Battle Log

• Battle Log
• Christchurch (NZ) Team
• Page 31

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Christchurch (NZ) Team

Weekly outreaches:
Tue 3:30pm - 5:30pm - Riccarton (corner of Riccarton Rd and Rotherham St)
Fri 1:30pm - 3:30pm - City (Bridge of Remembrance)
Sat 12:30pm - 2:30pm - Riccarton (corner of Riccarton Rd and Rotherham St)
Sun 1:30pm - 3:30pm - City (corner of Colombo St and Cashel St) - only 2nd, 4th and 5th Sundays of the month.

Contact Glen Richards or Andy Barlow for more information.

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I had more opportunities to interact with people while letterbox dropping on Tuesday.  I took a few minutes to help a guy get some stuff off a trailer - he took a tract.  And then I was able to help somebody in a mobility scooter with directions (Google Maps to the rescue!) - they also took a tract.

After that, I moved to Riccarton.  It was windy, so I decided to leave the big flip chart behind.  Roger joined me, but decided to bring his flip chart.  Before he had even had a chance to finish setting it up, he was into a gospel conversation!

Once that conversation was complete, I helped Roger finish setting up his flip chart, while he was busy gathering more people to talk to.  He had much success, and we started engaging two high school students.  They needed to get going, but one of them claimed to be a Christian - so I challenged him on the way to heaven.  I was pleasantly surprised to hear him say that many people think it’s their good works, but it’s actually trusting in Jesus sacrifice!

But while this was happening, a couple (he had a catholic background and she had a protestant one) stopped intrigued by the big flip chart, and so a conversation developed with them.  Roger was keen to see the new mini flip chart in action, and so I shared the gospel with them using that.  During the conversation, she had many good questions, which Roger and I did our best to answer.  In hindsight, I feel like I didn’t do a good job giving her answers.  Often people are trying to ask questions in a veiled way - they want answers without giving details.  This was a good reminder to slow down and take the time to listen and clarify (via counter questions).

Roger had to leave early, so to finish the outreach, I decided to head down to the bus stops to engage people there.  I got into a conversation with a high school student with a fascinating background.  He was from Pakistan and apparently had a mum who was a catholic, but a dad who was muslim.  I wasn’t surprised to hear that he thought his good deeds would get him to heaven!  He was engaged as I took him through the law, and then showed him the only hope we have for heaven: the gospel

Wednesday’s outreach to the city had an interesting start.  A young man was boldly walking up to people and trying to give them a large pamphlet!  I called out saying I’d like one and I was surprised to see that it was a watchtower magazine.  The JWs are not usually as bold as this on the streets.  It turns out it was a young man with much zeal but little knowledge - and he wasn’t a JW.  He knew plenty of Christian lingo, and gave me a long list of things someone needed to do to go to heaven.  I was able to pull out my mini flip chart and explain the gospel - he seemed to appreciate it.  He asked if I had any pamphlets - I gave him a tract before we parted ways.

After I set up the flip chart, I got into a conversation with a lady I first met last week.  She was keen to try the flip chart - but we didn’t get past the first page.  I wasn’t able to reason with her on a basis for good and bad.  She was getting slightly upset, and so I decided to just shake hands with her and let her go.  She had received a tract the previous day.

But I had a number of other gospel conversations, and was pleasantly surprised to be engaged long enough to let me go 45 minutes longer on the street than I was planning.

I had a long conversation with two teen guys, who started asking me the veiled questions.  So, learning from yesterday, I slowed down to really listen and do my best to make sure they were getting the best answers I could give.  They clearly understood the gospel, but they understood the cost and were counting it as they left.

I finished up with a fresh chat with a young man we have had many discussions with in the past.  I was surprised to learn that he had been involved with a church.  We connected on Facebook.

I’m grateful to God for the opportunity to share His gospel over these two days.  Thank you for your support that is enabling me to do this!  Thinking of joining me?  Just do it!
 

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Sunday afternoon was not only an Operation 513 outreach to Cashel Mall (in Christchurch NZ), but it was the first monthly “Outreach Sunday” for Redemption Church.  Not only did all four elders of the Church get behind this initiative (bringing their families out with them), but there were a total of 27 people from the church involved!  It was a sweltering 33 degrees celsius - but that didn’t stop the enthusiasm.

For me, as one of the elders, my biggest prayer was that those that got involved would have a positive experience of community/street outreach like this; seeing that people are indeed open and willing to discuss the important questions of life, and hear the gospel message of Jesus.  As far as I’m aware, God answered that prayer!

The most poignant memory from the outreach was the end of the very last flipchart conversation I had.  It was a harder one, with a young man from China.  I think the gospel concepts I was explaining were quite foreign, so I had to be patient - but I’m fairly confident he eventually understood.  As he left (with a Bible from me and various tracts that he had received earlier in the outreach from kids handing them to him), I looked up to see Anna, with Luke in the pushchair beaming a smile at me and giving me a double thumbs up.  I guess she was encouraged - and that greatly encourages me!

It was wonderful watching people walking down the mall, reading the gospel tracts as they were going.

It was also wonderful hearing people saying, “no thanks, I’ve already got one” - to an offered gospel tract.

I watched Jason (pictured) have a long chat with a young German tourist (who had turned down an offer to try the flip chart with me).  Although very resistant initially, he willingly stayed to the point where he came to understand the gospel.  I watched them exchange contact details.

Near the end of the outreach, Jason had another gospel conversation with a lady who had grown up in a Southern Baptist environment in the USA, but had (unbelievably) never sewn all the gospel concepts into an understandable whole.  The penny dropped today!

It was very encouraging to hear a report of Toby, who has only been involved with two outreaches prior (Tell Me Conference, and Canterbury A&P Show) being willing to initiate a walk up conversation!

May Redemption Church continue to grow in their confidence in sharing the good news of Jesus regularly in this way, and may that lead to more confidence in sharing Jesus in their personal relationships too.  May the other churches in Christchurch, NZ, and beyond get involved as well.  May Elders across the land - indeed the whole world - continue to show leadership in the area of evangelism.  May God receive glory through the obedience of His children sharing the gospel, and the salvation of the lost by His grace!

I was also in the city on Saturday: Cathedral Square and Cashel Mall.  The outreach started quite slowly - with plenty of people, but no one interested in stopping to chat.  But I eventually started my first conversation, and ended up having a good outreach.  At one point I ended up sandwiched between the Hara Krisina’s and a soprano singing trumpeter!  :D  I had to move!

Oh Lord, raise up labourers for the harvest!  Continue to encourage and equip Christians for the great commission.  All to the glory of your name.
 

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It was an unusual set of outreaches to the Eastgate and Northlands bus stops this week, because, sadly, I ended up talking to a lot of people under the influence of alcohol: either drunk or hungover.  And all this on a Thursday afternoon!

Some may think it’s a waste of time talking to someone who is drunk - will they remember what was talked about are they worth it?  They are just as worthy as me!  I had a compassion for them, and a realisation that they are just as spiritually dead as the rest of us in our sin (apart from Christ).  It is impossible for me to save drunk people - or anyone, but Christ can, through the preaching of the gospel.  So I persisted.

It started with a man in a bus shelter at Eastgate, drinking a can of beer.  It turns out Andy has spoken to him before, and he had some recollection of that.  I patiently tried to reason with him and explain the bad news of the law, and the good news of the gospel.  There were moments, where he tried to comprehend, but he said it was confusing.

Suddenly, a lady - also drunk, barged into the conversation.  She wanted to sit right between us, so I shuffled over so she could.  Her language was really foul, and she was being rude.  But I ignored it, and patiently tried to include her in the gospel conversation.  She lied to the first man about not having any cigarettes, because later she tried to sell him one for a can of beer.  And she condemned her father for being a drunk, oblivious to her hypocrisy.

I’m not sure if I made much progress with either of them.  But God loved us so much, that he died for us, even when we were His enemies.  May He have mercy on them too!

Latter, after they had both left, I cleaned up four empty beer cans from the bus shelter.

I moved over to the next bus shelter, and started a conversation with a young man, he was happy for me to talk, but his eyes glazed over a bit, which was discouraging - he wasn’t interested.  He said he had a hangover, and the conversation was a bit too heavy for him.

But another guy came into the shelter whom I recognised.  It turns out I had spoken to him outside the hospital about nine months ago.  He couldn’t tell me the way to heaven, but he was keen to hear it - but his bus was three minutes away!  I didn’t make it to the gospel, but he happily received a gospel tract.

At Northlands, I had one of the most intense conversations I’ve ever had.  It was with an ex-soldier, again drunk.  He challenged me on why he should believe in a God, and after a few minutes was about to walk off.  Thankfully I was able to keep him engaged enough so he stayed to talk.  This guy had seen some horrendous stuff in action and was wrestling with some deep hurts and sin.  He was suicidal, and I often I had to bring him back to the knowledge that there is real hope (in Christ) and not to kill himself.  I didn’t let this guy justify his sin - he swung from talking about some deep sins, but then saying he wasn’t bad enough for hell.  At the same time, I was doing my best to explain how even the worst of sins could be justly forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus and faith in Him.  This guy took a contact card for my church, and a gospel tract.

Friday morning we were back outside the Hospital bringing the gospel to the issue of abortion.  The highligh for me was a conversation with an ex-muslim man.  He wanted to take a photo of us to post on social media - no problem with us.  We had a great conversation where I was able to explain the basis for abortion being murder and the hope of forgiveness through faith in Christ.

At lunch time we were in Cathedral Square where Marty and Andy both preached in the open air.  I had a good follow up conversation with a guy who had heckled my open air preaching a few months prior.

In the afternoon, we were at the corner of Cashel Mall and Colombo Street.  I got into a gospel conversation with a lady handing out flyers for Uber Eats.  She had listened to many of my gospel conversations on Wednesday, and had received a tract.  But now I was able to talk with her directly.

Unfortunately, that conversation was interrupted by a new atheist (one who believes religion has no benefit for society).  He was in attack mode and talking very fast, I could barely keep up!  Eventually I was able to get him to shake my hand and exchange names.  And by the end of the conversation, we were talking about our children with each other.  He eventually received a phone call and had to go.  I didn’t get to finish that conversation with the Uber Eats girl, but hopefully I will have another opportunity.

I found the evening outreach difficult, I was struggling with a fear of man.  But I persisted in my attempts to share the gospel with people.  I was able to challenge four men from Ethiopia, who claimed to be Christian, about what our hope for forgiveness was.
 

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Wednesday in Christchurch dawned with rain - which was actually good, because the day developed into a very hot and sunny day and the cooler weather was better while I did some more letterbox dropping in the morning.

And for two days in a row, I was able to get into a gospel conversation while letterbox dropping!  Here is a pro tip: smile.  Everytime I pass someone on the street, I give a friendly smile, if they respond with their own smile it can easily allow for a conversation to start, which can lead to a gospel conversation.  Well today, my smile to a gentleman walking the other direction led to him receiving a tract and asking what it was.  When he learned I was a Christian, he quickly declared his Atheism - but was keen to chat.

Like yesterday, I wasn’t able to have a full gospel conversation, but I was able to challenge him on why evolution wasn’t sufficient as a creative mechanism, and why only God explained the existence of the universe and the life found in it.  I was able to give him a basis for morality, and show him how none of us met the standard.  But, sadly, he didn’t want to hear the good news of the hope of eternal life found in Jesus.  I hope he was challenged, and reads the tract that he put in his pocket.

Once I made it to Cathedral Square to start the first outreach of the day, I was able to catch up with one of the stall vendors.  I was encouraged to hear that some Christians had been preaching the gospel (a few days prior) in Speakers Corner using Ray Comforts’ trivia/money technique.  I hope I get to encounter them one day soon.

I ended up settling on the corner of Cashel and Colombo for the outreach and had four great gospel conversations.

An Indian girl heard and understood the gospel, but wasn’t willing to let go of her Hinduism.

I had a long conversation with a man who was a big fan of Jordan Peterson.  I had to be patient as the man processed the reasoning that undergirds the gospel.  He heard the law, but (again) didn’t want to hear the gospel.  But he seemed to really appreciate the chat.  He took a tract, and it would be great if I get to see him again.

At this point, the heat of the day was starting to take its toll, so I had an energy bar.  I went to put the rubbish in the bin, and to my surprise people had started to gather around my flip chart in my brief absence.  This led to a solid gospel conversation with two young ladies.

To finish off the morning outreach, I had a guy and girl show interest in the chart.  It turns out she had already done it about six months ago.  I asked her if she passed the test, and she said she hadn’t.  I asked if she knew the good news, and she didn’t.  So going from there, I took them through the chart.  Sadly, they were understanding, but not understanding.  They really weren’t interested in the good news.  And not surprisingly, they both failed my first checking question.  They had to go.

After lunch, the second outreach of the day started.  I ditched the flip chart and looked for shaded areas to approach people to chat.  I ended up having five gospel opportunities.  The two highlights were: a conversation with a young lady with a Catholic background who seemed very open to the foreign concept of salvation by faith alone: good news!  And a wonderful conversation on my first walk down High Street for the year (I only made it halfway due to this conversation).

The conversation was with an Atheist and was going really well, when a guy I hadn’t noticed came and interrupted.  He had overheard me say: “Jesus said ‘anger is like murder of the heart’”, and so his interruption was to ask if I knew Aramaic.  I was initially confused by this, but soon understood what he was getting at.  Interestingly, I think this guy was expecting me to get into an argument with him - he looked tensed up and ready to fight!  I think he was surprised when I responded gently.  We ended up shaking hands.  Maybe I broke his street evangelist stereotype?  I hope so.  Unfortunately, the conversation with either men wasn’t able to continue - the first guy had to go back to work.  But I hope these guys get more opportunities to hear the gospel - maybe from you?  You're ready to share the gospel - right?

I’m starting to get back into my regular schedule post some holidays and the NZ Summer Mission.  As always, thank you for your prayers and support!
 

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Sunday afternoon was the first outreach after the completion of the NZ Summer Mission in Christchurch & Dunedin (you can read the reports from the mission here).

It was a nice day, and there were lots of people in Cashel Mall.  But for whatever reason, it was really difficult to get a conversation started (in stark contrast to my experience in Dunedin).  Oh, how I miss being in Dunedin!  My three daughters were with me, and it was a good lesson in perseverance for them.  Evangelism is not easy - but Jesus is worthy!  Yet some tracts were received and I did manage to get into one conversation.

Mike joined us later in the outreach, and armed with his new mini flip chart, he went off in search of a conversation (paired up with Haley).  He came back with a wonderful report of a conversation with a tourist.  He was able to go through the whole flip chart with him - and the checking questions really helped the guy to understand the gospel.

On Tuesday I was doing some letterbox dropping before heading to Riccarton for the late afternoon outreach, when I was challenged by an older lady about what I was doing.  I looked up and informed her that I was putting gospel tracts in letterboxes.  She asked what a gospel tract was, so I explained that I was a Christian and that I wanted people to know the good news about Jesus - and a gospel tract communicated that message.  I was very surprised by her response.  I was expecting her to tell me not to put one in her box, but instead she was delighted!  She was doing some gardening, but was obviously very keen to talk, and so I sat down to oblige.

She had a Catholic background, and figured that her goodness would get her to heaven.  So she was deeply challenged when I showed her what Jesus taught about goodness.  She kept changing the subject to political issues, and how bad the world was, and how much people like me are needed.  But I kept gently bringing the subject back to the problem of her own sin.  She wasn’t open to a full gospel conversation, and so didn’t hear the good news.  But she did receive a tract.  As I moved on, I came to the end of the road, and crossed to come back down the other side to deliver tracts.  I was going to wave to her, but to my surprise she was gone.  I hope she went inside to study the tract.

The last time I had been in Riccarton was two weeks prior during the NZ Summer Mission.  There were about ten Christians there and I was amazed at how many conversations the team were able to have.  Now I was back on my own, and I struggled a bit to get conversations started.  Yet tracts were received, and over the outreach I was able to have three good gospel conversations.

The first was with a young lady, who was intrigued by my question about the afterlife, and stayed to hear the gospel via the big flip chart.  The second was with a guy (pictured walking away reading a tract) whom I had to really labour with to get him to understand the way to heaven.

The last was a wonderful conversation with another young lady, who had some Christian influence in her life, but had not really been able to sew it altogether.  Many times through the conversation I was able to observe the penny drop as she joined the dots and understood the gospel.  She would say things like: “It’s making sense now!” (multiple checking questions confirmed this).  At the end she was challenged to respond to the gospel.  She was keen to accept a free Bible and start reading it, and wanted recommendations for a youth group.  We talked about church options for her area, she also received a contact card for my local church.
 

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A busy few days of outreach for the Christchurch (NZ) team.  Thursday @ the Eastgate and Northlands bus stops.  Friday: the first gospel + abortion outreach of the year outside Christchurch Hospital, open air preaching in Cathedral Square, flip charting in Cashel Mall, and the evening outreach in the city.  Sunday: afternoon Cashel Mall outreach.

Thursday at the bus stops:  Being the school holidays, there were periods where there weren't many people around (as per the picture), but as I’m looking back on my log of gospel interactions - it’s very long!  The most encouraging thing was all the follow up conversations I had.  I would approach people to start a conversation, and I would get responses of: “oh, you’ve already talked to me” - I’m just not remembering all the people I’m talking to!

I had two positive follow ups, and two “negative” ones - but all of them encouraging.

The first was with a young man at Eastgate he remembered the building / builder, universe / universe maker analogy - and it stuck with him, as he said it back to me right at the start.  But when I asked him what the good news was, he said that we had to be good people - wrong answer!  So I was able to go over the law and the gospel with him again.  He is very open, and so I challenged him to respond to the gospel today.

The next follow up was with the older man I mentioned in a recent report that I had talked to at Northlands.  This time I saw him at Eastgate.  I challenged him about the way to heaven, and he responded with: “I don’t want to talk about it”.  Fair enough, so we parted ways.  Funnily enough, later in the afternoon, once I had moved to Northlands - I bumped into this man for a third time!  I promised him I wasn’t following him.  :)

The third one was with another young man, but this guy he had a good grasp of the gospel.  He had obviously been reading the tract and pondering it.  After a good conversation, he gladly took more tracts and a Bible - he seemed very keen to start reading it.

The last one was with a young man who wasn’t really keen to talk, and yet stuck around to engage with me.  It turns out he was a muslim.  He was challenged about the problem of how God can give justice and mercy - before he moved on to catch his bus.

I was also very encouraged to bump into a friend that I hadn’t seen for years.  I used to play indoor cricket with him.  We had a good catch up.  The last time I talked to him about spiritual things, he had said he had been involved with churches, but wasn’t interested any more.  Well now, his tune was different.  He had recently lost some loved ones to death, and was really pondering the after life.  I challenged him on if he would go to heaven - and his response was: “I’ve said the sinner's prayer” - as though it’s some magic spell.  Sadly, the sinner's prayer has inoculated many people into thinking they are right with God when they are not.  So we had a discussion on how we get right with God (a repentant faith in Christ) and how we can know that is genuine.

One last interaction that stood out to me at Northlands was with a lady whom I asked if she had ever thought about what happens after life.  She said that she had been talking about that very subject with someone in the cafe at her work.  She didn’t want to chat, but she did want a tract and said she would read it!

Of all the gospel ministry that occured on Friday, I will focus on the lunchtime open air preaching.  It was one of the most difficult times I've preached.  For a start, I was on my own.  Next, I attracted lots of hecklers, which was great - but some of our regular hecklers stirred things up which made interaction really difficult.  I felt quite grieved at how people were mocking God (I don’t care if they mock me).  God is not mocked.  And one day they will face Him.  But I’m thankful for the patience of God!  I hope some heard the gospel and will be saved from His wrath.  Near the end, a young man approached me and started asking me questions about climate change.  I said I would talk to him once I finished.  He waited, and we ended up having a one to one discussion where I tried to share the gospel, but he seemed so blind - his focus was on the fact that there was no planet B, that he couldn’t see that there was no life B, which is a much bigger problem for everyone!  Sadly he refused a tract on environmental grounds.

I know this report is getting long, but after a rest on Saturday, I was feeling really fresh for the Sunday afternoon outreach in Cashel Mall - the weather was hot.  A team of six were out - including my three daughters.

The highlight conversation was a walk up with five young people.  I managed to get them to stop, and then get them to engage through apologetics.  Reading their reactions, I could tell one of them was really uncomfortable - she was one of the professing ‘atheists’.  And so I gave them the option to end the conversation, and they took it - two tracts were taken.  But I was really surprised when one of the girls didn’t leave with her friends.  She wanted to know what church I was from, and she said it was really brave what I was doing.  She said she had been a Christian, but wasn’t any more.  But I could see that she was really thinking heavily about the important questions of life.  She was one of the ones that took a tract.  She wanted to know how she could get in touch - which I told her.  I could tell she had deep questions, but she had to go.  I pray that her questions will be answered, and that she would understand the gospel from the tract - that she would be saved by God and for His glory.  Amen.
 

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“But that’s impossible for me,'' she said.  She didn’t realise how insightful her words were:

And the disciples were amazed at his words. 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.” - Mk 10:24–27

This is what I deal with daily, on the streets of Christchurch, people hearing the gift of Jesus, but counting the cost and knowing that it is completely impossible (in their own effort) to be saved.  And yet, I trust in the wonderful words of Jesus in Mark 10:27: “With man it is impossible, but not with God.  For all things are possible with God.”

And yet, this young Muslim girl had a similar reaction to the rich young ruler:

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. - Mk 10:21–22

The difference with her was Islam, instead of riches.  She understood that she would have to let Islam go - that was impossible for her “, but not with God.  For all things are possible with God.”

This was the last gospel conversation of an eventful afternoon outreach in Riccarton on Tuesday.  A great way to start back after a holiday.  The conversation was actually with two young Muslim girls.  They smiled and accepted offered tracts - which surprised me.  So I asked if they ever through about the afterlife, and a full and friendly gospel conversation developed.  The conversation ended up focusing on how God can be just and merciful without either being compromised.  The only solution that made sense was the perfect sacrifice of God the son: Jesus for the sin of the world.  They understood, but were (naturally) resistant.

And yet

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. -Ro 1:16

So I leave these young ladies in His hands.  I pleaded with them to read through the Afterlife tracts they had received and to respond to the gospel.  We couldn’t shake hands (due to their culture), but we parted (pictured) with smiles.

The outreach started with a conversation with three young high school students enjoying their summer break.  They were keen to give the flip chart a go.  Two of them became resistant, and so some apologetics were deployed.  But the other guy was interested, and arguing on my side.  Eventually, I said, “Look, I have some good news to share, do you want to hear it?  Because your friend does.”  They disengaged, and left their friend to me, where I was able to slowly but surely explain the gospel - it was wonderful seeing him come to an understanding and saying that there was nothing stopping him from trusting Christ’s payment for his sin.  I challenged to do so, and asked him to get in touch.

Later, something special happened.  Mr. Angry walked past!  I pray for this guy approximately weekly, and I had just been praying for him in the morning.  I hadn’t seen him for quite a while - and now he comes past, I was very encouraged.  He started spewing his usual scorn.  But I just couldn’t stop smiling.  At one point he started to cross the road to get away from me, but he didn’t see a van coming round the corner!  I had to warn him, and when he saw it, he was forced to walk back to me, giving me some more time to interact with him.  I still don’t know his name, but I’ll keep praying for him, and God willing, I will continue to see him and that I’ll have more opportunity to share the truth of Jesus.

As Mr. Angry left, I turned around and got a fright!  A young couple were standing right in front of the flip chart.  She was even touching it - they were very curious.  So I was straight into another gospel conversation.  They seemed to understand (I used plenty of checking questions) but there was no interest that I could see.  And yet, they have heard the gospel - it is the power of God for salvation!

Today I was in the city for two outreaches, one before lunch and one after.  I had a number of conversations, including a few follow ups.  I had two highlights.

The first was encountering two young men who had already been primed having heard the gospel from some Christian friends at their high school!  I was very encouraged.  So after re-explaining the gospel, we ended up spending time discussing some very good questions they had.  Unfortunately, one of them received a phone call and they had to go.

The last conversation of the day was with another two Muslims - this time young men on holiday from Singapore.  I was able to share the gospel before learning they were Muslims, and then the conversation ended up going down the same track as with the young girls the day before: how can God be merciful and also just.  The only answer that makes sense is Jesus.  Sadly these young guys were not interested at all.  But yet, they have heard the gospel!

Great to be back to work!  Thanks for your prayers; and also your financial support that is allowing me to do this.  Please be praying for labourers for the harvest - and I encourage you to be an answer to your own prayers - come and join me in the joy of sharing the wonderful good news of Jesus our King! :)
 

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A team of two headed out on New Year’s Eve evening to share the gospel of Jesus.  Jermaine joined me.  Like last year, there was an event happening in North Hagley Park, with bands and fireworks.  So we made our way there for outreach.

We parked in the city, and had a fair distance to walk - but there were plenty of people about and much gospel opportunity on the way: handing out tracts, and we got into our first conversation which ended up being a long one.

It was with a young man who had an encounter with Jesus but was struggling with sin.  To our surprise, he broke into tears when expressing his amazement that Jesus died on the cross to take away his sin - how amazing is the grace of God!  This young man liked to talk, so we did a lot of patient listening.  Now, everyone is at a different place with their sanctification - no doubt, so I didn’t want to pre judge this guy.  But I talked about my own sin, and that as I have walked with Jesus, I have been growing in holiness.  At various points, I challenged this young man on this.  If we have faith, there will be repentance that will lead to obedience and a growing in holiness.  Eventually, some subtle anger broke out of this young man in regard to this challenging.  But we parted on good terms.  He left with a few gospel tracts.

We continued on towards the park - there were a lot of people about and many opportunities to start conversations.  But the Holy Spirit led us to a young man for what really felt like a divine appointment.  On a whim, I decided to ask him what he thought happened after life - and he was quickly engaged.  This led to a simple, but clear gospel presentation, which included a round or two of checking questions where he seemed to be quickly grasping the concepts of the gospel.  He seemed genuinely appreciative.  When challenged on what was stopping him from trusting in Christ tonight, he thought for a bit, and said he needed to work it through - which I appreciate, but I challenged him not to think too long, as we have no idea when we will die.  He is from Sweden, and was flying home the next day (thankfully I heard no reports of plane crashes!).  We talked about reading the Bible, and church.  And he accepted three types of gospel tract.  I hope to see this guy in heaven one day - may he become a part of the kingdom of God, by faith!

We finally made it to the event, we ended up only having time for one more conversation, before making the return walk back to the car.  It was with two Catholic teens.  Checking questions really came to the rescue here, because these guys just weren’t grasping that salvation was by faith and not by works (not surprising for Catholics)!

This was a real eye opener for Jermaine, who now has a fresh appreciation for thorough checking to make sure people are understanding the gospel.  On the way back, we ended up working through the detailed mini flip chart together and discussing ways we can make the gospel really clear: like checking questions, trying not to monologue - by using questions to get people processing the concepts, and focusing on the concept of faith alone before moving to repentance.

I’m really grateful for the few hours we spent getting out to share Jesus.  We leave the results in His hands, all glory to Him! :)

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It’s Sunday afternoon.  I’m slipping into holiday mode, I have a bit of a headache, and I’m leading my daughters on outreach again - which is great! - but is more work.  So, admittedly dragging my feet a little, we headed out to share the gospel in Cashel Mall.

And then we met up with Willem (Operation 513 Team Leader in Timaru) - I forgot he was joining us today - and so I was encouraged by that.  And then Jermaine turned up with his children!  So it ended up being a team of eight.  Praise the Lord.  So there were three flip charts running, and heaps of kids handing out tracts.  I was also very encouraged to see Willem and Jermaine into gospel conversations quickly.

For me, it was a little harder than usual to get gospel conversations started.  I’m wondering if the new front page of my flip chart is too direct: “What happens after life?” - I guess a lot of people don’t like thinking about the afterlife.

But an old man did approach me.  One of the kids had given him a "good person" tract, and he wanted to talk about it.  It turns out he was a seventh day adventist, so he wanted to talk about the fourth commandment.  I had to be patient and listen a lot.  Eventually, I cut to the chase and asked him what he had to do to go to heaven.  His answer was: “Love the Lord and follow His commandments”, and so this was my opportunity to explain that it was impossible for us to follow His commandments - we needed a saviour and we are saved only by faith in His sacrifice!

My last conversation of the outreach started without the assistance of the flip chart, I ended up talking with two English tourists about the gospel.  It was a short conversation, but they took tracts as a follow up.

So things don’t always go the way you hope, but Jesus has given the command to go.  And I want to obey out of my love for Him - no matter how I’m feeling or the results.  And He is a wonderful master and is worthy to be served.  I’m grateful for the rest I am able to have over this holiday period!
 

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There were many people in Cashel Mall hunting Boxing Day sales.  A team of three set up flip charts to have gospel conversations with any willing to stop.

For me, there were three highlight conversations.

The first came very early in the outreach.  It was with a young couple: he was interested, she was not!  But they stayed to go through my new flip chart.  It turns out they both had Catholic schooling, so there was a focus on getting them to understand the grace of God through faith alone in Jesus' sacrifice for their sin.

I then had another follow up conversation with someone I’ve been talking to since the start of the year.  This will have been about the 7th time we’ve spoken.  They already understand the gospel, so I didn’t try to swing the conversation to spiritual things.  But they eventually did.  And we ended up talking for at least an hour.  The focus of the conversation was on whether we are saved by faith alone.  This person was arguing that it’s not faith alone, because they also have to turn away from sin.  They wanted to know why I could sin and still be a Christian, where he couldn’t.  The issue was that there is a particular sin this person wants to keep enjoying as well as accepting Christ.  The answer is that, it’s about our attitude towards sin.  Yes, sadly, Christians sin - but we hate it.  Yes, we are saved only by our faith alone in Jesus payment of our sin on the cross - but faith is always connected to repentance.

It was at this point that I turned to the last page on the new flip chart.  It has two pictures on it: a man wearing a backpack, and a picture looking out a plane window.  This flip chart page is new to me - but this was the perfect time to use it!  I literally pulled out my phone and read the description on how to use this page verbatim:

“This man carries his backpack with him everywhere, and has done so his whole life in fact. But one day he is on a plane and pilot announces that the plane is going to crash. Someone hands him a parachute to put on. Problem is, it won't go on with his backpack still on his back. So he needs to make the choice, does he take off the backpack and put on the parachute and be saved, or keep the backpack on, and reject the parachute and so die in the plane crash.

In the same way, with your Buddhism (or new age beliefs or particular sin you love), you may have been believing it your whole life. But now you have come to realise that it won't save you from the judgement to come, and instead you need to trust that Jesus died for your sin. But trusting that Jesus paid for your sin is incompatible with still believing in Buddhism which says you need to work your way to heaven.

So what are you going to do? Keep your Buddhism and therefore reject the free gift of forgiveness offered by Jesus, OR put away your Buddhism and trust only in Jesus to pay for your sins?”

It was timely!  Their response to this was: “can I wear my backpack on my front, and put the parachute on my back?”  But they understood the message.  We parted ways with them still counting the cost of following Jesus.  I will continue to pray for this person.

The last conversation was with a young man who had a Christian grandfather, but the family has drifted from church life.  This guy figured he would be good enough to go to heaven, and so was shocked to learn that the standard of good was perfection.  He was relieved to see the flip chart page which shows Jesus taking the fire ball (representing our sin) on his back.  He came to understand how we can be forgiven, through faith in Jesus.  He had good questions, which we spent time answering.

Very grateful for the opportunity to share the gospel on this Boxing Day!  The results are in the hands of God.  But thank you for continuing to pray for this ministry.  And be encouraged to get involved!  It’s a joy to be able to share this good news, we can’t keep it to ourselves. :)
 

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