Battle Log

Sunday, 26 May, 2019

Posted 26 May 2019, 6:15 PM by Glen Richards. Permalink

The weekend saw two outreaches and a fellowship BBQ celebrating another summer of Gospel outreach for the Christchurch (NZ) team - Soli Deo Gloria!

Saturday morning was foggy as a team of two set up a flip chart in Cathedral Square, but by the end of the outreach, in the early afternoon, the sun was shining.

The highlight conversation of the outreach was a follow up from the outreach the night before.

On the night prior, outside the bus exchange, a lively Gospel conversation occurred with some teens: three girls and three boys.  Sadly, the kids were talking about the drugs they were planning on taking, and the girls were being rude and disruptive - while two of the boys were keen to engage with the discussion.  I tried to keep the girls attention away, while Mike focused on sharing the Gospel with the boys.

Well, in the morning, four of those kids came walking through Cathedral Square - including all three of the girls.  They looked very surprised to see me - as though I had been out all night and into the next day trying to talk to people about Jesus.  The girls were a lot calmer now, and were open to engage sensibly.  They had another opportunity to hear the Gospel; I was able to go through the flip chart with them.  And it turns out one of those girls had been through the flip chart once before.

But, sadly, as far as I could tell, they were not willing to respond at this time.  One of the girls even threw the tract I gave her in the bin.  My heart goes out to them.

On Saturday evening, some of the team gathered for fellowship and an “end of the summer of outreach” celebration which, on top of all the weekly outreaches, included:

• A Brisbane trip, experiencing our first abortion outreach & for a conference.
• Some time in Auckland outreaching with teams up there.
• 2 x Myanmar missions.
• Another Tell Me Conference.
• The Ellesmere A&P Show outreach.
• The Canterbury A&P Show outreach (3 days).
• End Abortion Now Conference with Jeff Durbin and team.
• One of the team made it over to the Gold Coast for the Schoolies outreach.
• The Christmas in the Park outreach.
• The 2 week local summer mission.
• The Sparks in the Park outreach.
• The St. Patrick’s Day outreach.
• The Oxford A&P Show outreach.
• 2 x Easter Hot Cross Bun and Gospel Tract outreaches.

We are also celebrating the fact the two of the team are now being supported to spend more hours out on the streets each week.  Many thanks to Operation 513 and Redemption Church Christchurch and all those giving through those organisations for allowing this to happen.  May we continue to serve the Lord faithfully by bringing the Gospel to many, and by encouraging Christians to get involved.  Thank you!

Sunday was very hot considering we will officially be in winter in a few days time.  A team of five headed out.

For me the outreach started with a nice long chat with one of our hecklers (I’m going to stop calling him a heckler soon).  I spent a lot of time listening to him talk, and hearing his bitterness and grudges towards hypocrites.  I found myself wishing this man would come to Christ, and feeling completely powerless to do anything about it.  The only thing I can do is share the Gospel.  And so I decided to break into the conversation and ask him what the Gospel is (since he is such an expert on “Christians”).  He didn’t know.  And so, I proceeded to take him through it, as foolish as it seems.  I know he has heard it plenty of times before: he has heard us preaching it many times.  But he listened (with only a little mocking).  I will continue to pray for this man.

By this time, the rest of the team had arrived.  This was the third (or fourth?) time out for three of them - but sadly the last, as they are moving to another part of the country for work.

They have been a massive encouragement to me out on the streets.  Chris was the shyest.  But today I watched him refute a homosexual “minister” on the subject of "love and truth" and he did it in such a loving way.  And then while that conversation was happening, another man walked through swearing at us and cursing God.  But they took it so well.  It’s so wonderful seeing them grow in confidence.  It makes me wonder how many more Christians are out there that are letting their fears stop them from using their gifts to reach people for Christ.  Be encouraged!  Get involved! :)

May they continue reaching people with the Gospel in their new home town! :)

I will be taking a week off and getting some time for encouragement in God’s word at the Impact Bible Conference in the Hawke's Bay, so I won’t be Battle Logging till the week after.  May you be blessed as you reach out to people with the Gospel wherever you are!