Battle Log

• Battle Log
• Christchurch (NZ) Team
• Page 44

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

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

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

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

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

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

Then the gospel:

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

We do this so people will understand:

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

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

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

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Thursday: 2 outreaches: City; and another new outreach: Eastgate Bus Stops. It was great to have Graeme join me in the City, and Daniel at Eastgate. Hot day, over 30 degrees Celsius - but so worth being out!

At Eastgate, I was surprised at how easy it was to start conversations. I was in pretty much constant gospel conversations for the first hour and a half, before I had to force myself to take mini breaks to pace myself through the last hour and a half. It is a wonderful field for harvest in that sense, but in another there wasn't much spark or engagement from many that I talked to (that I could see). I will start praying for receptive hearts on this weekly outreach - will you join me in prayer?

Earlier, in the city, I had some long conversations.

1 was very special with 2 very young men dealing with some very severe "life wounds" (I don't want to give details for their privacy). They were drunk (and drinking), but very receptive to conversation. I did a lot of listening, and I did my best to share the gospel, but I kept getting cut off - but that's ok, as I'm confident I will see them again and be able to continue the conversation. My heart goes out to these guys! They are on my prayer list. I'm praying for gospel break though in their lives!

There was a lot of activity in the Square: university students on Orientation Week with trumpets, construction noise, people out giving free hugs(!? :) ) - so it was quite difficult to open air preach. But I tried anyway. I made it through the law and the gospel, but I was very aware of how ineffective it seemed. Yet I know God can use our efforts - as feeble as they are.

Please consider joining me, as feeble as we are - God can use us for His glory!

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Today, Wednesday, 2 gospel outreaches: city in the morning, and a new outreach outside the hospital in the afternoon.

I was feeling really tired this morning. It can take a lot of energy to start conversations from cold - and then maintain them. So I needed to pace myself by planting my flip chart, and relying on tracts (and prayer) to allow conversations to come to me more naturally.

And I was incredibly encouraged with the first conversation.

When Andy Barlow and I were in Aussie last year, we had an opportunity to do some (intense) ministry outside an abortion clinic with Andrew & Tom from the Project 139 team. A guy turned up at the clinic with his girlfriend (not for an abortion) and he stayed to talk (argue) with all of us.

Well, this morning, in Christchurch, NZ - this same guy and his girlfriend walked past and recognized me from the previous encounter. They were very keen for a chat (he approached me), and wanted me to explain the flip chart to them. (Always my pleasure!) I think the guy was quite impacted by meeting me again. He has had a 2nd opportunity to hear the gospel - he may not get another, today is the day of salvation. May they trust in Christ.

Later, I preached in the Square before taking a break for lunch and then heading to the Hospital.

I was a bit concerned that this new outreach would be slow, but I was pleasantly surprised by all the gospel conversations I managed to have.

The stand out conversation was with a hospital worker who had seen me standing on the sidewalk from within the orange hospital building (see pic), and took the time to come down and find out what I was doing. It turned out she was a Christian, and she gave me some wonderful encouragement and feedback. I'm looking forward to coming back to this spot next week.

I appreciate all the prayer, support and those that are making time to join me. Thank you so much. SDG

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Tuesday outreach involved trying a new location: Riccarton Road. It turned out to be a decent spot. I was there in the afternoon, and there were plenty of high school students open to a gospel chat. In 1 conversation I had 6 students gathered around the flip chart. One of them said he thinks about death every night (not in a suicidal way, but in a "I don't want to die" way) - he accepted a gospel booklet from me.

Earlier in the day, I was in the central city and it was wonderful to have Graeme serving our Lord along side me.

I had a really difficult conversation today. It was with someone who had been to Bible College and was working in Christian ministry, but who had seen the flip chart (the law and the gospel) before but wasn't a fan, as it made people feel bad. We had quite a long discussion, and the subject swung to homosexuality - another area where we disagreed.

I became concerned that this person didn't understand the gospel, and didn't have their trust in the finished work of Jesus upon the cross for their salvation. Out of my love for them, I raised this concern. And it didn't go well. They stayed to discuss, but they eventually said that they felt judged, and started crying - leaving in that state.

I felt stink. My prayer is that this person wouldn't harden their heart and become bitter, but that this would lead to soul searching and new life in Christ.

I've been working the conversation through my mind, looking for ways I could have done better. Oh, how I want to represent God correctly. I know how short I fall - and this motivates me to study more. I am open to correction and reproof.

Some of you may know this person. Some of you might agree with them over me on this. I understand that. And as much as I want to be liked by people, and please them, I must be faithful to the truth of scripture. I must fear God over men.

In gentleness, and as best as I can, I will be honest with you.

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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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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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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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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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A nice Sunday afternoon to get out and chat with people about eternity and the gospel, after enjoying worship and fellowship with our local churches.  A team of 3 today from 2 local churches.

We decided to go to our old fishing spot just outside Ballantynes - a spot we have only recently been able to start using again now that the construction next door is complete giving the foot path its good flow of foot traffic again.  We also set up a flip chart on the opposite side of the mall.

The Christchurch (NZ) team are loving the use of the Eternity tract.  It's a great conversation starter: "Hi, we are talking to people about eternity today.  What do you think happens in Eternity?" (while handing them the tract), and if people aren't keen for a chat, they will often keep the tract which explains the good news.

Today, a young lady walked past my flip chart and took a tract, but didn't stop to chat.  Soon after, an older Catholic gentlemen stopped for a chat.  Then I noticed the young lady was back, and patiently waiting for the conversation to end - she obviously had something to say.  My assumption was that she was going to give me a piece of her mind over offense at the gospel message on the tract.  The gentlemen moved on and my attention was with the young lady again.  But to my pleasant surprise, she didn't want to give me a piece of her mind, but she had many good and genuine questions about God, and Christianity - and the gospel was shared.  She had read the tract and it had motivated her to follow up - praise God for tracts!

It just goes to show that we can often think the worst might happen, when in fact it's often the opposite.  And this often stops us doing what we should.  I know evangelism often invokes a great fear, which holds us back, e.g.: "I'll be asked a question I can't answer" or "they'll get angry at me".  And yes, that might happen from time to time.  But more often than not a wonderful conversation will occur with people walking away with an understanding of the good news of Jesus - which is "the power of God for salvation" (Romans 1:16).  And with training and experience, we will get better at dealing with those few times where we get asked hard questions, or people are upset.  There are many teams of Christians out sharing the love of God that you can join to get that training and experience.  I want to encourage you to step past your fears and take the first step by getting in touch!

Another wonderful conversation started with the "Eternity" approach.  But the man wasn't interested, and wouldn't take the tract.  But I noticed he was wearing a cap advertising a technology I was familiar with (my background is in IT).  I was genuinely interested in why he was wearing the cap, and a conversation occurred naturally.  It turns out that a conference was starting the following day, at the university, and he had flown in from Australia to attend.  We talked about IT for a while, when he asked: "So what do you do now?".  This opened up an opportunity to come back to the Eternity tract.  He clearly said he didn't want to talk about religion -- and I respected that.  But he did say he would take the tract and read it.  He popped it into his shirt pocket, and the conversation drifted back to IT.  Soon after we parted ways with a hand shake.  But a silent missionary was sitting in his shirt pocket.  God willing, it will come out and witness the gospel to him at exactly the right time.

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Day 10 of 10: Christchurch (NZ) Summer Mission + Friday Night Outreach

Today we had a solid team of 9 out sharing, including 3 children.  So wonderful to have people of all ages (including a retired pastor), abilities, experience levels and walks of life unified on the need to get the gospel of Jesus to the lost.  I want to encourage ALL Christians to get involved.  The gospel message is not complicated, and if you have the ability to smile, and simply hand out tracts to people walking past - then you can do this!  And outreach teams are being established that you, and your church, can join to get training and grow in confidence and experience.

The photos only show a sampling of the many gospel interactions that occurred.

Thank you so much to those that have been praying for the Christchurch team while we were on our yearly mission to our own city. And the encouragement and support has been so appreciated.  God bless! :) 

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