Battle Log
Sunday 26 July 2026
Posted 26 July 2026, 6:59 PM by Glen Richards. Permalink
We were out on the streets twice this week, both times in the City. Andy was with me on Friday afternoon, and I was out on Sunday afternoon as well.
On Friday, I had an interesting interaction with a guy. I had just finished up a conversation, and I noticed that this guy had been listening. He was standing still at a slight distance. I suspected that he had objections. I decided to take the bait and offered him a tract. He took it (not surprising) and allowed me to start a conversation with him. I asked, “Can something with a beginning make itself or come from nothing?” He thought for a second, knowing the ‘trap’ I was setting, and he decided to sidestep. “Yes”, he said with a straight face. He then started to explain about quantum fluctuations. But I cut him off with a smile and an extended hand for a handshake. He was a bit surprised as I said, “Have a nice day”, and moved on. If someone is going to deny clear logic, there is not much more I can do, and there are other people to talk to. I just saved myself 30 minutes of time and frustration.
I went for a wander down Cashel Mall to find some other fish to talk to. I ended up at the corner of Colombo and Cashel when an unexpected conversation began: an older lady went past at just the right time, and we naturally fell into conversation in response to my offering of a gospel tract.
She was older than she looked. Very intelligent and a deep thinker. She was Catholic and seemed pretty devout. She brought up vivid details from her early childhood. One of them was about a nun at her school who always asked challenging questions. She obviously enjoyed challenging questions. And so, I was able to use that to swing the conversation to the law and the gospel. Sadly, the idea of good works being the way to heaven was deeply ingrained in her psyche. I had to labour with her, and then check - it didn’t feel like I was making much progress. And yet, I could tell she was challenged and provoked to think on it more. Multiple times I encouraged her to check the Bible for herself on what I was saying. I challenged her to start with John's Gospel account of Jesus. It was a warm conversation - like talking with a cherished grandmother. May she read through the tract multiple times and take me up on the challenge to read John. And may the Holy Spirit bring conviction and conversion in her life.
But who knows, maybe the ‘quantum fluctuations’ guy will be the one who reads the tract once and boom - conviction and conversion. The Gospel is the power of God for salvation. And salvation is ultimately a work of God by His grace. And yet, we are the means by which he works that grace. May we continue to pray for the salvation of the lost, and may we continue to proclaim the simple gospel truth, till his kingdom comes, and his will is done.
On Sunday, I was very interested to see a couple of Muslim evangelists go past; one was holding a Qur’an, and the other some pamphlets. I was able to get into a conversation with them and start to learn what they think. They were quick to talk about the justice of God in a general sense, but as I tried to hold them to what they were specifically saying, they would see the logical contradiction with mercy (they were saying God can forgive without giving justice first) and buck away from the conversation. When I attempted to hold them to account, they were quick to end the conversation and move along.
It was also great to see other Christians out doing evangelism. I was able to catch up with Brian Boddy, a Gideon, who was out distributing literature.
I love the decentralised nature of Christianity. Our guide is the Bible and the Holy Spirit. And Jesus is the head of the church!
I also had a great week of online outreach.
One conversation that stands out is a TikTok DM conversation with someone in Chin State, Myanmar. They don’t have the best English, so they were using AI to help communicate with me. They have come to understand Christ through the Internet and are now consuming the Bible and as much content as they can online. I’m currently encouraging them to find a local church.
Team training on Saturday afternoon was also very encouraging. There were over 10 people involved (from all over the world), plus a couple who were just observing. Harmony ended up having a conversation with a Muslim for over 70 minutes. Part of him was resistant, asking all the usual questions. But another part of him was very open, making sense of the answers and scripture quotes Harmony was giving. May God save him! But more importantly, may God get all the glory.
Please continue to pray for this feeble ministry. May the strength of God be demonstrated through our weakness!
View previous Christchurch (NZ) report (19 July 2026)
Christchurch (NZ) Team
Weekly outreaches:
Tue 3:00pm - 5:00pm - Riccarton (corner of Riccarton Rd and Rotherham St; Led by Roger)
Thu 3:00pm - 5:00pm - Riccarton (corner of Riccarton Rd and Rotherham St)
Fri 1:30pm - 3:30pm - City (Bridge of Remembrance)
Sat 11:30am - 1:30pm - 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.