Pavel & Klara Steiger's Prayer Letter

Those who fashion a graven image are all of them futile, and their precious things are of no profit; even their own witnesses fail to see or know, so that they will be put to shame. Who has fashioned a god orcast an idol to no profit? (Isaiah 44:9-10)

Our apology for the delay in expressing our personal and individual thanks for your hospitality and help during our Home ministry in April. We think of you continually. Without you we have no ministry.
Our days after our return home from the U.S.A. moved very fast. However, Pavel's nasal obstruction got so bad that he had to seek medical help. His nose was completely cemented for three weeks. Fortunately, the doctor was able to unplug Pavel's nose. There was even a possibility of septum surgery. Klara's opinion is that even nose needs daily maintenance and care.
The first concern was to move Klara's mother out of the hospital. The doctors and social worker told us that she is unable to live alone any longer. Her mobility and strength is reduced. We knew that we would face this condition one day, however we did not expect to have to act right away after our return. During the past year we checked several places and applied at a new retirement center. Many of you shared with us the same experience while taking care of your aging parents. Now we know how it feels. PTL that we could actually move her within three weeks after our return into a full-care retirement center with about 130 clients. Mom's settling in was not as smooth from the beginning as she or we would have wished. However it is nearly perfect now. Our prayer is that we might apply Romans 8:28 to her situation. All what we can say is that the Lord's patience with us and His abundant love is undeserved.

EUROPEAN HCJB CONFERENCE
The Month of June started with the "Annual HCJB World Radio European Conference" in Germany near Gießen, Hessen. Klara stayed home because of time pressure to complete more radio programs to be translated into Slovak and move ahead on all other publishing deadlines. Thus, Pavel attended conference with Milan Hudec of Banska Bystrica, Slovakia. The seven-hour drive from Prague and five-hour drive back to Prague (it was on Sunday afternoon) was a perfect opportunity to brainstorm some future goals.
Dave Johnson, the president of HCJB, held inspiring devotions before each session. All involved districts of the Eurasian Region presented their progress and concerns. The Region is now subdivided into three areas: (1) Western Europe, (2) Central Europe and (3) Russia, Ukraine, Byelorussia, Caucasus, and Central Asia.
Czech Republic and Slovakia belong to the Central European district. Pavel presented our achievements and progress with TWR-CZ. Milan presented broadcasting achievements in Slovakia and an urgent need for a larger recording studio in Banska Bystrica.
In 2005 the HCJB European Conference will take place in Prague. All look forward to it. Click on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague

AUDIO STUDIO FOR SLOVAKIA
We met with Milan Hudec, our coworker in Slovakia, before the HCJB European Conference and sensed some new and exciting challenges. We are sure that you remember the beginnings of our broadcasting in Slovakia more than a year ago. Milan is a humble servant and he shared with us that he is finding himself thinking about ministry more than about his job. The Lord is working in His life. College students under Jozef G's leading have also used Milan's studio. We've known Jozef since 1987 from Trans World Radio in Monte Carlo when we contributed our programs. Jozef later completed his degree in Communication and at the present time teaches Radio program production classes at the Theological Department of the University of Banska Bystrica, Slovakia. The University has no recording studio!? Thus he visits Milan's home studio once a week with about fifteen students-all of them walking through the living room, using one bathroom … You can imagine the impact of this practice on the normal function of the household. This is the way the students earn their credits in the Radio production lab. However, Milan's family needs the room for their adult daughter.
Pavel and Milan presented the Slovak need at the Conference. We discussed the matter in greater detail with HCJB's Eurasian Regional director and with the Central European Coordinator. Milan is now working on a project proposal. Please pray for this opportunity.
After evaluating our co-production with Milan and the impact of Slovak broadcasting on listeners, we believe that the above is another unique opportunity to promote HCJB World Radio studio planting on the campus of the University that may be used by both, HCJB and the University. We also believe that this studio lab may become a hatchery of new Christian radio producers.
Milan shared with us about listeners' reactions to our programs. One man wrote after he listened to a program with the central verse: Blessed are the poor in the spirit. The Spirit touched his heart and he wrote that if the personal condition of man is so desperate he should jump out of the window. Later on he wrote again, thanking us that now he understands that salvation is about our insufficiency; and humility, sufficiency, love and mercy of our Savior.

PAVEL'S CONFESSION
Klara was sure glad that Pavel came back from Germany spiritually refreshed, praising the German hosts. However, he must confess something here. It may be unimaginable for you, but please picture being born, by God's gracious decree, as a Czech who is placed into a historical vise-squeezed on one side by the Germans (from "eternity past" till 1945) and on the other side by the Russians (from 1948 till almost 1990). Pavel clearly remembers his mother's shivering (caused by fear and hate) when she heard the German language; Pavel used to have the same feeling after 1948 when he heard the Russian language. This pressure led to our emigration to the U.S. in 1969.
Distrust and ill feeling does not make Czech people better than either of the mentioned peoples. Czech people are too small in number to reveal their true nature, though in some cases they did… We all are sinners. This is just a historical fact that must be considered. Only Christ, our Savior, may teach us that applying collective guiltiness to a group of people is sin. When Pavel fellowships with his German or Russian brothers in Christ (even non-Christians) he loves them even more than others, since the flashback of the past experience always finds its way into his sub-consciousness as a permanent scar reminding him of his past sinful judgments. Christ truly liberates!

OTHER EVENTS AND VISITS
In spite of all mentioned events we did not cancel several scheduled commitments for May in other cities since they were booked a year ago. During one week we drove twice to Brno, to present our Mission work in Ecuador and another 60-minute live program on Radio Proglas in Brno concerning Old Testament Promise in physical shadows and relating New Testament Fulfillment in the spiritual reality (substance) of Christ.
Two separate visitors from the U.S. cancelled their trips (not because of us). We surely were glad. Not only because of our busyness, but the weather was this year unusually cold and rainy on top of it all. It would have been no fun. Klara met with two couples of friends from Arizona (Pavel was in bed). Pavel was preaching on God's Sovereignty the next day in a small Reformed Church.
In mid May we attended a two-day conference in the Knight's Hall of the Czech Senate. The topic was "What Is Right For The Right." Roger Scruton, a philosopher and conservative thinker from UK, talked about Europe and the USA: "Friends or Foes?" Andrew Bacevich, Boston University, U.S.A., addressed the topic: "Exporting Democracy?" Roberto de Mattei, Centro Culturale Lepanto, Italy spoke on "Importing Islam?" Otto Ule, Binghamton University, U.S.A. presented "Defense Of The West: Moral, Cultural, and Political Considerations." This was an extremely interesting presentation from the conservative point of view. However, most of the population of Europe is convinced that the present problems with terrorism were created by the U.S.A.
We had an unexpected visit by two young theology students to discuss some church and theological issues. Also two young ladies we had not seen for years visited us. Believe it or not, one of them could talk about Pavel's teaching in the church when she was 12 years old. Now she has graduated from college and is heading off to add some Theology studies.
The last weekend of May, Klara and our lady employees (Jindra and Gabi) attended a weekend Ladies' Retreat near Brno. This was the first ladies' conference open to all denominations since we began serving in CZ 12 years ago. The only speaker at the conference was Elisabeth Elliot. What a blessing! The fellowship and depth of the commitment was unique. We praise the Lord that our four ladies had the opportunity to see and hear Elisabeth first hand. Several younger American missionary families moved near Brno recently and are operating the camp facility. They did an outstanding job.
In the last letter we shared the joy that Lenka and Filip are expecting another child. Family joy was short lived-they called and told us that their baby's heart stopped beating. We all are sad but praising the Lord for two healthy boys.

KLARA'S THEATRE SHOCK …
While Pavel was at the HCJB European Conference in Germany, ladies from "Czech Dialog" magazine invited Klara, as a spiritual advisor, to join them to see a play that was called "Goldberg's Variations or, Man Is Not God, Is God God?" She was a little bit suspicious, but what was shown was beyond her wildest expectation. This play was so filthy that in our worst imagination we could not be more offensive to any religion or person. She is not going to describe any crucial details, but her heart was screaming-God hates the SIN! She was unable to leave during the first act since she was locked in the middle of the row. As Klara was talking to these ladies before the play, she found out how sensitive they were since they could not see Gibson's "The Passion of Christ" because the violence and crucifixion would disturb them. On the other hand, they did not feel offended by scenes when nude Eve, Adam, serpent and an angel performed group sex in the Garden of Eden! There was a dance around the golden calf that was performed by hell's angels rock group. The smoke and all obscenities were truly a breath of hell. Klara apologized to the ladies who invited her saying that she cannot tolerate such filth and blasphemy. In spite of it all she was the only one who left after the first act. The audience remarked that the show was quite interesting and on the creative way the play was presented.
Klara related the play to the picture of Jesus crucifixion in "The Passion of Christ". The actors were the tormentors, the audience was "shouting" crucify Him. Once again it was clear beyond any doubt what it means to be spiritually dead. The stench of death is all over. Those who do not stand at the foot of the cross and weep stand on the rim of hell. The theater has numerous sponsors and the audience was a representation of educated and "nice" people. How can we say to people like this "God loves you?!" Nothing is holy to a spiritually dead person and often we forget this sad fact.
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. (1. Corinthians 2:14)

PRAISES
Final agreement for Satellite Broadcasting between HCJB World Office – CZ and Trans World Radio – CZ was signed. This gives us 60 minutes of daily satellite broadcasting for the next eight years. Please pray that we will have a sufficient number of volunteers to produce quality biblical programs. Please pray that the Slovak government will grant the broadcasting license in God's timing.
June 7 was the first day all five of us were in the office. Vladimir is back from Ireland and our Internet upgrades are in process.
Klara spent days at mother's place sorting, giving away, packing into banana boxes and getting rid of leftovers. She took care of the paperwork, all changes, applications and procedures, packed the household etc. Mother's 50-years-of-stuff accumulation had to be given away, moved out into storage or discarded. The last task was the painting and returning the apartment back to the city, thus closing down another life chapter. No matter how difficult it was, Klara was grateful that this big reduction was done this way. Most of the elderly residents from the place where mother lived till now were either relocated into long-term hospital care or ended up at the cemetery. To pack someone's apartment and liquidate most of the stuff is a heroic undertaking. It makes one think about things that really count in this life… Toward the end Klara was really tired, since Pavel was ill with his nose congestion most of the moving time. The help by Pavel and Peter (Jindra's husband) for the final loads was really appreciated. Now we bring carloads of sorted personal items to recreate the feeling this is not an institution only, but it is her home.

PRAYER NEEDS:
Gabi had her mammography done and it does not look good. She might undergo surgery.
For protection and wisdom how to balance our ministry and personal rest.

Once again, thank you for your love, prayers and kindness.
In His Sovereign Grace Pavel and Klara