Battle Log

Thursday, 17 January, 2019

Posted 17 January 2019, 5:56 PM by Glen Richards. Permalink

Day 9 of 10: Christchurch (NZ) Summer Mission

Today we took the chilly bin of cold drinks and focused on walk up conversations with people: both in the City (including an excursion down to the Botanical Gardens), and at Sumner Beach.

Using soft drinks to start conversations is a wonderful tool (something unique to our Summer Mission).  Proverbs 18:16 (ESV) "A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before the great."  It is only a tool - a non essential, unlike the gospel message - which is essential.  But many times today it caused people to stop when it was clear they wouldn't have otherwise - and often a wonderful gospel conversation was able to occur.

An example of this was first thing this morning, as we were walking down High Street towards Cathedral Square, a young man ended up walking parallel to us.  An Eternity tract was offered and accepted, but it didn't look like he would stop for a conversation.  When offered a free drink, he seemed genuinely surprised and gratefully accepted.  By this stage we were waiting at the lights to cross into Cathedral Square and I was able to start discussing the law and gospel with him.  He became engrossed, and we slowed down to a stand still in the Square as I finished explaining the gospel and offered a booklet with more details.  I was surprised when he said yes, and that he would sit down right then and read it!  I've never had that happen before.  This young man sat down, read through the Eternity tract, and then picked up the booklet and started reading through it (see first picture, where another of the team is also sharing the gospel with someone else).  I took the time to write out my contact details for this young man and gave them to him.  I then moved elsewhere and had a separate gospel conversation; when I came back, he was still reading.  Praise God!  Our job is to share the gospel, God does the saving - for His glory alone.

Many other gospel conversations were had today.  We thank God for the opportunities He provided to share of His mercy and grace - and we trust Him with the results.  Your prayers and support are a vital part of this mission - please continue to pray as we move into the final day tomorrow.