S4E2: The Transmitter That Wouldn't Be Silenced | Dave Pasechnik

This episode of The Go and Send Podcast features Dave Pasechnik, a pioneer of Christian radio missions who has served the Lord for decades, traveled to over 70 countries, and helped plant hundreds of radio stations around the world. Dave's story starts on a farm in rural Canada with no electricity, where a battery-powered radio first sparked his curiosity about technology — and where he first heard gospel broadcasts beamed in from a station in Quito, Ecuador. That early spark set Dave on a remarkable path: Bible college, an unexpected job at the University of Alberta working on particle accelerators, and eventually a calling into missions with HCJB World Radio in Ecuador. There, he maintained massive shortwave transmitters and power systems, helped build a 500,000-watt transmitter designed to broadcast the gospel behind the Iron Curtain into the Soviet Union despite heavy jamming, and saw an entire village come to faith through a simple weekly Bible study. Dave later helped lead the HCJB Technology Center in Elkhart, Indiana, where his team built cutting-edge equipment that helped launch roughly 350 radio stations across the globe. In this conversation, he shares incredible stories of God's provision and timing — including a tense encounter with armed guards in post-revolution Romania — and offers hard-won wisdom on obedience, patience, and what it really means to step out in faith for the sake of the gospel. Contact us at [email protected] Resources & Links: SonSet Solutions: https://www.sonsetsolutions.org The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee Suffering, Martyrdom, and Rewards in Heaven by Josef Tson Come up to this mountain: The miracle of Clarence W. Jones & HCJB by Lois Neely End of the Spear by Steve Saint   00:00 -- Cold Open: "The Devil Is Trying to Stop the Gospel" 00:44 -- Introducing Dave Pasechnik: 70 Countries, Decades of Radio Ministry 02:03 -- The Tremendous Impact of Christian Radio in Missions 02:59 -- Reaching the World's Largest Muslim Country 03:41 -- Why Radio's Influence Isn't Slowing Down 04:59 -- The Draw of Local Content on Local Radio 06:06 -- Building Real Relationships Through the Microphone 06:44 -- Growing Up on a Farm Without Electricity 07:35 -- A Ukrainian Church and Early Exposure to Missions 09:14 -- High School, Trade Skills, and a Detour Into Bible College 11:52 -- Committing to Christ at Age Eight or Nine 14:49 -- Advice for Anyone Considering a Year of Bible College 17:16 -- An Unexpected Job at the University of Alberta 20:44 -- Sensing God's Call Toward Ecuador and HCJB 23:46 -- The Discouragement -- and Breakthrough -- of Support Raising 27:00 -- Leaving Canada for Ecuador With Two Young Children 28:10 -- Maintaining Massive Transmitters and Power Lines in Ecuador 29:23 -- The Day a Transmitter Went Off the Air Mid-Sermon 31:19 -- Broadcasting Behind the Iron Curtain Into the Soviet Union 33:00 -- Building a 500,000-Watt Transmitter to Beat the Jammers 39:03 -- Bible Studies, a Village Church, and a Boulder-Rolling Teenager Turned Pastor 41:19 -- Called Back to Elkhart to Lead the Technology Center 44:41 -- Building Transmitters for Missions Worldwide 46:43 -- The Iron Curtain Falls and New Nations Open to Independent Radio 48:04 -- The Vision for a "Radio Station in a Suitcase" 49:33 -- Reflecting on 350 Radio Stations Planted 51:46 -- The Remarkable Story Behind the Cape Town Radio Station 54:07 -- Romania: Walking Through Political Upheaval to Reach a Nation 58:03 -- A Tense Standoff With Armed Guards at a Government Office 59:47 -- The Providential Conversation That Opened the Door 1:02:03 -- What the Book of Acts Teaches About Stepping Into the Unknown 1:03:12 -- Learning to Discern God's Direction as a Leader 1:05:49 -- Where to Turn When You Sense God Calling You Into Missions 1:07:44 -- Missionaries and Books That Shaped Dave's Faith 1:08:52 -- Closing Scripture: Romans 12, Philippians 3, and Isaiah 6 1:11:31 -- Final Thoughts and Thanks   To learn more about SonSet Solutions, go to our website or follow us on social media @SonSetSolutions. Website: https://www.sonsetsolutions.org