Battle Log

• Battle Log
• Page 126

On Monday at Capalaba the usual team of four were out again and God's word went out. It was a surprisingly quiet afternoon but God provided just enough people to be spoken with to consistently keep the team in conversations over the afternoon.

The first few conversations were sad and tough. There was a woman who said she was sure there was nothing after death but when asked why she had no reason. She was pointed to how we know God exists but was defiant and her bus arrived. Then Dylan said a lot of things about what he thinks but very few aligned with what God had said. He was shown God's law and his guilt but said he didn't want to know anymore.

But then a conversation with Matt took place. He took a long time to understand. It was hard work and there were three different explanations given until he understood but in the end of it all, after the struggle Matt seemed to understand. It was exciting to see as he seemed to finally grasp it and was encouraged to count the cost and to this day and to spend time reading the gospel of John he was given.

Then as the conversation with Matt was finishing, there was a man who a couple of times wanted to join in but held his tongue. When the conversation finished he was approached and asked and it turns out his name is John and he goes to a local JW meeting. He was then asked, what do you think will pay for your sin? He said Jesus pays for it. Then when asked how he receives the forgiveness Jesus has paid for he said, "you have to obey Jesus". Was shown that Jesus says the standard is perfection. But he had to leave without any opportunity to hear what Jesus says the way of forgiveness is.

There was an exciting conversation with Robin who at first was quite closed and distant but with a few simple questions she opened up and a good conversation took place leading her to hear of Christ and how she can be forgiven of her sin. It wasn't comprehensive as she had to leave but it was enough for her to be interested in chatting again.

The highlight conversation of the afternoon was with Amy. It was so surprising. She has spoken to the team before but wasn't quite sure. She was open about it all and saw that God exists, saw the condemnation of the law and then understood the gospel simply and quickly. She got the checking questions straight away and asked some good follow on questions, even preempting the next ones usually that would be asked and she got it. Then came a lengthy discourse where she asked lots of questions that she had wondered about how that would impact her life.

Over the course of the conversation she became more and more convinced to the point where she said at the end that she was going to think about it and seriously consider trusting in Christ like she'd never before. She took a gospel of John and said that she would read it before she saw the team next. She made other comments about how it made sense and was seriously challenged about how she was living.

At the same another team member was speaking to her boyfriend and he was less interested but was seriously challenged as well and they were encouraged to read together.

Praise God for such an encouraging afternoon and please be praying for those who heard the message of salvation that they would trust in Christ to pay for their sin!

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South-East England (UK) Team

Saturday, I joined the Sports Fan Outreach group, who are in town for the International Cricket Championship games this week. 

Gerry was already preaching when I got to Piccadilly Circus (fellow in the blue shirt.)  I paired up with Gene from Mobile, Alabama, and we preached off to the side near the large fountain with the horses across from the Trocadero.  Tourist season is well underway in London.  

Tract uptake was pretty good with large groups going through the area.  Buskers and street artists were the biggest problem with their 100-200 watt amps.  The police passed by several times, but said nothing to us.  After 2 and 1/2 hours, I left.  I was pretty well worn out by then.  Conversations were limited today, but the Gospel was going out. 

Bill Adams and his crew were going to stay out for six hours, which is what they pledge to do for their sponsors. I was too tired to join them Sunday morning at the Oval for the first match, but I hope to be out on Wednesday. I owe a lot to Bill for raising my game considerably in the past six years.

I gave three NT's to homeless guys.  Jamie and Dean each took one, but the first guy's name has gone out of my memory.  Not unlike prison, someone with a lot of time on their hands will wear a Bible out in a few months.

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Christchurch (NZ) Team

I had one more outreach before going on leave for a week to attend a conference and get some R&R: the Tuesday afternoon outreach to Riccarton.

This location can be slow from an outreach perspective.  Once I went for a whole two hours without having a single Gospel conversation.

But today, as soon as I set up my flip chart and looked up - a person had stopped and wanted to know what it was about.  I was straight into a Gospel conversation!  After that, I then had opportunity after opportunity to share the Gospel.

I had a Mormon lady stop for a brief chat.  My first question to her was about what she had to do to go to heaven.  Sadly, her answer included: “keep the commandments”, and “try”.  It was a friendly encounter, but I knew she wasn’t going to hang around.  So I was direct in challenging that she would never be good enough in her own effort, and that she needed to instead trust in Jesus to pay her fine by His grace.  She took a tract and said she would read it.

Then a Buddhist lady stopped for a friendly chat also.  My question for her was about where the standard for “karma” came from - which seemed to make her think.  She had to go, bur refused to take a “Which one is Right?” tract from me.

I had two teens with a church background who didn’t seem to have a clear understanding of the Gospel - they stayed for the whole flip chart presentation, and both took tracts.

And I finished up with a very encouraging conversation with a young Christian where we were able to mutually encourage each other.

I also had two very brief follow up encounters with people I’ve talked with on previous outreaches at different locations.

I managed to finish the outreach before rain, that had been threatening, came to disrupt things.

I thank the Lord for a very encouraging outreach.  May it encourage you!
 

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On Thursday there were seven team members out at Sunnybank and the gospel was spread to many people. Over fifty people during the afternoon came to hear in part or whole how sinners can be forgiven. What a privilege it was to be a part of.

The afternoon started as usual with some shorter conversations but early on a longer opportunity was had with Dot and Donny. These two seemed to have some understanding of Christianity but it was quite limited. They were quickly shown the bad news, the universal guilt of humanity and therefore that God will have to send them to Hell on judgement if something isn't done. They saw what God had done and the offer of forgiveness that was extended to them and they hopped on their bus hopefully with the question, "When will you trust that Jesus paid for your sin?" ringing in their ears.

There was a lady named Yasmin who was a funny character who actually chose to miss her bus to keep listening. As a result of this extended conversation she came to understand the whole gospel. She got the checking questions easily, was challenged to count the cost, was shown some examples of what trusting Jesus may cost her and she too was left with the understanding that her eternity will be based upon her response to what Jesus has done on that cross.

The following conversation was unusual. Marko and Cliff knew the way to Heaven and had no trouble repeating it back, even before the conversation had gone far. Why? They had spoken to a team member some weeks back and remembered it. They got the checking questions correct and had no issues understanding it but then they were given the parachute analogy in a different way. They were asked if it would be wise, if they were on a plane that was crashing, someone offered them a parachute and said, "Believe in this parachute and you'll be saved?" and they took it, packed it into the luggage compartment and stayed on the plane until it crashed.

They said no it would be silly and then it was pointed out that it there current position. They know how to be saved from the wrath to come but they've just packed the solution away. They know exactly where to get it but they've decided to take the risk of leaving it for later, even though they don't know when they will be asked to give an account.

There was a man named Michael who heard the law and gospel but got stuck. He couldn't get over the fact that forgiveness is not earnt but is simply accepted by faith in Christ. He was so caught up in his desire to earn God's favour that he was blinded to the fact, not only that he could never earn it but also that it was freely offered to those who believe not earn by those who think they've done enough. Michael was caught by his own pride.

There was also an encouraging conversation with Oliver who likewise had spoken to the team before and knew the gospel but he too was hesitating to respond in faith because there were things in this world he wanted to hold onto. He was shown some glimpses of the supreme value of Christ and was left with the serious choice, to not just know the gospel but to trust in Christ.

Please be praying for those today who heard the word that they would come to trust in Christ alone that they may know everlasting life!

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This past week of outreaches has been exciting seeing more and more people come out and many people hearing the gospel. Wednesday afternoon was no different. During the afternoon a number of people came up and did the flip chart, asked questions or were approached and came to hear what God has done to save sinners.

An early conversation was with two young ladies who'd grown up Catholic and were sure that they knew the way to Heaven but when asked, they had no idea. They rejoiced in their sin and laughed their way through the good person test but the realisation of the predicament seemed to hit home behind the charade. They were shown that they goodness can't pay their Hell punishment in the same way that it won't pay a speeding fine.

They were shown the desperate position that they are in but openly declared that they loved their sin and didn't want to give it up for anything. They didn't even get to hear what God has done to save sinners as they left gloating over some of the things they'd done.

Next with a conversation with Ryan who has spoken to the team before months ago. He too had a strong Catholic background but last time had asked many questions about the Bible. Not ones that were attempting to undermine it but ones with an interest to understand how it all worked together. He couldn't quite remember the gospel and so that was reiterated again for him and this time he seemed to get it. He once again was challenged with the seriousness of what had been said, that God had been merciful to let him live these past few months but that he wasn't guaranteed another reminder or another chance to respond in faith and therefore he should count the cost of following Christ and trust in Him today!

The last conversation of the afternoon was with Connor and unsurprisingly he too had a Catholic background. He had almost no memory of most the things the church teaches but said that he was already trusting in Jesus. As usual he was show God's goodness, his wickedness, the penalty this deserves and then was walked slowly through the gospel as he took a while to understand it.

What was exciting was that he did finally comprehend it. He was able to explain it back simply, even when he was challenged by questions. He came to understand that he may have believed that Jesus existed up until this point but that if he was to respond by trusting in Christ that this would be the first day that he'd ever done so, simply because before this point he didn't know what it even meant. He said he was thankful for the conversation, would open up his Bible when he got home and think about Jesus has said.

It was truly a display of God's providential rule as Connor was just waiting in the city for an hour before catching a flight back home that evening and he had the chance to hear for the first time in his life how a sinner can be forgiven.

Please be praying for those who heard the message today that God would mercifully show them their sin and cause them to trust in Him!

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On Tuesday at Woodridge there was a team of seven out! Praise God for raising up labourers! It was exciting to see how many people were around and even greater, there were many non-Christians who as a result heard the gospel of Jesus Christ!

An early conversation was with an elderly gentleman named Chip who had grown up in the church his whole life and knew quite a lot about Christianity but was so assured that it was his personal goodness that would gain him everlasting life! He saw God's law and his guilt, he saw the penalty sin deserved and said that it was a risk he was willing to take. He then was shown the gospel and surprisingly understood it straight away! Yet, he remained adamant that he did not want it. He was shown the reality of judgement and the reality of death but Chip remained defiant.

There was a lady who had been spoken to weeks earlier about the gospel, dropped past last week and remember the way to Heaven and this week when asked she said that she is trusting in Jesus! She was given a gospel and John and said we should have questions to ask her about it every time we see her. She said she'll read John one, this week!

Another guy named Matthew, who had previously spoken to the team remembered most of the previous conversation but struggled a little bit with remembering how one receives forgiveness. He thought it was by asking (which for the record is super common, second only to "be a good person"). But with a few well aimed questions and some quick reminders of the analogies Matthew seemed to get it. He too was encouraged to read his Bible and hopefully next time he won't just know the gospel but will know God as well!

There were two weird conversations in a row, the first guy said he was willing to listen but didn't want to talk back. So being as simple and careful as possible the whole gospel was explained and usual and simple questions were answered along the way. The man was thankful took a tract and that was the end.

Next a guy was approached who at first seemed interested and then just went quiet. He too was challenged by being told that, "Whilst you may be able to ignore another human being, you won't be able to ignore God forever, one day you will stand in his presence and on that day anyone trusting in themselves will be found guilty and sentenced to eternity in Hell".

There were a scattering of other conversations. A man who goes to a local church but has no idea about the way to Heaven. A guy who played the harmonic (pretty poorly) during his answers and the questions. A Muslim who did not want to hear but just kept saying what she had been told, even despite careful attempts to show her that the intention wasn't just to "share ideas", all she did to the issues raised with her own system were pretend that they weren't a problem.

There was a final encouraging conversation with Richard and Jamika who saw why we know God exists, realised they were guilty when shown God's law and came to understand the serious penalty sin deserves. They were then briefly shown the solution and were handed tracts as their bus arrived. They seemed interested and were encouraged to try and think about it and read the tract before next time.

Please be praying for those today who heard the message of salvation that they would not just understand it but trust in Christ! Praise God for the opportunity to come on out and share His name and please be praying that God would raise up more labourers to go out into the fields that are white for harvest!

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On Monday at Capalaba there was again a team of four. What an encouragement to think that just a few months ago there was usually only two team members out but now due to the commitment of some men and women of God to come out eat week it is regular to have four or five team members out! Praise God for raising up labourers!

The first conversation of the afternoon was with Rotisha, she saw how we know God exists, then was shown the guilt we have in our failure to obey God and the just punishment of Hell that this sin deserves. She was then shown what God has done to save sinners and understood that it was a gift received by faith. She was being asked some questions to help clarify when her bus arrived. She was encouraged to read the tract and to consider what was said.

Next a man was approached for a conversation but upon hearing the first question he said, "I have cancer and I know I'm going to die soon, so I don't want to talk about it". It was sad to see that his denial was most likely going to lead him to a far worse eternity than he could be heading to if he'd heard of and trusted in Christ.

A man named Michael, was approached and had some church background but what was glorious, was that over the next half and hour he came to understand the gospel. What was most surprisingly was that this was the first time he'd ever understood it. He'd grown up in a Presbyterian church but hadn't really gone since he was a young adult. But at the end of the conversation he said he was so thankful for the chat, said that he would count the cost this day of trusting in Christ and asked if there was a local Church he could attend and was directed toward one right near his home.

Soon after this a young lady named Tala was approached. Her mother is a Mormon (and she often goes with her to the temple) and her father is a follower of Stephen Anderson. She said she heard what they both said about topics and knew they were both wrong. Specifically on the topic of how one is made right with God. Her Mormon mother says we trust in Jesus and we must do good works to earn forgiveness and her IFB father says, you simply believe and even if you never obey God you'll still go to Heaven.

Tala was taken through the gospel and came to understand that although she knew both wrong extremes she came to understand that to be forgiven all one must do is trust that Jesus paid for their sin and this will always be followed by thankful obedience to God. She said this made sense and said she wanted to trust in Christ today. She asked a lot of other questions and was given many answers, repentance was explained, the role baptism plays was shown and she was very encouraged. She said she wanted to start reading her Bible and would start attending a local Church separate from her parents!

One final and exciting conversation was with Harley. It is rare to run into Christians on the street and even rarer to run into a professing Christian who can actually explain the simple gospel but what was exciting was this man named Harley. He admitted he wasn't the smartest guy but it was beautiful to see that after never setting foot in Church most of his life just a few months ago he started attending a local Church and has trusted in Christ. Even when asked some trickier questions he answered them with ease because he knew that faith in Christ saves and could even explain where our good works fall into the picture.

It was exciting to see and when asked if he was sharing his faith he mentioned that he has been trying at work, so far with little success but he was encouraged to keep pressing on because just three months ago no one would really have believed that he could become a Christian.

Please be praying for those who heard of Christ for the first time or came to understand the gospel this day that God would save them from the wrath to come! Please pray for Harley that he will be able to speak of Christ to his work colleagues that they may come know Him as well!

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To encourage local Church goers to finish their night of fellowship with some evangelism after the evening service, some Operation 513 team members from other outreaches have been heading back into Brisbane City on a Sunday night for a shorter outreach to encourage and equip people who usually wouldn't make it out to outreaches during the rest of the week. This past Sunday was the third time it had happened and over the outreaches there have been nine, seven and seven people out respectively!

What an encouragement to see. Of those, there have been six people out sharing their faith for the first time! Last Sunday night one young man, who was hesitant at first to come on out, when asked when he'd be joining us responded, "Next Sunday if you're keen". What an excitement to see that people who were once totally fearful of sharing their faith are now excited to come out again sometime! It could be you too!

The evening was filled with a range of conversations, even in two hours there is usually the ability to have three to five decent length conversations. The first of the evening was had with three Africans. They had grown up in a Church and said that they would be going to Heaven because they'd kept the Ten Commandments. When shown numbers five through nine, with their universal guilt being revealed this slowed them down very quickly. Then they turned to saying that they would be going to Heaven because they'd asked God to forgive them for their sins.

They were shown that God's forgiveness isn't given on the basis of the request but it is offered as a gift to be received by trusting in Christ. Over the course of the conversation Adi and Jerry the two men seemed to understand it but Mary seemed resolute that she would be let into Heaven on the basis of something she had to offer God! This was heart breaking to see her pride causing her to reject Christ!

This was followed with a shorter conversation with a Muslim and an arrogant anti-theist. The Muslim was quite happy to chat and was engaging well, being challenged and was responding well to the gospel. His anti-theist friend on the other hand went between ignoring the conversation and loudly asking questions he didn't want answered and declaring that it was clear to everyone that God doesn't exist. There was some moments of patience as this friend would settle down after a few moments and the conversation could continue with the Muslim. Sadly the Muslim was unable to finish the conversation as his friend got too rowdy and he decided it was better to leave. He apologised and said he was thankful for the conversation that was had up until that point.

The final conversation of the evening with was a Jewish lady named Verity. She had a Jewish family but one of her grandparents were Irish Catholic so she had some strong heritage there as well. It was a longer conversation than normal as Verity came to understand who the Jewish Messiah was and why He needed to come. She saw that by the OT law all of humanity is condemned for there is no sacrifice in the Old Testament that takes away sin, rather a whole sacrificial system that temporarily covers sin, pointing to the day when God Himself would come to be the sacrifice and priest to atone for the rebellion of those who would come to Him in repentant faith!

Verity understood how someone can be saved and was challenged as to when she would count the cost, give up her false claims of autonomy and trust in Christ. She gave a few little reasons but mostly they were based around emotional upset from the way her family who all claimed to represent God had acted. In the end of the conversation she was strongly challenged, was given a gospel of John to read and she said, "That was a very well articulated message, I understand it now!"

Please be praying for those who the team spoke to that they would not just know what God has said but that they would be shown their wickedness, trust in Christ for their forgiveness and as a result live a life pleasing to God, even going out to share what God has done to save other sinners!

Why not come on out Sunday June 2nd, at 19:30-21:30 in King George Square? You will be glad you did!

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The weather in Hobart is turning cold and the leaves are falling and the days are getting shorter. Also, the foul festival, Dark Mofo is looming large in the minds of Tasmanians. Yet in the midst of the gathering darkness there are many opportunities God gives us to speak for Him in Hobart.

This week there where many chances to preach the Gospel and read His word at Speaker’s corner. Hopefully this was a God honoring contrast to the angry atheist who preached on Monday. He was urging people to be good to the poor (which we should), be kind to each other (which we should), and to join the revolution (which we…. wait, sorry what?). He was very angry and swearing about how the poor and outcast are treated. Every Christian gives hearty agreement to caring for the poor and outcast, God loves and gives dignity to all as His creatures, so we should too. Unfortunately, this atheist was also urging people to walk away from God and be part of an atheistic revolution of some kind.

No-one who has ever tried consistently to do good to people would say it is easy. And I would say from scripture that without the Spirit of God in us it is impossible to truly love and be kind. Unfortunately, this is far too common today, atheists assuming that the morality they have arrived in a vacuum or from themselves. Something there is no evidence for and plenty of evidence against. They want to urge the behavior which is good and at the self-same time argue to do away with the foundation for morality, a transcendent loving law giver.

I hope and pray that people would see the difference between the bad behavior and foul language of this and other atheists who frequent Speaker’s Corner; and the many different Christians who have come in love and spoken of God’s love.

I also had two good conversations this afternoon one with Mr D. and the other with a semi-regular visitor Mr F.

Mr D. came up and spoke to me after I finished preaching and asked me to speak about his mother. From the start it was clear that Mr D. was very drunk so I only hope and pray that some of what I said to him stayed with him. As we talked Mr D.’s very sad story came out. He’d lost his mother to a stroke or heart attack and then had the heart wrenching experience of losing his nephew to suicide and his brother also. He was very sad and very lonely and deeply missed his family. We prayed together and I asked that God would heal his wounds and give him peace. I then spoke with him about his drinking, urging him to give up the alcohol that was slowly but surely killing him. He was very concerned to honour his mother and so I encouraged him to give up the drink because his drunkenness dishonors his family, his mother and God. As he left, he thanked me and I pray that God will fill his soul with Christ’s love and save him.

Later in the day Mr F. walked by as I was handing out tracts. He and I have discussed many things over the years and I have always appreciated his keen mind, and the rapid-fire discussions we have had. Today we were speaking about freedom of speech and a comment about communism turned out discussion to the teachings of Marx. Mr F. and I discussed the different aspects of communism and the teachings of Marx for quite some time and challenged each other’s point of view. I certainly learnt something about communism and I hope that Mr F. went away with something to think on regarding Christ. As always it was good to talk with him and we shook hands and parted smiling.

These two conversations left me with the important lesson, compassionate listening is vital to sharing the gospel. Both these men are precious people made in the image of God and hearing what they have to say as well as sharing the message of the Gospel is important. Please pray for me and all those who share the gospel in Hobart, that we would be listening as well as we speak, and that we would speak only to the glory of God!

Praise His Name!

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Please pray for

     A., a teenaged lad who was going to commit to Christ today after he admitted it would be foolish to delay;

     Charlotte and Matilda, teenaged girls,  who were likewise keen to commit after Natalie took them through the flip chart.

     M., a Hindu lady who had never heard but gladly received a gospel of John after Railee presented the claims of Christ to her.

     2 young Muslim men who also took a gospel of John each after Lee-Anne told them of the uniqueness of Christ satisfying God's perfect standard of justice.

Ryan had a couple of Hong Kong Chinese to take through God's good news. He had attended a church as a youth. She had another religion. She was challenged with the fact that at death, one goes to heaven or hell; there are no other options. She saw her guilt on hearing some of God's moral law. When she was queried what she thought she needed to do to get to heaven, she said 'live better?' She realized she deserved hell. Hearing the rest, she could answer the checking question to show that she now understood the gospel.

When challenged to the fact that she had to jettison her other religion and rely on Christ alone, she got reticent to keep engaging. So Ryan talked with him who came to understand the message. He said he knew Ryan was alright to listen to as he did not have a 'name tag' , i.e. he had had problems from Mormons before today.

He was encouraged to download a Bible and search the Scriptures. Pray he does and God uses him to witness to his wife once he is converted.

As always 'To God be the glory for He alone is worthy'. We thank you Lord for using us imperfect witnesses in such an exciting and fulfilling way.

 

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