Battle Log

Friday, 30 October, 2020

Posted 31 October 2020, 6:31 AM by Glen Richards. Permalink

On Thursday I was online for most of my outreach time.  Andy was at the Eastgate bus stops and then online.

My first conversation of note was with a young lady who’s only reason for going to church meetings was because her parents made her.  She didn’t want to go because it’s boring.  I asked her what she thought she had to do to go to heaven, response: “ask Jesus into your heart”.  So I asked her what that means.  She thought for a moment… she didn’t know.  So I proceeded to share the law and the gospel.  She was intrigued.  At one point she said: “keep preaching”.  At another point, someone came into her room - often an interruption like that can end a conversation, but it didn’t she waited for them to leave, then turned back to our conversation.  People want to talk about this stuff - they really do.  Thanks to God for these opportunities to share his glory!

Another conversation with another young lady - this one from the UK.  She started the conversation by asking if I was her grandpa!  I often get that.  But I simply asked her what she thought happened after life, and she was quickly engaged in gospel conversation.  It was such a joy watching the wonder of understanding shine out of her face when she really started to grasp the good news!  (The picture doesn’t show it as well as the video.)

Lord, I leave these ladies in your hands.

Later in the day I had two separate chats with Christian guys.  The first guy indicated that his faith was dependent on his feelings - I zeroed in on this and explained why that was a bad idea.  Our faith should be in Jesus’ sacrifice as the only reason we are saved - which we learn about in the objective word of God found in the Bible.  He really appreciated the advice, and said he would talk to his pastor.  The second guy just needed clarity in his understanding of the gospel and then encouragement in his battle with sin.  Again, I pointed him to God’s word: the Bible - feed on it daily.

On Friday, it was all quiet on the western front for the gospel + abortion outreach.  We had yet another newbie join us.  I feel like we have weathered a bit of a storm and it’s so wonderful seeing the team start to grow!

Andy did a fantastic job preaching in Cathedral Square before the team moved to Cashel Mall for a couple of hours.

Before I even got out of the Square I fell into a conversation with a couple of guys - one of whom had already been talked to by an evangelist recently.  They were keen to talk, esp. The one who had already been talked to.  It felt like a divine appointment the way the conversation got started.  Anyway, I was able to share the law and the gospel, and then put urgency into my call for them to respond.  They left with tracts.

In Cashel Mall, I had a lovely chat with a lady who’s family is heavily Mormon.  She knew she was a bad person, so I didn’t labour the law for long before moving to the gospel - she seemed very open to it.  She hugged me before she left.

Later I talked to two young guys who it seemed were there just to argue.  I laboured with them, but their arguments were so weak they started saying absurd things - like justifying Stalin’s atrocities.  I ended the conversation.

Andy and I spent some time online with the Aussie team to end the day's outreach.