Battle Log

It’s been a super busy Thursday and Friday for the Christchurch (NZ) team!  I’m reflecting back on my notes for Thursday, and I can barely remember some of the conversations I wrote about!  But this is good, because it shows that God has been blessing us with many opportunities to talk about Christ.

I had seven conversations in two hours at Eastgate.  Some long, some short.  A few follow ups.

I saw an elderly gentleman for the third time.  The last time I had talked to him (at Northlands I think) he said he didn’t want to talk about spiritual things.  So when he walked towards me, I decided to take a different tack: I just spent time getting to know him - and he certainly enjoyed that.  From time to time, we would subtly touch on spiritual matters, but it was driven by him.  God willing, I will have more opportunities to see him and talk further.  God willing, he will become willing to a gospel conversation - but it’s not something I can force.

I offered a tract to a young man which triggered a conversation.  He said he was a Christian, so I used the “dagger in my back” scenario to try to find out what he understood about the gospel.  It was clear he understood that good people, that did good things would go to heaven - which was very concerning.  And so I reversed the conversation and told him what I would say to someone dying: I took him through the law and the gospel.  And he looked genuinely stunned.  His bus came, but he was torn, because he wanted to stay and talk.  I said, “hey man, I don’t want you to miss your bus, you better get going”.  But then the bus pulled out and left!  He didn’t seem too concerned, so we talked some more about the gospel.

An elderly lady was sitting waiting for a taxi, I said hello, and we fell into an easy conversation.  She was lovely!  She spoke softly, and there was a fan running just behind her, making it hard for me to hear her.  But I persisted.  We talked about wisdom (actually I listened to her share some wisdom), but the gospel was at the center of our conversation.  Her taxi arrived, and she gladly received a tract, promising that she would read it.

In my report last Thursday I mentioned that I had a follow up, at Northlands, with a young man who had been reading a tract, but still didn’t have a grasp of the gospel.  Well I saw him again at Eastgate this week - and so I was able to explain the gospel to him.  Praise God.

At Northlands, the conversations were more difficult than at Eastgate.  Many conversations I started would be ended by a bus coming!  Yet I was able to share the full law and gospel with a few people.

The highlight conversation was with a young lady who was considering being baptised.  She said it was required to be saved!  So starting with the gospel, and tracking back to the law, I explained that baptism was not required for salvation - we are saved by grace through faith.  But if we were saved we would want to be baptised.  She listened intently, and took a tract as she left.

On Friday, a team of six stood outside the hospital protesting abortion, and bringing the hope of the gospel to any who would listen.  Right from the beginning we were under attack.  Literally in the first minute three people showed their disgust with strong words!  And this continued throughout the outreach.  Yet, we did get support too, and we were able to have a number of conversations.  Andy did a wonderful job in engaging many people in conversation and handing out “Life is Precious” tracts at the hospital entrance steps.

As usual, we then moved to Cathedral Square for open air preaching.  Andy preached.  And he had some initial push back from at least one heckler (note, the sign in the picture is held by a heckler and not endorsed by us).  I had a great conversation with a young man who listened to the preaching for a bit.

In Cashel Mall, the first hour went really well.

I had a wonderful follow up conversation with a young guy I last talked to over a year ago!  As that was happening, a man who saw the Dalai Lama on my flip chart stopped and wanted to talk.  I managed to share the gospel with both of them.  But the original guy, although it was great to see him and catch up, is simply not interested (now anyway).

I had a number of other good conversations, people seemed interested in the flip chart and were keen to take tracts.

But in the second hour, I started to flag.  My legs became very tired.  How I was feeling was probably reflected in my body language, as I wasn’t able to get anyone to stop for a chat.

Eventually I saw a homeless guy I’ve been getting to know sit down to start begging in the sun.  So I went over to sit with him and talk.  I hope to write more about this guy in a future report.  I’m feeling hopeful about him.

A team of two were back in the city for the Friday evening outreach.  The highlight was an hour long conversation with a guy from the revival center - they believe baptism and speaking in tongues is required for salvation, and it was clear to me - through the conversation - that works play a role in maintaining their salvation.  We had a wonderful chat about how we are justified.  I, of course, demonstrating that it is by faith alone.
 

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