Battle Log
Sunday 11 August 2024
Posted 11 August 2024, 3:23 PM by Glen Richards. Permalink
It’s great to be back on the streets after a couple of weeks off for rest. All four regular street outreaches ran this week: Tuesday afternoon in Riccarton with Roger, Friday afternoon in the city with Andy and Roger, Saturday morning in Riccarton, and Sunday afternoon in the City with Thomas and Binu. A mix of rain and sunshine for the outreaches.
Before I get to my report for the week, I just want to mention that we will be up in the Wellington region for a week of outreach coming up soon. We will be running a training session on Saturday morning, 7th September in Lower Hutt. For more details, and to register, check out: https://tellmeconference.org.nz/training/ It’s free.
So, some really cool gospel seed opportunities this week. I’ll start with Tuesday. Nice weather. I was straight into conversations after setting up, and it was a busy outreach.
I heard someone call from across the street. When I turned to look, I recognised the guy from the suit shop in the mall. My daughter is getting married next month, and so I was in this shop twice recently trying on and eventually buying a suit. I had wanted to share a tract with him at the time, but to my shame I didn’t have any on me. So, I ran across the street and gave him one now. When he realised what it was, I was shocked to hear him say he is an ordained minister: pentecostal. I was curious as to his career change and a conversation ensued. Sadly, he was on a break from work and I could tell he had to go, yet based on the few things he said, I had a million questions for him. I popped him a check question, and his answer confirmed I wanted to talk more. I’d love to catch up with him for coffee, he seemed open, and so I intend to pop into the store again in the near future and see if I can tee that up. It’s a reminder to make the most of the opportunities we get in our everyday life. Would you hand a gospel tract to a shop assistant that has been helping you? Let me encourage you to do that, always have tracts on you, you can get them for free here (NZ) or here (Worldwide).
This reminds me, during my 2 weeks break, I was able to share the gospel 5 times: 4 of them were tracts given to delivery people. But one was a real God ordained opportunity (I didn’t have to go out of my way to make it happen). Be encouraged to: pray for, take, and even make opportunities to share the gospel with people. It’s real hope for eternal life, how can we not share it?
Friday was rainy. Not ideal for street outreach, but Andy & I needed a break from the online ministry, and so we hit the streets anyway. It was a reminder that, even in rain, there is ample opportunity for sharing the gospel: because that’s exactly what we had. Like taking candy from a baby.
Suits don’t often stop to talk. But this one did, to my surprise. He had his umbrella up. He gave me about 3 minutes. But that was enough time for me to drop law and gospel seed. He was engaged, and seemed impacted. He gladly accepted a tract. He may well walk away and forget what he heard, but maybe not? Maybe it will lead to his salvation? The gospel is the power of God.
Saturday was cold and dreary. People weren't as willing to stop and talk, and yet I handed out many tracts.
Sunday was a lovely day, sunny and warm. Lots of people were out and about. I was pumped up from some great preaching from the Bible in the morning church gathering. I love the elders of my church! Thomas and I prayed, and before I even had the flip chart up, I was into my first chat.
A young man from Burnside High. He walked past at just the right time, and he was keen to chat. He had no religious upbringing, and never thought about the afterlife. So, he was a little emotionally flat as we talked. And yet, I could tell he was interested, as he considered the new information I gave him. Great chat. He had a Gideons Bible that had been given to him a couple of months ago, but he was happy to take a copy of the gospel of John from me (I said I’d only give it to him if he would read it).
It was a very busy outreach. I’ve just got back, and my voice is a little hoarse. Thomas was very busy as well. Thomas is French, and I often goad him to do street outreach, as I often encounter French people without good English. Well, today Thomas had a full gospel chat with 2 Frenchmen, pictured! That pleased me so much!
I praise God for the great opportunity to share his love this week. Limitless. There are not enough labourers. Praying for more!
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View previous Christchurch (NZ) report (21 July 2024)
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.