Battle Log
Battle Log > Plymouth Team
Friday, 12 March, 2010
Last Friday another evangelist came out with me on the Friday evening to Plymouth University for an hour which was a great encouragement (there is now 3 in our team on a regular basis, including me!) and he is really interested in learning more of the WOTM principles which is great.
He had a great conversation with a Muslim student who again brought up issues about the Koran saying Jesus didnt die on a cross etc, and hopes to meet him again to chat further. That evening I came across 17 year old lads who were cousins walking through Plymouth University that evening. They were extremly open and friendly, which is not what I first expected, and they appeared to be concerned about the state of their soul before God and so enthusiasticly took tracts and a gospel of John to read, which was greatly encouraging. It made me realise again that God is no respector of persons, were all the same in his sight in that respect, and so just if we dont think someone will want to hear the gospel because of the way they look/ dress, God often has other ideas.
I also had a very interesting conversation with a guy called Rob, who was gay. I discovered this after he said he had never lusted after a woman, but this issue was not the sticking point at all, as it so often can be. Again he was very pleasant and was not convinced about evolution anhd was intregued about creationism and what the Bibles views on the origin of life were, and again he gladly took some tracts and information to read and think about.
On the train back from Glastonbury on Tuesday, I offered a tract to a man with his headphones on, and again at first I thought he would be disinterested, but again I was very wrong! It was a real refrershing conversation with the 24yr old guy called Mike, and as he had been brought up in a Catholic school as a child, he already had some views on God and heaven/ hell. He really understood the gospel message, its amazing grace but also stark warningsa of refusing to repent and trust Christ alone for his salvation, and therefore acknowledged the implications this may have on his girlfriend about to pick him up from the station and his parents etc. He too took a gospel of John and a 'Why Christianity' tract.
On Wednesday 17th March I had the day off work, and so had arranged to meet some American students on an evangelism outreach fgrom Iowa to Plymouth, as a friend had seen them doing open air preaching in PLymouth city centre and took their contact details, and so I spent a couple of hours with them.
This included managing to speak to some x-pupils from the local secondary school I work alongside as a youth worker, and being able to start conversations with 3 lads whom I know from there, which I would not normally have been able to do in work time, which was great. They took tracts and seemed wide eyed afterwards when they understood what the gospel and Easter was all about, and after knowing about my accident I had when I was their age at 16, how short this life is incomparison to the next.
I met the guy whose email I had contacted, and it turned out there was about 12 students alltogether with this mission trip, and others from their Church in Iowa had also gone to Wales and Barcelona doing the same sort of thing. They were using WOTM tracts and 6 day creation v evolution tracts which were really good. One of the older guys started doing some open air preaching at the sundial right in the middle of the city centre, and quite a few people stopped to listen to the american accent and what was being said, including a couple of angry hecklers and a couple of policemen pacing up and down in the background. Lots of tracts were given out to people when he had finished speaking.
I was then encouraged by him and so preached as well, and the same 2 hecklers came back, one man shouting adomantly that 'God hateed religious people', and another girl who wanted a shouting contest with me saying that because she didnt believe in God it didnt apply to her. I then tried to reason with he that if I believed the sun was sguare and blue, my belief system didnt matter, but the truth is the thing that matters. I tried to reason that either space or God must be the infinite causer of all life, and that as the Universe has a beginning, God was infinite and is self existent and so then went on challenging peoples beliefs about how someone gets to heaven.
I was encouraged afterwards by a couple of Christians I knew from Plymouth walking past who stopped to listen, and also an elderly gentleman the Kyle the american was speaking with. It seemed like he had heard some of what was being said by the other preacher and myself, and he said he used to believe in God/ go to Church, but wanted to think about things again, so praying he was convicted somehow!
Was a great afternoon and a real encouragement, and hope to meet them again on Friday before they fly home on Saturday.
Saturday, 27 February, 2010
On Friday the 26th February again my friend Phil and I went out to the Plymouth University campus at 9pm to try and catch students walking between the student Union and bars on the campus and down in the town. We hoped at this time we may be able to catch a few more that hadnt already been drinking, or who were at least ameniable to stop and talk.
I went across the road while Phil tried handing out some tracts, and I tried offering a million pound note to a group of guys to see if they would be willing to chat. However I didnt really take much notice of the bottles of beer in their pockets, and after going through 3 of the good person test questions, one of them asked if this was a religious thing, and thats when they started to get very irate. One guy had claimed that there absolutely was no God, and so I tried to reason with them about someone having to have absolute knowledge of the whole Universe for that to be true, and of course as thats not possible, left him with the thought that maybe in all of the vastness of time and space and knowledge that he didnt know, perhaps there was ample evidence for God to exist.
They didnt like this, and as there was about 6 of them, it became increasingly more evident they were not open to a reasonable discussion, they just hurled abuse at my belief in the Bible, that the world was created in 6 literal 24hr days and about 6000 years old, Noahs flood, Jonah and the whale etc.
They had no proof whatsoever for evolution, and one guy was just silent when questioned about evidence of just one transitional fossil or why 2 kinds of animals dont breed or have developed over a long period of time.
I was getting quite frustrated and so tried getting out of the situation quite hastily as one 'biologist' kept putting his hands on me when speaking. They didnt like the fact that I wanted to go, but later on when the group had dispersed to just 2, the guy was more open to talking with Phil and me. He said that he didnt believe in evolution, as in a faith, but that he acknowledged it as fact! Although he still couldnt justify his answers, we tried leaving him with an evolution tract to put in his pocket to read the next morning.
A Plymouth University security guard had also started to look across the road to see what the comotion was about, but thankfully they left quietly.
Later on that evening after a few more good conversations, we managed to speak to 2 students, one turning out to be a Muslim. After acknowledging they had broken the 10 commandments, the Muslim guy knew he was only basing his hope on heaven on the grounds of Allah being merciful to him by weighing up his good and bad deeds on judgment day.
Once explaining that God was a just judge and therefore couldnt pass over our sinning, just like a good human judge if we robbed a bank, and reasoning that our sins were that serious against God and worthy of eternity in hell because they were against God himself, he seemed to appreciate the good news of the cross and that all his past, present ands future sins could be paid for through Jesus death on the cross, without any works or striving to get to heaven himself, but through repenting of their sins and putting their trust in Jesus. He didnt try and reason anything about the Koran or Mohammed at all, even when we mentioned that Jesus was God. They were both pretty wide eyed and gladly took the tracts, and were encouraged to read the gospel of John. Phil and I were very encouraged and prayed they would get in with the C/U at the University, but like most of the conversations, we didnt know where this would lead, but left their salvation in Gods hands
The next day on Saturdays evangelism outreach in Plymouth city centre, I met up with another Church who go out monthly into the city centre.
I had the opportunity to stand and preach, and God drew in a few passers by, older people, some students and teenagers. A Lady in her early 20's stopped to listen, and I could see that she was taking in what was being said which was great. Unfortunatly the day before, an elderly lady had been hit by a lorry and died instantly, which was big news in Plymouth, and so gave me an ideal springboard to preach about, right into the crowd of those entering/ leaving the shopping mall, which was great amplification as well.
2 students asked some questions about where is God and the Virgin birth for some reason, but after preaching for about 10 minutes, saw others from the Church speaking with the lady who had been listening and giving her some information which was great.
Afterwards I had an amazing chat with 2 lads that said they would get right with God as soon as they had finished eating their burger! They were 18 and 20, and listened intently after being concerned that if they were to die that day they would be hell bound. But again, they truly appreciated the good news then even more, and again were wide eyed. I was almost going to see if they wanted to pray there and then, but they seemed earnest enough and said they would get right with God after finsihing off their lunch, so again pray that God worked in their lives and they might turn to him in humility.
God blessed us with a lovely sunny day and lots of people out shopping enjoying the weather, so was a great day, and was thankful God used us in our weakness and small number to speak the truth in love to people about eternity.
Saturday, 20 February, 2010
Last weekend again I went to Plymouth university by myself to witness to the many students heading out to the bars, to try and catch them before they had too muc to drink. God answered prayers again by enabling me to have at least 5 good solid conversations with people, including 2 lads who had already drunk a bit but took some gospel tracts home. Although knowledge of Christian apologetics, proofs for a young earth and refuting evolution are handy to give a reason for the hope that lies within, I have found using the law to speak to peoples conscience and making hell reasonable has often not needed me to justify the Bibles position, as Romans 2 states people already have a knowledge of God, but supressing the truth in unrighteousness. God has also allowed my testimony of just being a church goer to now being born again, and the scars from my near fatal accident to show people how short life is and how God can save a wretch like me! The university c/u also runs a free "tea and toast" outreach from 10-4am so people can be directed there for more Information And a bible. On the Saturday Shirley and me did an outreach In Exeter again, preaching taking a group of young people through the good person test, and helping 2 of them in the group who attended church why God should let someone into heaven, and how We can receive Gods forgiveness for our sins. Again the million pound note gospel tracts are easy to give away and start a conversation with, Even other people walking past and nearby ask what they are and ask for them while witnessing to others, and about 10 thorough gospel presentations were made with teenagers and adults that day and on the train home. On the Sunday I started a conversation with 2 guys who turned out to be sailors in the navy, both 18yrs old, and was great to see how God had drawn them to me, as they had already been Thinking about God and spiritual things, both had a Bible and asked lots of questions that I was able to Discuss with them. One was a catholic and so was able to explain why works can't save us and some wrong doctrinal teachings in the roman catholic church, pointing to Jesus finished work on the cross, and how this salvation was a free gift that couldn't be worked for. They both had "deer in headlights" syndrome when it clicked that if they were to die that day, they understood they would deserve hell, but appreciated the good news of salvation and eternal life, both giving firm handshakes and sincere smiles, that brought more joy to me than anything this world could offer, making sense of Charles Spurgeons book "The soul winner" and how we can have no greater joy than to help lead Sinner to our fathers house. This week Friday 19th February, Andy mackintosh, a professor in thermodynamics at Leeds university and evangelist was speaking in liskeard, Cornwall about creation, fossils, dinosaurs and the bible which I took 3 friends too, and we all enjoyed the talk, questions and discussions after, and meeting with other bible believing christians who don't believe in a old earth and evolution! On the Saturday (20th February) I did a short outreach in Plymouth city centre with Wayne Arthur and a few others, where we were both able to preach with loads of teenagers who were goths/emo's dressed I black and facepaint listening. 3 great conversations were also had with groups of teenagers aged 14-18, and again no questions were asked about the knowledge of Gods existence as they all had Gods law written on their hearts, but saw their need to repent and trust the saviour while they still had the chance. God has blessed me with lots of conversations to people that are open to the gospel and lack a reason to live and exist, but hopefully now They will see we are here to glorify God and enjoy him forever! Next weekend I will be teaming up with a new group of bible believing Christians from another church who need another street preacher in Plymouth while they give out tracts, and have been asked to preach at their church on Easter sunday evening which is a great blessing and answer to prayer! Thank you God for using a sinner to be a vessel for your work!
Saturday, 16 January, 2010
On Saturday 16th January, a few of us met up to give out some tracts and do some preaching in Plymouth city cenhtre. Weather was good and were about 6 of us handing out tracts to passers by. We noticed a large crowd of young people dressed in goth/ emo wear- black clothes, facepaint and lots of hair gel etc by the sundial, so thought it a prime opportunity.
Wayne started witnessing to one lad, and was there over all for about 3/4 of an hour, as he didnt believe in evolution and knew it was flawed, and so Wayne was able to reason with him about God and how he has revealed himself to us through Jesus and the Bible.
I had a few good conversations with young people in 2 groups, mainly them saying they didnt believe in God, or if there was a God, why do bad thiongs like poverty and natural disasters happen to good people? I triend to reason that everyone knows there is a God- Romans 1 v 18 etc, but that because people enjoy their sin and being the god of their own lives, they supress the truth and try and logic thoughts of the true God out of their lives. The lad surprisingly acknowledged this to be true.
I then spoke with them about no one in the world being a 'good person', and that God was sovereign and in control of things that went on in the world, such as the earthquake in Haiti, but that there were differing reasons for things happening.
Lots of million pound notes and good person comic tracts were handed out, with the young people keen to read them. Quite a few of the young people who dress up the way they do have at different tikmes explained they had some religious background and upbringing, and for differing reasosn have chose not to follow it anymore such as family circumstances/ abuse/ tragedy in the family/ school life, and so its good they already have some basis to talk about things.
In the end I did some open air preaching looking at 1 John 2 v 15, and was in front of the young people, and we had a local busker who stood next to Wayne to listen who came in a few times saying that Jesus was not God and was just a man (which you can hear on the video), and we later found out he had some Jewish background. The video is on my youtube/ facebook account.
Am meeting Rob and Andrew Noble in Exeter tomorrow- 23/01 to meet to plan another evangelism outreach like that in London last year and also hopefully to do some evangelism together if weather permits.
Praying for more labourers to come out Friday nights to the University again now the weather starts to get better as has been pretty wet, and also planning more saturday outreaches with Wayne and Shirley.
Although we may not see much fruit from the conversations we have with people sometimes, we know God is the one that draws people to him, but is always good when we see someone clearly convicted of their sin and seeing their need of a saviour!
Friday, 1 January, 2010
On Saturday 19th December I went to visit a friend in Bristol and we did some outreach together. There were only 3 of us, but were giving out tracts and starting convcersations with passers by. There were several noteable ones, where a student named adam, 4 teenagers and another couple of groups all seemed open and convicted at the gospel message given to them, each in turn saying they would definatly go home and think about things and read the Biblke and consider what was shared which was encouraging.
I also did dome open air preaching with the good person test board with 4 older teenagers, though was distracted by 3 passers by who were atheists leading me down rabbit trails, and because of the freezing temperatures I didnt handle it as maybe I should have done, and ended up debating evolution vs creation instead of keeping on track, but they got a couple of gospel tracts to read.
The next day I went to my friends Church, which turned out to be a 'Word of Faith' Church, but was ok, and didnt want to say anything to my friend there, but hope to in time!
I was encouraged that the Church ran a way of the master evangelism training course before the services, and although it was snall, was encouraging to see others learning how to share their faith with others, and we went through some of the complications that sometimes arise through watching the dvd.
That afternoon before I left we went out to Bristol city centre again, and prayed and 5 of us went out giving gospel tracts and witnessing to people. Again the temperatures were very cold and so not many people wanted to stop and chat as they were finishing off their Christmas shopping, though again some good conversations were had.
Really, the most interesting part of the trip was on the way back on the train, where I spoke to 2 guys, one called Chris and one called Phil.
Chris was in early 20's and said he was homeless, had found his partner in bed with best mate, so was leaving his girlfriend of 5 years who he had 2 children with to go to a hostel in Taunton, and only had the bags on his back. To top it all off he had no family as his parents had both died in a car crash last year! He revealed all this with me after we had started chatting in one of the carriages, and used the miussion pound note to talk aboiut the things of God. It dawned on me after we had chatted and he mentioned about his parents, that he realised he deserved to go to hell, and then I wondered if he had clicked about where his parents maybe. I explained to him the scenario of the thief on the cross and that his parents may hyave gotright with God before they died, but obviously in all likelyhood looked like that was not the case. He looked a bit tearful, and I even offered to put him up for the night as he was having to sleep at the train station until the hostel opened the next day, but he chose to go to Taunton, and had some tracts to read.
The other guy Phil was 20, and he listended intently to what I was speaking with him about my accident, testimony, the Bible, salvation and eternity etc. He gladly took some tracts, and has even emailed since with some questions etc, but was glad for the conversation.
Only God knows where these 2 guys will be in the future, but prayed the seed was sown and that God who wishes that none should perish, would do a work in their lives.
Our team in Plymouth is pretty delapedated, and so will be meeting to pray and discuss options and way forward with Rob and Andrew Noble in near future.
Saturday, 12 December, 2009
On saturday 12th december we did our last Christmas outreach as a team and went to Exeter for a few hours. Wayne, Shirley and her daughter, myself and a lady called Caroline from a local Church handed out Christmas tracts from Nigel Williams website www.freetractsource.com which use the idea of Father Christmas and whether people had been naughty or nice this year, linking this to the 10 commandments.
Shirley and Wayne preached standing on a nearby bench, while I did some witnessing with about 3 groups of teenagers, and had some good discussions, particularly with 2 13yr old lads. One lad said that it made sense that we had broken God's law, when going through the commandments, but that Jesus had paid our fine in his lifes blood, upon our repentance and faith in him. They took some Christmas tracts and million pound notes and said they would definatly think about things.
I also had a good chat with 3 lads who were 18, 19 and 20 and were on their lunch break from work, and again used the lure of asking for any change from a million pound note to talk to them about the things of God. One man in particular sat quite wide eyed when he went through the commandments and realised that, like the vast majority of humanity, he was hell bound, and then was able to reason about Jesus and his uniquness, divinity and offer of salvation through suffering and dying on our behalf and being raised on the third day.
He also noted how important it would then be for them to share this message with their family and friends upon them being saved and again through showing them the scars on my leg said that today was the day of salvation as we never knew just how long we had left on earth and only could get right with God in this lifetime.
Just before lunch I managed to preach for about 10 minutes about the wise men and the gifts they brought to Jesus after his birth, and the significance they had in understanding who he was- the Gold signifying his kingship, royalty and being in the Davidic line which was prophesied about for the cioming messiah, the Frankinsence referring to his priesthood and intercession on our behalf, our mediator between us and God, and about the Myrrh signifying the death he would suffer on our behalf, all prophesied about by Isaiah and in the Psalms.
Most people will have a Christmas star or angel on their tree and it was urged that people think about why they put one there, what it signifys, and how ignoring Jesus and the amazing gift of salvation from our sins and everlasting life would have eternal consequences, but everlasting rewards if they bowed their knee to him while they still could.
It was a positive day, again very cold and windy, but many tracts were handed out and conversations had with people. We just pray that something will stir inside people this yer when they sing carols and eat Christmas dinner that they wonder whose birthday they really are celebrating. Next weekend I am going to Bristol to stay with a friend and will go out on outreach on Saturday afternoon, evening and sunday afternoon in the city centre with my mate Andrew, using the good person test, which should hopefully draw a crowd and will pray for hecklers as should be very busy being last saturday before Christmas.
Link to saturdays outreach- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyhNHYiZrxI
Saturday, 14 November, 2009
Today was a bad day on paper for evangelism as 80mile an hour winds, rain and severe weather warning predicted for Exeter today, but God worked out things for his good. The train was 1 hr delayed with stoppages, but we managed to speak to a 20yr old Scottish guy in the navy. I went through the good person test with him on the back of a million pound note and he was very open and responsive and thought a lot about what we said. He understood that if this was true it was very important to contemplate and understood the implications it would have for family and friends. He took 4 different tracts and thanked me and I could see that braving the wet weather was worth it just for that conversation. We got to Exeter to meet Shirley and her daughter Esther, and we both preached without a mic standing on a bench with the wind howling past and blowing over our coffee and sign. We were both aprehensive as no one really acknowledged us much apart from people walking past saying "who gives a $@?!* about God! The gospel hardens or softens peoples hearts so know it was doing it's work! We gave out some tracts then had lunch, and as weather pretty bad we had lunch then left. At train station a group of about 12-15 teenagers were at station waiting, so I started a conversation with them and took one guy called Dave through food person test in front of his mates and reasoned with him about sin, righteousness and judgement to come. They all seemed to understand and all took several tracts each. The gu I spoke with most Dave came back before the train left to thank us and seemed to see the enourmity of eternl life and where we would all spend it. I was really encouraged especially as he wAs in front of his mates. Was a real good day and worth braving the weather for, hope and pray to see some of these guys in heaven one day!
Saturday, 7 November, 2009
On saturday 7th November, about 7 of us met up in Plymouth city centre to do a short outreach and to give out tracts to passers by. Again we could not go out Friday night again due to the bad weather.
On saturday, Wayne had his p.a and microphone, and so we took it in turns to do open air preaching to the crowds that walked by.
After about 20 minutes, a PCSO approached us saying that she had received complaints from shops in the city centre about the level of our noise, and if we could turn the volume down. We acknowledged her but stated that the noise was way below the guidelines given by the council of 40 decibells, we were under 10 at a guess. We also stated that it was not so much the noise that offended people, but what we were speaking about.
After more preaching in that spot, we moved on up further into the city centre and started again. Opposite where we were speaking was a balloon seller who sometimes gives us grief as he has a Jehovas witness background and likes to heckle us, which can sometimes be good to draw onlookers. However this time when I was speaking, he was seemingly enraged and marched back across to me with his balloons, giving me abuse about what I was saying and pulling my rememberance day poppy from my jacket.
Just after this happened and my friend Wayne was speaking to him, the same PCSO who had approached us earlier came back, saying that we had turned the volume up, that about 12 shops had complained again, and that we could either turn the volume down again, stop using the p.a, or she would have to give us an anti social behaviour order, banning us from preaching in the city centre. We all spoke with her again, saying that people didnt complain about a group of Indians that sometimes play in the centre with panpipes selling cds, or about the guy who plays the bagpipes, or the fair or anything else that was much louder that went on.
She said she would be meeting with the council on Monday to discuss what we had said, and Wayne also said he would contact the Christian Institute about what our rights were more clearly. Quite a few people stopped to listen that day, and may tracts were handed out, so pray that people heard the gospel and were convicted of their sin and saw their need for a Saviour!
Romans 10v14- Faith comes through hearing, and hearing through the word of God.
Links to the videos that are on youtube of the day are below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBns0XlUWCE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8FU7RzctAM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhVCS8iqIH0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhoahkpmhS0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V35mr18WGRA
Saturday, 31 October, 2009
We didnt go out on Friday 30th due to bad weather, though 4 of us went to Truro for halloween from 11-3pm on 31st October.
My friend Phil volunteered to be a 'corpse' with a sheet drapped over him, and I preached for about 15 minutes outside the Cathedral against Halloween, death and people participating in demonic activities, and shared how Jesus came to give us life and save us from hell. Quite a few people stopped to listen, as I explained about death, causes of accidental death, and that no matter how rich or poor, happy or sad, tall or short, young or old that we would all one day give an account to God of our lives, and that the righteousness we need is in Jesus Christ alone.
We then managed to hand out a few tracts to people, before Shirley preached without a microphone to the apathetic locals who continued to walk past. We then stopped for lunch, and went to another part of Truro to preach. Again Phil volunteered to be a dead body, and I basically preached the same message, about the shortness of life, how if we believed in the Devil we must surely have to believe in a God as well, and explained how eternity is so much more important to think about and consider than the problems we have in this life.
Again the passers by and those seated eating their lunch were pretty quiet, although one lady spoke to me that her father had died quite recently and that death was not a nice thing to think about. A couple of young women had also stopped to listen, and I managed to give them some tracts and a new testament to read, after talking to them about death and the afterlife, which they received well.
Truro is always a hard place to go, with very little response normally, though they need to hear the gospel like everyone else does, and so were venturing to Exeter on saturday 15th which we always enjoy going to, and hopefully the Friday nights to the University, weather permitting, now we are leading up to Christmas, as we have more of a springboard to preach about.
Friday, 16 October, 2009
The numbers of the group are still low, people attend when they can and on the outreaches we do on weekends, but this Friday night there were just 3 of us again- Phillip, Rachelle my fiancee and me.
Again we met at the top Mcdonalds in Plymouth city centre to chat and then ventured across to the University.
Weather was not great but still lots of students around to chat to.
Rachelle stood handing out tracts near me, some from Nigel Williams freetractsource site, Phil went across the road again top the bars, while I approached people with my million pound notes which always seem to be a favourite.
A group of about 7 skaters had been handed some tracts by Rachelle, and as they walked past I led them in some conversations as to what they were. We chatted for about 15-20 minutes, and although a few listened and didnt respond, 2 or 3 also responded back with some normal debates about proof of the existence of God andabout morality etc. They all shook hands and all took tracts, one of the guys seemed notablely moved and was good that maybe it had sunk in, when they all heard the gospel and some analogies about the shortness of life, my accident and the consequences of sin.
Another chat at the very end of the night went real well with 3 lads. @ had previously been in the forces, andthis came to my attention when going through the commandments and God seeing hatred as murder. They both looked at each other a bit sheepishly and so I explained to them that in the Bible killing and manslaughter/ murder were different and some accounts of this.
Again when I showed them my scars and accident story, this tied in with the importance of getting right with God and sharing the gospel with their friends and family etc. Again they took some tracts and shook hands with them and was a good evening.
Even though there was only 3 people again, the conversations were really positive and hopefully will bear fruit with their friends at University
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