Battle Log

• Battle Log
• Page 131

Christchurch (NZ) Team

Unlike last week, Thursday was a nice day, so there was no interruption of the two outreaches in the afternoon: in the City and at the Eastgate bus stops.

As I arrive a little later than Andy for the City outreach, I often turn up with Andy already deep in a Gospel conversation.  This day was no different (pictured).

We were in various spots in the City for this outreach: High Street, Cathedral Square, and at the corner of Cashel & Colombo - where I ended up having a wonderful conversation with a man who had recently converted to Bahá'í.  While listening to this man, I also had the opportunity to explain the law and the Gospel.  We parted with a hand shake.

We finished the City outreach with open air preaching in speaker’s corner.  There weren’t many people about, but there were some who heard the Gospel.  One of our hecklers was attracted, and came over to add his thoughts - but I can barely call him a heckler any more - we get on too well!

I always enjoy the Eastgate outreach, as tiring as it is with the constant conversation opportunities.  It’s wonderful to be able to have many follow up conversations.  There is one young man in particular that I’m meeting every outreach there like clockwork.  Every time, I ask him if he has thought any more about the things we have discussed, and often have an opportunity to challenge him to respond to the Gospel.

This outreach I also had many opportunities to offer tracts to bus drivers as they were changing shifts.  I was pleasantly surprised with the encouragement I got from two of them about what we are doing.  Although one quickly skimmed the tract and handed it back - not interested.

Friday saw three outreaches.

The first was the Gospel + abortion outreach outside the hospital.  This is the outreach I find the hardest because of all the outward opposition.  This makes me think back to all the times I’ve found outreach to be difficult.  I remember first setting up the flip chart in Cashel Mall (years ago) and being really nervous about what I was doing.  I remember my first encounters with a difficult heckler - and not wanting to head out because of him.  I remember how hard it was when I first started open air preaching.  God has helped me through all those difficulties - and I’m stronger for it!  So I have a confidence in God that He will help us in this new area of ministry.

Thankfully, this time, the outreach was relatively calm.  There were four of us: two male, two female.  A security guard did venture over at a distance.  I gave him a smile and a wave.  He acknowledged me and then moved off.

I think the initial adrenaline connected to this new outreach has burned off.  I’m now preparing myself into a pace for a marathon in the fight to bring the Gospel to the issue of abortion.

The afternoon saw our second outreach of the day: in the City.  There was a team of eight - including two from the OAC team.

We started with open air preaching in Cathedral Square, and then moved to Cashel Mall.

It was so encouraging to see a new team member so naturally starting conversations with strangers walking past (pictured).  It was also a reminder of how good it is to have many different types of Christians out sharing (male/female, older/younger, etc) - as people seem more drawn and open to a conversation with some people rather than others.

One of those conversations ended with a tract being offered and accepted.  The person receiving the tract opened their wallet to carefully put it in - and it was observed that they already had an Easter tract in their wallet!  How encouraging.  They were reminded to actually read those tracts!

The outreach was very eventful.  There was another high school student climate change protest.  Afterwards it lead to many wonderful conversations.  The subject of climate change was used to start conversations, and students were asked how we would solve the problem.  I would agree that there was no planet B, but I would then talk to them about the fact that there was no life B either - what happens after you die?

I’m out of time to talk in detail about some of the conversations had.  But one young Muslim girl (pictured), who had been minutes away from the mosque on that fateful day, heard the law and the Gospel and asked wonderful questions confirming that she was understanding it.  And another group of girls (pictured) stayed for a long chat.  One in particular was very interested, and it turns out she had talked to me at the last climate change protest on the terrible day of the mosque shootings.

The day finished with the evening outreach into the city, with conversations: in Cathedral Square, outside the bus exchange and everywhere in between.  Mike started a Gospel conversation with a group that he had stopped with the Intelligence Test tract (pictured).  He ended up having an hour long conversation with one of Jehovah’s Witnesses - all the while his girlfriend, who claimed to be Christian, kept trying to drag him into a nightclub!

I thank God for all the wonderful opportunities to present His Gospel over these two days.  May He be glorified.
 

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Christchurch (NZ) Team

Wednesday saw a busy day of outreach, including trying out a new location.

First up was some time spent in Cathedral Square.  I had an interesting conversation with a young lady with a Christian background but who was now leaning more towards atheism.

I was curious as to what her understanding of Christianity was, so asked her what she thought was required to go to heaven.  I wasn’t surprised when she described a requirement to be good enough.

So I had an opportunity to explain the grace of Christianity to her: the Gospel.

Her response was interesting.  She said she didn’t really care.  But I was able to gently explain that she did care: her life was precious to her.  I challenged her if she would sell both of her eyes for ten million dollars - and she agreed she wouldn’t.  If her eyes were precious to her, how much more was her soul.

I challenged her to respond to the Gospel.

After lunch, I moved to the hospital, and set up my flip chart on the footpath outside one of the entrances.  I managed to hand out some tracts, and have one good conversation via the flip chart there.

But as I was walking from Cathedral Square to the hospital, I ended up passing by the law courts, and I realised that there were a decent amount of people walking past.  So I decided to cut my hospital outreach short and try out that spot for outreach.

As I got there, there was a young man standing outside having a cigarette.  I approached him, offering him an Eternity tract and managing to spark up a conversation.  We were able to discuss the existence of God.  But, sadly, as soon as he had finished his cigarette, he had to go back in - so I wasn’t able to share the Gospel.  But I’m glad he took the tract.

I didn’t set up my flip chart, as I just wanted to get a feel for the location.  I was able to pass out some tracts, and have a brief chat with a gardner working outside.

I decided to finish the day by going back to Cathedral Square.  And I got into a long conversation with a very polite atheist/agnostic (his words) who had a degree in philosophy.

He completely rejected the building = builder; creation = creator analogy.  And I wasn’t making any progress on the intellectual front.  So I decided to change tack and address his conscience.  I asked him if he would allow me to explain Christianity to him - which he was open to.  I was able to explain the seriousness of sin, via the law, and that hell was reasonable in light of that - but that’s as far as I got - he quickly changed the subject.

So a busy and tiring day of outreach.  As always I leave the results in God’s hands.
 

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Not long after setting up the table, as I began to hand out tracts a man asked what it was. It was "The way to heaven" tract and I told him it was an important message. He refused the tract and turned back at me saying God had killed his wife. I quickly replied that, we all die because of our sin. He kept walking on. I can only trust that this was a planted seed for him to think about.

Then another man commented as he walked passed he said, "It is all a fantasy." My response was, "No, it is true and every knee will bow to Jesus."  He called out, "then I'll find out one day."  It is sad that people are hard in their heart but we know that without God opening our heart to believe in Jesus as our Saviour, we too would also be dead in sin.

A great conversation was had with a man who at first was criticizing Christianity and shared a few things that he though. This brought an opportunity to explain true Christianity and how God has His people in the mist of this world doing good loving acts, helping those who are afflicted and standing for truth. G had some understanding from his early years but just not understanding God's ways in how He is Sovereign over sinful acts and the responsibility we have to obey His call to worship the only true God. The message of repentance and the cross was shared and G went from sceptic to considering God may have sent me to speak with him this day. He at first didn't want a tract but took one in the end and was encouraged to consider God's call for him to believe that Jesus is his eternal solution and his greatest need is to be saved.

Many tracts went out and lots of short but exciting conversation continued to happen.

Rick arrived not long after I needed to leave for 5 minutes, and when I came back I saw Rick in conversation with a lady near a car parked next to the Bible table. I prayed for him and as I got closer noticed that her face was familiar, then it struck me. This was the lady from last week that asked about the gay marriage booklet and had taken a Bible for her son nut wasn't interested for herself. Praise God I had the opportunity to plant a few seeds of truth in love. She had a friendly smile and looked at me and I said "oh Hi I remember you" she said "yes from last week".

I stood back as Rick had an opportunity to spend some time with her and I continued to hand out tracts.Then along comes H, the lady's niece who is pregnant. I said Hi and she was as happy as I was to see each other again. I gave her a tract on abortion that last week I couldn't find. This was because part of our conversation last week was on how God knits together life in the womb which is such beautiful work and how the baby is formed from the start. I gave her the tract and a bookmark and stickers for her baby. Rick had a fruitful conversation with K and she was saying we were loving in our approach. Praise God we can share truth in love with God's help as He uses us to point to Jesus and His perfect love in that He laid down His life to pay for our just penalty of sin so we may have eternal true life with Him. What a wonderful saving God.

They left with tracts and our prayers for them are that God's grace would touch their hearts with the gift of salvation through our Lord Jesus.

3 Bibles went out today 1 New Testament and a book of John.

We had two brothers who were very interested in discussing things of God and the Bible although one was more understanding the Gospel than the other we hope and pray that God's grace may give them a humble heart to receive His grace and be saved from the hell punishment we all deserve.

We will be away for 5 Fridays starting next week so it will be a time people that regularly see us will be wondering what has happened to that nice couple. (Or yay the bible people are gone.) God willing we will be back on the streets of Warwick mid June. Thank you so much for praying.
To God be the Glory.

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The evening on Friday at the Gold Coast was an exciting one, not only were than many conversations but there were also many who came to understand what Christ has done to save sinners. There were a range of back to back exciting conversations where people who didn't believe in God came to understand what Jesus has done and how they can be saved.

First was a conversation with a Swedish couple, Tomas and Alexandria. They said they didn't think there was a God but said they thought reincarnation was most likely or that they would just die. They didn't have a reason for believing this except that was what they wanted and hoped was true. They were challenged in this early on by the question, "Is that reason you want that because it gives the perceived freedom of the ability to live however you want?" To which they responded yes.

They were then shown that they know God exists, were challenged by the law and came to comprehend the desperate position that they are in, guilty and deserving of God's judgement. They came to understand what Jesus had done and how they can be forgiven, even understanding the simplicity of the gospel but on the basis of a desire to keep living their way, not wanting anyone else to be in charge they decided at the conclusion of that conversation that they would remain living their way, at least for now.

Next were Noah and Kiara who were very much in the same boat. Except at the end of the conversation they said they would strongly consider it, especially as they'd never really heard about Jesus before. This was followed with a chat with Michelle and Pauline two German ladies who were much like the Swedish couple. Except that had grown up in Christian homes and yet had rejected it. What had occurred was a slow fade, they had slowly over time done more and more things that they knew God said were wrong and then at a point they had realised they lived completely apart from God and just went with it.

They were challenged that they too know there is a God, that His judgement is coming and if they were to face Him this day they'd be in serious trouble. They understood this and heard the offer of hope Christ gives but were warned that we must come to God on His terms of peace, not our own. It was stressed to them that God does not make mistakes and that God may even have bought them all the way to Australia to hear this message.

This was soon followed by a chat with Jayden who had a Catholic background and was a nice guy and saw his guilt, knew he was in trouble but seemed unmoved by the seriousness of it. He was even encouraging the team to keep talking to people because lots of people need to hear this message and yet seemed to completely miss that he was one of the very people who needed the gospel. He seemed to realise the reality of it at the end with some strategic questions about death, when he is going to die and by pointing out that if he died today God would send him to Hell for eternity.

Lastly there was a short conversation with a lady who professed to be a Christian but said she didn't want God to cramp her style. She said she believes that God exists and stuff but she doesn't really want to do what He says. It was pointed out very sternly that it is absolute foolishness, that all she is doing with her belief in God is affirming that one day He will judge her and find her eternally guilty. She remained resolute that she wanted to live her own way and that surely God would bow to her standards of living and let her into Heaven anyway.

She was shown her guilt with the mirror of God's law but remained sure that God doesn't really judge people, even though He said, "You must be perfect as I am perfect". She was warned but sadly went away seemingly still ignorant to the desperate position she is in.

Please be praying for all those who the team were able to speak with. Those listed here and the many more that heard God's glorious gospel this night. Please be praying that there would be soft hearts that would not just understand the truth but that would trust in Christ this day and want nothing more to do with their sin!

Why not come on out next Friday night and join us in this proclamation of the offer of hope for the sinners of this world!

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Thursday afternoon in Sunnybank was exciting. With a team of seven out, and many, many gospel conversations taking place it was an afternoon filled with much rejoicing! One team member even noted that they had twenty three conversations, establishing God's existence, humanities universe guilt and the beginnings of the gospel in most conversations! What a fun filled afternoon!

An early conversation took place with Raymond. He totally got it! He at first didn't think there was a God but was shown that he knows otherwise. He was then shown how God's existence means he is guilty as he has failed to live up to God's standard. Then when asked what the solution is Raymond had no idea. He was piece by piece taken through the gospel. Showing that sinners cannot earn forgiveness, nor can they earn someone else paying their debt. He was shown that rather God in his love offers it as a gift, which is received through trusting in Christ.

Raymond got it. When asked some simple clarifying and checking questions it made sense to him then he was shown that those who trust in Christ will live very different lives. That out of gratefulness to God and the realisation of how desperately wicked sin is to a Holy God that they will want to turn from it and have nothing to do with it! Raymond understood and said he got a lot more than he bargained for coming to the bus stop today but he was glad that he did!

He said he has a Bible at home he will begin to read and was recommended a local Church to attend! What an exciting beginning to the afternoon!

Soon Naomi sat down and was taken through the same questions. She professed to be a Christian and said she should be okay because she was baptised. The length of the conversation was shorter as her bus arrived a little earlier but she came to understood that what she had been trusting in before this day was not the gospel and it wasn't Jesus, she was instead trusting in herself and she was encouraged this day to trust in Christ and was shown that those who trust in Christ will be forever changed, not wanting to go back to where they came from!

Two Indians girls sat down and funnily enough said they'd just been discussing it the night before! They said they thought it was reincarnation but were challenged on this because in their attempt to solve their guilt but saying they had many lives, all they were actually doing was adding more and more lifetimes worth of sin on top of this already desperately guilty one we're living now. They saw how they'd still be guilty but as they were asked what the solution would be their bus arrived. They took tracts and were encouraged to read them.

An exciting conversation was with Zach a young guy who had spoken to the team around a month ago and shared what the conversation was about and then before his bus arrived he was taken further through the gospel. It was exciting to see that unlike most people had actually remembered most of the conversation and so in the limited time the conversation was taken back up where it had been left off! He was shown the simplicity of the good news, that those who trust in Christ are forgiven on the basis of his sacrifice. But in less than three minutes his bus arrived so the conversation will be postponed until next time!

The last conversation of the afternoon was with a lady named Jawei. She seemed to get the gospel first time around and got most of the checking and clarification questions correct but then it seemed to in a moment all disappear from her mind and she was taken through the gospel again. Same thing happened. There was some disconnect. Finally on the forth time she got it and grasped it and then was challenged this day to count the cost of following Christ, to trust in Him for the forgiveness of sin and therefore turn from her sin and live for Christ.

Please be praying for all those who heard of what God has done that they will ponder it this day and will not let another day pass before they trust in Christ alone to save them. Please also pray that God is gracious that they may have another day of breath in their lungs so that they may be able to consider this most wonderful gift!

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Wednesday in Brisbane City was overcast meaning that many more people were sitting around the area, making opportunities for a whole host of conversations.

The hard part with a conversation is knowing what pace to take. If you try and rush person may get lost or confused and leave the conversation. If you go too slowly they may have to leave before they comprehend the gospel. Usually at a bus stop outreach, it is always better to be quick knowing you have less than ten minutes in most cases to have the conversation. But in Brisbane city the balance is harder to find. The first conversation of the afternoon with Carly was cut short as she had to leave.

Before that point she came to realise that we all know God exists, that all of humanity is guilty and therefore there is no other religion in the world that can solve this apart from Christianity because exclusive to Christianity is God taking the penalty for the sins of those who will be going to Heaven. During the chat as a young lady she asked some interesting questions about sexuality, Hell and a few other things in light of how she has perceived Christians. What she was so surprised at was the graciousness of the answer. Scarily she said, "You're the first Christian I've talked to that hasn't been really rude about this".

The conversation was finished before she came to understand how a sinner can be forgiven but she took a tract and was thankful for the conversation.

Another conversation soon after was with Andrew. He has spoken to the team before but is very interested in his own ideas rather than what God has to say. Similarly to last time he said it was proud and presumptuous to be declaring who we think God is but then he would go on and start sharing the he thinks God is impersonal, just a force and doesn't care about right and wrong. Sadly the irony was lost on him.

This time, with great effort the conversation was mostly kept on track as Andrew was shown that any religion, including his religion of secular humanism, that says all we must do is be good people and that will be okay in the end are sown with the seeds of their own destruction, as we fail to do good continually. He was shown that where he was placing his hope would never be able to solve the issue. He had to head back to work before he could come to hear of Christ but please be praying for another opportunity to talk with him in the coming weeks!

A conversation with a guy, named Liz, took place and similar to Andrew he was blinded to the irony of his claims. The sad part of the conversation was that during the conversation he shared that he grew up in the Pentecostal Church and ultimately left because he doubted the Bible and started to think, there isn't enough evidence to conclusively say that there is a God.

Many simple evidences of God were pointed out, chiefly that a God who doesn't exist cannot act in history, so the very fact there is a universe, that God has told the future through prophets and apostles, that He has done miracles and most notably that He walked this earth, died on a cross and rose from the dead are things that God has done, there is absolutely no doubt about God's existence. Rather Liz was questioned about the original issue and was asked if that his doubts about God stemmed from a desire to do things God said he wasn't allowed to and then he had to make a choice, to ditch God or to stop sin.

Liz agreed that this was the case and then following that he'd started "disbelieving" in God. He was shown why this is foolish, both because of the judgement to come but also the the only hope for sinners is found in Christ and what He offers but despite comprehending the depths of God's love for sinners, Liz choose to reject the forgiveness that could be his if he will acknowledge that his sin is sin and trust in Christ, instead choosing to continue living his own way.

Please be praying for Carly, that another opportunity will come up where a Christian can share with her the glorious gospel. Please praying that Andrew may return for another smoke break and may get to hear of what Christ has done and please pray for Liz, who in his pride and self-love is making a very foolish decision to reject the only offer of forgiveness available for guilty sinners.

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Christchurch (NZ) Team

There weren’t many people in Cathedral Square on Saturday, but I still had an eventful outreach.  I really enjoy setting up my flip chart at the southern entrance and handing out tracts.  It always surprises me who stops and wants to talk.

Sadly, the overwhelming memory from that outreach was some unexpected hostility.  I had four young adults walk past, and they were looking at my flip chart with mild interest on their faces.  So I asked them politely, “Good morning, would you like to try the good person test?”

The response made me inwardly flinch; using a nasty word I don’t want to write, I was told that they were not interested.

In my shock, I still decided I would be nice in return and wished them a “nice day”.  To which I was told: “Go have an abortion”.

I don’t think it was a coincidence that the comment was connected to abortion, in light of the heightened tension around this issue in the world right now, and in light of our own local effort to stand against abortion.

In spite of this, I genuinely feel love for those young adults.  Before I knew Christ - that was me.

We must continue to reach out with the love of Christ - as much as people will hate us for it.  He is with us.

A team of five gathered for Sunday afternoon’s outreach on the corner of Cashel and Colombo.

And just as I was beginning to think that it would be a slow day, a Gospel conversation started with a young couple, and the outreach was eventful from then on.

I think the young couple clearly understood the law and Gospel presentation I gave.  But sadly, it seemed like the cost of discipleship was too high.

Andy brought his young son out with him - who was delighted to break his previous tract record during the outreach: 11.  Well done! :)
 

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Christchurch (NZ) Team

Friday dawned nice and clear.  The day started with our, now regular, Gospel + abortion outreach outside the hospital.  There was a team of six.

And, again, the Lord encouraged us.  Before the outreach had even started, and as I was waiting for the others in the team to arrive, I was handing out “Life is Precious” tracts.  I noticed two of the team approaching, but out of the corner of my eye a skateboard was coming my way.  He went right past, so I handed him a tract.  He stopped and wanted to know what it was.  I had a decision to make: do I talk about abortion, or do I talk about the Gospel?  I went with the Gospel.  It’s only the Gospel that can change hearts (and remove blindness), and changed hearts will led to an end of the genocide of abortion.

And it was a wonderful Gospel conversation with a young man at a crossroads in his life and who needed a Gospel wake up call.  He seemed deeply challenged and impacted.

And then the subject moved to abortion.  And I was floored when he said his partner was considering an abortion at the moment!  I handed him another tract and pleaded with him to give it to her, and that we would do anything to help, if it would mean they wouldn’t kill the child.  I even offered to adopt.

I give glory to God for this wonderful opportunity and the encouragement it was.  What we are doing seems so useless, and yet we are getting clear opportunities to not only reach people with the Gospel, but also reach people considering abortion and counselling them to not.

A wonderful photo of me shaking hands with this young man was taken.

And yet, there was much opposition during the outreach.  One lady angrily “told me off” for giving a “Life is Precious” tract to a “pre teen”.  Her concern for children was very ironic.

I was told, by a passerby, that what we were doing was harassment.  Protesting with signs, politely handing out tracts, and dialoguing with people is not harassment.

We had a jogger go past and scream “my body, my choice”.  Our bodies were given to us, by the God we know exists (yet suppress), and we know murder is wrong by our conscience (which means “with knowledge”).

The outreach ended with more encouragement.  We had three very passionate girls approach the team to dialogue.  Yes, it was a dialogue (two way) - even though there was much passion, and even tears, there was no shouting (see picture).

As hard as this outreach is, it must continue.  We must do something.  Praying for labourers to join us.  Will you come and hold a sign and stand up for those that can’t?

As usual, we moved to Cathedral Square.  We again had a wonderful opportunity for open air Gospel preaching.  We then moved to Cashel Mall for our regular Friday afternoon outreach with a team of five.

On the previous day (Thursday), our first outreach started in the afternoon.  But the weather was not cooperating.  It was cold, windy and threatening rain while we were in the city, so we decided to head out to our new outreach location: Northlands Mall in Papanui.

We had good opportunities for Gospel conversations, that were started with tracts around the bus stops.

A highlight for me was a conversation that led into another conversation: I got chatting with an older man, who turned out to have a Roman Catholic background.  I went through the law and Gospel with him, and then continued to chat until his friends arrived and they moved on down the road.

While I was talking with him, a younger lady had been listening, and when I approached her, she was keen to chat.  And so I had the opportunity to go through the law and the Gospel with her also, until her bus came.

By this stage, the rain was coming down hard.  Our fall back, in weather like this, is to go to the central bus exchange, which has a large roof that protects the side walk from rain.

But the weather was so terrible, we even abandoned that idea, and I went to my last resort in bad weather: letterbox dropping.  I rugged up warm, and had no problem walking the pavements sowing seeds (see picture).
 

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On Tuesday afternoon at Woodridge there was a team of four out but that was enough to cover the area well but as they say, there is always room for more. The afternoon was then filled with many conversations, proclaiming Christ to the lost people of this world.

The first conversation was a good reminder that the gospel is central. There was a Muslim and Aboriginal who engaged and were shown their guilt through God's law. They were both shown God's existence with the building builder analogy but they tried over and over to try and change the topic every time the question was raised, So how can you be made right before God?

These guys tried to attack the reliability of the Bible. They tried to attack the actions of Christians in the past. They tried to attack Jesus' resurrection. They were constantly bought back to the real question at hand, how can a sinner be forgiven but all they had to offer was, "try and be better and hope that's enough". Sadly they were too proud and too unwilling to listen to hear what God has done to save sinners and as a result they walked away condemned without any hope of forgiveness.

Tina was approached a little while later. She had was from New Zealand and had some simple understanding but hadn't understood the gospel. She was taken through the law and the gospel and came to understand who Jesus was, why He had to die and how she can be forgiven. She was encouraged to read the gospel of John to know more about the Christ and to trust in Him.

A sad conversation following this was with a lady who at first said there was no God, then saw that there was one. Then was shown that she was guilty via God's law and tried to argue that she wasn't that bad and then when pointed to Christ as the only hope declared that she didn't need Jesus because she would save herself.

There were also two conversations with people who attend local churches and yet had no idea of the way to Heaven. One man walked past and he was asked, "What will happen to you after you die?" To which he responded that he was going to Heaven. When asked what was going to get him there he said, "My Church". He was challenged on that, "Churches don't get people into Heaven. What are you trusting in to pay for your sin so that you can go to Heaven?" He again responded, "My Church". He was challenged a third time but instead of answering he attacked the team, "I know who you guys are and what you preach is wrong". Sadly he didn't get to stop and chat to come and understand that the gospel is Jesus oriented, not church based.

This was followed by a lady who when asked the same question said, "Don't worry, I'm good, I go to ... Church". This was followed by asking, "So what are you trusting in to get you to Heaven?" to which she responded, "I'm not really sure". In the space of a few minutes, two church goers, both in their mid forties, who had been in the church for a while had no ability to share what they are trusting in to get them to Heaven.

It was a sad reminder that even in the churches we attend there are surely people who have attended for years who do not know how a sinner can be forgiven. Maybe make that your goal, not just to look out for new people when they arrive at your Church but start asking people some simple questions like, "Why do you think God should let you into Heaven?" or "How did you become a Christian?" and find out what they are trusting in to save them and maybe even help them understand the gospel for the first time!

Please also be praying for those who heard the gospel on Tuesday that God would be at work in their hearts that they would not forget the simple message of hope but rather trust in Christ, the savior of sinners!

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On Monday at Capalaba the team of four went to their usual business of finding people with whom to speak about the glories out our God and King. The afternoon was filled with colourful conversations and characters and some exciting moments as people for the first time comprehended the gospel!

A conversation with Monique took place in in the early afternoon. She had some simple Christian background but hadn't really understood it. Monique was taken on a simple journey of questions, showing her that God exists and why it matters. How God's standards leaves each of us guilty, therefore that we are helpless to save ourselves and yet God in His love offers forgiveness, as a gift, to those who believe, purchased by His sacrifice on the cross.

Monique at first was saying, "There's a lot of pieces here but I am not sure I follow fully". The struggle with the gospel is that it is so counter intuitive to our normal ways of thinking that it is hard to explain. But as more questions were asked, the picture became fuller and suddenly Monique understood it! In a moment, all the pieces fell into place. She then had no trouble answering the checking questions and it seemed that she comprehended justification by faith alone.

Then it was time to talk about counting the cost, as the Christian life will cost something. Not that we have to do something to get in but once a Christian our love for Christ will cause us to want to serve Him more than anything or anyone else meaning there will be times when we must make great sacrifices in this life because Jesus is better. Monique heard all of this and actually was making some suggestions herself. Then at the end of it all when asked, "When will you trust in Jesus?" She responded, "Today, I don't think there is any other choice". She was encouraged to head to a local Church and to read her Bible each day!

Later there were two back to back conversations with people who had previously spoken with the team who had some partial memories of the conversation but weren't quite sure about the way to Heaven. God was kind to these men, Trey and Tony and enabled them to have another opportunity to comprehend the simplicity of the gospel. They were both then challenged with the seriousness of this knowledge, as to do nothing with it will spell out a worse time on judgement day but if they will trust in Christ, they can have an eternity rejoicing in Christ as their King and Saviour!

These men were encouraged to count the cost, strongly consider what they've now understood for various reasons an important one was that God has been kind to them, offering them two opportunities to hear and understand His gospel but they may never be given another chance to repent, so today is the day of salvation.

There were some other silly moments through the day, a young couple declared that they didn't want Jesus because they love Satan and will enjoy ruling people in Hell with him. But it was pointed out that this is not the case both because they will not be apart of the ruling in Hell, as it is God who rules and punishes those in Hell, not Satan. Secondly, that there is no hope in Satan, as Jesus is already risen, Satan has lost. These two were shown the foolishness of such a hope as Christ is the victor and He owns history.

They were then shown God's law, revealing their guilt and need for Christ and were pointed to Christ as the only way that sinners can be forgiven.

Please be praying for all those who heard of Christ this day, that God would use these conversations, these challenges and their new understandings to lead them to a saving faith in Him! Please be praying for those who took tracts or whose conversations were cut short by buses that God may use that to bring a hunger and a desire to know more of Christ.

And why not find a time to come out and share Christ with the people of this world?

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