Battle Log

• Battle Log
• Page 142

Christchurch (NZ) Team

On Thursday, I took a bit of a break in the morning, but ended up being in the city anyway and couldn't resist going into Cathedral Square to see what was happening.  It was great to see a fellow evangelist there, but he was tied up in a conversation with our main Atheist heckler.  I headed for speakers "corner" (it's actually a rectangle), and feeling refreshed from the rest I decided I would preach before heading off for the afternoon outreach at the Eastgate bus stops.

To my pleasant surprise, our main Atheist heckler didn't come to bark at me.  Even better than that, God saw fit to send 3 other hecklers.  This was so encouraging because often it feels like no one is listening and I'm wasting my time & looking like a fool.

I was able to interact with these hecklers, and actually have some reasonable dialog!  One was particularly challenging, and would ask question after question.  I did my best to answer the questions, and constantly come back to the gospel message and proclaim it.

Because of this, it turned into one of the longest periods of preaching I've done.  My throat was starting to dry up.  And then the heckler with all the questions smiled and said "I believe too brother"!  He was a Christian!  He came over and shook my hand and gave me a hug.  I was grateful that my ordeal was over, and I felt like I had passed the test.  But I was mildly disappointed.  I don't recommend any Christian pretend to be a heckler - it feels deceptive to me.

But one of the genuine hecklers had stuck around to listen, as well as some other people.  Very encouraging.

On Friday (today), I headed into Cathedral Square early to try to preach before the paid musicians started up eliminating the opportunity.  This worked, and I was able to preach again.  Later, one from the OAC team preached, and then Andy preached.

Andy preached under fire from our main Atheist heckler right from the start.  There were many people around and some other hecklers pitched in as well for some very robust and heated interaction.

Andy ended up staying to have some follow up conversations, while the rest of the team headed to Cashel Mall for some flip charting.

Tracts were handed out and 1 to 1 conversations were had - through out the day.  I thank God for the opportunities to share His precious gospel message.  All glory to Him.

---

On Tuesday at Woodridge people didn't stick around as long due to the heat but thankfully there were some shady areas in which conversation could be had.

A sad reality and a reason that you should be praying for the people of Woodridge is that many of the people have had some level of interaction with a version of Jesus. The issue, most people have learnt about a false Jesus. Jesus that is the brother of Satan or a Jesus that is the first created being. Jesus that requires you to earn His forgiveness.

As you consider Woodridge, please keep these people in your prayers. Those who are hurting and troubled, in slavery to sin and yet are kept in that bondage by people who are proclaiming a false solution and a false saviour.

One conversation that was had along these lines was with Natalia. She said at her "church" on Sunday the sermon was about the closeness of the coming of Christ and said it had been on her mind. She also said, when the team member sat down next to her and started to ask questions, at first she thought, "I hope this isn't a Christian".

But at the end of the conversation she said she was thankful for the chat because she was challenged to see what God had to say in His word.

Natalia, believed that people get to Heaven based on their goodness and sincerity of heart. It was pointed out, both using God's law and God's Holiness that this could never be the case. It was seen that because of sin, God must punish us and that good deeds don't take away the past history of bad deeds.

This seemed to make sense but then Natalia got stuck a second time with the good deeds. She thought that she could earn Jesus' forgiveness by being good. Again this was explained as impossible. The Gospel was then explained as a gift for the guilty, not a reward for the righteous.

Her bus arrived and not knowing if she had understood the Gospel yet, she was strongly encouraged to spend some time reading Romans 3-5. She also took a tract. Please be praying that Natalia would see what God has to say about salvation, through the Apostle Paul's writings and come to a saving knowledge of the truth.

Another conversation was had with a Muslim lady named Zara. She acknowledged that Hell is eternal and that sin deserves Hell and saw through the discussion the absolute predicament humanity are in, that everyone deserves Hell.

When asked what the solution was, she had realised that in Islam there isn't one because she realised you can never be good enough to remove the wrong you have done. She even said, "I want to go to Heaven but there is no way of getting there".

At this moment her bus arrived and the Gospel wasn't shared in person but she took a tract and was given a Gospel of John to read. Please be praying for Zara that she would come to understand that there is a solution to her sin and a way of being made right with God!

Please also pray for the many who took tracts and the many other conversations that took place over the course of the afternoon!

Praise God that His word never returns void!

---

On Monday at Capalaba the team swelled in size by 50%! It was exciting to see a new local Christian commit to coming to the outreach each Monday! It was an exciting afternoon that ensued when all three team members had fifteen conversations each, whilst each member had a couple of really encouraging conversations as well.

An early and very timely conversation was had with a young man named Jai. He at first was skeptical of God's existence and then heard the building, builder analogy, presented in the "How We Know God Exists and Why it Matters" tract. He then agreed that there must be a God. Next he was challenged on why he would argue why God doesn't exist and it was pointed out that it has to do with God's expectations of His creation. If there is a God, there are things He has asked of us. So often, people argue that there is no God to try and avoid His judgement.

Then Jai heard God's law, like a mirror it revealed his sin and he saw the predicament he was in. The life he had lived had left him with a debt he deserved to pay. Jai's life had earnt him an eternal Hell punishment. When asked if there was any solution other than him paying, Jai wasn't sure.

A short discussion ensued which came to a close as the Gospel was explained. On the first explanation Jai didn't understand properly how one is saved, he thought it was by being good. So the Gospel was re-explained using another analogy and he got it! Showing that he understood he used the same argument that Paul answers in Romans 6, "Isn't the Gospel just a get out of jail free card, where you can do whatever you want but still go to Heaven?"

It was exciting to see he had understood and the explanation was given, using the crocodile analogy, that after being saved by God, out of gratefulness to Him for what He has done, we will want nothing to do with the sin that once enslaved us and instead want everything to do with that which honours God!

It was right at this moment that Jai's bus arrived, he was thankful for the chat and said he would read the tract! Praise God for His timing and providence and please be praying for Jai that he will strongly consider what God has said and will count the cost and choose to trust in Christ alone!

One of the downsides to bus station evangelism is that you don't always get to finish the conversation where you wanted, rather God and His timing decides when the person had heard enough. This means, efficiency in presentation is key but also remembering that God works on His own timeline. From Monday there were a range of conversations where God's existence was established, God's law and the consequences of breaking it was shown and the question was posed, "How can a Hell deserving sinner, get into Heaven?".

These conversations occurred with Anabelle, Maddi, Jayden, Bruce, Mick, Teagan and Kiara. Please keep these individuals in your prayers, that God would use the law to leave them wondering over and over about the question, "How can a sinner be forgiven?" and ultimately use the tract they took, a Christian they know or even another conversation at a bus stop to bring them to a knowledge of the Gospel. Please be praying that they cannot get this question out of their mind until it is answered.

One final conversation was had with Dewi, a young guy who the team has spoken to many times. At first during the afternoon he made a joke about wanting to avoid speaking with the team but as the afternoon drew to a close he happily sat down and chatted with the team. This conversation went deeper than a usual Gospel conversation and was filled with a heart to heart discussion about why the team cared about him, why they wanted to challenge him and share with him week after week and he seemed moved.

Please be praying for Dewi that he would seriously consider the Gospel and trust in Christ alone for His salvation and as a result turn from his sin, to living a life honouring to God!

---

After a period away from the CBD, I have begun heading into the Mall on Fridays and Tuesdays. It was good to be back witnessing to the people of Hobart again. I have missed the work and have prayed for the people incessantly whilst I was away.

On Friday I spent about an hour or so handing out “Life is Precious” tracts at the traffic lights outside of Centro and Cat and fiddle and then over near the bus mall outside Rivers and then at North end of the mall. Many tracts went out and there were some interesting conversations that came from it:

Two women went past and the first one said “no no no no” but second one took a tract. As they walked away the first said “…its Christian BS” as she tried to take the tract, the second held onto it saying “I want to know what it’s talking about”.

An older man who was very skeptical of God’s existence, I spoke to him for short time. He said there was no evidence for God’s existence. I responded that there is plenty, from nature! The created world speaks of its creator. He responded that he could not believe that such complexity could come from one God. The truth is quite the opposite, complexity of the level we see in nature clearly demonstrates the need for a designer. We also spoke of the Bible and it’s trustworthy and proven nature.

A young lady stopped to ask me about the tract I gave her. She like the other gent asked if there was any evidence for God. She had been in a Church locally until 12, around that time she was convinced by science teachers at school there was no God. When she asked few people at Church would respond to her questions and she felt no-one gave her good evidence for God. We talked through the supports for the Bible, the message of the Bible, and the great news of salvation in Jesus Christ. I thanked and left her to think things over.

On Tuesday I was in the mall with a few supporting people in prayer and in the evening gave out tracts again.

Mr P. dropped by the Bible table. He is a Christian contact who has been coming for a while, who has been working with the homeless and drug addicts. He is a Godly man in a tiring and difficult work. We spoke together for some time about God’s faithfulness in times of difficulty

An older lady came by the table also, she was a Christian who wanted a Bible. She encouraged me to continue as she could see the Lord coming back soon from the way society was becoming increasingly sinful and lost.

I was prompted to preach from Jn 3:16 after a union protest group came down the mall shouting about better pay for our already well-paid public service. They had a message they thought was important to share and would disturb people to get the message across. I have the same conviction and will shake things up with noisy preaching about Jesus because it is so very important. God is even more set on shaking things up, he has turned our world upside down and changed the course of history through the coming of Jesus Christ. He is the only hope of eternal life and God so loves this broken evil world that He came to die for undeserving sinners. I preached on this theme for some time, towards the end a man listening gave me the thumbs up as he left.

Later in the afternoon, prompted by our country’s abominable commitment to slaughter unborn Australians, I preached from Mat 5: 21-26.  God views murder seriously, it will lead to the hell of fire (an eternal reality that should shake and sober all of us, Christian and not). Abortion takes the life of a human being made in God’s image, this is murder and the Bible says that regardless of the motivation it will face God’s wrath into eternity. There were some who reacted negatively to this message but Mr D. sat through the preaching nodding and came up afterwards to thank me for my comments. He said that children were precious and that he wished he and his ex-wife could have had some and he wished that people could see how precious unborn children were.

At the end of the afternoon I had a discussion with Mr U. a regular, this time and last has been mostly catching up as I’ve not seen him for a while. When we parted I headed to office with Bible table and then out to do tracts again.

I handed out many “Eternity” and “Life is Precious” tracts outside the bus mall, with many people taking them with smiles and thanks.

I saw Cap Tasmania who I’ve spoken to previously when handing out literature, his partner is very unwell and he’d come from giving her flowers. We spoke briefly before being interrupted and I continued handing out tracts.

Mr U. happened by again and wanted to know what the tracts say. He has been around for a long while so when he read them, he said it was what he has heard said and preached consistently before.

I then headed home after a good day.

---

Christchurch (NZ) Team

On Tuesday I was in the City in the morning, and in Riccarton in the afternoon.

I had a conversation at each location, where the person involved was keen to hear what I had to say and to discuss it.  But it came apparent, in both situations, that the person was understanding the gospel, but was rejecting it as the cost was too great.

For the first person, who felt safe enough to say he was bi-sexual, he was not willing to give up his boyfriend.  For the second person, the exclusivity of Christ (salvation through Christ alone) was too much.

I was discouraged, but I'm reminded of the following scripture (Mark 10:24b-27):

But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."  And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, "Then who can be saved?"  Jesus looked at them and said, "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God."

It is impossible for us to be saved by our own effort.  But, because of what Jesus did, we can enter His kingdom by His grace.  God can still use the gospel message these 2 people heard to bring about repentance and faith.  I leave them in His hands.

On Wednesday I was in the City in the morning, and outside the Hospital in the afternoon.

It was very difficult in the morning.  There was construction noise everywhere I went, and I couldn't settle in one spot to share the gospel from.  And it was difficult to get a conversation to start: I took a lot of rejection today.  I ended up just forcing myself to stay put and hand out tracts.  I did manage to get into a conversation outside the bus exchange, and I was able to share the gospel once at the entrance to Cathedral Square.

So as I headed for the hospital, I was keen for some quality conversations.

And as soon as I set up my flip chart at the entrance to the hospital, I was approached by 2 guys keen to give it a go.  It turned into a difficult discussion with someone who already had a good understanding of Christianity, but who was resistant to the gospel.

The key issue seemed to be why God allowed suffering.  And this was a theme for the afternoon.

And yet it's interesting how different people react to the issue of suffering.  I had one guy hand a tract back and, with bitterness, said something about the people suffering in the burns unit.  But another guy, who's daughter was born with part of her bowels outside of her body, had to have multiple surgeries to correct this, and who was currently suffering from infection - had no bitterness and was very open to the gospel.

He started out believing in reincarnation, and the idea that whatever we believed would be true (in a spiritual sense).  But at the end of the conversation was understanding that we can only be saved by trusting in Christ, and what He did for us on the cross - but that there was a great cost to following Him.

He left with a Bible, gospel booklet, various tracts: including one about why God allows suffering, and my contact details.  I will be praying for them.

Many tracts were handed out in front of the hospital.  Mostly to staff coming and going.  And I got much encouragement from Christians.  One guy even stopped to pray for me!

I have no idea what impact the days labour will have.  To my eyes, it feels impossible for anyone to come to Christ.  And yet I know that "all things are possible with God".  He has asked us to go, and tell people about Him.  At the very least, I have obeyed Him in that today.  People have heard, and understood the gospel.  I have worshipped Him in my obedience.  I leave the results with Him.

Come join me, on the streets, in worship of our Creator and Saviour: Jesus the Lord.

---

On Monday at Capalaba the team had an afternoon filled with Gospel conversations. As is the way with Capalaba, there is constantly cycling people around the bus stops, enabling and encouraging consistent conversations.

Three highlight conversation were with Jasmine, Jacob and Charlotte.

Jasmine was a lady that attended a local Church. She professed to be a Christian. When asked what the way to Heaven was, she was very clear that it wasn't by good works but she was unable to articulate what it was that actually got someone right before God.

She was engage and taken through the law and the Gospel so that it was clear for her. She said it made sense and she was encouraged to read the book of Romans so that hopefully she could understand more clearly what God has said is the way of salvation.

The next conversation was with a man named Jacob. Jacob looked like the type of guy you don't want to approach and speak to. But to the teams surprise he was happy to talk! He was taken through the law and shown his sin. He was asked what he thought the solution is and didn't have an answer and then heard the Gospel. He comprehended it and when asked when he would trust in Jesus he said, "I think I will have to do it tonight!"

Praise God for the work He does in bringing unbelievers into His family. We know that it isn't our wise words or abilities that cause someone to want to know God but rather it is God at work in their hearts.

Thirdly was a conversation had with Charlotte. The conversation occurred because he bus came almost 37 minutes late! Praise God for His grace!

Charlotte has a strongly atheistic family and as a result had never heard about God or the Gospel. She was shown step by step who God is and how we know. What God has done and what He has asked us to do. She was then shown by comparison to God's law what the problem is, that God must hold us accountable for our sin and then she heard the Gospel and understood it.

She actually responded, without being challenged, that it was something she would have to heavily consider. She even talked about counting the cost because it could mean rejection from her family! She said she was grateful for the conversation and that she would heavily consider what had been said.

Please be praying for these three conversations that God would be working in their hearts, to bring them to faith. Please also pray that they are strengthened to face any trials that might come as a result of their profession of faith.

---

On Saturday night in King George Square the team had a wonderful night of outreach. An early conversation was had with a SDA man.

This man, named Fernando, professed that he was a teacher of God's word and that he knew what he was talking about. The problem, he wasn't really teaching God's word but his own ideas. He was challenged on the Gospel but was unwillingly to acknowledge it. At this point it was decided to cut the conversation short, encourage him to read Romans 3-5 and pray that God would us His word to change this mans heart because he wasn't listening to what was being said.

Another man who was a local church-goer named Ricky, professed to be believing in Christ and justification by faith alone. Yet, he was unsure if he would get to Heaven because he did a lot of wrong things.

This is a surprisingly common issue. There are so many "Christians" the team run across, that profess (as protestants) justification by faith but live as though they are made right before God on the basis of how good their lives are.

Ricky was taken through the law, shown that he had no righteousness of his own and was explained the Gospel. The beauty of double imputation was even shared and Ricky seemed to, for the first time in his life, understand that we are made right before God, entirely on the basis of who Jesus is and what He has done. It was a moment of great joy.

Please be praying that his knowledge of God changes Ricky's life and that he can now live in freedom and joy in Christ.

Two other conversations were had with Stephen and Ashish. They both had other religions as their background but had just ultimately made up their own ideas. These men were challenged by the law and the Gospel and were left with the choice, trust God and what He has done, or perish eternally. Sadly at this stage both chose to continue to worship themselves and their ideas.

Please be praying for all those who heard the Gospel that they will be humbled by God's love and come to a reliance upon Christ, being adopted into God's family.

---

Christchurch (NZ) Team

It turns out that the Chinese New Year Parade coincided with our regular Sunday afternoon outreach.

There was a momentary opportunity for handing out lots of tracts! But once the parade passed, the crowds drifted off with it.

The team of 5, from 3 churches, still had plenty of opportunity for gospel conversations, before and after the parade passed through.

There were many Christians out and about. One conversation was with a Christian guy from Finland struggling with how it was fair for God to send people who haven't heard the gospel to hell.

By looking at Romans 1 and 2, I showed how everyone knows that God exists through creation, and how we all know we have done wrong by our conscience. Everyone will be without excuse on judgment day, and God would be completely just in sending everyone to hell.

But by His amazing grace, through the precious blood of Jesus, He has made a way for all, who hear the gospel and trust Jesus as Lord, to be saved.

This is why there is urgency to share the gospel!

The guy from Finland seemed to appreciate the conversation, even looking up verses on a Bible on his phone in his own language.

May we all be encouraged to make the most of our opportunities to share this precious gospel message with all that we can reach!

---

Christchurch (NZ) Team

Saturday's outreaches: in the city in the morning. It was awesome to have Ravi with me!

And then instead of the usual New Brighton or Sumner outreach in the afternoon, a team was gathered to reach people at Classical Sparks in the Park 2019 in the evening.

Hundreds of tracts were given away as the crowds entered the event, and flip charts were set up with pretty much constant gospel conversations happening.

It was great to have 10 involved in this outreach (including 3 children). All of varying levels of experience and ability, but all getting involved - for the glory of God! :)

Some of the team then stayed to enjoy the end of the concert and the wonderful fireworks display. It was a great evening out. Many thanks to the organizers! We are blessed to live in Christchurch.

May many come into the Kingdom of God through the proclamation of the gospel this day.

---

Christchurch (NZ) Team

Friday: 2 outreaches: both in the city: afternoon and evening.

A team of 5 from 4 different churches in the afternoon in Cashel Mall. (And there were at least 2 from OAC sharing in Cathedral Square.)

We faced some opposition, with a lady telling us that we were doing evangelism wrong by condemning people. No, we are not condemning people:

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
- John 3:18

Our job is to share the law to bring knowledge of sin:

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
- Romans 3:20

Then the gospel:

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you-unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
- 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

We do this so people will understand:

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
- Romans 8:1

In the evening outreach (in Cathedral Square), I saw the 2 young men again who I previously mentioned had some "life wounds". And they had another friend with them. We spent time continuing the gospel conversation started the other day. I will continue to pray for them and hope, God willing, I'll see them again.

Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
- Matthew 9:37-38

---

« Prev | 1 | 2 ... 140 | 141 | 142 | 143 | 144 ... 282 | 283 | Next »

---