Battle Log

• Battle Log
• Page 144

On Tuesday at Woodridge it was a hot afternoon. The Australian sun made it very warm out and as a result there were even less people around than normal.

The first conversation was had with Matt, a man who had little religious background and listened to a quick presentation of the law and Gospel before he had to run off to his train.

Soon after a lady named Herodia stopped by to talk. She said she wasn't sinful and was confused as to why people thought she was. Then she also admitted that she had sinned and didn't seem to comprehend the Gospel as it was explained.

Caleb said his whole family is Christian but he had absolutely no idea of the Gospel. He then heard through the law and the Gospel and was seriously challenged to consider what God has said.

A young french lady named Anna said she was very good. She was taken through the law but instead of acknowledging her failure to keep it instead she was trying to say that the she had done weren't wrong. Sadly her bus arrived before the conversation could progress any further but it was sad to see her denial.

Mirachi another young lady said she had spoken to a team member before but when asked what she was trusting in to get her to Heaven she said her own intuition and efforts. She then heard the law and the Gospel and was challenged to take God at his word and to count the cost of trusting Christ.

The last conversation of the afternoon was a very encouraging one. A father and son, who were not from Australia were pausing to have a smoke break before hopping on their train. The father spoke very little English but the son spoke it quite well.

So through the entire Gospel conversation the son would hear the question and then translate for his father then give both his and his fathers answer in response. Through this means they both heard the Gospel just in time for their train.

They also took tracts and were encouraged to read them.

Please keep those spoken to in your prayers. Please pray for Matt that he will heed the Gospel. For Caleb that he wouldn't be apathetic to God any longer. For Anna that she would be convicted of her sin. For Mirachi that she would realise that God is trying to get her attention and for Amin and Pierre that they would heed the Gospel that they heard and read the tracts that they may together be saved.

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At Capalaba on Monday the team had many conversations but also a very eventful afternoon.

An early conversation was had with John a walking contradiction. John declared that if God exists he is definitely going to Hell but then went on to explain that he had never done anything wrong in his life. Which was then followed by an explanation that he has just lived his entire life however he wanted and no one will hold him accountable nor change his mind.

John heard God's law, saw his sin but palmed it off as unimportant. Sadly due to John's lack of care regarding the law, it seemed vain to share with him the Gospel. So he was left strongly with the condemnation that sin brings.

Following this conversation, Luke and Seisha a young couple waiting at the bus stop were spoken to. During the conversation Luke shared he went to Citipointe youth group and Church but sadly didn't know the Gospel. He had some notions of Jesus' sacrifice but couldn't quite work out why Jesus had to die and how we are saved by it.

During the conversation Luke was showing signs of not being physically okay and was momentarily lapsing and unable to respond. This got worse very quickly and so the conversation was cut short as an Ambulance was called.

Later in the afternoon this opened up a brief conversation with Luke's mother but sadly she wasn't too interested in speaking. She did mention that she may go to church with her son sometime though.

The afternoon also held a range of other conversations.

Nikita heard the bad news and an introduction to the Gospel before her bus arrived and took a tract saying she would read it.

Sorem and Lissa also saw their sinfulness and were pointed quickly to Christ as the solution when their bus arrived.

Philip and Liam were in the same boat. They were less interested but will still happy to talk until their bus arrived.

The last two conversations though were quite interesting.

First was with a man named Phil, who believed in God just didn't think he could be saved because he thought he was too sinful. Paul was encouraged to hear about the extent of Christ's salvation and that he could make the foulest of sinners clean. Paul was encouraged to read Romans 1-5.

Last conversation was with a man named Nero. Who said he was a good guy who didn't do wrong things. Then when asked if he had ever lied he went on to mention that he had to lie for his job. This was surprising, at first he was good, then he basically admitted that he was paid to tell lies.

He went on to hear the desperate wickedness of his sin and its consequences and how seriously God takes sin. He then was asked if he had any idea of the solution and said he didn't know but mentioned that he had felt really guilty about his job and had thought about leaving it.

He then heard the Gospel and was given a picture tract to really illustrate what Christ has done and how we should respond.

Please be praying for those who heard the Gospel, that they would be challenge and come to a saving knowledge of the truth. Please also be praying for those who took tracts.

Please pray more specifically for Luke and his family and for Nero.

Please pray that Luke's condition would improve but also that the serious health problems he had will lead his family to seriously consider their own mortality and therefore their eternity.

Please pray that Nero would heed the seriousness of his sin and therefore come to total surrender and trust in Christ for his forgiveness.

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Christchurch (NZ) Team

A team of 4 out sharing the gospel on a sunny Sunday afternoon - so wonderful to have a new team member. We met her during the summer mission a few weeks ago.

There were many opportunities for gospel conversations - much to the irritation of our atheist heckler, who came through to interject his opinion into the various 1 to 1 conversations that were happening. In my case he said "all he wants is your money" - which couldn't be further from the truth! No, my motivation is the truth: the seriousness of sin, reality of hell, and the amazing grace through faith in Jesus' finished work on the cross! We must get out to share the good news with those that don't know it!

Amazingly, the conversation that our heckler tried to interrupt ended up in the listener (a tourist from Berlin, Germany) understanding the good news of Jesus and saying there was nothing stopping him from trusting in Christ. May he do so! He is leaving Christchurch tomorrow, so I left him with a booklet and a way to get in touch if he desires. I'll leave the "follow up" to God.

We finished the outreach with preaching in Cathedral Square.

Thank you for your prayer and support, and please consider joining the team! The harvest is ripe, laborers required.

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Christchurch (NZ) Team

2 outreaches today: 1 x Central City and 1 x New Brighton. Both outreaches were supposed to be 3 hours but, praise God, the city outreach went half an hour longer due to a wonderful gospel conversation with three men.

During this discussion, after they asked good questions to clarify they understood the message I was sharing, and after I had asked a checking question to confirm they had understood the message I was sharing - one of the men said he was gay.

I don't think he did this to challenge / attack me, but because he felt safe enough to disclose this and inquire as to where this fit with God.

And I was honest: homosexuality is a sin, and if we are trusting in Christ for salvation we will want to repent (change our mind) about this - as well as other sin. I also had the opportunity to explain why homosexuality was sin.

After this, I could see him trying to deny the true God as he wanted to hold on to his sin. I understood this reaction, but I just kept coming back to Romans 1:18-20 - we know the true God exists, but we suppress this knowledge because we love our sin. I gave all 3 guys the tract "How we know that God exists and why it matters".

I was also able to talk about 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 - that our sin is serious, including homosexuality, but that all sin, including homosexuality, can be forgiven through faith in Jesus. The guy accepted the booklet "God and Sexuality" that explained more.

As the discussion ended - I said, with a smile, "I don't hate you, man". And he smiled back and said "I know".

I had many other wonderful conversations in the city, I was able to preach in the Square, and my friend, Gary, joined me by handing out tracts. It was so wonderful watching the polite way he did this.

The 2nd outreach was going to be in Sumner, but I ended up diverting to New Brighton because 1) Gary was going to New Brighton and so I offered him a lift, and 2) the Coast to Coast event was ending there attracting lots of people.

I found it hard witnessing in a new location, but I was able to have some good conversations, including with 2 homeless guys (separate conversations) and a guy relaxing on the beach, but very open to a conversation and who kept exclaiming afterwards - "I understand, it makes sense". Yet, understanding and actually trusting are different things. I challenged him to trust in Christ today.

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Christchurch (NZ) Team

I had to call an ambulance tonight.  Mike and I were both sharing the gospel with people, when a lady collapsed on the road behind us! I think she'll be fine, so once the ambulance arrived, we went back to work and Mike ended up having a great gospel conversation with 2 sets of people at the same time (see pic with ambulance in the background).

We had some encouragement from a Christian tourist who said she had seen Christians on the Gold Coast, Australia sharing the gospel. She showed me a photo - and I recognized an Operation 513 team member! (see pic). So cool that people are encountering Christians sharing the gospel multiple times in different places on one trip.

We also had some discouragement with our main atheist heckler turning up and wasting our time. :( Although, ultimately, nothing is wasted. I have compassion for this angry man - and I know God has used him to grow me in many ways. God uses all things for the good of those who love Him.

Earlier in the day a team of 6 - including 2 newbies - were out sharing Jesus via preaching, flip chart conversations, and tracts. 3 of the OAC team were also out, and a new evangelist is in town, with his own way of presenting the gospel. So that's at least 10 Christians sharing the gospel in the afternoon, and 2 in the evening. Very encouraging. May more laborers be raised up, and more churches get involved with the great commission on the streets - all to the glory of God.

(It's great to see some progress being made on the broken Cathedral too.)

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Christchurch (NZ) Team

Back on the streets of Christchurch today, doing my best to share the gospel. The time went fast, as I was either open air preaching or talking to people most of the time - which is good - but, sadly, there was much resistance to Jesus.

I continued a conversation with a guy I met, and shared the gospel with (as well as answering many questions) at the end of the summer mission to Christchurch (just over 2 weeks ago). But sadly he seemed more closed than the first time I talked to him.

And I set up my flip chart for the last 30 minutes of the outreach which attracted some conversations. But sadly, 3 elderly people openly mocked the concept of hell, making jokes. And after that, a man got angry with me and walked off in a huff while we were discussing the basis for truth. None of these people stayed long enough to hear the gospel.

Honestly, I went out dragging my heels today, and I left feeling dejected. It's hard work bringing a message to people that don't want to hear it. I guess I feel like Jeremiah today.

But I'm not discouraged. Jesus has asked us to go. I love Him and will obey, even when it's hard. We are not always going to be clicking our heels after an outreach. And I can't judge what is going on in people's hearts. May God use our fumbling attempts to share Jesus for His glory. (And yet, I'm motivated to be the best ambassador for Jesus that I can be.)

Looking forward to heading out again tomorrow. :) At the very least, it will be an opportunity to worship. Who's joining me?

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West Country (UK) Team

On a cold and very windy Saturday 2nd February, George and Della met in Plymouth city Centre for outreach before others could come. They set up George's Faith mission board with scriptures and tracts and free Bibles and started handing out tracts and some conversations with people before Della had to leave and Ed and myself came later.  

While setting up the Intelligence test board, two teenagers came along and started asking some questions. They were both 16 years old and said they had a - C of E background after attending Primary school and some church attendance, but said they did not really have a strong belief. I was able to share with them some evidences for Gods existence, and using Gods law showed them from their conscience how we all know God exists but because of our sin choose to make excuses about God or make a God in our own image that is ok with our sin. I tried to show them the connection between Christmas and Easter and why Jesus had to die on the cross, even though he was perfect and didn't do anything wrong, but fulfilled Gods law and a righteousness for us so we could stand before God justified as if we had never sinned, even though we had. They took some tracts and said they had a Bible at home each and had something to think about.

After last weeks ruling in New York about Abortion now being allowed up to the third trimester/ 40 weeks, I had a strong desire to want to preach about this absolutely sickening bill that allowed the murder of the unborn, and so brought a poster I had made a while ago but never really used. I read from Psalm 139 and preached for around 20 minutes that life started from conception and that therefore abortion was murder and that over 96% of abortions were for social reasons rather than rape or medical risk to the mother, and so abortions was being used as a means of contraception rather than the baby being given for adoption, and that only God could forgive murder and the gospel was the only way for peoples sins to be washed away, what ever they were, even if people walking past had an abortion in the past they could be forgiven because of what Jesus had done for sinners. I said that any guilt and shame that people tried to cover up through drink or drugs or wrong relationships could not wash away a guilty conscience but only the blood of Jesus could restore their relationship with God.

An angry big issue seller walked past a couple of times and shouted at me saying I had no right to tell women what they should do and that it was their right. He said his friend had an abortion before, but he didn't like the statistic that abortion was mostly for social convenience. He shouted that it was Christians in the crusades who had murdered people, but I corrected him that was Roman Catholics responding to the Muslim invasion and actually it wasn't Christians who murdered people today but Muslims in the name of Islam. This made him even more irate and his swearing at me made quite a lot of people stop to listen. I continued to preach as he walked off.

This led to a couple in mid twenties walking past and stopping to read the intelligence test and a long chat for around 15 minutes as to why Christianity as supposed to other religions, the age of the earth, and life after death according to what the Bible said.

He started off a bit argumentative but eventually we had a good conversation and allowed me to share the gospel with both of them that now worked in Plymouth after coming down from Berkshire. They were both very amicable and took some tracts and understood why we were out that day- not to condemn people but because we cared about peoples eternity and had been forgiven for doing the same sins as others had.

Ed was very good at handing out tracts to people and listened to the preaching to help draw others in. George also preached and had three conversations that were quite good- David who claimed to be a 'confirmed' Christian in the C of E but didn't have a grasp of the Gospel. The Gospel was explained and he was given literature to read. Two young men called Tyler and George had a conversation with Della and George about the purpose of life and the significance of Christ and were given tracts. They also spoke with a young woman called Chloe who was brought up in a Christian home, knew parts of the Bible but had no grasp of the gospel, she had rejected Christianity but yet seemed open because she stopped to ask for a free bible and was spoken to for a while.

It was a very blustery day and the rain just about held off but lots of tracts were handed out and some good conversations with people. We pray some seeds were sown in fertile ground and that God would continue to work on their hearts so they would repent and respond to Gods grace in Christ.

 

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Sunnybank on Thursday was a collection of short, conversations whilst buses came and left.

Caleb a young Christian man from a local Church was encouraged to evangelise as he knew the Gospel.

David a man who thought there was a higher power but didn't want to believe that God would judge, was shown that because God is good He must judge.

Oliver was shown that creation shows us that there must be a Creator and therefore we are accountable to Him for the way we have lived.

Oscar said he didn't know what happened after we died and was happy to listen to the law and Gospel until his bus arrived.

Suri an Indian man tried to hold onto both the idea that there is no God whilst declaring that if God exists he is very good and definitely going to Heaven.

There was also an older gentleman who loved his own ideas, he believed many conspiracy theories, predominantly about how the "evil" Jews controlled the whole world and on this basis because Jesus was a Jew he rejected any offer of salvation that Jesus could provide.

Lastly a young man named Anthony was spoken to, he had a pretty good understanding of the Gospel but was struggling with his assurance. He heard the beautiful implications of the Gospel and why we can have full assurance of our salvation because we are saved on the basis of Christ's perfect work, not anything we can do!

Please be praying for these short and sharp conversations, that God would use them to be another step in the process of bringing them to himself.

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On Wednesday in King George Square, there were many conversations. Some longer than others, some people more receptive and some just unwilling to talk.

There were two business men, sitting on the same bench who at different levels declined to talk. The first said he didn't want to think about his death and briskly walked off almost straight away when asked, "What do you think will happen to you when you die?". The second engaged in a few questions, had his core beliefs challenged simply by being asked the question, "What has convinced you that is true?" to which a number of times he had no answer but to say, "I just feel like it". He too then had to leave quite quickly.

A man spoken with soon after was a Kiwi, named Brendan. He rightly pointed out the glaring hypocrisy of many false Churches, from the Catholic church to the Word of Faith movement he rightly criticised them and was angry that they would so openly misrepresent God and yet people would still follow them.

But the sad part was that Brendan had used this as his justification against believing in God. He had rejected God on the basis of wicked men who claimed to represent Him. It was pointed out that this wasn't a very good reason and he was shown the law, that he too preached a better message then he lived and therefore he needed the Saviour.

The Gospel was explained and Brendan took a tract as he headed back to work. Please be praying that the challenge placed before Brendan would be one that he would consider.

A conversation was had with a business women, Zoe. She at first declared that people love religion because they love answers and so religion is now losing its hold on people because science can give us answers. Then when she was posed with a few questions, she responded that science didn't have the answers to these big questions. Then she went on to say, that she didn't need answers to these things. It was clear that she was grasping at straws and contradicting herself but she couldn't see it.

Then she said that religion is for people who need assurance about an afterlife. She said that people aren't smart enough to comprehend non-existence, therefore we need to believe there is something after we die, that there will be some reason for this life. It was point out to her that the opposite is true. She was hoping that there was nothing, so that she could convince herself there is nothing to worry about, no accountability and therefore she can live however she wants.

Zoe sadly was blinded by her pride and her love of self. She couldn't understand the irony in her comments and was sure what she was saying was consistent. Then she was shown the law and heard the Gospel and said, "you won't change my mind, I just want to live my way". It was a sobering thought that she was willing to ignore things that were directly contradictory about what she believed, simply to try and quieten her conscience to the reality of God's judgement.

Among other conversations the final conversation of the afternoon was with Charissa. She had some sort of Christian background but didn't know the Gospel. Over the discussion she heard many explanations for who God is, why He must be a being, why He cares about justice, how He must punish wickedness and therefore what He has done so that the wicked can be forgiven. She came to understand the Gospel and was strongly encouraged to consider what God had said.

Please be praying for those that heard the Gospel today, or even an introduction to it. Please be praying that God would be working in hearts and lives so that they may come to understand what God has done and to trust in Him!

Praise God that He uses feeble messengers to preach His Gospel and even consider joining us sometime!

An encouragement in this area is that a local Christian business man, comes down during his lunch hour to join the team in sharing the Gospel! During his hour on the street yesterday he had three Gospel conversations! Imagine what God could do through you if you joined the team during your lunch hour!

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Not long after setting up the Bible table, a man who had parked close by stepped out onto the footpath, walked straight up asking nicely “what do you have here?” After saying a few things about the ministry he saw 'free Bibles' on the banner, he said someone he knows would love a Bible.

P ended up sharing how he is helping his niece S who is very sick, he has devoted himself to being her full time carer. The Bible he requested was for his niece, he was saying it will help her. He says that S is a Christian. We agreed that a large print Bible for his niece would be better so we offered to get one to give to her and we will bring it next week.

The focus then was to P as I asked if he believes. P says he has been blessed to grow up with a family who are Christian and it is all he has known. As I started to ask him questions about Eternity and what happens when we die, Rick arrived. We were able to check where P is with God. He thought he was going to heaven because he always helped people. So P wasn’t understanding the Gospel. After going through the law with the flip chart he agreed that he was deserving of hell punishment and what Jesus had done on the cross is what saves us. Any good works we do is not going to save us, we explained to him.

Pray God will use the visual from the flip chart of the hell punishment Jesus bore upon himself, and His perfect blood shed for those who turn to Him for forgiveness of sins to receive His righteousness by faith, trusting in Him alone in what He has done for us on the cross. He showed us his power and victory by rising from the grave. Jesus is alive! it is finished! the work is done. Pray God will give P His grace and a deep Love for Him, and bring him gratitude and thankfulness to receive Jesus. Pray P will open his bible and read God’s Word and get to know and live his life for God’s glory and purposes. He was given tracts also to remind him of the Gospel. So pray he reads his Bible with God’s Spirit to guide him and also for his niece in the difficult time she is going through. Pray he will come back to pick up the Bible we will have for S.

The past 2 weeks we’ve had lots of encouragement in believers checking out the ministry and sharing with us their love for Jesus. Getting to know them better has been great. There has been some from out of town too, and they are encouraged to see the good news going out here at Warwick.

It’s also good to build up and challenge our brothers and sisters in Christ to share Jesus every opportunity we are given. We who are His children are privileged to be a part of His work. Gospel tracts are a good resource to be able to plant the Gospel in many places and situations and they are going places where we don’t go. Let’s spread the great and wonderful news of salvation and use everything God has given us to reach out to the people. We give thanks to God and give Him all the Glory for His Sovereign work.

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