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July 2005
Greetings to all of you in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ. First of all we want to say a big THANKS for all your prayers and faithfulness toward Czech and Slovak ministries. Let us start with some changes in our communication with you.
After our Home Ministry Assignment, we decided that for those on our e-mail list, we should share more up-to-date information than what we can put in our regular, bi-monthly News Release. Here are some specifics we shared in June:
In May we asked you in our E-mail Prayer & Praise Report (E-PPR) for prayers concerning the major undertaking of hosting HCJB World Radio European Conference and meeting of the Board of HCJB World Radio in Prague.
In the E-PPR we shared with you a following matters: Jason Vincent-Newson announced his decision to resign as HCJB World Radio Director for the Euro-Asia Region. The Vice President, International Ministries, HCJB World Radio, Curt Cole, wrote:
Our desire would be to place the director in Central or Eastern Europe, most likely in Prague, so the region could be served well from there.
THE LORD ANSWERED:
Prague and the Czech Republic are centrally located and recently became part of the European Union. The Board of HCJB World Radio, eight members of its governing body and the president of HCJB World Radio, David Johnson, met in Prague on June 2-3, and assessed, among others, all the options and needs for growing Euro-Asia Region. This huge territory expands from the United Kingdom on the west up to the most eastern parts of Siberia—Chukotka that borders Alaska.
The Board suggested that the Regional Office for entire Euro-Asia Region should be located in Prague, Czech Republic. The final decision will be made in a few weeks. In that case, the new Euro-Asia Regional director would manage this wast region from Prague. It is subdivided into three Divisions: .
HCJB EUROPEAN CONFERENCE
As for the HCJB Euro conference, we are overwhelmed how everything went smoothly. Your prayers carried all of us. We gave a great tribute to Pavel and his skills to keep track of every little detail. Klara actually felt like a bystander making sure that we have enough treats and ice. Gabi was meeting people at the airport and railroad station. The conference's cultural highlight was at the National Theatre where we saw the opera "Bartered Bride" by Bedrich Smetana. The new modern production exposed the values of Czech people with great humor. Music was wonderful and all of us had a great time. The night walk through historical Prague was enchanting. After the conference we got many praises and thank you e-mails. Here is one of the comments:
Thank you for all your input in getting the conference running so well! We will come back to spend more time in this beautiful city! The National Theatre was impressive! After the opera we sat in a small restaurant at the Moldau and had a late dinner. The illumination of the city was wonderful!
Love, Elsa - Germany
TWR SATELLITEBROADCASTING PROJECT:
April 26, 2005 License for satellite broadcasting - Radio 7 - was granted for the next eight years. After four years of preparation, this is the major victory. Now, we need prayers without ceasing. Please pray especially for the TWR team since they will have to face many changes: 24 hour broadcasting will cause many changes in daily work load - willingness and availability to serve, adjustment of personal priorities, more workers, … that all what we do and how we do it will glorify our Lord. -
God bless,
Ales Bartosek, Director TWR CZ.
We are rejoicing that new era of cooperation between TWR-CZ, and our HCJB Czech and Slovak media mission has another milestone of cooperation ahead.
LOCAL CHURCH: reason to pray:
We would like to share an example how our local church stands. Let's start with a quotation from our Annual membership meeting report. The pastor wrote:
Almost half of our members are involved in the regular ministries, starting from organizing worship, children classes up to invisible service behind the scene. Thanks to all of you who pray regularly for the church and that you care how the Lord works among us. Because of His mercy our congregation can serve in and out and causes desire in our hearts to be available to His service.
Statistics:
Last year, 2004, our congregation had 170 full members. In 2003 we had 160 members and 28 went through classes for the new members. In year 2004 we accepted 9 new members, 6 came from other CB churches, 2 from other denominations, 2 were expelled and one member died.
I read the annual report with great interest and the fact that about half of the members are involved in some kind of ministry service was quite impressive. Their names were mentioned and I could not believe that there are so many names I do not know. Let me mention that we have attended this church for the past six years. I took a list of paper and wrote the names into two columns. People I know by their name and those that I do not know. Out of 75 names I knew only 32 and if I would ask Pavel, it would be much less. This is not the first time I was concerned about this. When we were ourselves new here, we talked to other US missionaries and we volunteered that we would prepare a church directory. This was turned down by the board of elders.
Our church has many visitors but they are not usually acknowledged, no one pays attention and it can happen that a person remains as a "new attendee" for a long time. Numerous visitors come and leave because they feel unnoticed and welcomed. This is a way of life here, not only among the general population but also in churches. In the past this situation was addressed at one meeting where we were trying to find out what would make our church a more friendly place. Many feelings were expressed, but there was no change to speak off. What is most disturbing is that we do not care even for those who are a visible part of the church and no one pays any attention even when there is need. For a month we had no idea that one of the couples is undergoing long-term chemotherapy treatments. In another family, the father was working part time for a couple of weeks while his wife was taking care of a parent after the surgery in another town. I could mention other similar cases. No wonder that churches are struggling. It looks like Christians keep their privacy to the point that we are like strangers to each other-even in the church family. Visitors and seekers feel unwelcome.
We are praising the Lord that the HCJB World Radio conference people could join us in Sunday service and challenge the congregation. Ron Cline's message "How to listen to God's voice" was based on Proverbs 3:5 – Trust the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Trust in the Lord and listen to His voice, which comes from above. However, there are two other voices whispering-one into our left ear saying, "This can not be done, and another voice shouting into our right ear, "You will look like a fool."
The sermon was enriched by two testimonies showing what can be done, if we trust. Songs in French, German, Spanish and from Paraguay touched the hearts. Françoise Dossmann shared her testimony and how they were recently evacuated from Ivory Coast. Testimony and songs of Dorothea Klaue, born in Paraguay, who has served 17 years in Ecuador and now in Germany was another highlight. We were impressed how people melted and reacted to the HCJB World Radio Sunday service.
Please pray that we can share with the local church much more about our wonderful HCJB World Radio ministry experience World wide. Local church needs the fresh breath of air. Praise the Lord that we have the privilege to share our ministry with supporting churches and their numerous care groups, Bible study and fellowship groups.
PRAISE:
Mike and Ellen Dworak from Chicago area accepted the position to become directors of the Central European Division of the Euro-Asia Region. Please pray that their support will come in soon. If everything goes well, they can join us next spring. What a JOY - we can hardly wait till they come. They related to the people in our church so well.
VISITORS
Yes, they were calling / coming even during our busiest time, but we could not meet them. It was rather frustrating when we checked our answering machine. An unknown voice said,
This is Igor and Mary, we are in Prague for two days. We would like to meet with you."
We had no clue who they were. We missed another couple that called us in the last minute, thus we got their message after they were gone. Please, please – let us know ahead of time.
Once again we drove our visitors to concentration camp in Terezín. This time it was really powerful experience, since Gary's grandparents lost their life right there. Since we were there on Saturday, place where the gas ovens are were closed. Gary's family survived only because they fled from Berlin to China shortly before Hitler came to power. The Lord put us together and we had an opportunity to share salvation message with this dear couple.
We were pleasantly surprised and blessed by a visiting couple from our supporting North Shore Baptist Church of New York City. They were Chinese and we went together with the HCJB World Radio Vice President of International Ministries, Curt Cole, and his wife to a Chinese restaurant in our neighborhood because the Czech restaurant where we usually go was full. It was incredible to listen to stories about Curt's wife's grandpa who was a missionary in China. What a time together.
Before and after the conference we could fellowship with those who came a few days ahead of time or left a few days after the conference. We admit we were exhausted and needed some rest, but other tasks kept us going.
PRAYER CONSIDERATION
We are close to publishing another theological brochure — pray for receptive hearts of Czech believers.
Please pray for Slovak broadcasting — we are buying time on a Catholic station and the listeners are responding — this might not be appreciated by some Catholic bishops.
Also for the Slovak team and their needs for a place for the studio, voices, … The students are not willing to be trained without getting paid…!?
Please pray for Dworak's.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LOVE, PRAYERS AND SUPPORT!
In His Sovereign Grace,
pavel and klára steiger
You may mail your US. tax-deductible contributions to: World Radio Missionary Fellowship P.O. Box 39800 Colorado Springs CO 80949-9800 U.S.A. Attach to your check the following note: FOR THE CZECH PROJECTS ACC # 577850 You may mail your Canadian tax-deductible contributions to: World Radio missionary Fellowship 6981 Millcreek Dr. Unit 23 Mississauga ON L5N 6B8 CANADA Attach to your check the following note: FOR THE CZECH PROJECTS ACC # 577850
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