Ricany, August 1995

Dear friends and partners,

We have just found out that we made a regrettable mistake. That's why we are mailing to you this newsletter a month earlier. In our July News Release we shared with you the loss of great missionaries one of which was Don Richardson, author of Peace Child. This was a shocking news to us when we read the name in a Slovak-language Christian magazine. Apparently there was another Don Richardson, a Christian writer, who lost his life to cancer. We did not know that two great Christian men share the same names. We do regret any confusion we caused, but we are happy that Don Richardson is right now in Indonesia alive and well. We do apologize to Don, his family, and his mission. We wish Don a long life and many more saved souls.

in Prague, June 1995, or almost the biggest showdown in the history of Prague religious happenings.

Krishna devotees have been walking across Europe to honor the 100th anniversary of the birth of founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. This parade with oxen-drawn shrine and pope's bulletproof vehicle moved about the city as well as the Taborite's horse drawn wagons.

Taborites, historically the most radical of Hussite Protestants, set up a replica of a medieval camp in front of the Old town square church. Unfortunately the Taborites was a theatrical group, of non-believers, who demonstrated military tactics as well as trial and death by burning of John Huss. Instead of gospel they distributed free beer to the thirsty.

Pope John Paul II came to canonize a catholic priest Jan Sarkander in spite of strong Protestant opposition. This caused a notable tension among Christians, since this priest centuries ago persecuted Protestants. Because of this some leaders of the largest Protestant denominations did not meet with Pope at the ecumenical meeting. Later on Pope John Paul II apologized to the Protestants for many errors of catholic church and asked for mutual forgiveness.

Demands of our ministry are many and helping hands are few. It is not unusual that I get totally exhausted. Month of June was one of those months. Load of work and deadlines were pressing hard. Trip to Batizovce, Slovakia was on our list. We declined two previous invitations for other commitments. To fail the people the third time was out of question. I was extremely tired and long ride did not help. The first day we drove to Ostrava where five different churches came together to meet with us. When they found out that we are going to Slovakia they insisted "it is on the way". We were happy to encourage some brave new local ministries and missionaries.

The next day we stopped to see my special old-time friend. She was so glad to see us! In January she had breast cancer surgery. In February the second one followed by chemo. In the hospital she read my book and was very grateful. Please pray with us for her salvation. She is one of those nice and honest people surrounded by spiritual darkness. In human eyes people like her shine but in the Lord's they are lost. She knows all the right answers to salvation, but the Lord does not reside in her heart. He is supposed to wait till she reads all available books, so she would not die stupid (those are her words). There is neither church nor Christians near her home.

Going farther east we spent in the car two days. The first time in my life I was not only claustrophobic in the car, but also in my body. My cries to the Lord were - please, show me how, or send us a helper. It is hard to enjoy the spectacular nature of High Tatra mountains being half dead.

Pavel had three more exciting meetings. People came from all over as far as Ukrainian border. They were so appreciative. Again we had to decline more invitations. Pavel could be easily a traveling evangelist. He loves to drive. Maybe we should get him a church on the wheels and some amplifiers. The same way as the puppet theater traveled in the olden days. He wouldn't even need any broadcasting license. People love his preaching and they wake up.

But seriously. In my free time I had an opportunity to read or rather page through two big books of church history in Batizovce. It is more than 700 years old village. The Catholic church existed there for several hundred years. During reformation the Evangelical church was established. Later on Catholics took over Evangelical church building and remnants of believers continued to meet in homes. In more recent days they build another church building and it is worship place till now.

The first day in Batizovce we visited local cemetery and almost every tomb has a Christian message of hope. It seems that place of the last rest was never touched by communists.

At the end of the past century many Slovaks went to America to search for work. Some people who left Slovakia for work were touched by the Gospel and returned home. In 1905 the first Slovak American returned to Batizovce. People were curious to hear some stories from far away country but very soon they heard words from the Bible. The whole village was turned upside down. New religion from America is here! Unchurched people as well as a few people from other churches started to listen. The beginnings were full of troubles, persecution and community rejection. There was physical beating, stone throwing attacks, window breaking, even locking up in mental institution, but the new church, against all odds, continued to grow. One of the families built new house and added large upper room. For the next 58 years believers met there. Today, the son of the builder of this home is 83 years old and his sons and adult grandsons are involved in full time Christian ministries.

During the communist era, since the church did not belong to any recognized denomination, a number of men were imprisoned. Others continued to meet at home. To continue Sunday services legally, they "merged" with the Baptists and finally, almost 50 years later of being the church without the name, they chose for governmental registration name of Christian Assemblies. Since they had no pastors, government never supported them financially and they were able to preserve their doctrinal purity. During Dubcek's era it almost looked that the church can build their own worship center. Shortly after Prague's spring more repression came against the church. Finally in 1986 the church received a permit to build. They began and two months later the construction was halted again. The communists decided that no new church building in that community is desired. After many prayers and appeals the new building permit was issued. Brothers and sisters from all over the country worked fervently and finished the new place in 10 month. We met many people through out the country who were vital part of fervent prayers, generous giving and hard labor. Somehow they all miss enthusiasm of those days. Name Batizovce means so much. Our prayer from the bottom of our hearts is that we will have many more "American spirit (native missionaries)" fired up for the Lord to stir not only one village but the whole country for the Lord. Time to establish new churches is here.

Our son Vit told us: "I started going to the single group in our church". We replied: "How nice" and he added: "There is only one problem. There are only guys ". Where are the girls?

Diamond wedding anniversary. Don't worry, we are not retiring yet. In April of this year we only reached our 30th anniversary, half of this one. Pavel's uncle, brother of his mother and his wife, together with children, grandchildren and other relatives celebrated this happy occasion. Almost ninety people from all over the world came together. The ceremony was carried in the Blue church in Bratislava, Slovakia. To illustrate again how small the world is, right there we bumped into our old time friend from Los Angeles we have not seen at least for 15 years. Except a few people all the guests formed a congregation of philosophers, scientists, artists and businessmen. They all together were touched by the service, but no spiritual challenge was given. The tribute was given to the celebrating couple and to the family accomplishments. People love to hear that we all are living good Christian lives. The reality is that very few of them ever recognized the glory of Christ crucified.

The reception and family time together was a joyful and festive. We met cousins and their children and grandchildren. Many long forgotten or unknown stories and memories were shared. Pictures were shown, addresses exchanged and promises to visit each other were made. How often is our heart broken to see that our immediate family, blood relatives don't know the Lord and are lost. We had the opportunity to share the Gospel with some of them individually, the others were just whispering they (us) are of different faith! Again, we could see how important is personal life and Christian testimony.

In His Service

The Steiger's

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