Battle Log

Brisbane (QLD) Team

Saturday, 3 August, 2019

Posted by Posted 10 August 2019, 1:57 PM by Matthew Andersen. Permalink

On Saturday night in Brisbane City, once again the team assembled to share with those who would listen what God has done to save sinners.

The evening started with a conversation with a man who thought that he was already trusting in Jesus. Yet sadly he seemed blind to the fact that every time he was asked the way to Heaven he referred to himself and his own goodness. He ended up leaving quite quickly without comprehending that he was in desperate trouble.

This backed onto a conversation with a Muslim who was so blind to the truth. He was proclaiming things about Jesus that were factually and historically inaccurate and declared that in his life he had NEVER done anything willfully sinful. He was called out on his lies and shown the desperate position that he is in before God. He was told the story of the chief who as a man of his word took the punishment his son deserved and was shown how God acted in a similar way, except instead of taking the place of His son, He took the place of His enemies.

This man wanted nothing to do with Jesus and was self-assured in his own righteousness. It was a sad conversation as a blind man sprinted toward Hell, thinking he would be welcomed into Heaven.

Along came two PNG men, Gilbert and Fred who thought that they too were headed to Heaven. Except when asked what the way is they declared, "Trust in Jesus and obey Him". Over the next fifteen minutes, for the first time in their life they came to understand that the way to Heaven is simply to trust in Christ's death on the cross to pay for their sin and the obedience will result from gratefulness to God for what He has done.

They were both moved as they came to understand it and were so thankful for the conversation. After they had responded back, sharing the correct answer of how to get to Heaven, they were asked when they would starting trusting only in Jesus to pay for their sin and with smiles on their faces said, "today". They were encouraged to read Romans 3-5 to cement their new understanding. What a joy it is to see people come to know the good news for the first time!

A later conversation was with a man named Rafael who was Italian and saw the wickedness and hypocrisy of the Catholic church but sadly had used this as his excuse to reject God. He was shown that it was unwise to reject God and His offer of forgiveness on the basis of people who claim to represent Him. He came to see his sin and that he is heading for Hell but Rafael didn't want the gospel.

He preferred to saying, "I can't know if it is true", rather than dealing with himself as a sinner and coming to God on His terms.

Please be praying for those who heard the good news tonight, that God would be working in their hearts to draw them to Himself.

     


Christchurch (NZ) Team

Friday, 9 August, 2019

Posted by Posted 10 August 2019, 7:40 AM by Glen Richards. Permalink

Thursday and Friday were busy days for the Christchurch (NZ) team.  And I have to admit that I hit a brick wall on the Friday.

Andy & I held our regular Thursday afternoon outreaches to the Eastgate & Northlands bus stops.  A highlight conversation was with a young high school student who became interested in a conversation when I asked him, as he walked past, if he ever thought about the afterlife.  At one point he asked, “what about all the children that are suffering in the world”.  It was a wonderful opportunity to explain about the patience of God in relation to justice - so that we who don’t deserve it can receive mercy!  It also gave me an opportunity to touch on the subject of abortion - something in the forefront of people’s minds with legislation being considered in parliament, in regard to this, at the moment.  I asked him what he was going to do about the children suffering from abortion.  The arrow struck home, and I could see understanding in his eyes.  I quickly moved back to explaining the Gospel.  I could tell he was powerfully impacted.  He said that he appreciated the simplicity of the message.  He walked off reading the After Life tract I gave him (pictured).

On Friday morning, I watched some of the speeches given in parliament from the day before.  I was grieved to the point of tears.  I made it to the Gospel + abortion outreach, outside Christchurch Hospital, early.  I was standing alone, holding a sign, that grief still with me.  Security came to talk to me briefly before leaving me alone.  Others in the team started to arrive, and we had a time of prayer, and I just couldn’t control my emotions and tears.  Our prayers were deeply heartfelt.  There was a team of seven.  Andy spent most of the outreach having Gospel conversations with people.  One guy came to tears in understanding of his sin and the grace of Jesus.  Oh that hearts would be changed by the Gospel!  And that this would lead to the ending of the horror of abortion (murder) in our nation.  God have mercy!

The feeling of grief stayed with me through the afternoon of outreach in the City.  I had that feeling of holding back tears constantly with me.

Andy and I preached in Cathedral Square (pictured) in spite of distractions (recorded Cathedral bells, loud music, a heckler).

We then moved to Cashel Mall where Binu and Roger joined us.  But I had hit a brick wall, and had to really fight for the energy to try to engage people and get Gospel conversations started.  Both Binu and Roger had a much better time than I did (see pictures).  And Andy headed off to have walk up conversations.  I did have one conversation, but I could barely articulate the Gospel.

In the late afternoon, I headed for the letterboxes to get some mental down time - and it helped!  I went back into the city for an evening of outreach.  Ravi joined me.

All glory to God, I ended up having two epic (long and wonderful) Gospel conversations!  The first was with a lady and her son.  Both with a Christian background, but she was self righteous, and he was agnostic.  I was able to clearly explain the Gospel.  She was challenged, he was inspired (his word).  I pleaded with them to repent and trust Christ.  The second was a very long conversation with a deep thinking young man - also with a Christian background.  I spent a lot of time with him explaining how he knows God exists, and why there must be an afterlife (heaven or hell).  I was then able to downshift from intellect to conscience and show him his sin via the law.  And finally I was able to share the hope found only in Jesus.  At the end, I also ended up sharing my testimony, as there was a connection between that and where he was at the moment.  I suspect he had parents and grandparents praying for him - and I felt honoured to be able to be a third party bringing the Gospel to him!
 


Christchurch (NZ) Team

Wednesday, 7 August, 2019

Posted by Posted 7 August 2019, 7:40 PM by Glen Richards. Permalink

Tuesday (in Riccarton) and Wednesday (in the City / outside Ara) saw lovely weather for Gospel outreach.  I’m in such a routine, and am regularly visiting these outreach spots, that I feel like people must be sick of me by now, and no one is going to stop to talk.  But God continues to be faithful in bringing many people to receive tracts and to stop and hear the Gospel - it’s so good that I don’t have much down time.  And the spots where I set up, don’t always have much foot traffic.  Be encouraged to get out there and find a “fishing spot” in your area, plant your self and start casting your line, baited with: tracts, a cheerful greeting, and prayer!

Two highlights from Riccarton this week included a very encouraging conversation with an older saint (pictured walking away).  She received a tract, and was attracted to the flip chart.  When she learned that I was a minister, she started testing me on various doctrinal positions.  We agreed on everything except pacificism!  And it turns out she had been a missionary herself (to Africa as a doctor).  The encouragement from meeting a like minded soul was mutual!

The second highlight came from a young man intentionally walking up to the flip chart ready for a deep Gospel conversation.  He thought very deeply on the important questions of life, but had concluded that there was no evidence for God.  Starting from there, I challenged him with the simplicity of the Gospel.

On Wednesday, in the morning, I set up at the southern entrance to Cathedral Square.  My first conversation of the day was with a man who had heard me preach a month or so earlier, and whom I’ve seen a few times since then.  He is claiming that he is placed his faith in Christ, and is connecting himself to a local church of someone who often joins us in street outreach - so this is good to know.  So today’s discussion was an opportunity to cover the basic principles of Christian life, and to encourage.  I had an opportunity to pray with him at the end of the conversation.

Another conversation was with a man who I didn’t think was going to give me the time of day, and so I was surprised when he accepted my offered tract and he warmed to a discussion about the after life.  We had a long discussion, where I was able to carefully explain the Gospel, and then work on answering his questions.  (His sticking point was connected to why there is suffering.)  Over the course of the conversation, he seemed to become very sober about the serious nature of sin.  In the end he said he would read the tract I had given him (After Life), and he accepted a tract about suffering.  To my surprise, he wanted to give me some money!  But I wouldn’t accept it, I made it clear that there were Christians who wanted people like him to understand the good news of Jesus, and their support meant the resources I gave him were free.  I pleaded with him to accept the gift of forgiveness of sin, found only in Christ.

After lunch, I open air preached for half an hour.  It’s been many weeks since I’ve done this, and so it took a few minutes for me to find my voice, as I wrestled mainly with the social awkwardness of public speaking.  I know it’s not easy - but I want to encourage you to do it anyway!  I preached the same message as I always do: the Gospel.  I tried to hand out tracts to the few that had been listening afterwards - but no one took one.

I then headed to Ara (again having a conversation outside the Vodafone building on High Street on the way).  The highlight there was my third conversation with a group of hospitality students.  It’s so wonderful hearing about how they had been thinking about what we talked about last time, and being able to address the questions they had.  This time the young Catholic guy wanted to continue talking about salvation by faith alone (rather than by faith AND works).  He really seems to be understanding the important distinction between doing works to be saved (incorrect) and works being an evidence of salvation, which is the gift of God, found through faith in Jesus sacrifice, and repentance (an inward change of heart that leads to an outward change).  I challenged him to put his faith in Christ alone!

As I was leaving Ara, I crossed the road, and a guy was approaching me, so I handed him a tract which he accepted, and then to my complete surprise, he gave me a coffee (pictured after I had finished it) and said, “this is for you”.  I responded with, “for me ”.  He left before I even had a chance to say thank you - I was so surprised… and so strangely encouraged.  I guess he has been watching me talking to people outside Ara, week after week and decided I needed a coffee?  Sir, thank you!  It is so much nicer than being called trash and having a can thrown at you! :)
 


Wellington Point (QLD) Team

Sunday, 4 August, 2019

Posted by Posted 5 August 2019, 9:21 AM by Gordon Jackson. Permalink

God gave us a team of 5 'on the ground' and He knows how many were praying for His kingdom to come? It comes progressively as each one of His sheep hear His voice. The Good Shepherd of Ezek. 34 and John 10 calls his name and he hears His voice and comes under the sound of His gospel and into the everlasting kingdom. When the last one is secure in the one flock, Jn 10:16, then the 'everlasting hallelujah chorus' will be fully revealed. I can hardly wait. And you?

     In the meantime, we had our usual chats with all sorts of people and pray that God does as He sovereignly desires.

- there was a young couple,  Sebastian and Elisa. He engaged through it all but she, being a good Roman Catholic, chose to pick up her book and read it.  He seemed to regard  'religion' as a crutch and asked for Lee-Anne's testimony a few times. So he said that he would check out the message but was more concerned with being 'happy now'. He needs to become aware of his great need for forgiveness. 

- 2 older men, John and Eddy, were very individualistic in their responses to the gospel. This was very evident in a long chat with them. John was not serious about his sins; he seemed to treat his confessed transgressions as a joke. Eddy  stated that he would try to study the reformed doctrine of salvation.

- a Sikh man came to understand the gospel but was not ready to do anything at present.

- 2 teens, Tim ( and Sam who listened only) had not heard of God's moral law and had never thought about what comes after this life. After a brief overview of what others think happens {and the errors of each opinion}, the gospel was presented after an excursion into Gen. 1-3 to explain why the world is like it is. They were polite but were not willing to accept a gospel of John.

Now I can finish this report after a hiatus of several hours because I managed to disable the keyboard and had to wait for Rod to come home and fix it)

There is more but we can thank God for each one He gave us an opportunity with today and we thank Him for His gracious enabling of each one of us. We thank him for one another in the Lord and for His certain promise of heavenly bliss when His covenant reaches its goal in time and  then we shall rejoice in knowing the riches of His redemption in that He will be our God and we shall be His people basking in the warmth of His presence forevermore. Praise Him indeed our God of multifaceted grace, 1 Peter 5:10.


Christchurch (NZ) Team

Sunday, 4 August, 2019

Posted by Posted 4 August 2019, 7:31 PM by Glen Richards. Permalink

Saturday morning dawned with clear skies after overnight rain.  It was pleasant witnessing for Christ in Cathedral Square in the winter sun.

A number of good flip chart conversations were had.  The highlight was with an older man, who had been in Christian circles, but with whom it wasn’t clear if he really understood the Gospel.  I became quite passionate as I reasoned with him about the reality of God, the serious nature of sin, and the amazing grace of Christ.

I also had a conversation with a mayoral candidate who was out campaigning.  I made it clear that my number one policy for the local council (other than wise fiscal management) was the protection of our rights to share the Gospel in public places.  Sadly, an opportunity to share the Gospel wasn’t given.  But he accepted a tract.

There was a team of seven for outreach on the corner of Cashel and Colombo after church on Sunday afternoon under overcast skies.  The outreach was a bit slow initially, so two of the team decided to head off looking for walk up opportunities.

But the outreach ended really well, and was extended as some wonderful Gospel conversations went long.

While Chris was finishing a conversation (pictured), I had a walk up opportunity with three Indian guys.  One of them had already accepted a tract earlier in the outreach, and so I tried the direct approach to get a conversation going by saying: “Excuse me, may I ask you a question?  Do you think you’ll go to heaven when you die?”.  It worked well enough for them to grant me 30 seconds to explain how we know God exists and why it matters.  Well, this really got their attention, and I ended up getting about two and a half minutes of their attention - in which I also summarised the law and the Gospel.  One of them really seemed to appreciate the conversation (the one that took the tract initially), but the other two seemed confronted.

They moved on, and I joined Chris whose conversation on the flip chart had completed.  We then had three teens come past, who were willing to give the good person test a go (pictured).  It was a long conversation, where they asked many good questions and it took some time to completely explain the bad and good news.  We then tracked back to tackle the questions.  Eventually, one of them asked about wearing clothing made of more than one fabric.  I knew where this was going!  So I decided to take the up front approach (as usual), I explained that I loved homosexuals, but that homosexuality was a sin.  Instantly the conversation changed.  One of the girls had a look of revulsion come over her face, and she said, “Why is it wrong?”.  My answer was to point back to the beginning of the conversation where I had explained how we know anything to be right or wrong: because God has said so.  The guy then said, I think it’s best this conversation ends now.  And, sadly, that was that.

But while this conversation was happening, the three Indian guys had walked right up to Andy and Tim on another flip chart and had ended up getting into a long Gospel discussion with them (also pictured).  That 30 seconds had turned into 20 minutes!  That conversation ended with smiles, and hand shakes all round (a bit like at the end of a game of cricket!).

Who knows if any of those that heard the Gospel today will come to repentance and faith?  Those feeling revulsion may come under conviction?  Those with smiles may never think about it again till they die.  We leave it in God’s hands knowing the Gospel is the power of God to salvation (Romans 1:16).
 


Redcliffe (QLD) Team

Saturday, 3 August, 2019

Posted by Posted 3 August 2019, 3:55 PM by Josh Williamson. Permalink


Everything looked brilliant when we arrived at our Redcliffe outreach; the sun was shining, we had four members on the team and there were quite a number of people out and about. We set up the Free Literature table near Bee Gee way, then began to hand out tractsSome days I come home from witnessing with a spring in my step as it had been a good day of gospel ministry… today was not one of those days.

At first things seemed to be running smoothly; people were polite and some even took literature from the table, but as the day progressed things became harder and even hostile. What was surprising was that the rudeness and aggression came not from the younger segments of society, but rather it came from the more mature and grey haired folk.

One older lady walked pass and yelled, “GOD IS DEAD!” Another demanded to know what material we were handing out; when I told her they were Christian leaflets, she launched into a tirade by shouting, “What has God done for me?” I replied to her by saying that God had given her life, breathe and her very existence; her response was to give me the finger and walk off.

Another lady came up to me, who had all the hallmarks of a sweet grandmother like you see in the movies; but appearances can be deceiving. She asked, “Is this Jesus material?” When I told her what the tract was she screeched, “EWWWW…. YUCK!” then stormed off.

The most hostile encounter of the day came when a man took a tract, read it, then returned it. He was an older man, probably in his mid-60’s. He started to scream and yell abuse at us for being Christians, then he looked to the sky and began to curse God. After doing this he followed up by calling us extremists and hate preachers. I tried to engage him in a calm manner, but he wasn’t prepared to talk. I honestly thought he was going to punch me in his anger.

All this left me rattled. I hate confrontation, and if possible I will avoid it. Even though I have been out on the streets sharing the gospel for many years, I still find such open displays of hostility concerning.

I share this because even though things were rough, God was still at work. As the darkness rushed in like a flood, God used their evil actions for good. After all the hostility, a lady with her family came up to me, she said, “I am not religious, nor a Christian, but I want to say that the way that angry man treated you was wicked and rude. You did well in being calm and loving.” Her whole family then took tracts and gospel material. She could see the difference between light and darkness.

Christians also started to appear on the scene to say that they were encouraged to see a stand for Jesus taking place in public. Another lady then asked for directions to a local church so she could attend.

We live in a day where there is a growing hostility to the things of God, but at the same time we mustn’t lose sight of the fact that God is sovereign, and He is still at work. If we have to endure the hardness and hostility so that others may hear of Jesus, then so be it. Christ Jesus is worthy, let us face whatever comes our way with a confidence that all the nations, including this one, have been given to King Jesus. Let us go and make Him known!

SDG!


Capalaba (QLD) Team

Saturday, 3 August, 2019

Posted by Posted 3 August 2019, 2:55 PM by Matthew Andersen. Permalink

On Saturday morning in Capalaba a team of four made it out over the course of the outreach and had the opportunity to speak with many people about how a sinner can be made right before God.

An early conversation took place with Judd a man who had a Catholic mother and had some ideas about God but generally just wanted to live his own way and so instead of wanting God he tried to find some excuses.

He came to hear of his guilt, where that meant he was heading and then the good news that God offers a solution. Due to his background he struggled to understand that it was a gift to be received by faith, rather than something one earns or works for. He ended up taking a tract and was encouraged to count the cost but it didn't seem as if he was very interested.

The was a conversation a little later on with a man who said he didn't think there was much coming and he wanted to keep believing that. He was shown how we know God exists and therefore the importance of God's law and as the law revealed his sin he quietened down.

Funnily, nearby a man who must have been listening got very angry at the law. He wasn't even being spoken to but loudly and rudely declared that the conversation should be taken somewhere else so that he doesn't have to listen. He was generally ignored and ended up walking away himself.

The man though, came to hear of the solution that Jesus offers but had very little desire to acknowledge God's existence because that would cement his guilt. He preferred to pretend that he hadn't had the conversation and continue to live his own way.

Over the course of the morning a range of other conversations took place, please be praying for these three that God would work in their hearts, causing them to hate sin and trust Christ and that they would be eternally changed as a result of what they heard today!


Hobart (TAS) Team

Friday, 2 August, 2019

Posted by Posted 3 August 2019, 11:20 AM by David Gee. Permalink

Some flowers will only grow in the most unlikely of places, the orchid is found growing in the smallest of niches with tiny amounts of soil on cliffs and tree limbs. Likewise, God gives us times when there is precious little happening (it seems) to produce some blessed opportunities that would not blossom in the busy “successful” times.

Winter is the slow period here in Hobart, many people finding shelter from the rain and cold indoors. They are not interested in conversations in the mall in the cold. Yet in the midst of the cold and the rain that comes and goes there has been a wonderful collection of conversations that we have been blessed with in the Mall! God is truly generous with His unworthy Tasmanian servants.

Over the last month there has been a wonderful collection of discussions

Young couple:

They approached me after preaching in the afternoon and wanted to talk. It quickly came out that while she was a devout Roman Catholic, he was an agnostic and leaned towards atheism. He was very keen to discuss things and wanted to discuss evidence for God or the lack there of. Our discussion was far ranging but I could see that he had a good understanding of Christian apologetics and many of the arguments I raised he had encountered before. We discussed science and history mostly but there was again and again a point that I reach with atheists and agnostics; skepticism is so strong that evidence doesn’t seem to move them. At this point I asked him “If these things are not convincing for you, what would it take to convince you?

His response was that he would need to see it himself or as it was ~2000 years ago, an eyewitness account that was trustworthily preserved giving extra-ordinary evidence that could only be explained by God acting in history. In all honesty I told him that that is roughly what most people need to be convinced too. From there I related the experiences of Lee Strobel, once also an atheist/agnostic and compelled to find out if there is truth to the claims of Christ. As I shared Lee’s story, I also recommended this extraordinary young man to get the book “The Case For Christ” and read it for himself. We parted ways but I hope to see him and his girlfriend again in the future to continue the discussion

Mr A:

While I was handing out tracts on a street corner Mr A stopped and encouraged me. He said that he had seen me preaching a Speaker’s corner many times and the hecklers who come. Mr A said to ignore the nay-sayers and hecklers, that they had no idea what they were talking about. I thanked him and asked about his story. He was a Christian of many years and a Physicist (which added weight to his comment about the lack of scientific knowledge of hecklers). He had come to Christ at university, having been confronted with an occultist who did things that where physically impossible before his eyes. This encounter with malignant spirituality had sent him on a search for God and ended with faith in Christ.

We spoke together of the craziness of the western world and the instability of the times and the wars and rumours of wars. We praised God that we have security in Him regardless of Australia’s sin and regardless of the warmongers of the world. We also talked about the many evidences for God that I have seen in biology and he has seen in physics. He encouraged me again to keep on with the work.

There have been many others over these last weeks and I often find myself unable to preach with all the enquirers, praise God for the winter months.

Praise God for all His grace!


Gold Coast (QLD) Team

Friday, 2 August, 2019

Posted by Posted 3 August 2019, 12:40 AM by Matthew Andersen. Permalink

On Friday night the team headed to the Surfers Paradise, as usual, right in the heart of the mall to share the gospel of grace. There was as a team of eight out and as a result many people came to hear.

An early conversation was with Sebastian and Adelia. They are a couple from a Spanish speaking country and Adelia was a professing Christian whilst Sebastian was a "spiritualist". Sebastian did most of the talking to begin with and loved his own ideas but suddenly got very defensive as the law revealed his guilt. He was adamant that piracy wasn't really stealing because he thought those movies should be shared for free and was hesitant to acknowledge that he was guilty.

Later in the conversation he kept arguing that God isn't a being, rather a force and that the Bible is simply made up stories not history. It was pointed out to him continually through the conversation that he was showing his hatred of God and his guilt as he kept trying to find anyway that he could to avoid the reality that he deserves Hell for his sin. The pair then came to understand the gospel and were able to explain it back but Sebastian didn't want it. He was adamant that he was going to find a way to avoid Hell without Jesus. Try he may but it will all be in vain. Ironically Adelia was in the opposite boat, whilst professing to be a Christian she was being sexually immoral with her boyfriend and although proclaiming the name of Christ was showing that she really knew nothing of His forgiveness otherwise she would hate the sin in which she was living.

The pair were challenged this day to consider what Christ has to say because they have a very bleak eternity ahead of them if they reject what Christ offers.

This conversation was quickly followed by a conversation with two Muslims. These men didn't know much of Christianity nor did they have many good arguments. They were shown their guilt, that they are in desperate trouble and headed for Hell eternally and that their only hope for forgiveness is if someone else pays. They acknowledged that God cannot contradict Himself and therefore because God is just, mercy cannot be given at the expense of justice.

The pair then were told a simple anecdote explaining how God satisfied His justice to give mercy and were pointed to the cross. At this point these men were gobsmacked. They had no arguments, they had nothing to say except to say, "We don't believe that". To which they were challenged and warned, "Yes, which is why we are telling you because if you don't trust in Jesus to pay for your sin on that cross, you will pay for it eternally in Hell". At this moment they headed off.

The final conversation of the evening was with Tamati, a young man who had done some damage to his brain with some chemicals and really struggled to remember the gospel. He had most of the pieces in his memory already before the conversation began and came out with surprisingly accurate pieces of information about Jesus and yet despite trying almost ten times to see if he could comprehend the gospel with different examples, he was unable to give an accurate articulation at any point without series assistance.

It isn't all bad news because Tamati still has breath in his lungs and took with him a gospel tract and a gospel of John to have a read of.

Please keep these five people and the many others who heard the good news this Friday in your prayers, that as they head away from tonight that they will consider seriously what Jesus has to say and not just keep it as information but trust in Christ alone for their forgiveness and as a result live totally different lives, whole-heartedly sold out for God and His glory!


Sunnybank (QLD) Team

Thursday, 1 August, 2019

Posted by Posted 3 August 2019, 12:33 AM by Matthew Andersen. Permalink

At Sunnybank on Thursday there was some surprise rain, a broken bus and a cool breeze. This actually meant that more people were waiting nearby to the bus stop and enabled lengthy conversations that usually wouldn't have occurred! Praise God that He uses any means required to bring about His plan.

Two conversations back to back were had with Abby and Zen. Both had a Christian background, thought they were good enough to get to Heaven and then were shown God's law, revealing their guilt.

Abby had just sort of made up her own ideas about God, she'd barely even opened the Bible and didn't know much about God at all. Over the course of a ten minute conversation she came to hear and understand the simple good news of the gospel and was challenged this day to choose to trust in Christ. She said she would at least consider it and was encouraged to download a Bible app on her phone and to start reading.

As that conversation finished, sitting on the other side was Zen. She too thought she deserved Heaven and very quickly came to realise that was not the case. Sadly Zen left with her guilt and that she deserved Hell and a brief mention of the cross but her bus arrived before it could go any further, she took a tract and was encouraged tonight to read Romans 3-5.

Toward the end of the afternoon there was a man named Reuben who was approached with the same simple question as everyone else. "What do you think will happen after you die?" To which Reuben got very angry, "I don't want you or that mate of yours to ask me questions about this topic!" Reuben is about 6'2" and surprisingly menacing for a skinny guy. There was a tense moment, when the response was given, with every ounce of care, (mingled with a lot of fear), "But aren't you going to die some day?"

This question was met with a long pause and intense stare and a few moments where it was wondered if there would be a punch taken for the sake of the gospel. But God in His grace had decided there was to be a very different outcome. Reuben almost out of nowhere soften, apologised for his hostility and said, "I often fear death. I know I am going to Hell when I die and so I don't want to die. I want to live here on this earth for as long as possible".

Over the next fifteen minutes, a now docile Reuben came to hear that he was far more wicked than he had first thought, that his eternity was bleaker than he had imagined but God who is rich in mercy, giving infinitely more than His people deserve, came and took the place of sinners, suffering the full fury and wrath that we deserve and therefore offering a free gift of forgiveness to all, that those who believe will inherit eternal life!

In a very short dialogue off the back of that he came to understand how he can be forgiven, how a sinner gets to Heaven and why someone who has trusted in Jesus wants to obey Him! He had the beginnings of tears in his eyes and was given a gospel of John and a tract and said he would start reading! He then apologised for his actions at the beginning of the conversation and asked if an apology could be passed onto the other team member he has previously yelled at and he was given forgiveness.

He was confused as to how we could be so quick to forgive, especially when the offense was so recent and so aggressive and it was pointed out, that as Christians we have been forgiven infinitely more than we will ever be asked to forgive and because of that it is our joy to forgive those who have wronged us.

There were many other conversations that took place and overall it was an afternoon of great rejoicing. Please be praying for Abby, Zen and Reuben that God would work in their hearts, cause them to hate sin and to trust in Christ this very day!


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