Battle Log

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Battle Log : Toowong Village Tuesday Nov 12, 2019 1330 -1500

With few core members overseas who will be due back next week, we continued to have 3 die-heart members , namely Johnny, Col and Hung only this week attending this Evangelist mission spot. Despite of scarcity in hands, all of us had near non-stop divine appointments especially Col who had 7. Most of them led to willingness to consider to receive Christ and eagerness to receive Bible to know more about God.

As for me, I had five quality conversations as recap below: -

1) Harry, a QUT local student who passed by to go for a part time job. He was very pure in heart and stopped voluntarily to listen. At the end he was very convinced of the need to trust in Jesus for cleansing our sin. I referred him to look for Power To Change once he decided on his own accord to receive Jesus as his personal Savior.

2) Beverly and her disabled husband were waiting by the road side for pick up car. Beverly has weak eye sight as such she can only read with a magnifying glass. Thus she was happy to listen to my sharing patiently. And at the end, she also appeared very impressed and convinced that every one including herself need Christ.

3) Angela and Scythania are both UQ students from Cairns . They are friends who were both born here as an Australian Born Chinese. Unlike most of the other Chinese from the Mainland, they both showed genuine interest and politeness to let me share with them. Despite they are both non-believers without any religious faith, they both showed deep receptive to the gospel message and were fully convinced that both of them need Christ. Again, they were referred to contact Power to Change as soon as they make the step of faith to receive Christ.

4) Raul a QUT student from Spanish speaking Republic of Paraguay. He was about to leave and politely declined my invitation to talk by claiming he is a Christian already. I of course will not easily let go any self claimed Christian by checking their assurance of salvation faith. He right away told me he has 100% assurance simply counting on the redemptive grace of Jesus. So I applauded him for being the minority group of Christians I contacted on the street who have clear understanding of salvation. He explained it was all because of his mother who brought them up with all the crucial biblical Knowledge. It causes him a problem to get adapted to many of the Australian churches that care only about emotional feeling but not biblical truth teaching. He however is not feeling over disappointed as there is no perfect church. I encouraged him to not stopping Sunday worship even he has readily a strong biblical knowledge foundation. It was a most mutually edifying conversation in Christ I ever have on the street with a stranger. We ended up chatting for a long while despite he initially wanted to ride away with his bike.

5) Finally I talked to Hu 胡 from China. He, unlike most Mainland Chinese, cheerfully accepted my tract and prepared to listen. But our conversation was cut short by the arrival of the bus.

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Saturday saw the sixth annual Tell Me Conference happen!  It was a real blessing to have people come to hear Ryan Hemelaar, Evangelist with Operation 513 in Brisbane speak on common gospel analogies he uses in witnessing conversations, Nick Clevely, Elder of Covenant Grace Baptist Church in Timaru speak on the doctrine of repentance, and Phil Johnson of Grace to You answering various questions.

After the conference, many of those who attended also joined in on an afternoon outreach in the city.  We started with an open air gospel presentation using trivia, and giving away money to draw a crowd and give an illustration of the gift of salvation found in the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins.  I was pretty nervous with all the people watching, and wanting to give a good example.  It could have gone better, but I made it through.  The lady who offered to go for the five dollar note was a good sport, in spite of the fact that she was uncomfortable.  We shook hands afterwards.

Matt also preached, and one of the attendees of the conference also had a go!

After this, we moved to Cashel Mall and spread out to share tracts, use flip charts, and pair up for one to one gospel conversations.  There were so many Christians in the mall that the people walking through were getting approached multiple times!  So wonderful to see.  Many tracts were distributed, and it was wonderful to look down the mall and see many gospel conversations happening.  For all those first timers - well done!

It was also wonderful to see my own daughters freshly inspired to share the gospel with the lost!  They paired up with others and were boldly offering tracts to passers by, in spite of their fears.

A team of eight also gathered for the Sunday afternoon outreach in Cashel Mall.  Light rain did not damper the enthusiasm of the team.  Again we paired up, those with experience mentoring those with less (my daughters!)

I was very proud to watch my youngest daughter start a gospel conversation via a flip chart for the first time (with assistance from Thomas) - pictured.  I was also very encouraged to hear that my other two daughters had also been bold enough to start gospel conversations.  Well done!

Thank you to all those involved with the Tell Me Conference.  May Christians continue to be encouraged and equipped for spreading the good news of Jesus' sacrifice for sins to all those that need to hear it (everyone!).

God bless you as you step out and faithfully and lovingly share of the hope within you wherever you are!
 

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Pink in "Practical Christianity",p. 160, "Love is the fulfilling {not a substitution for, still less the abnegation} of the Law,."  - on Rom. 13:10 for it inspires its performance."  

     Fynn had a long chat with Z., a young Muslim man. Although Z had some knowledge of Christ's death, he did not seem to progress. Perhaps he did but with his father sitting beside him, it is unlikely that he would have let on.  Regardless of our analysis, God arranged the rendezvous and He has a glorious purpose in everything He does.

     Meanwhile Railee and I handed out tracts but had not one protracted conversation. Still, we took what opportunities came along to plant a seed of doubt in a young atheistic mother's thinking. We also had a little time with a Indo-Fijian Hindu from Labasa, Fiji  where we began our married life a few years ago {But a very short time of married life, if it is possible to compare it with eternity ) This man 'tears up' every time he hears the gospel. He teaches comparative religion in private schools.

     We left rejoicing knowing that God always has His word do His inimitable work. As always, we thank him for the privilege of serving Him - such a privilege - and to Him be all the glory. 

 

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Thursday and Friday produced some very special gospel conversations.  Three in particular.

The first occurred at the Eastgate bus stops.  I had offered a tract to a man who upon reading it became very hostile.  I tried to calm and reason with this man but was unsuccessful at both.  I ended up taking his tract back and ending the conversation for this reason.

Dejectedly, I turned and saw a lady waiting for a taxi with her dog.  I assumed she had observed my exchange and therefore wouldn’t be interested in talking to me, but I approached her anyway, and offered her a tract.  To my surprise she accepted and was keen to chat.  She was waiting for a taxi that would let her dog in the car.  I was able to show her how we know God exists before a taxi came to end our conversation.  But she had become very interested, and said she would read the tract.

I moved away from the taxi’s down to a bus stop, looking for a new conversation, before heading back past the taxi’s.  I was surprised when one of the taxi drivers called me over.  To my encouragement, he had some of our tracts already!  We had handed them to him on previous outreaches.  Well he had read them, and wanted to talk.  So I hopped into the taxi and we started discussing the gospel.  But then one of his regular customers came out of the mall needing a ride - so our conversation was cut short.  But he gave me his card with his number and asked me to call him.  As he drove off, I sent him a text message so he had my number.

Ten minutes later, he called me.  He had dropped off his customer and wanted to finish the conversation.  He drove past, picked me up, and then he parked in the Eastgate car park.  He was on a thirty minute break and wanted to hear the gospel, so I pulled out my mini flip chart, and took him through it - beginning to end!  He was happy to receive a Bible!  He then drove me back around to the bus stops where we parted ways.

I’m confident, God willing, that I’ll have opportunities to see him again and follow up.  A very encouraging conversation!

The second started as I was driving from Eastgate to Northlands.  A guy (that I’ve mentioned in multiple logs before) that I’ve had the opportunity to witness to multiple times since I first met him on the last Summer mission (just under a year ago) contacted me wanting to catch up.  He said he would find me the next day when I was in the city on outreach…

On Friday, we had some great conversations with people outside the Hospital during the abortion outreach, where the third conversation was had.  A guy who works at the hospital, and who I’ve talked with multiple times as well came out and wanted to chat.  It was wonderful to see how positively challenged he has been by our conversations, and also by our witness standing against abortion.  To us, it doesn’t seem like what we are doing is very effective.  But he confirmed that it actually is.  He took my contact details.  I hope to see him again.

… and now I come back to the second conversation.  It’s now Friday afternoon on Cashel Mall - and it’s hot!  Andy & I had set up a couple of flip charts when the guy who contacted me the day before turns up.  The three of us found a shady spot and sat down to talk.  And that talk went for the rest of the outreach.  This young man had previously adamantly said he would never be a Christian, because a specific sin is too precious to him to let go.  Well it was clear that he had now moved on from that position and he seems to be seriously considering Christ.  We spent the time answering his questions, trying to clear his confusion on various things, and going over the law and the gospel again.  He left with one of my last Gospel booklets - he received one previously but indicated that he hadn’t read it, and didn’t have it any more.  But he took this one with a different attitude saying he would read it this time - and I’m confident he will.  I will continue praying for this young man, and the two other men I talked about in this log entry.

I don’t know if my writing has conveyed how incredibly encouraged I am by these three conversations - so I’m explicitly saying so now.  These three men sought me out to talk, as the Holy Spirit seems to be working in their lives since they were first challenged by the truth in the gospel!  As part of my job, there is a lot of rejection, disappointment and discouragement - and so encouragement like this is extra special.  Yet no matter the result - the work is worthwhile.  Be encouraged church!  The gospel is the power of God to salvation.  Join us out in the harvest to share this amazing good news!
 

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Today there were two outreaches - both in the central city.  It was a cold day - winters last gasp?

For the first outreach I set up my flip chart in Cathedral Square, and I had quite a few follow up conversations with various people, and a gospel conversation with two girls from Malaysia who were Bhudist.  I was also very encouraged to encounter a young Christian on exam leave who was out looking for opportunities to share the gospel: “way of the master” style.  I was very encouraged!

To end the outreach, I decided to open air preach - as there were many people hanging around speakers corner.

In the afternoon I ditched the flip chart and headed for Ara intending to have walk up conversations.  I never made it to Ara.

I had a wonderful gospel conversation on the corner of High & Hereford Streets - with a young man who grew up in a church, but wasn’t involved at present.  He seemed deeply impacted when I explained that anger was murder of the heart.  I don’t know if this is connected, but I noticed he broke into a sweat on his forehead!  He seemed to appreciate the explanation of the gospel, and gladly took a follow up tract.

Further down High Street, I shared the gospel with a young couple, and then moved over to a group of four young teens.  I recognised one of them, whom I’ve shared the gospel with before - but apparently they had all talked to me before, and said they already had tracts!  But the girl in particular wanted to talk about it, and so a very long conversation was had where I ultimetaly explained the gospel, but was also constantly answering questions about: homosexuality, suffering, and climate change (to name a few).  By the time that conversation had finished, there was only fifteen minutes left in the outreach, and I spent that time handing out tracts on my way back to the car.  One of these outreaches, it will be good to actually make it to Ara - but High street seems to be very fruitful for conversations at the moment - praise God.

Tuesday’s outreach to Riccarton was quieter than usual.  I had a few “half” conversations, some other interactions, and handed out tracts.

The highlight was having a lady walk past who said she had already received the tract I was offering her.  I didn’t have a chance to interact, but later she came back past, and I stopped her asking her if it was that exact tract she had received, and when / where she had received it.  It turns out it was placed in her letterbox last month.  I asked if she had read it, and she had - but it had obviously had no impact on her.  But I had an opportunity now to follow up, and briefly go over the law and the gospel with her, and bring some urgency to the message in the tract.  She said she would read it again.
 

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Today we only had 3 Street Evangelists, namely Johnny, Col and Hung. Both Winnie and Lily got other engagements. It was an extraordinarily windy day. It affected a bit the willingness for people to stop and chat under gusty wind. But God's Work still prevailed despite of unfavorable condition.

Both Johnny and Col had got almost non-stop conversation opportunities many of which were fruit bearing ones. As for me, I continued to apply my Walk with You tactics if our targets claim they cannot stop to chat. In total , I had got 6 conversation opportunities.

1) Helen an Aussie old lady from England. She said she is a Christian and almost got the two diagnosis questions correct. But her expression still gave her away that deep down in her heart , she still thinks she is not good enough for the salvation. So reinforcement is needed as such I Walked her back home.

2) An Asian looking face, English speaking lady, possibly a Vietnamese or Korean mother with two children. She accepted the tract.

3) John a Kiwi who was in a hurry to catch a flight back to NZ. But he still let me walk him to the train station to let me share the nutshell of gospel with gratitude.

4) Prive. an UQ student from India talked a short time with Johnny. So I tried my luck to check if I can chat more with him. He thus let me walk with him to the train station kept chatting to share the nutshell of the Gospel anyway .

5) Matt is a strongly built UQ student who was also in a hurry to the UQ Library. He let me share while we walked to the train station. His attitude is polite and humble to listen. So pray for an open heart to receive Christ..

6) Chris is an IT personnel at the UQ. He is extraordinarily humble and keen to discuss with me the struggle as a Christian. I any way helped him to re-establish his faith assurance.

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How is it that I’m sitting here writing yet another log entry?  Time is going so fast.  Next thing you know we will be in eternity!

The variable spring weather seems to have passed, and we are having lovely summer days now.  It was nice on Saturday, and nice and hot on Sunday.  Both days we were in Cashel Mall.

Although on Saturday I started in Cathedral Square, but there seems to be a lot more people in Cashel Mall now on the weekends.  There were animal rights activists at the Bridge of Remembrance, Hare Krishna followers down by Colombo Street, so I planted myself in between.  Part way through the outreach, a whole lot of dogs and their owners walked through the mall.  Saturday is turning into a really interesting time to be there!

The most interesting conversation from Saturday was with one of the animal rights activists.  He loved logic and was very keen for a conversation.  But when I used logic to explain how we know God exists.  He became agitated, and then angry - I don’t think he realised how angry he was getting.  He had conceded that there must be a creator of the universe, but he was demanding to know why that creator should be the God of the Bible.  But my answers only seemed to feed his anger.  So I asked him why he was getting so angry.  He said, “you’re not answering my question”.  So I said, “well I don’t want to answer your question because you are getting angry, we seem to be stuck in a loop - maybe we should call it quits?”.  He agreed, and shook my hand before leaving - he had a tract that I gave him at the start of the conversation - and I did actually get a chance to briefly explain the hope of the gospel.

For some reason, his anger deeply impacted me.  Through experience, I’ve become used to dealing with it (it doesn’t happen often) - but from time to time it gets to me.

Sunday saw a team of four.  Jermaine had brought his two daughters out with him, and they shared tracts while Jermaine and I ran flip charts.

Early in the outreach, I offered tracts to a couple who completely ignored me.  But further down they accepted tracts from the kids, and that led them into a wonderful gospel conversation with Jermaine!

But I did have some great conversations.  One is etched into my memory.  I did a simple law and gospel presentation with a guy via the flip chart, and it seemed to be impacting him deeply.  But he was resisting.  He wasn’t convinced that it was true, so I circled back and showed him how he knew God exists and the reality of our sin dilemma.  He finally agreed that it concerned him that he would be heading to hell.  And it was then that I explained the glorious gospel - interestingly he already knew it; but the gravity of it, in context, seemed to be hitting home.  He needed to move on, but when we shook hands, he looked me in the eyes and held my hand for a moment.  He had appreciated the talk.  He accepted a tract.  I noticed some time later he came back down the mall on the other side, and received another tract from one of Jermaine’s kids.  Oh Lord, convict him of sin, and save him for your glory!  May I see him again - in your Kingdom!

 

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Thursday’s bus stop outreach at Northlands became so busy, once the high school kids turned up, that we decided to just stay there, rather than head to Eastgate.  The constant gospel conversations became quite tiring, so we headed into the mall for a fifteen minute break before getting back out into the harvest.  Very encouraging indeed.

I talked to quite a few Christians, a guy who was Coptic Orthodox (from Egypt), a guy who had been at a Catholic school for a year and was now very interested in talking about the deep questions of life.  I even had a bus driver get off his bus to have a cigarette and talk to me.  I was able to challenge him briefly, before he had to go again - he left with a gospel tract. 

But the highlight conversation was one that was interrupted - but in a good way.  I was sharing with a young lady, when a big group of students showed up.  One of them heard me sharing with her, and he was instantly interested.  He was so excited that I was sharing the gospel with her, that he interrupted me to talk about the amazing sacrifice of Jesus.  It was actually kinda awkward for the girl I was sharing with - but I was so blown away by how unashamed the guy was in talking about the amazing love of Jesus!  He didn’t care about the cost.  And what I mean by that is that he moved away to get on a bus that had just arrived, and he didn’t overhear a slightly disrespectful thing one of his schoolmates said about him.  I’m sure this brave young man gets a hard time.  I was so encouraged.  This is the attitude we should all have!  I was able to finish up the conversation with the young lady, and she also left with a follow up tract.

Andy also had many conversations, but the highlight was one with a young man who had apparently talked to me about the gospel a couple of months ago in the city.  Andy was able to take him through the gospel again, aspects of which he had obviously been pondering.  He then said he was keen to read a Bible and wondered where he could get one.  He was blown away when Andy pulled out a Bible to give him!

Friday saw a team of seven for the Gospel / Abortion outreach in the morning, and then a team of four in Cashel Mall in the afternoon (after Andy preached in the Square).

The afternoon outreach was busy: Binu handed out tracts.  Andy spent the whole outreach talking with one man (pictured talking over caramel popcorn)!  Roger had a busy run on his flip chart - including one interesting looking conversation with a large group of guys.  And I had two main conversations: one with three Catholic girls, and one with a young muslim man.

I had actually talked to this muslim man before - he had requested and taken a Bible, but couldn’t stay to talk that time.  But he had time today and wanted to sit down with me.  He had so many questions, so I needed to focus so I could get him to understand the gospel before I circled back to try to tackle his questions.  But we ended up spending the whole time talking about the gospel.  To keep him focused, I pulled out my detailed mini flip chart that I used when in Myanmar last.  And it worked a treat.  I focused on getting him to understand the important concept of justification by faith alone.  I used an analogy to explain it - and he rebelled against the concept!  He stood up and threatened to leave accusing me of saying people can trust Jesus and then do whatever they want!  I got him to sit down again and used another analogy to explain the result of our faith and a changed heart: obedience.  I managed to get this guy to work through all my checking questions with an understanding of the gospel.  I was very encouraged.  I challenged him to respond.  He left was my contact details (he still wants to ask those questions), multiple tracts, and one of my last gospel booklets.  He said he was neither Sunni nor Shai, but something else - and wanted to investigate the things that I had shared with him.  Oh God, I’ve done my best to share the gospel with him - I can’t save him.  Only you can!  Show him how serious his sin is, and how amazing your grace is.  Change his heart Lord, for your glory alone.  Lord, save all these people from their sin and hell, have mercy on our city and land.
 

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Saturday’s outreach was greatly encouraging as we shared the Gospel of grace with the people of Bribie Island.  There was an almost constant flow of conversations.  Most passer-by’s took tracts, and some received Bibles.  It was also a blessing to have a couple from Hervey Bay join us once again in evangelism.

  It was fascinating to see one woman, an atheistic evolutionist, ask for a Bible.  Although she did not even believe in God, she says she goes to His Word for advice in tough times.  We know that it is the Word which touches and changes hearts, so pray for the work to be done in her life.

  Pray for two teenagers, Susan and Emily, to think deeply about all they heard.  They were open-minded, and yet they had serious questions, both coming from atheistic backgrounds.  They were led through the law and the Gospel.  They seemed to understand, but they still doubted.   They each took a copy of John Blanchard's book, Ultimate Questions, as well as a tract.  They were urged to think about their own mortality and the seriousness of this matter.  They promised to do so.

  A young boy of perhaps ten also went through the Good Person flipchart.  He wanted to know why he would have to go to hell, since he had only done small things wrong (and had never even disobeyed his parents).  He was told that since his sin was against the most high God, the punishment was greater than if his sin was against man.  Three times he was taken through the Gospel and his need to repent and trust in Christ before he appeared to understand.  He also took a tract with him, so we ask you to pray for God to work on his heart.

  Four young men went to the flipchart and were asked where they thought they were going when they died.  Their answer was heaven—they were born-again believers.  They had a thorough grasp of the Gospel, which was encouraging to see.

  Kimmy also heard the Gospel, but was very much opposed.  Pray for the softening of her heart.

  Four teenage girls were approached in conversation.  Although they admitted to being bad people, they said they wanted to go to heaven because it was a good place.  They were asked whether heaven would still be a good place if God let bad people in.  They agreed that was a valid point.  They were told the good news of Christ’s death on the cross on our behalf.  They were asked if they would be willing to sell their eyes for a million dollars?  “No, of course not.”  And how much more important are their souls!  Pray for the opening of their eyes.

  Please pray for wisdom for us, for boldness, and for the right words to be in our mouth.  Pray for fruit from this outreach, that the Lord of the harvest might be glorified, and that souls might be added to the kingdom.

 

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3 Bibles were given out this fortnight. One was to a lady who walked passed and as I offered a tract she said she will stop on the way back. Most people don't return but the Lord had already planned to draw her to come and receive the most important news ever and we pray for the work of God to gift her with repentance and faith. Pray for E she has a Bible and some tracts. E told us about her up bringing. She had to go back to work but we had enough time to bring the message of law and grace to her. Praise God!

R & R both wanted Bibles, they were with us for a good while. We were able to talk with both of them one on one then we all came together at the end and went over the message to see if they had understood the vital points in the Gospel presentation. They were challenged as we went through the law and the consequences we face in our sinful state. After going through the law and they saw they were guilty and  consequently faced with the penalty of hell punishment as we all deserve.

Using the flip chart as a helpful visual we shared how Jesus suffered and died on the cross in our place to pay for our sin. Then we encouraged them both to turn (repent) and trust in Jesus as the only way to be made right in God's sight for He is the way the truth and the life. The only way to heaven. Jesus proved His power over sin and death by rising from the grave and now is seated on the right hand of the Father. He has conquered sin and death.

We talked about reading God's Word starting at the book of John, that they may come to believe upon Jesus. Why would anyone not want to be with such a wonderful God and why reject such a beautiful kind offer to be saved from hell punishment. Only He can change hearts all we can do is bring the Gospel, and keep pointing them to that trust Jesus paid for their sin - that is the greatest thing we can do. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation.

A Lady who we have seen numerous times came by again and we asked how she was going with the book of John that we gave her last week. She said she is not good at reading but has read a little bit. We keep encouraging her to seek after our Heavenly Father in prayer who provides all things for us and get to know Him through the reading and studying of His word.

All glory to our great God!

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