Battle Log

Friday 4 December 2020

Posted by Posted 4 December 2020, 4:08 PM by Glen Richards. Permalink

On Thursday I completed two years being supported by God, through Operation 513, as a full time street evangelist.  And today I started my third year.  Wow.  Time goes fast.  I knew it was going to be hard work, I knew I would have to treat it like a marathon - and discipline myself.  I remember once, early on, on a Friday - my longest day - lying on my bed exhausted and having to face getting up for a two hour evening outreach.  It was the hardest thing to will myself on to my feet and go.  But with God’s help, I did it.  Routine has helped.  Breaking my outreaches into two hour chunks and focusing on getting through that two hours has helped.  Focusing on getting through a week and to my day off has helped.  Letterbox dropping has helped - letterboxes don’t talk back.  The discovery of online evangelism was a real blessing - I now don’t have to go out on those really wet and windy days.  Over the two years I’ve adjusted, and it has become easier.  I’m now okay with going out alone - in fact I often prefer it.  The weeks are starting to glide by.  Removing unnecessary distractions has helped.  God’s word has helped, prayer has helped, my family has helped, my friends, my church family.  God has helped - enabled and provided.  Glory to him alone!

I still remember my first day quite clearly.  I started with outreach near the hospital.  Two years later and we are regularly bringing the gospel to the issue of abortion at the same spot.  I remember talking to a “suit” at the end of that first day.  Suits don’t often stop to chat about the deep things of life, so I was very encouraged when he did.  I actually saw him again a few months ago, and I approached him and thanked him for the encouragement he gave me on that day!

What will the future hold?  God knows.  Whatever it is, it will be for his glory and our good.  Soli Deo Gloria!

Anyway, Thursday I was online in the morning before joining Andy at Northlands and then Eastgate.

Two conversations online, the first was with a young lady who was mildly uncomfortable with the conversation, but was curious enough to stay to hear the law and the gospel.  The second one was with another young lady who had a Greek Orthodox background.  She became very engaged and we had a long gospel chat.  Lord save them!

At Northlands Andy and I had numerous opportunities to talk to people about the gospel.  Many of them had know idea what Christmas was truly about!  We decided to head to Eastgate a little early.  As I was walking off, I passed some people and handed out some tracts.  One of them looked eager to talk, and so I stopped.  He was indeed keen to chat.  He had a Christian background, but the gospel wasn’t clear to him.  It became clear that he wasn’t a Christian, but by the end of the chat, with joy, he was saying he was 100% certain he was going to heaven.  What was really funny was that as soon as I was ready to explain the fireman analogy, a fire engine with lights flashing and sirens blazing went past.  It was a wonderful chat!  Praise God.

At Eastgate, Andy had a similar kind of conversation with a young guy.  Glory to God alone.

Today started with the gospel + abortion outreach.  Four of us, and eight counter protesters.  It wasn’t as hard as last week, because we weren't being verbally attacked all the time.  But there was a tension with the unspoken conflict.  At the very beginning, I was there on my own with two of them.  And they would talk in front of me, baiting me.  It took a lot of will power to hold my tongue!  I knew if I responded, it wouldn’t lead to a respectful conversation.

Later, one of the counter protesters turned up with a sign that on the back said: “F*&! You Glen”.  I had to look at that for a while in silence.

The first hour dragged on.  My mouth was dry from the tension.  And I prayed a lot.  Mainly for the counter protesters, that they would receive the mercy of God and not the justice of God.  That they would have an opportunity to hear the gospel.  I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to get the opportunity today!  But, I was wrong.  God answered my prayer.  I don’t know how it lead to it, but I ended up declaring: “Gay Lives Matter”.  It shocked everyone into silence, and the counter protesters looked at me.  So I continued, saying that is why I’m here.  Everyone is precious, including the unborn, including homosexuals.  I was able to clarify that, even though homosexuality is a wicked sin, we are commanded to love all.  And Jesus died for the wicked so they could be forgiven and changed.  Some kind of barrier came down, and it opened up opportunities for dialog with those in front of me.  I did my best to answer their questions faithfully.  Multiple times I was able to touch on the gospel.  It was a wonderful second hour!  Still difficult, still tension, still disagreement - but there was a level of respect coming from both sides.  The sun came out, and they didn’t have sunscreen.  I was able to give them some of mine - and they accepted it.  Oh, Romans 10:1!!!

We invited them to the speaker's corner to heckle us as we preached the gospel.  Two of them did.  Andy preached long, and attracted some other hecklers too!  He did a great job.

Later we were in Cashel Mall - Roger joined us.  One of the counter protesters came past and ended up having a chat with Roger (I joined, and it didn't end well, they stormed off in hatred and anger).

Earlier, I had quite a few great opportunities to share the gospel, with an Atheist.  With a Christian who wasn’t but thought about what happens after life all the time - he super appreciated the conversation where he came to understand the gospel.  There were other good chats too.

I finished up with two hours online.  Six gospel conversations - some of them were amazing.  One lady seemed to be weeping and wiping away tears as she came to understand the gospel (she was a church goer).  A Hindu grasped the gospel and said I was like a god to him - I was quick to dispel that thinking!  A Trump supporter who was Christian but wasn’t, came to understand the gospel.  And then I finished with an epic chat with two girls who thought keeping the ten commandments would get them to heaven, but heard the gospel!  They were deeply impacted.

Lord, this is hard work, there is much opposition, and it’s only going to get worse.  Help us to continue, and as it gets darker, may your light shine brighter.  May lives start changing through the power of your gospel, for your glory alone.  Your kingdom come, your will be done.  Amen.
 

View previous Christchurch (NZ) report (2 December 2020)


Christchurch

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 11am - 1pm - Riccarton (corner of Riccarton Rd and Rotherham St)
Sun 1:30pm - 3:30pm - City (corner of Colombo St and Cashel St).

Contact Glen Richards or Andy Barlow for more information.