Battle Log

• Battle Log
• Page 80

Toowong (QLD) Team

Operation 513 Battle Lof for Tooowng Village on Wednesday September 1, 2020 from 1330 to 1500

On the first day of Spring, we have resumed by grace the street evangelism at Toowong despite the Covid-19 community cluster outbreak is still posing threat of heath to the Queenslander in general. To me, it was also a very special new day after the birth of my 2nd Grand child Hannah the baby girl yesterday evening. Going on to the street again for the Lord needs to pay a price for not being able to visit Hannah as well as the whole family for an indefinite period until the covid-19 infection is over. But it is a worthy price to pay as it may be used by God to give birth to many spiritual new life by the almighty power of the Gospel.

Actually , every team mate has their price to pay. Winnie has to travel 1.5 hours by train one way to join this 1.5 hour street evangelism every week with her Husband coming along to support her. Gary Nean our Aussie team mate has to carry two big signs with gospel message by train. Johnny of course has to exert extra responsibility as both our physical and spiritual leader.

Apart from preaching the gospel, God always has a side lesson for us to learn. For consecutive times, we starts sluggishly without any successful chat. It is time for us to learn to let go of our anxiety as if stripping off the coat of self pride. After we have put 100% faith in God, the divine appointments then come continuously like flow of living water that cannot be stopped. God will also raise up and use the seemingly weakest link amongst us to prove that the gospel work we have done is not because of our experience and skill but simply the sovereign power of God. Today, Winnie made 9 significant fruitful contact while Johnny and I only got less opportunities. Gary was taking position in the far end under the footbridge with result not known to us, but of course he got all his chance.

Recap here below is my battle log of 7 conversation followed by the log of Winnie in Chinese for 9 persons.

1) Jerry an local Aussie UQ student, appeared very receptive and was able to share the nutshell of the gospel before the bus came.

2) A Korean girl initially not wanting to chat but was impressed by my sincerity as such I was able to finish sharing the gospel in a nutshell only just in time when the bus arrived.

3) I Met Wasi a Nigerian Christian. He was the rare one with clear and hundred percent assurance of salvation faith. I was able to Supplement him with the threefold of salvation as per 2 Cor 1:10. He even eagerly checked up the bible verse to get what I wanted to share with him. Our sharing also could not last long because of the arrival of the bus.

4) Suby an Indian young woman after showing initial reluctance to stop for a chat, she claimed she is a Christian and her uncle is a pastor. But she showed no correct understanding of gospel lacking full assurance of assurance. Thanks God I finally managed to make here understand she should have 100% , not even 99.99%, assurance of salvation simply because of Christ alone.

5) I followed up with the girl Lucy that Gary chatted a while ago and left for the bus stop. When I asked her if she thinks she can go to heaven by being a good person, she failed to grasp the essence of the gospel. So I gave her a bit more explanation luckily before the bus came.

6) Cathy a catholic Filipino initially rejected to take a tract as she thought she does not need to hear th gospel again. But she failed the diagnosis test then I took her through the gospel to establish her real basis of salvation is by Christ alone as such she should have 100$ faith in Jesus. At the end, she thanks for my passion to help her out to correct her misconception about redemptive grace.

7) Chrystal, a Malaysian Chinese Christian. Thanks God she is the rare one like Wasi today that have 100% assurance of salvation.

感謝主的带领，今天傳了福音给九人。

當我們到達傳福音地點，等了十分鐘，都沒有人留下聽福音。關牧師説可能我們要再次禱告。馬上我遇到第一位是中国少女，講述重要的福音後，巴士到達。第二位，Lily從香港來的少女，初時我們用英语溝通，但她説不太明白，我問她從那裏來，她説香港，我便用廣東話講述福音，於是她完全明白了，願意回教會尋求更多的真理。第三位，本地人 Joe,是天主教徒，我們講及天主教舆基督教的分别。第四位，好，中国少女。我用很快的時間 重要的福音傳给她，當我講完，巴士到達，她很開心的謝謝我所傳的福音。第五位，Alex 中国青年，不太明白我用英语講的福音，於是我用不流利的普通话對他説，他终于明白了，尋求教會更進一步的認識. 第六位，Cathy, 完全明白福音，願意回教會。第七位，Max, 本地人，初時不願意聽福音，當他坐下來，我行過去問他，你認識耶穌基督嗎？跟着傳福音给他。第八位是澳洲女士，Sally, 她明白耶穌救恩，願意回教會尋求更多真理。第九位，Neil, 天主教徒，我講述天主教與基督教的分别，他説有在家禱告，但沒有回教會，我説可能现在教會都在網上進行，嘗試網上找教會吧！Johnny 叫我，收工了。跟着關牧師又到來，還和他影相。

感謝讚美主今天的帶领。祂的大能，讓我不配的口，都可以傳福音。願今天聽到福音人士，更進一步尋求神，與主聯合。

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Christchurch (NZ) Team

Saturday - Tell Me Conference day!  This was the seventh yearly iteration.  It’s partly because of this conference that I ultimately started working for Operation 513.

Just over six years ago, Andy came up with the idea of running an evangelism conference.  I thought he was crazy!  Who would want to come to an evangelism conference?  It came together and happened (this is where the name “Tell Me” came from)… and it was good!  Some great connections occurred.  So we decided to do it again the next year.  But who to speak?  I’d heard of Josh Williamson, and after discussions we decided to get him over.  This was our introduction to Operation 513.  And it went from there.  I look back and am amazed at what God has done with “Tell Me” - the ministry and the conference - now folded into Operation 513.  If we are humble, and continue to trust in God, then I can’t wait to see what the future brings.  May God get all the glory!

After the teaching part of the conference, most of the attendees came out on the streets to get a taste of real street evangelism!

We started with one of the speakers at the conference, Matthew Johnston (himself coming to Christ through open air ministry, now a Pastor at Riverbend Bible Church in the Hawke’s Bay), open air preaching in Cathedral Square.  It was great learning from his style.  He spoke loudly and clearly, and yet worked hard to not come across as angry or yelling.  And he engaged with people as they walked past, even getting one guy to stop and interact - but ultimately listen.  Matthew is pictured with a passerby stopped and listening.  Soon after, the other speaker at the conference (Roger Spicer) had started engaging the very same passerby in gospel conversation - also pictured.

After the preaching, we split up into smaller groups and spread out within the central city to engage people with tracts, and in conversation.

It was so wonderful seeing so many Christians out giving it a go, and observing and learning from those that had more experience.

I ended up getting engrossed in my own gospel conversations, but from time to time I would notice that other Christians around me were getting into their own conversations - some for the first time!

The flip chart really helped.  People would walk up to it and want to give it a go, making it easy for those that were a bit rusty to get going, or for newbies to get involved.

Personally, I had four stand out conversations.  All follow ups!

The first was with a guy who said he needed evidence before he would believe in God.  I asked what evidence he required.  He said, if God walked up to him and shook his hand he would believe (he wouldn’t).  I said he didn’t need that to happen, that he already knew that God existed - and then used the building analogy to explain why.  Surprisingly he opened up and I was able to share the gospel with him.  He then had another apologetical question - he was surprised I was able to answer it.  I challenged him to respond to the gospel - God willing I will see him again soon and be able to continue to follow up with him.

The third one was with a guy I’ve been talking to for about a year now.  The last time was the previous day carrying a box of beer.  Today he was hung over, but both times he was happy to chat - he still had the tract I’d given him the previous day, I gave him two more today.  I just continued to labour with him.  He knows, yet his heart hasn’t been changed.  Oh, God, have mercy!

It was a tiring, but wonderful day.

Sunday I was in catch up mode (e.g., these Battle Logs).  But I was able to spend two hours online with the Aussie team.  I was paired up with the Pink Angel - Matthew Andersen - I learnt so much from listening to his gospel conversation.  The guy he was talking to came to understand the clear logic of the gospel, but suppressed the truth - even admitting that he was denying the truth because he loved his sin!  And yet he was open, and indicated that he would consider the discussion.  He needs God to change his heart - that is his only hope.  The gospel is the power of God to salvation!
 

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Christchurch (NZ) Team

I spent six hours in online outreach on Thursday.

Looking at my notes, it looks like I had a string of resistant people, but then I copied and pasted a text based conversation.  I now remember, whoever I was talking to was very open:

Stranger: I really don’t know
You: It's the building you can see - right?
Stranger: Yah
You: ok, in the same way
You: We can't see God
You: But we can see this Universe, infinitely more complicated than the engineering in a building
You: So, that is how we know God exists.
Stranger: You have a point
Stranger: Ok makes sense

You: What do we have to do to go to heaven?
Stranger: Be a good person and make good decisions
You: 1) Have you ever lied?
Stranger: Yes
You: 3) Have you ever murdered someone?
Stranger: No way
You: Ever been angry with someone?
Stranger: Yes
You: Innocent or guilty?
Stranger: That’s is a great point

Stranger: I’m not sure
Stranger: Jesus
Stranger: I have never really looked at That
Stranger: Heaven
Stranger: Jesus
Stranger: Sacrifice himself for us all
Stranger: Yah
You: TRUST that JESUS died on the cross to pay our hell fine.
Stranger: Yah

Stranger: I always was scared I might go to hell for little things and that’s why I never really looked into this
Stranger: Makes sense

Stranger: Ok
You: needGod.net
Stranger: That is the best thing I have seen on omegle
Stranger: Wow
Stranger: Ok
Stranger: Ok cool I will definitely use this thank you so much

On Friday we had a calm gospel + abortion outreach outside the hospital before moving into Cathedral Square for some open air preaching.  There was a new heckler today, and Andy did a great job interacting with him!

There were a lot of evangelists in Cashel Mall later in the afternoon - from various outreach organisations and churches.

I ended up having a follow up opportunity with a guy I’ve been talking to for well over a year.  With all the Covid-19 craziness, he has been thinking deeply on his mortality.  I was able to take him through the gospel again.  Frustratingly, he seems to be understanding, but not responding to the gospel.  I challenged him to respond - today - but only God can change his heart.  Pray that God would have mercy on him.

Roger had a great chat with some uni students (pictured), and Andy ended up having a long chat with some guys down by the river (also pictured).

Friday evening was taken with Tell Me Conference prep (including venue set up), so I wasn’t able to do the usual outreach.  But I was very encouraged to have so many who attended the conference on Saturday join us on the streets in the afternoon - it was very encouraging!  But I’ll write about that in my next report.
 

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Bribie Island (QLD) Team

Last Saturday, the team met at Bribie for the monthly outreach, but the howling wind had pretty much emptied the beaches.  So we handed out some tracts to the few scattered people who still hung around and put tracts on all the nearby car windscreens.  Then we headed over to Caboolture to do a letterbox drop.  We covered the area behind the Caboolture train station with Project 139's “Life is Precious" Gospel tracts.  We were grateful that we were still able to give people the Gospel, despite the windy weather.  Please pray that these tracts dropped into random post-boxes would bear much fruit for the kingdom of God.  Please pray that God would use these tracts to save innocent lives from murder in the womb and souls from death and hell to the glory to of God.

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West Country (UK) Team

Newquay Evangelism: Gospel Advance! 

I must admit today I didn’t really feel like heading out onto the streets to share the gospel. The past couple of weeks have been hectic with ministry so I am feeling rather worn down. Yet, the Lord moved in such a way today that I am so glad that I continued with the outreach.

It was just Nigel (The Faith Mission) and I out today; but despite the fact that we were few in numbers we had an extremely productive day of witnessing. The high street of Newquay was very busy with people enjoying the wonderful weather. As we walked along we realised that our normal witnessing location would be no good as there was a very loud busker nearby. As a result we headed further up the road where we found a busy, though quieter area. Here we began to hand out tracts and seek gospel conversations.

Immediately, I was struck by the willingness of people to take tracts; at times it felt like we couldn’t hand them out fast enough. But not only was literature going out, but gospel conversations were beginning to take place also.

The first conversation I had was with a 72 year old retired builder. He told me that he was an atheist as there was no proof of God’s existence. I engaged him with some basic level apologetics, which he admitted made sense. He then went onto reveal that even though he claims to be an atheist he still finds himself praying when things go wrong. I explained to this man that Romans 1 indicates that all people knows that God exists, and that he knows that God is real; the man admitted that he did know, but then said he couldn’t accept Christianity because the Bible was full of holes. I asked if he could show me one of these holes, it was then that he said that he has never actually read the Bible. We chatted a bit more, and I was able to explain the gospel fully to him. At the end of our conversation he said he enjoyed the chat and it gave him something to think about.

The next conversation I had was one of those encounters that you long to have. Two young people took a tract then came back to talk; the man was from Poland and the lady was from Italy. Both told me that they had grown up in Roman Catholic countries, but they never had anything to do with religion. The Polish man said he used to be anti-God and religion, but now he sees clearly that God exists and that He made everything, then he said, “But I don’t know who that God is!” These are the statements that every evangelist wants to hear because we can point to the true God. I explained the gospel to them, and both seemed amazed. They listened very carefully as I spoke of Jesus and how people can be forgiven. At the end of the conversation they were very thankful for the chat; they said it was their first day in Newquay as they were down on holidays from Manchester. Both took a Gospel of John, an indepth gospel booklet and an invite to Newquay Baptist Church. I wish every conversation was like this one!

There isn’t enough space to detail other conversations, but needless to say the Lord was moving today. At the end of the day the Lord really provided a special encouragement to me. As I witnessed to two young men who are doing their theology A-levels, I noticed a couple come in to listen. When I finished the conversation they introduced themselves as being Christians from Birmingham. They told me that as they walked our high street they were saying to each other how wonderful it would be to witness here, then they saw Nigel and I.

As we chatted the man said that he wanted to share a passage of Scripture with me in order to encourage me in the work and whatever else we are facing. He opened the Bible and read Jeremiah 1:17-19

“Therefore prepare yourself and arise, and speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, lest I dismay you before them. For behold, I have made you this day a fortified city and an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land— against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land. They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you,” says the Lord, “to deliver you.”

That passage was particularly encouraging as we are facing an increase of demonic opposition in Newquay; which is only to be expected when we stand for Jesus. The battle has been hard and exhausting, so it was a great blessing to be reminded from Scripture that the Lord has not abandoned us.

At around 3pm we had to finish our outreach as we had run out of tracts. We give thanks that the Lord moved in Newquay, and we pray that all those we spoke to and who took literature would come to know and love the Lord Jesus.

SDG!

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Christchurch (NZ) Team

On Tuesday and Wednesday, I spent all my outreach time online.

For Wednesday I tried to keep track of all the gospel conversations for this report.

I started the outreach connecting to three guys from Canada.  I sparred with two of them for a while over how they know God exists - one understood, the other was more resistant.  The third guy claimed to be a Christian.  They were happy to stay for me to take them through the law and the gospel.

Next up I was connected with a guy from Mumbai in India.  His English wasn’t good, but I persisted.  At one point he offered to show me something, I was concerned about what he meant and was ready to turn on my video shield!  But then I realised that he wanted to show me his god.  Which he did, it was an idol.  I was able to communicate some of the law, and start touching on the gospel, before he finally disconnected.

I was then beamed into the office of three Philippine government workers.  They all had masks on.  I struggled to get a conversation going, as only one of them would respond, and that was via typing.  I was able to drop a link to needGod.net before they disconnected.

Someone with no video also responded via text.  They believed in God, heaven and hell.  I started on the law.  They denied stealing, and then went silent but didn’t disconnect.  I continued through the law but they disconnected before I could share the gospel.

An American kid with filthy language was up next.  In response to my standard opening question he responded with “I’m a kid, how am I supposed to know the answer to that?”.  He started to engage when he suddenly had to go.

A very rude and disturbing young man was up next.  He heard the law, but it just made him go nastier!  I disconnected.

Another person with no video and responding via text.  They wanted to go to heaven to see their first horse.  They were very “good” - had never lied, and had never talked back to their parents.  When I explained that anger is the root of murder, they disconnected.

I then was connected with a guy who had a physics degree who was making synth music.  Science was king for him and he was deeply resistant to the God who made him.  Unsurprisingly he denied a universal conscience and was resistant to the law.  I didn’t have the energy to fight him, so we parted ways.

Up next was another resistant guy from Brazil.  He tapped out with: "even with all these arguments it is not something that I think is important to believe, I find it interesting and very incredible the faith that you have but it is not something that I have".

My final conversation before a break started with the guy I saying “Welcome to hell, can I take your order please?”.  It made for a fascinating conversation where he heard the law, and the gospel.  He had “heard it before”, and was resistant.
That was the first two hours, the second two hours went better!

It started with an odd conversation with a “Christian”.  He couldn’t articulate the gospel, so I started working through the law when he opened up about a desire to hurt himself and a struggle with anxiety.  I tried to engage with hope, but we lost our connection.  I was able to leave a link to needGod.net before that happened.

I then started getting into really good conversations.  I had a long chat with a fireman / mechanic.  He engaged and started talking about how the conversation is an “eye opener”.  I was very encouraged.

Next a kid for the USA with a big Canadian flag on his wall.  He was a deep thinker, and there would be long periods of silence as he processed what I was saying and tried to come up with objections.  He grasped the gospel quickly, and after talking about counting the cost, I pleaded with him not to shelve what he had heard, but to respond!

A kid, who first up said he was on cocaine (later he said he was joking)!  He came to understand the gospel, but he kept laughing.  I asked why, and he said he was connected to a group of people who were listening to our conversation.  I asked what they thought about the gospel - he said one of them wanted me as their Dad!  I told them there is a better Dad than me: God.

I then had two skips: 1) a girl who never lied, or stole, skip.  2) a guy who lied, never stole, skip.

Next up a guy in deep denial of God - even in the face of proof.  I decided not to engage.

A person with no video you responded via text.  They went silent on me but stuck around.  I shared the gospel before they disconnected.

Second to last conversation was with a guy who heard the gospel.  I said, “So, what’s the reason you go to heaven then?”.  He responded with “Haha, nice one buddy.”  And disconnected.

My last conversation was with some kids who came to grasp the gospel!

So.  That is how my four hour stint of outreach went.  Lots of opportunity for plowing and gospel sowing.  Only God can bring the increase!
 

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Christchurch (NZ) Team

Back to nice weather on Saturday in Christchurch (NZ).  After Andy and I interviewed James White for the Tell Me Evangelism Conference I headed into the city for a couple of hours of outreach.

There was lots of activity at the Bridge of Remembrance - it’s now my favourite spot for Saturday outreach.  As well as me, there were three other religious groups there - one I haven’t seen before.  It turns out the leader had lost his father in the Mosque shooting last year! :(  And yet he wasn’t there to promote Islam, but protest the government, and talk about conspiracy theories.  At times they had loud music with bad language - not so pleasant.

When you do a lot of street evangelism, you get a feel for the demographics that seem more likely to want to chat.  But you don’t rely on that, because you’ll often be surprised who wants to chat.

I had a lady stop who really wanted to chat and she quickly opened up about involvement with a cult that she had been excommunicated from.  And yet she seemed to have unresolved guilt that she was desperate to resolve.  In the short time I had with her I focused on the grace of the gospel without compromising the reality of the cost.  She accepted a tract as she moved on.

I had another couple walk past that surprised me when he accepted a tract.  I asked them what they thought happened after life, and they stopped to talk!  She was an atheist and he had a Mormon background.  It was odd, cos they wanted to stay, and yet it seemed too hard and they bailed.  But he did keep the tract!

Later in the afternoon I joined the Aussie team for some online outreach and I got to speak to some really interesting people about the gospel!

Firstly there was a Muslim guy from Nepal - very reserved, and yet he didn’t disconnect.  I talked and typed, he just typed.  We had a mutual connection in our enjoyment of Cricket and talked of that briefly before moving to deeper things.  He had an “ah ha” moment about the gospel, and said “wow”.  Later he said he was “intrigued”.  I left him with needGod.net.

I then was connected with a guy from Ethiopia!  He was Ethiopian Orthodox, something I’ve not encountered before.  He didn’t understand the gospel.  He mentioned Mary in his explanation of how he gets to heaven through his works.  And he wasn’t open to the gospel I was presenting, I slowly worked through his objections - but he became stubborn.  I became quite forceful with him, trying to wake him up.  I was pleading with him, when he disconnected.

On Sunday afternoon I decided to Join the Aussie team online again so I could stay late after church to sort out some Tell Me Conference organisation.  Pictured are the guys who were practicing for leading us with worship in song.  Thanks for your time guys! :)

It was a practical training outreach, and I was paired with the wonderful Grace!  We had a wonderful time observing each other's gospel conversations and offering feedback for growth.

We both had some difficult conversations, we both had some good ones too.  The highlight one for me was with two young men who I would never have picked as Muslim.  They were both blown away with the gospel - very, very encouraging.  I laboured on the cost of accepting the gift of Jesus, and yet it didn’t seem to distract from their understanding of that gift.  There didn’t seem to be anything stopping them from responding - I pleaded with them not to shelve what I said, but to respond to the gospel!
 

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Christchurch (NZ) Team

There was contrasting weather in Christchurch between Thursday and Friday.  Thursday saw spring start asserting itself.  It was hot enough for me to go from four layers to two!  But on Friday, winter fought back with a cold wind and rain.  But both days brought glory to God in His gospel going forth!

Thursday’s highlights were at the Northlands bus stops.  I had three wonderful gospel opportunities.

The first was with a young agnostic man.  I offered him a tract, which he accepted, and so I asked him what he thought happened after life.  He was keen to talk, so I sat next to him for a long chat.  Sadly, he was resistant - and yet he heard and understood the gospel (a final checking question confirming).  As we were parting ways, I said that I hoped he hadn’t missed his bus.  He said, “oh, two have passed, I’ll get the next.”  I was encouraged.  People really want to talk about the important issues of life.  People are starved of truth and hope!

Next up a young man was willing to stop to talk - he even seemed keen!  To my shock, he said I had talked to him two times before - I have no memory of it.  And yet the gospel obviously hadn’t stuck, so I went through it with him again.  He was extremely open - even after considering the cost of faith in Jesus’ sacrifice for him.  He seemed keen when I invited him along to a church meeting.  He left with a contact card - I haven’t heard from him yet.

Finally I had two guys go past - I had also talked to them before.  One of them became very engrossed in the conversation when he opened up about his Dad falling away from his faith.  It turns out he had had a very legalistic upbringing - a weight no one can bear!  We had a good chat about this, and the hope of the true gospel.  He seemed very encouraged.  I offered to meet with this guy's Dad over coffee to talk things through.

We had encouragement at the gospel + abortion outreach, read about it here.

We then moved into Cathedral Square for open air preaching.  The food and market stalls weren’t there, and the hecklers pretty much left us alone, so we were about to preach the gospel freely to the people walking past.

A team of five then gathered down by the bridge of remembrance.  By this stage it was raining.  Roger found a sheltered spot to set up his flip chart.  We spent an hour in the rain doing our best to share God's grace.  We did get a number of opportunities.

I ended up spending the rest of the day in online evangelism.  I ended up having three great opportunities to talk to people from the Philippines, all of who had a Catholic upbringing.  As I was explaining the gospel to one of them he said he felt very confused - I took that as a good sign that I was making progress - it is very confusing thinking you have to keep the commandments all your life, and then someone tells you we are saved by grace through faith!  I continued to labour to bring clarity to this person.
 

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Christchurch (NZ) Team

On Tuesday I started with some online outreach.  The overriding memory is talking with Christians.

There was one guy who didn’t fully understand the gospel.  He really appreciated gaining clarity on the fact that Jesus had fully satisfied the punishment for his sin.

Yet there was another guy who seemed to understand the sacrifice of Jesus for his sin, but not the repentance that would accompany it.  We spent a fair amount of time working this through.  I have no idea if this guy is a false convert or not (either way, maybe this conversation will be a catalyst of change?)  I pointed him to his local church for further help.  He thanked me for the conversation at the end.

I then joined Roger in Riccarton.  Roger ended up calling me over into one of his conversations - there were four of us involved when suddenly a fifth person joined in and wanted to try the flip chart!  He and I split off over to my flip chart and he was extremely open.  I made it all the way to the final page where we talked about the cost of accepting Jesus, and there was nothing stopping him.  It seems he is already involved with a local church, and yet he said that it was today that he fully grasped the gospel.

I saw some of the high school kids I mentioned in my report from a week ago.  The one who hugged me was still smiling, and still understood the gospel.

But later I had two more high school students (older) come past and show interest in the good person test.  They too made it all the way to the final counting the cost page.  One of them was not deterred after counting the cost.  I asked him to get in touch so I could connect him with a local church - I haven’t heard from him so far.

Wednesday I was in the city having one to one conversations.  I spent some time in Cathedral Square and then moved down High Street towards Ara - having conversations with people as I went.

Once at Ara, I had a divine appointment with a guy whose path crossed mine as we were walking.  He said he was a Christian, but said he would be going to hell!  He quickly gained clarity on the gospel and seemed to really appreciate the chat.

I finished the day’s outreach online.  My last conversation was with a young lady from Brazil who couldn’t really speak English.  Yet she wanted to communicate, so with Google Translate, I shared the gospel with her.  I ended up translating the whole of needGod.net and sending it to her.  She read it, and then in broken English said, “that is beautiful”.

(Pic, view of Christchurch from the Port Hills taken on my day off on Monday.)
 

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Christchurch (NZ) Team

It was a busy weekend.  It started with the Christchurch March for Life which was well attended, but changed my outreach routine for Saturday.  I ended up going online in the evening.

There were two stand out conversations.  I had a longish chat with two girls who slowly came to grasp the gospel.  One of them started asking me about suicide, she brought it up a few times - because she had friends who were talking about it.  So I spent time addressing this with them - suicide is not an option, there really is hope - ultimately found in Jesus!

I then moved into a very long chat with a young man called Angel.  He was a very logical thinker and was grasping what I was saying quickly.  He was initially quite resistant and I was wondering if I was wasting my time, but I held on, and I’m glad I did, because he slowly opened up after I explained that just because a building is broken, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a builder, instead we need to ask, what’s gone wrong with the building?  It turns out he didn’t want to believe God existed because of pain in his life.  He came to understand the hope of the gospel.  And he kept asking good questions, which I did my best to answer.  He was very thoughtful at the end of the conversation.  He knows how to get in touch via needGod.net.

On Sunday I made the decision to join the online practical training outreach with the team from Aussie rather than head into the city.  This allowed me more time for fellowship after the morning church meeting.

I had the honour of being paired with Ryan.  It was wonderful to be able to observe him and learn.  It was also good to be observed and get feedback from him.

Ryan had two wonderful conversations where the people he was talking to came to grasp the gospel and responded positively to it!

Later in the evening I did some more online outreach to catch up on the time missed on Saturday.  The highlight was a long slow conversation with a young lady who considered herself a Christian, but didn’t believe in hell and really struggled to comprehend the gospel - constantly falling back to her good deeds to get her to heaven.  But thankfully she slowly started to grasp the gospel of grace.  And she opened up as well, also asking about suicide.  She really appreciated the conversation.  I pointed her to a local church.
 

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