MidnightCall Magazine
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News From Israel MagazineCzech Republic
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
Midnight Call Ministries International has entered its 52nd year of service. We have often reminisced about some of the significant experiences we have shared over the years, and can only stand in amazement when we consider our insufficiency and the Lord’s allsufficiency. What a blessing it is when God allows us to recognize our total dependency upon His grace! The Apostle Paul testified of this wonderful grace in 1 Corinthians 15:10: “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” That is why believers must continuously approach the throne of grace, not only for our present needs, but “in time of need”; that is, the future.
We have asked our faithful Czech coworker, Ludmila Hallerova, to write a few words of testimony relating to the work of Midnight Call.
Ludmila Hallerova
Missionary to Czech Republic
When I think about our blessed fellowship with Midnight Call and the people of the Czech Republic, I must go back to February of 1948 when I attended the Battenberg Bible School in Switzerland. Midnight Call did not exist back then, but one person I had met there was Wim Malgo and a young lady named Annie Schouten, who later married. My name is Lidka Jenikova. Annie and myself were studying at the same semester; Wim Malgo was one in front of us. It seemed that the Dutch and Czech mentality was somewhat similar; thus, we became very good friends. Also, there were three students in Wim Malgo’s class who were from the Czech Republic, which at that time was Czechoslovakia.
I stayed in touch with Wim Malgo after I had returned to my homeland, which later had become communist. In the meantime, Wim founded Midnight Call Ministries. The resulting publication be came my only connection to the free world for many years. Of course, other ways and means were later realized.
We always remembered the words of our professor, D. C. Wasserzug: “To proclaim the return of Jesus is essential to the proclamation of the Gospel. We owe it to the world to proclaim the prophetic Word.”
Unfortunately, the prophetic Word had been neglected in our country. My desire had always been to somehow fill the gap. After developing good business relations with a publishing house in Prague, I requested permission from Midnight Call Switzerland to begin translating the magazine. The first issue was published in April 1998. The magazine had been printed in Switzerland until August 1999. But here in Prague we continue to publish our own issue. In the meantime, we are approaching our 9th anniversary.
The Czech Republic is a relatively small country (70,864 sq. km.) with a population of approximately 10 million. Two percent of the population is Protestant. Therefore, we consider it a miracle that there is so much interest in this publication. This may also be because Midnight Call is the only prophetic-oriented publication that believers can obtain in their own language.
We have offered tours to Israel since 1993. A local travel agency helped us in the organizational aspect and we used Israeli National Airline, El Al. Our motto was “With the Bible in our hand, we are traveling the Holy Land.”
It became difficult to organize such tours after the first Intifada. I had always wanted to visit the land of Israel, but could not because had to take care of my invalid husband. But even during those very difficult days it seemed like the Lord was putting it on my heart to go now when few tourists visited Israel, since it would be a wonderful testimony of our support for the nation. Thus, I asked our people in Beth Shalom (Haifa, Israel) to organize a Holy Land tour for Czech people. Fredi and Beate Winkler (Wim Malgo’s eldest daughter) helped eagerly, and made it a success. Fredi Winkler is a licensed tour guide and he did an excellent job. He continuously emphasized the events taking place in Israel today and how they relate to Bible prophecy.
We have already taken 10 groups to the Beth Shalom Hotel since 2002. I believe this small hotel surpasses the very best in the land of Israel. It is not surprising that many people from Jerusalem also stay at this hotel to relax for a week or so.
I recently saw a report on television about a 97-year-old woman who continues to guide tours to the land of Israel. I was encouraged; after all, I am only 77, and should, therefore, joyfully continue to do the work. I remain desirous to fulfill the wishes of Wim Malgo, who encouraged me to bring as many Czech Christians to Israel as possible.
I pray constantly for the means to accomplish this task because wages here are relatively low and few people can afford to tour the land of Israel.
To me, the land of Israel is like a “fifth gospel.” What a thrill it is to be there, to see, touch and walk in the same places as the Son of God!
Fredi Winkler has been a guest at our church in Prague about 10 times. He continues to serve us with the living prophetic Word.
We joyfully reminisce about our first Israel conference in June 2006, which was held in Prague. The theme of the conference was “Back to the Roots.” Fredi Winkler explained the 2,000-year history of Anti-Semitism and the reality of the prophetic Word.
Words cannot describe what tremendous blessing this fellowship has brought, not only to me, but also to enumerable Czech Christians during these many years. I think we will only realize the full extent of our trials, joys, tribulations and victories when we are in the presence
of the Lord.