-Ecclesiastes 7:14

May 1999

Dear Friends and Partners

Part 4:

Most of April was spent in Arizona, driving between Tucson and Phoenix. To describe winter heaven and spring beauty is a challenge. Weather was just perfect-except Easter Sunday, It was white day in Tucson. As we drove to the morning service, we could hardly see. It was just like any other winter blizzard we know from other places. Since we were going to the church service I did not dare to get out of the car to take some rare and exotic pictures. Children in the parking lot were ecstatic, running around with their mouths wide open catching snowflakes.

After the service, the snow from cactuses was gone, only the mountain crown around the Tucson area remained white. We felt sorry for the sunrise services and Easter services in parks - people were freezing.

Part 5:

Speaking of Easter celebration in Tucson and an incredible presentation of "The Living Lord's Supper" on Good Friday, there was also "Black Friday" in Yugoslavia.

We shared with you previously that we email our radio. programs and journal to Yugoslavia. Our dear missionary friends live and work in an area where about 100,000 Slovak minority live. For years they have been broadcasting Christian programs, mostly on secular radio, and we are contributing our programs via Internet. We are also getting good response from people who read our Christian Journal in the Slovak language. Since we are in almost daily e-mail contact with the Christian Center in Bacski Petrovec, we became informed "experts" on Yugoslavia. It is true that many people assume Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia are one country. They are not, but as people we are close. During the Communist era, Yugoslavia was the tourist destination for many Czechs and Slovaks. Yugoslavs enjoyed a lot of freedoms we dreamed about. Our languages are close; we always had friendly relations.

In the former Yugoslavia live not only an Albanian minority but also Slovak, Hungarian, Romanian, Turkish, Gypsy and others. Yugoslavia used to be the most beautiful country, with historical towns, lovely resorts, picturesque countryside, great beaches and very hospitable people. There was never any conflict between our nations, but now, since Czechlands, Poland and Hungary are in NATO, the situation is different and it is becoming increasingly difficult. Can you think what could happen to the Hungarian minority if NATO ground forces are deployed from Hungary?

BLACK FRIDAY

The day was supposed to be a "Good Friday" in the Christian world, but it was "Black Friday" for Christians in Yugoslavia, especially in the Slovak area of Backi Petrovec. That day started with horrible siren sounds, but something terrible also happened - the windows on our KES/TPTL, Christian Evangelistic Center, and the local Baptist Church were smashed with bricks and stones. Why?

We born again believers, especially Baptists, have been identified with the American President. This we did not expect, but just think what will happen to Christians in other than peaceful Slovak areas, where Petrovec is?

While the TV screen influences masses the Internet influences individuals.

CURRENT SITUATION:

It is very sad to see towns and villages without life-no people or cars in the streets (there is no fuel). From early evening to late morning all houses are in the darkness. Everybody is scared, sad and joyless. Children are out of school indefinitely as some 220 schools have been damaged and bombed. All schools are closed, offices and shops are open just a few hours. We still have electricity and telephones. Praise God for the Internet! Sunday is slowly closing. Believers in our area could meet for their regular meetings in spite of sirens, which sounded a few time signaling the danger of air attacks. Having peace with God and peace in our hearts, we could celebrate our Lord at His table by breaking the bread, fulfilling His desire until He comes. There is continual need to pray for our young fellow Christian workers who have been drafted into the Yugoslav military. Last night two of our team members had to go, Darko, our radio technician, and Samuel, Bible school administrator and translator. Do remember that we are producing nearly 16 hours of Christian programs in Slovak, Serbian and Bosnian languages, which are daily aired on our local station and TWR transmitters. These programs are at the top of the listening. There can be no doubt that as a result of the bombing, the number of people listening to the Christian programs grows The destruction of all Danube bridges in Novi Sad has been a nightmare for us. This cuts us off from many refugee friends in the camps of Letenka, Vrdnik and Irski Venac to which we regularly ministered on a weekly basis. Students have been visiting them regularly as well as taking humanitarian help. Please pray for somebody to take the needs of those poor people who have been stuck there for 7 years now! Human tragedy at its worst, but even now spiritual obstruction. Few of these people became Christians; pray that somebody may take our place.

Part 6

Many people are asking WHY? At this time we can only say that the LORD'S name can be glorified. The world's way is to bomb and destroy, the Christian's way is to rebuild, and GOD's way is to win through LOVE. Christians around the world have a tremendous opportunity to help fellow Christians in Yugoslavia, when the war is over. All international humanitarian organizations including Christian missionaries had to leave the country. Please keep Yugoslavia in your daily prayers.

Part 7:

An unexpected email message

In our last letter we wrote about our search or Internet options for an enhanced web page.

We were contacted by the Christian man who operates the largest server in Prague. His mother was our reader for years. She gave our journal to her son. He was challenged by our future plans to build web pages and real audio. It looks like we can get our Internet "broadcasting" page free of charge. Within a few days our web page volunteer and this man installed the testing page, and it looks great. We can hardly wait to get back to "brainstorm" with all the young people who are the jet engine behind this new ministry.

This great opportunity creates new prayer need. We need two full time workers for the office to keep the rest of our ministry commitments going.

"Prayers and praises go in pairs, they have praises who have prayers"

HOME MINISTRY PROGRESS:

Because of Pavel's medical appointments, we had to skip some destinations. We had more time in Arizona to develop new contacts and get better acquainted with pastors and mission people. We had several good meetings with churches and individuals in Phoenix and Tucson, and we are encouraged. We attended one of the planning meetings for the summer camp language team. Their heart and preparation are diligent, and we were happy to provide Pavel's audio tape on the Sovereignty of God and Ken Ham's book we translated and published - GENESIS and Decay of the Nations. If anyone else could use this material, it is available to you. Just let us know. Blessed are those who are FLEXIBLE, they will not be bend out of shape.
- Pastor Kevin Shorkey

PRAISES:

Test results:
PTL - After using antibiotics, Pavel's PSA test showed that he suffered "only" an infection. The doctor recommended a PSA test every six months. Now we are free to return to Colorado and in May fly to Houston for two weeks and two more weeks in Florida, where Pavel's brother and his wife will join us for the grand finale.

Internet:
While in Arizona we received over 250 e-mails. We are in contact with our home office in Prague.

Itinerary:
We will fly back to Prague May 30th to meet the HCJB tour group arriving May 31. Our banana boxes with our stuff will have to, wait a little longer to be unpacked.

We praise the Lord for the new ministry opportunities and involvement in the Czech Republic.

In HIS Sovereign Care,

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