Battle Log

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Operation 513 was in Stratford today.  Jacob Moswa and I joined three members of the Sports Fan Outreach International in the rain.  The SFOI guys took a break after four hours in the rain and I continued to preach and Jacob spoke to a number of people.  Jacob and I both engaged with Samir, the Muslim outreach man.  We didn't get very far with Samir, unfortunately, as he always badgers us to show where Jesus said that He is God.  I mentioned John 8:24 and the 'ego eimi' statement of Jesus, but Samir wasn't accepting that. He asked Allah to make note that I was a liar, but we didn't get any further.  Jacob showed Samir John 20:28 where Thomas says, "Ho Kyrious mou kai ho Theus mou", but that didn't impress him either.  

Thursday afternoon, a 15 year old student was stabbed to death within meters of where we were ministering.  I wasn't confident to address the issue directly, but I stressed the Gospel repeatedly.  I went back to a sign left by SFOI near me declaring that every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus  Christ is Lord.  

Jacob spoke with Marius from Roumania, whose father passed away recently and Alicia, a young woman who was very depressed.  I wound up giving out all my tracts this time to James from Barking, Mary from London and Steve,  They are all involved in outreach in London.  I started preaching for a marathon +90 minutes. I felt lead to emphasize Christ's humility in His birth, His life and His death.  False religion always exalts itself, but true religion is a call to humility, repentance, self-denial  and faith.  Curiously, some Black Hebrew Israelites sat down near me and a loud conversation ensued with Aaron, a Christian who argued with them for ages.  

 

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A very busy and encouraging Tuesday and Wednesday of outreach for the Christchurch (NZ) team.  So busy, in fact, that I barely have the energy to write this log!  I don’t know if I’m going to be able to capture the excitement I’m feeling about these days or come close to covering the interesting gospel conversations - I’ll do my best.

Roger and I were at the corner of Rotherham and Riccarton Tuesday afternoon.  It had been two weeks since I was last here where road works prevented me from using my usual spot and I ended up going for two hours without a gospel conversation!  But this outreach was a stark contrast - the road works were complete leaving two improved outreach spots - one on either side of Rotherham Street, and we had a busy time of ministry with many conversations.  Praise God.

The highlight for Roger was having the privilege of sharing the gospel with a Muslim lady who had tragically lost her husband in the Mosque shootings back in March.

For me I had two occasions where I had multiple people wanting to talk to me, but there weren’t enough of me to go round!

On The first occasion I was talking to a lady away slightly from my flip chart, when four teens walked past and start interacting with the flip chart on their own!  The lady took a tract and moved on, and I was able to call the teens back and take them through the chart (pictured).  One of them had done it before (in Cathedral Square), and they all had a good understanding of the gospel having come from Christian families.  But one of those guys still seemed impacted and thoughtful.  They all received tracts.

The second occasion started with a discussion with a very intellectually switched on guy who fired questions so fast I couldn’t answer one before he would be asking another.  Soon after starting my discussion with him, I had two other sets of people stop and want to talk to me too: five people in total.  And they were all firing questions at me - oh for more labourers!  I wasn’t able to hold the attention of all of them, and so the conversation whittled down to the original guy and I.

The way I dealt with the question machine gun he was firing was to switch to presuppositional apologetics: what is our basis for truth?, how can we know things to be true?  And it worked a treat - it wasn’t an angle he had considered before, and it caused him to slow down a little and contemplate more.  As soon as I had achieved that, I tried to switch back to the law and then the gospel - but he was resistant and undercut me by cutting to the chase and articulating a definition of the gospel and calling it God’s loophole!  I didn’t let that go, and did my best to explain that Jesus - the creator of the universe; the King of kings - dying on a cross for unworthy rebels was an unfathomably great cost (how dare he call it a “loophole”!!!).  It was a long tiring conversation!  At one point we even exchanged testimonies.  It was a conversation that could have gone longer - much longer, but he had to go, and I don’t think we were making much progress having covered a lot of ground already.  He left with a “How we know God exists and why it matters” tract.  I leave him in God’s hands.

Wednesday I was in the city.  Cashel Mall was the busiest I ever remember it being.  People were everywhere!  During lunch time I was having constant gospel conversations that rolled one into the other.  I would be finishing up one chat, when another person would step up and take my attention.  I normally take lunch at 1pm, but it wasn’t till 2pm that I got a break from sharing the gospel!  Praise God.

And those conversations were unique and special - each one!  But I’m not going to be able to write about them all.  Here are some highlights:

I had a guy walk past who said he had talked to me eighteen months ago and he hadn’t forgotten it.  I ended up being able to talk to him and his very bright young son, who listened very intently to what I was saying and interjected very insightfully from time to time.  But sadly, the guy had not remembered the gospel!  I did my best to carefully explain it again, and challenged him to respond - he may not get another opportunity.

I had an amazing gospel conversation with a young couple.  The girl openly let tears run down her face as she heard the gospel!  (I think of Romans 1:16 here which I was reading in the morning before heading out.)  But the guy became resistant.  There was a real spiritual battle going on.

A lady came down the mall that I recognised.  It turns out we were at a Christian youth camp together when we were teens!  We had a long gospel conversation.

And as I was finishing up with the lady, a guy walked up to the flip chart.  I thought they knew each other - but they didn’t.  It turns out he had down the flip chart before, and had received tracts and wanted to discuss.

I moved to Cathedral Square to finish off the outreach there, and ended up having some great conversations.  But this is now the longest battle log I think I’ve ever written.  I thank God for the encouragement of these two days of outreach (I really needed it).

People may ask, “but are you seeing fruit?”  Well, yes I am.  I have successfully shared the gospel with all the above people and more over these two days.  That is our task: share the gospel (out of our weakness).  We leave the saving to Him.  Thank you for your prayer and support.  I mean it - thank you!  There was one moment this morning where I was thinking: “someone is praying!”
 

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Toowong Village - 7/10/2019 Tuesday 1330-1500

Praise and thanks God for calling a group of 6 faithful servants to join the Street Evangelism today despite of overnight sickness scare of our team leader Johnny, and the couple Winnie and Vincent from Gold Coast by 1.5 hour train one way, as well as Chi Ming and Di Tuen who will be leaving for Taiwan just a few days later. I must give glory to God for bringing up Chi Ming, Di Tuen and Winnie to have the boldness to share Gospel to strangers on the street. Winnie has been greatly encouraged to commit herself to do street evangelism regularly, not just at Toowong, but possibly in her home turf in the Gold Coast at the Surfer Paradise OPN 513 Friday night ministry in the near future.

Again, I teamed up with Winnie. This time God gave her lesson to wait with patience and had the heart to accept repeated rejections but finally allowed her to do a full gospel sharing with Dora from China with the "Good Person Test" hand held flip chart. Dora has heard gospel before, but the first time in this format. Pray that God will work further in her heart to receive Christ in His time.

As for me, God gave me nine divine appointments as recap below: -

1) Gethard from Germany who is married to wife from Guyana(圭亞那). He stopped with gracious heart despite he and wife were in a hurry with their baby. He quickly identified himself a Christian as such his intention to stop was to give me encouragement. I did not give away the chance to check his assurance of salvation. He refused to say he has 100% assurance but kept emphasizing that the source and base of salvation is by Christ alone. I just chipped in the idea that he should boldly declare 100% assurance of salvation faith despite he still finds himself yet to be transformed back to perfection again by the grace of God through the work of the Holy Spirit. He left joyously to rejoin his wife walked far ahead towards the shopping mall.

2) Julian , an UQ student from Malaysia who was in a hurry to catch bus for class. So he was the first one in today that I walked him to the bus stop to catch bus for UQ and just had enough time for the sharing of the nutshell of the gospel within 2 minutes before the bus arrived.

3) An Indian girl who was also in a hurry so l walked and talked with her the nutshell of the Gospel before we must part our way at the zebra crossing.

5) Grace(fake name) an UQ student from China having arrived here for just one week. She claimed herself a Christian and has already found her church for worship at CCCB St Lucia. She however, has no assurance in salvation faith that God used me to have clarified her incomplete concept.

6) Rose from England who has no religious belief. Again I walked her to the bus stop and finished the nutshell of the Gospel just in time before her bus arrived.

7) Hanna an UQ student from Iran. I also walked her to the bus stop. She was happy to listen to the gospel and surprised to find that her own country has now become a thriving Christian church nation both overseas and back in Iran.

8) Debby an Office lady took the tract from Winnie and sat there reading the tract right away while smoking. I approached to share the gospel verbally after she finished reading the tract. She appeared very responsive to the gospel and pray for God's follow up work in her.

9) The last person was the high light of today street evangelism who is an UQ student by the name of Sunå­« from Shandong, China. He found the gospel very logical and convincing and he disclosed that his passed way grand mum was a Christian so he can now identify with her to give his trust on Jesus. It was obvious that God moved him deeply to treasure this priceless salvation. It was proven by his reaction to endeavor to grab up the fallen tract blowing away by the wind that he did it at the cost of having his head hit on a rail by the road side.

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There were lots of people in Cashel Mall on Sunday.  Probably due to one or more of: nice weather, school holidays, and the new Riverside market.  Unfortunately, most of the people were not the type that would be willing to stop for a Gospel chat.  But it was an eventful outreach anyway.  It was great to have six people out sharing.

The lady and gentleman pictured walked right past Tim and I, but for whatever reason, they stopped to talk to Greg!  The lady took great delight in letting me know this.  It didn’t bother me at all. :)

Earlier, my first conversation was a long one with a tourist from the Netherlands.  He was telling me about some of the hiking he had been doing in the USA, which I took a genuine interest in, before gently swinging the conversation to the important questions of life.  Sadly, he suppressed the truth, and denied the obvious - he didn’t even want to hear the Gospel and refused the tracts I offered him.  We shook hands as we parted ways.

I then noticed a guy (an ex-streetie) that I’ve been witnessing to, on and off, for about a year.  I pray for him regularly, and hadn’t seen him for a long time - so it was good to be able to catch up.  We were able to talk about spiritual matters, and at the end of the outreach I prayed for him.  I don’t think he has trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of his sins yet - but I’ll continue to be a witness to him and pray for him.

At one point prior to that, I was talking to him about another streetie who I had been witnessing to.  The last time I saw him was the previous Saturday, and sadly, he had been in a bad state then.  But amazingly, as I was talking - the streetie turned up!  I was able to have a long catch up with him as well.  And prior to that, Tim was able to talk to him.  He wanted a Bible, and one was given to him.  Time was spent going over the Gospel with him again.  I was very relieved to see him in a better state.  I’m praying that gift of repentance and faith would be granted to him!
 

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Thursday afternoon at Sunnybank saw a team of five out the proclaim the good news of salvation to anyone willing to listen. With school and university being on holidays there was a little less foot traffic around but that was okay as the afternoon seemed pretty consistent and those spread out across area had plenty of conversations each.

An early conversation took place with a young man, Jason, who has previously spoken to the team, shared that he has trusted that Jesus has paid for his sin and has started reading his Bible. He hasn't started attending a local Church so he was encouraged to do that and to encourage him in that to read the book of Acts to see how the early Christians lived. Please be praying that Jason would be able to find a church and start regularly attending there.

There were seven specific conversations in which people who at first rejected God's existence came to see why we know He exists, based on creation needing a Creator before their bus arrived. A further eight came to see their guilt, that they were heading to Hell and were left with the tract and the seriousness of their predicament before they too hopped on their bus.

But there were three stand out conversations, the first is Camila. She is a young lady from China who early in the conversation took it on an unexpected tangent. She said, "I am going to tell you a secret, since I was about eight years old I have felt like life has no purpose and I have no reason to be here. I haven't really told anyone." She seemed totally dead inside. Sadly there wasn't time to share good news with her as her bus arrived but please be praying for another encounter where she may have the chance to hear the hope found in Christ!

An exciting conversation late in the afternoon was with Jing who came to grasp the bad news followed by the simple gospel and how those who trust that Christ have paid for their sin will enter Heaven and this free gift will cause a drastic change of life in love for God. Jing saw the seriousness and said that he would have to consider what was shared as it was new to him. Please be praying that Jing would heed this good news and trust in Christ, turning from his sin today!

The afternoon was also finished off with a young man who was quite knowledgeable but also sometimes intellectually dishonest about why he believed certain things. He too came to grasp the gospel and was challenged with the reality that without Christ he would end up in Hell eternally.

Please be praying for all those who heard the good news, the bad news or even came to grasp God's existence that God would be working in their hearts to draw them to Himself!

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On Wednesday in Brisbane city the team of six had many conversations and were able to enable a range of people to come to comprehend the simple and beautiful offer of forgiveness for sinners.

A conversation early in the afternoon was started with Bryce and Brian. Bryce had a partially catholic background but had ended up leaving early on. He came to understand the gospel, had some simple objections answered and was challenged with what he would do with the important message of hope.

Brian on the other had had grown up in an evangelical Church but in his teen years had rejected the gospel. Surprisingly he still mostly grasped it but wasn't trusting in Christ because the pleasures of this world had too much hold on him. He too had questions answered and was strongly challenged about his rejection of the way to Heaven. He was living as a practical atheist whilst knowing that God will hold him accountable for his every action. At the end he said he was very thankful for the chat and he would have to think about it.

An exciting conversation came from Monday night. Arthur and Yehaw had heard the gospel on Monday night and had understood it and said that they would trust in Christ this day. They are from Finland and are only in Australia for a week so it was encouraging that they had the opportunity to comprehend such an important message whilst they were here. Today on the accidental check in, Yehaw said that he was still firmly trusting in Christ but Arthur said that he was doubting.

When asked why, it was revealed that he had been living in sin these past days and quite obviously was suppressing the truth in His unrighteousness. He acknowledged this and at the end of the reminder of the way to Heaven, they both were thankful for the chat and then Arthur said, "The way this was explained is so different to those I have spoken to before. Most people I have spoken to just tell me I am going to Hell and offer nothing more but this conversation was logical, it made sense and it is the simplest explanation of Christianity I have ever heard."

What a joy it is to be able to check in and remind people of the gospel and to get encouraging feed back as well!

Please be praying for Bryce that he would heed the call of the gospel to change his mind about sin and God and to trust in Christ to pay for his sin! Please be praying for Brian that God would give him a hatred for sin and a love for Christ! Please be praying that Yehaw would grow in his professed faith and that as he lands back in Finland on the weekend would be keen to find a local Church and start getting into his Bible! Please be praying that Arthur would see the folly of his sin and that he too would trust in Christ alone for his salvation!

Why not find some time in the next week to join the team? You will be glad you did!

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We had a chat with a older lady who said she had trouble believing the Bible because of science. After explaining the building builder analogy, she did acknowledge it is possible that there is a creator but said she is sitting on the fence. She was taken through some of God's commandments. We shared the truth of God's Word and the Gospel.

We talked with her about evidences and facts of the Bible but ended with the message about the seriousness of sin and hell punishment and our great need for Jesus to save us. A booklet about carbon dating hopefully to address her questions more was given and a Gospel tract. Pray for God's Spirit to work in the hearts of these people that they may turn from unbelief to faith in Jesus alone for salvation.

All Glory be to God!

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I got to chat with a JW first up this week. He approached the table asking about our free Bibles. It was a good conversation that was a blessing to be able to show some important truths in God's Word. He took a Bible and tracts.

Lots of people in Warwick taking tracts every week. One man refused a tract with the statement that he is perfect. It is hard to think anyone could say that but over the years we have had a few.

God is Sovereign who we get to either speak with or hand a tract to. We are privileged to be ambassadors for Christ.

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Thursday afternoon was a very busy time of Gospel ministry: first at the Eastgate bus stops, and then at the Northlands bus stops.  We are the bus stop chaplins!

At Northlands I had a long conversation with a man who was drunk.  It was a difficult conversation in many ways, not the least that his breath was really bad!  In lots of ways, it would have been easier to disengage and find someone easier to talk to.  But I persisted - Jesus can save the worst through the Gospel… He saved me, so why not him?

I had to be patient as I worked through the law with this guy for was constantly changing the subject.  I kept saying, “I have good news for you, but you won’t understand it until you understand the bad news - there is hope!”  I was aware of a lady who was hanging around.  She soon joined the conversation, and eventually said, “I want to hear the good news!”  But the drunk guy kept making it difficult for me to share with the lady.  But I persisted, and managed to share the bad news and good news with her, just before her bus came!  She took a tract, and said she was struggling with stuff in her life and that she understood what I was saying brought hope.

I managed to get through the bad news and the good news with the drunk guy too.  May true hope for eternal life, through Jesus alone, become clear to them both.

Later I had a great encouragement.  Two girls sitting in the back seat of a bus across the road start waving at me and smiling. I was trying to work out what they were trying to say to me - but it's impossible to communicate in this way, so I cross the road and hop on the bus to find out what's up. And the first thing they say is: "don't you remember us?". I apologise, and say that I talk to so many people that I don't remember them all. And then they say, “you talked to us in the city. We are Christian's now, and are going to church!” They took tracts and I asked them to touch base. I couldn’t stay, as I had to get back off the bus before it moved off.

The Abortion outreach on Friday morning was as difficult as ever.  But it felt like the new banner (pictured) led to more conversations.

The Wizard has started public speaking regularly in Cathedral Square.  Speakers corner is starting to become quite vibrant.  I was able to have some great Gospel conversations, with people just passing through, and also with regulars.  The Wizard allowed Andy to preach from his ladder - and there were many listeners.

We then moved to the new Riverside market near the Bridge of Remembrance.  Many people were about, due to the new market, nice weather, and the school holidays.  The team had many opportunities to share the Gospel - both with flip charts, and walk up.  Check out the photo of Roger using the illusion tract to engage a couple of tourists - they loved it!

As always, thank you for your prayers and support of the Christchurch (NZ) team!  All glory to God.
 

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On Tuesday afternoon at Woodridge the most amazing thing happened! The first young lady, Phoebe, was approached and she was playing on her phone. She heard the question and said, "Just a moment, I shall turn my data off so that I don't get distracted because I know this is important". She then proceeded over the next twenty minutes to come to hear and understand the way to Heaven. Despite her church attendance most of her life she still was thinking that it was her goodness that would be gaining her access to Heaven.

After the conversation she was able to share back the way to Heaven and was encouraged this day to start reading her Bible. She was so thankful for the chat and said she really needed to hear it! Praise God for preparing a heart, prior to the conversation!

A more comical conversation was with Kingsley. Early into the conversation he apologised for struggling to comprehend because he was currently high. Although it had made him slower in his comprehension it hadn't seemed to stop him from understanding with a little extra help so the gospel was shared and Kingsley came to understand the way to Heaven. He was challenged to count the cost, seeing the serious changes believing that Jesus had paid for his sin would cause in his life and Kingsley was left with a tract to ponder what decision he would make.

The afternoon was so full of conversations, Fuddy, Danielle and Brandon all came to understand the way to Heaven without much argument but the final conversation of the afternoon was extremely exciting because it was a great reminder of the value of street evangelism.

Dani mentioned that she had Christian relatives and that she avoids talking to them about any topics in this area because she doesn't want to get into an argument or to cause any upset but she said, "I am happy to chat with you because there is less at stake". It was exciting that she was open and honest and the conversation flowed well. Dani came to see that the Christian message is one of universal guilt, that no one is right in the sight of God but that it is also the universal offer of forgiveness, that all who will come in faith, that Jesus has paid for their sin on the cross are made right in the sight of God.

It was beautiful to see that Dani was now able to understand the simple message of the cross and was left with the serious choice, to change her mind about what she was currently believing and instead to trust only in Jesus to pay for her sin.

Praise God for providing such wonderful opportunities and may He continue to provide many more!

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