Battle Log
Wednesday 1 July 2020
Posted 1 July 2020, 6:31 PM by Glen Richards. Permalink
Rain, and rain.
"Christchurch had just 12 minutes of sunshine on Monday last week, and hadn't seen the sun since, MetService meteorologist Dan Corrigan said.” - Stuff.co.nz
Thank goodness for the fruitful harvest field of online evangelism. I spent most of my outreach time on Tuesday and Wednesday there. But, there was enough of a break in the rain on Tuesday that I was keen to get to Riccarton. For a change, I set up my flip chart on the corner of Rotherham and Riccarton roads. It was cold! And one of my regulars said, “you won’t get many people stopping to talk today!”. But if you are prayerfully patient, the fish will come - and they did.
And the first to come along was a follow with two high school students I saw a week ago in the city. They looked really surprised to see me. I started re-engaging them, but one of them in particular really didn’t want to talk again, and so they moved on. They had a third friend with them this time, and they received a tract before moving on.
A kid on a bike went past, and then five minutes later he was back with some sushi. He stopped at the flip chart and the fish was on the line. He was quite engaged and open, so I was able to pull out my mini (detailed) flip chart and take the time to thoroughly explain the good news to him. Sadly, it turned out his uncle had died a month ago, I was able to express my sympathy.
Later I had a Polynesian guy go past. I offered to take him through the good person test. He said he needed to go to the bank, but that he would come back. And he did. This guy had “good deeds as the way to heaven” deeply ingrained in him and I had to labour with him through the checking questions - the idea of justification by faith alone was very foreign to him, and not surprisingly it turns out he was catholic. As foreign as it was to his thinking, he started to grasp the good news of the gospel. He took a parting tract, and I left him in God’s hands.
My next conversation started with a type of guy that usually doesn't stop to give me the time of day. So I initially went fast to try to capture his attention. I was surprised when it worked. They guy was actually very intelligent, and it turns out he is a medical student. We got into a deep conversation where we disagreed on pretty much everything. I didn’t understand why he was giving me so much time. At one point it started raining (very lightly, I didn’t even notice), and he backed up to go under the shelter of the shop front. He looked at me and said, “I don’t want to get wet” - he was inviting me to join him under shelter - which I promptly did. I normally finish the outreach at 5pm, but that conversation went till 5:30pm! It was dark before he finally moved on. I was deeply frustrated - I felt like I made no progress with him. And yet, I realised he had heard the law (one of the only things he didn’t argue with) and he did get to hear the gospel.
Earlier in the day, while online, I had some frustrating conversations with people who I really had to labour with on the law. One eventually slowed down to actually listen through her Christainess hazy and started to grasp what I was saying - and I was able to share the gospel. But the other just said, “you’re starting to make me feel mad”, and she disconnected.
Oh to see people changed by God! I don’t often feel like this, but I came away feeling a desperation for it. To see God move. This came out in our weekly team prayer meeting at Andy’s. I sobbed crying out to God to have mercy. I’m tired of the stubborn rejection, oh to see people respond to the gospel and make Jesus their Lord. Impossible; but possible for God! (See Mark 10:17-31.) That was a good time of prayer.
Wednesday saw the heaviest rain of all (pictured)! I didn’t attempt venturing out, and spent the afternoon online.
My very first conversation and I was connected with a guy in tears! He was so relieved that I was willing to stay to talk, and he just poured out his hurts! I did my best to listen - I nearly came to tears myself early on! But I also started to point him to the hope of Jesus. He eventually came to grasp the gospel. I’m going to be praying for this young man.
Later, I had two separate conversations with Catholics who were trusting their good deeds and came to grasp the gospel - although one of them I had to really labour with - checking questions to the rescue!
The highlight conversation of the afternoon was a conversation with two girls. One who was bisexual, and the other lesbian. But unlike a recent difficult conversation, these two girls were very open hearted, and seemed to really understand what I was saying. They understood the grace and love of God, but that God would not leave them as they are but would change them, and help them in their war with sin if they trust that Jesus paid their hell fine.
As I’m writing this (Wednesday evening), the rain is lashing down on the roof! But the forecast is saying we might get some sun by Friday. Thank you for your prayer and support. God bless.
View previous Christchurch (NZ) report (28 June 2020)
Christchurch (NZ) Team
Weekly outreaches:
Tue 3:30pm - 5:30pm - Riccarton (corner of Riccarton Rd and Rotherham St)
Fri 1:30pm - 3:30pm - City (Bridge of Remembrance)
Sat 12:30pm - 2:30pm - Riccarton (corner of Riccarton Rd and Rotherham St)
Sun 1:30pm - 3:30pm - City (corner of Colombo St and Cashel St) - only 2nd, 4th and 5th Sundays of the month.
Contact Glen Richards or Andy Barlow for more information.