling from favor among English (German and Czech) speaking peoples. In addition, reception is not always satisfactory, and it is not good stewardship to send out programs that are inaudible in their intended areas. There are some parts of the world where SW is still needed, among them Russia; these releases will continue–Russian and Arabic programs are released on SW from the UK so that reception is much better.

Most English speaking Christians do not need SW transmissions; there are alternatives to feed them spiritually, not least their own Churches. We believe our task is to evangelize, and we can reach non-Believers more efficiently, with much improved reception, via local radio.

For some of our supporters this will be a big disappointment but we do ask prayer that we will be sensitive to the leading of the Lord; we really are trying to be good stewards but are the first to admit that we do not know all the answers. In this connection it is interesting to note that, coincidentally, FEBA faced the same problem in the Seychelles in that the Government wanted to re-locate their transmitters. As a result their SW releases have been moved from the Seychelles. For HCJB, I suppose that it all boils down to a question of money. Our resources are limited and income has fallen over the past years, in line with the economies of many countries–and we have to do the best with what we have."

Czech and Slovak Satellite Project
We informed you previously about the TWR satellite broadcasting opportunity and our mission involvement. Our share for the eight-year contract to broadcast on TWR satellite for one hour daily (or more) might be secured for $30,000 up front to help pay for some "downlinks, uplinks" and electronic equipment for dispatching studio. The actual cost for a daily one- hour broadcast then would be about $10 for the next eight years. All this was calculated based on 32 CZK to the dollar; now we hardly get 26 CZK to the dollar.

After the HCJB European Conference we realized that during this time of major changes in HCJB World Radio the cooperation concerning the Czech and Slovak satellite project between TWR Czech Republic and our Czech HCJB World Office may just fizzle out. The special Czech satellite project account has at this time a zero balance. The target starting date is September 2003. Only the Lord can make a miracle.

What the changes mean to us?
For us the HCJB World Radio reorganization in the region brought more responsibility for each World Office. Our Czech and Slovak office was run by most of the mentioned guidelines from the beginning. We were responsible for our personal and ministry budget from the day one, and thanks to all of you the ministry goals in our countries were realistic and sound. We employ nationals and all multimedia ministries are locally produced. The major broadcasting change hit our department last year and the Czech and Slovak office came out of it with no major harm. But the storm is not over yet. We face great loss in ministry funds. The dollar dropped about 30 % against the local Czech currency in the past two years–rather months! We have been committed to our employees since they serve diligently with low pay and a great workload. A concern about missionaries' Home ministry situation was expressed at the European Conference. Opportunities to present ministry in supporting or new churches are limited to a few minutes. Most of the time there is no offering to help to cover traveling cost. This might sound a bit frustrating. In the changing world of missions we look back at the obstacles former missionaries faced. It was not any easier. It is difficult to decide what to do first. Should we concentrate on the ministry, or come the first time in 13 years for about a year Stateside for a home ministry to secure some additional support? We all need wisdom and your prayers. We trust the Lord and look forward to new opportunities and challenges.

Letters

* Dear Klara,
I have translated [into Slovak] all Pavel's radio programs you have mailed to me. I am impatiently waiting for your e-mail. How many of them you still have "in stock?" We have to ponder what we will broadcast after these are over. Pavel's teaching is really good…
Let our Lord Jesus Christ bless you!
Dušan

* Dear brothers in Jesus Christ,
I had in my hands several times your digest "The Battle for Soul." I have to admit I did not pay much attention until I started to read first articles. Now I can say that you provide useful ministry glorifying the Lord. May the Holy Spirit lead you as you create each new edition. I want to be your regular reader. I know that I will be blessed the same way as my so far disbelieving family. With greetings and surety in His return
Milan U., Kobližnice

* Dear Steiger's,
thank you for the book "Genesis and the Decay of the Nations" and your kind and encouraging words. I would like to say special thanks for all previous ministry through the magazine, however I am finding no proper words. I do not know where I would be without your ministry. Often I did not know to whom and what to believe. Today I am secure Christian thanks to Pavel Steiger. Do not be discouraged by other fools and humanistic materialism. Continue to guide us, we need to have reliable source of information and answers. I am sending a small contribution and pray to the Lord to protect and bless you and all of those who are part of this ministry.
Yours Květa R.

• Klara's mother is back home from the hospital. Please pray that her bones and spine will not deteriorate further.
• Our ten-year old mixing-table shows no signs of life. We will try to get it repaired, but it would be much better to buy a new one. Now they are much smaller and more sophisticated, but it is a major investment.
• We trust and ask you to pray that our Lord will use these circumstances to lead us into improved ways of reaching souls with the Gospel. We continue to depend on our Lord and upon people like you being in prayer for us day by day.
• For all the mentioned reasons we would like to come in September for about five weeks to AZ and CA to attend a mission conference and visit a few supporting churches. Thank you for the trust you put into the Czech and Slovak ministry we represent..

In His Sovereign Grace

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