Battle Log

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On Thursday there were five members out on the team as most of the others were scattered throughout Australia on various trips. But despite being a smaller team the usual the afternoon was a great success. The first conversation was an absolute cracker.

Mariana a Spanish speaking Brazilian was approached and she had some Christian ideas but was pretty sure God would let her into Heaven because she is good. She was shown God's goodness and then taken through His law, revealing her sin and suddenly she realised she would not be making it to Heaven as she currently stands. She was asked what she could do and suggested lots of things, all centering around her abilities to improve or earn God's favour.

But then, upon hearing the gospel for the first time, that God offers salvation as a gift to the guilty, not as a reward for the righteous Mariana came to understand that her whole life up until this point she was thinking she was a Christian but for the first time today comprehended what it really means to be one. She was excited to be challenged in this and said that she wanted to trust Jesus today. She asked if there was a Church she could attend and she was recommended one and she even said that she would start reading her Bible as she wants to know more about God!

As usual there were quite a number of short conversations, establishing God's existence and our guilt. This week there were actually twelve conversations with people which covered this and they were each left with a tract to read and their eternity to consider.

A later conversation the took a while was with Che, she was similar to Mariana. She was a a Filipino, Catholic and for the first time in her life, she came to comprehend the beauty of the gospel. She struggled at first to understand the simplicity of salvation, centered on justification by faith alone but when she understood that all the other pieces fell into place. She got the checking questions correct and was encouraged this day to trust in Christ. Her bus arrived so some simple follow up couldn't be had but please be praying for Che that God would work in her heart!

Lastly was a conversation with Edgar which was very sad. He had attended a church for a while with his friends because they all became Christians but after a while he stopped going. He didn't understand the gospel yet but more heartbreaking was that he declared he would prefer to live his own way than to believe in any God, even if God exists.

He was shown God's existence and God's law and was shown the desperate position he is in but Edgar was resolute in his rebellion against God and desire to live for himself.

Please be praying for Mariana and Che that they would trust in Christ and start attending local Churches, reading their Bible and even telling others of the good news about what Jesus has done! Please pray for Edgar that God would humble him, show him the foolishness of his ways and cause him to trust in Christ!

When will you come on out to share God's glorious gospel? It's something any Christian can do!

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On Wednesday in Brisbane city, there were many people around and as always many people heard the gospel. The team of eight split throughout the area and were able to have consistent conversations over the course of the afternoon.

The first five conversations of the afternoon were short and sad. It isn't that they were a waste because the intention was to share the gospel and why it was needed (God's existence and our guilt) but the first five who were approached were fueled by their love for sin and desire to be their own God. There was a Buddhist lady who wanted to trust in her own ideas. She had no reasons or arguments as to why Buddhism was true and when challenged she saw that her system was greatly flawed with no standard giver, no judge and no justice and in the end she admitted, "I just want to live a happy life my way and not have to answer to anyone". She was very offended at the law.

A lady who was using the idea of "Metatrons Cube" to argue that there is no God. Ironically, it is a pattern and patterns need Creator's, just as does everything else with a beginning and complexity. She too didn't want to acknowledge God's existence and was upset that she would be challenged in what she wanted to believe.

Chelsea, saw God's existence and the law but sadly had a friend turn up and had to head off before the conversation could continue. A man almost instantly sat down where Chelsea was and was asked the same question and created a silly strawman argument to try and argue that God is evil. He used this to justify his own actions as not that bad. This was followed with a conversation with Gabriel who saw the law and his guilt then started arguing that there was no such thing as right and wrong.

But after almost and hour of conversations that were with people who were hardened against God, along came Anna. She too at first was quite opposed to the idea of God and was shown the building builder analogy and said that it made sense but was still not keen with God's existence. This was revealed all the more as the law, like a mirror, showed her sin. It was at this moment in honesty Anna said, "I don't want to believe in a God who tells me what to do". Anna showed that her problem wasn't one of intellect, or being "too smart" for God, it was one of idolatry, she wanted to be God.

Anna was shown why this was unwise and stronger yet, foolish. Anna started trying to take the conversation down other routes showing that she did not know the gospel so the opportunity was taken to ask Anna if she knew what Jesus had to say about how someone gets to Heaven. Anna didn't know, she thought it was by being good and not doing the wrong thing. Then for the first time in her life, with a few well placed and chosen questions she comprehended the beautiful message of grace that God offers to sinners.

Anna was on the ball, comprehended the gospel immediately and was able to get challenging checking questions correct to show that despite her prior disposition she had no trouble understanding the simplicity of how someone is justified. Sadly at the end of the conversation after coming to understand the offer of forgiveness, Anna still chose to reject it because she said she was unwilling to give up living life her way. Even when shown that God's rules are for our good.

The last conversation was with a man who after going through the law got quite upset and declared that he didn't think there was a God. He then said, "I grew up in the Church for twenty one years and then I left". When asked why he said, "Because I had my eyes opened and learnt the real truth about the Bible". He had to leave but was challenged briefly that it wasn't really knew knowledge that caused him to leave the Church rather it was a choice he had to make. There were things he wanted to do that God said no to and the choice he had to make was whether he would throw out sin or God.

He looked gobsmacked that he had been seen through, acknowledged that was the case and then had to head off.

Please be praying for those today who heard of God's existence, God's law or the extent of the gospel. Please be praying specifically that Anna would reconsider her initial rejection of the gospel and instead trust in Christ alone for her forgiveness and as a result turn from her sin and live for God. Please also be praying for that last man that the reminder that he rejection of God was on the basis of sin, not intellect would cut him to the heart and that he would turn and read his Bible once again and come face to face with who God really is.

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After a wonderful day off on Monday, it was back to work with outreaches in Riccarton on Tuesday, and in the City and outside the Hospital on Wednesday.

It was great being back in Riccarton, after being in Papanui last Tuesday instead.  A reasonable amount of tracts were distributed.  And three decent conversations were had - one of which was a highlight conversation of recent memory.

The conversation occurred near the end of the outreach, a guy walked past with the name of a local company I recognised printed on his top.  This was a natural conversation starter and we talked briefly about people we both knew.  The conversation quickly moved to what I was doing on the sidewalk, and into spiritual things.  I ended up briefly sharing my testimony of how I became a Christian, and he became engrossed, as it seemed to parallel where he was at.

He went from saying he had a few minutes to chat, to being willing to sit down and discuss the Gospel at length.  At the end of the conversation, he admitted he wasn’t convinced (yet), but I could tell our conversation was timely.  He gladly took a gospel booklet, a tract, and details of how to get in contact if he wanted to.  I was very encouraged by this conversation.

Wednesday started a little different to normal.  I got to do some email evangelism.  Let me explain.  Earlier in the year, I had a wonderful conversation with a young man in Cathedral Square.  At the end of that conversation, I gave him a tract, told him my name, and said that he could contact me through the web site, via email.

Well, this young man got back to me a few days latter!  He had important questions - which I responded to.  But, sadly, that was it.  He never emailed back.

Well last Friday, I bumped into this guy again.  I asked if he had received my email, and he said he hadn’t but that he still had questions.  It turns out that my emails had been caught in his spam folder (I wonder why!), and we now have a good email connection.

So I started the day with responding to his questions.  And he has responded already!  I’m looking forward to being able to continue that conversation, he is even keen to catch up face to face again.

But the first proper outreach of the day was in Cathedral Square.

There was a girl sitting close to where I set up my flip chart, so I went over and offered her a tract.  She wasn’t keen to chat, so I left her to read it.

Later, I moved down to the corner of Colombo Street and Cashel Mall, and lo and behold, this same young girl walks up and wants to talk.  She could see that she had failed the good person test (what the tract was about) and wanted to discuss - which I was happy to do.  She ended up taking a contact card for my local church!

After lunch, I moved to the Hospital, but it was a very slow, not many tracts were accepted, and I couldn’t get a conversation to start as much as I tried.  I wonder if I was feeling apprehensive in light of the abortion outreaches we have started in this spot on Fridays?

So after an hour, I decided to head back into the city.  Just as I moved off, Chris Harris (a retired NZ cricket player) came down the steps.  I had an opportunity to interact with him briefly, and he accepted a Gospel tract.  I was encouraged by that.

Back in the city for a final hour of outreach, I ended up having two conversations.  One was a very encouraging follow up chat with the homeless guy I had spoken to on Saturday.  The second was a long conversation with a young man I had known from church circles about ten years ago, but it didn’t seem like he was still involved with a local church.  I did my best to encourage him with the Gospel.

I finished the day with some letterbox dropping.  As I was walking down a lane, a man came out of his house and wanted to know what I was up to.  This turned into a wonderful opportunity to sit down with him on his porch to discuss the Gospel!

As I’m writing this report, I’m realising how many wonderful opportunities I had to share Christ, in spite of what felt like two days of slow, hard Gospel work.  As always, I leave the results with Him: all the glory is His.
 

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This time of year is nice for being out on the streets of Warwick just before the colder weather starts to creep in and we begin to see the beanies, woolly coats and scarf’s come out of their hiding places which have been put aside since last winter.

The outreach was under way when I arrived after finishing work where I see my wife handing out some tracts to some people passing by the Bible table. Glenda had a chat with a lady and her pregnant niece. The lady approached the bible table and asked if she could have a free bible for her son, she said he’s into this God stuff and is a very intelligent 12 year old. Glenda put a comic tract into the bible and gladly gave it to her.

The lady noticed a AIG booklet “Gay Marriage” and asked Glenda what she personally thought about that subject, in which she said that she believes what the bible teaches about it, and that it is a sin just like lying and stealing are also a sin, and that we all have sinned, that is why Jesus came to rescue us sinners. The lady’s niece said that she liked the verse in the bible John 3:16. Glenda quoted that verse and shortly after the lady left leaving the niece at the table so Glenda got to share some more with the niece.

She was open to the truth of God that He should be and deserves to be first in our life but only by His grace be given understanding of our need of saving. By faith in His Son Jesus to be saved and given Eternal life, she wanted and received a pocket book bible. Before she left she was encouraged to read through the comic tract and was explained that we need to understand the bad news to appreciate the good news of John 3:16 

During the morning four ladies from the same church, not together but at different times walking past stopped to encourage us and let us know that they and the church were praying for this outreach each week. Isn’t it a joy to know that we are being upheld in prayer to our heavenly Father for the furtherance of His Kingdom. Thank you to all who pray for the ministry. Mostly thank the Lord Jesus that He is always with us doing the great work through us and in us.

A guy approached us and said what is this all about? After hearing what we were doing here he started on about how Christian nations were making weapons for war in America and other places in the world. I let him know that just because it is said that these places are called “Christian nations” doesn’t mean that they are Christians. In our conversation I kept on saying that “ true Christianity” are followers of Christ who are called to love our enemies.

He went on to say about climate change and many species of animals dying out of existence and many other topics and that’s when I said that anyone could do a search on the internet to see that from the year 1900 to 2000, a 100 year period, that the temperature change was an increase of just 0.78 of a percent!!!! He didn’t like that at all for he said he is a scientist and he asked if I had any qualifications to make such assumptions, in which I replied, only a rational, reasoning mind to look at the evidence and after some more discussion I said there is a lot more a stake than the here and now, and when asked if he thought he was a Christian in which he said that he thought he was and he used to go to church.

I talked about sin and that if we die in our sin we will stand before God in judgement and be sent to hell. Jesus came to save sinners. He was told a true Christian has had a heart change by God. It seems this man stopped to have a debate and he didn’t want to talk about the bible or true Christianity. Pray for his heart to be softened by God. Thank you for your prayers and support.

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Again the weekend saw two outreaches in the city.

On Saturday I was in Cathedral Square and I had two highlight conversations.

The first was with a homeless guy who wanted to know what the flip chart was all about.  He was very open to the law and Gospel presentation.  I could see that he really wanted to change, but there were things in his life he didn’t feel he could clean up.  He talked about trying and failing.  I had a wonderful opportunity to explain what repentance and faith were.  Because of what Christ had done on the cross, our sin debt is completely paid.  We need to trust in Christ, and not our works for salvation: faith alone.  I also explained that because it had all been done by Christ, repentance couldn’t mean: try.  It is a change of heart, a change of mind from sin to God (including will and emotions) that, ultimately, only God can give us.  I challenged him not to try harder, but to surrender to Christ: to repent and believe the Gospel.

The second conversation started in an interesting way.  A group of people were walking past, and one of them turned back, curious about the flip chart.  As he asked me questions, and I responded, the whole group of people stopped, and I had a mini open air going!  Sadly, the group quickly lost interest, and they all moved on… except one.

A young lady with a child in a pram wanted to engage, and we had a great conversation.  She seemed to know a lot about Christian things, and so I tested her by asking her why she would be going to heaven.  I was amazed when she responded with “I wouldn’t deserve to be in heaven”.  So I probed further by asking why she could, and she said: “because of what Jesus did for me on the cross”.

She seemed to believe, but sadly, it seems that she wasn’t willing to repent.  As our discussion progressed, we touched on some subjects that triggered her to put her shields up.

But we parted ways on good terms, which is good because later she came back wanting a tract and to continue chatting for a little longer.  She asked me if I gave away million dollar notes (which I did), because someone had given her one five years ago, and she still had it on her fridge today - that was very encouraging to hear!  But a tract on the fridge is no good, if it’s not read and responded to.

Sunday saw rain, but it stayed away while we were out - and it wasn’t cold.  A team of three had Gospel conversations in Cashel Mall and Cathedral Square.

Some of us had frustrating conversations, but some great ones were had as well.

I had three stand out conversations, one of which got started with: “excuse me, may I ask you a question, it’s a deep question”.  It turned out that one of the couple was an atheist and the other a Christian.  The Christian was keen to try the good person test, but the atheist wasn’t.  But as the discussion continued, the atheist started to feel challenged, and some great dialogue was had.  Both heard the law and Gospel, and were challenged to respond with repentance and faith (I had no idea where the Christian really stood).

The team enjoyed fellowship over coffee afterwards.  And I’ll be enjoying a day off tomorrow.  Praise God for rest.

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On Thursday we had some light rain, but it did not impact ministry, actually there wasn’t really any period of down time for the four hours of outreach in the city and at Eastgate.

In the city, we decided to move from Cathedral Square to Cashel Mall, but on the way we got into a conversation with a young man who had seen our flip chart before and wanted to understand what we were all about.  Due to the rain, Andy offered to buy him a drink, and so we were able to sit down at a table to discuss the Gospel in depth - it was a wonderful opportunity (incidentally, we saw him the next day to be able to continue the conversation, and it’s likely we will see him more often in the future).

As always, the Eastgate outreach was a busy time of ministry, having quick law and Gospel conversations with people, and also opportunities to follow up with people we have talked to before.

Friday dawned as a nice, sunny, hot, late autumns day.  Today saw a marathon of eight hours stretched over three distinct outreaches, including people of all ages, experience levels, and from various local churches.

The first outreach was the Gospel + abortion outreach.  18 people (including 3 families) turned up to hold up signs outside the hospital, and to dialogue with people about the horror of abortion, and the hope found in the Gospel.

All eight of our signs were in action.  And Andy was able to focus on conversations, having a very fruitful time of ministry.

As always, we got a mixture of very polarised responses.

Some great support, including a man who (if I heard him correctly) was shot in the recent mosque shooting!  He gladly took a tract, and then came back wanting to take a photo with us (included in this report).

But there was the inevitable attacks.  We were accused of child abuse (having our children involved) - which is ironic considering we are standing against the abuse and murder of children.  We were told that we should be educating our children - which is exactly what we are doing, it’s called social studies.

We also had two instances where young women would yell at us.  One claimed that we supported rape - which is ridiculous.  We responded firmly, but gently in all cases.

Security were called out again, but soon left.

We have no idea what impact our feeble efforts are having.  But in our weakness, we are doing what we can.  Please join us in prayer that the Lord would use it to see abortion ended in our nation, and for the furtherance of the Gospel for his glory alone.  If you live in Christchurch, please join us on this very important outreach.

Our regular Friday afternoon outreach in the city was very busy.  There were eight people involved (including two from the OAC team, and a newbie).

I had a wonderful opportunity to open air preach, as there were no buskers about.  One of our very vocal hecklers was there, but he wasn’t able to stop the proclamation.  Marty, from OAC, also preached (see picture with the wizard in the background).

The team then moved to Cashel Mall for a busy afternoon of ministry.  It was nice to be able to enjoy a coffee together afterwards.

The marathon ended with a two and a half hour evening outreach, led by Mike.  The food trucks in Cathedral Square draws people for conversations.  And to finish the outreach, we did a circuit around the pubs and bars, providing opportunities for tract distribution and conversations.

As we were walking down Hereford Street, we started talking about ways to start conversations again, and I remembered the last evening outreach where I had used the question: “excuse me, may I ask you a question, it’s a deep question”.  And so I suggested Mike try it this time.

We looked up, and two guys were walking toward us, and so Mike jumped in and said exactly that.  They both stopped and one of them said: "sure, you have 22 seconds" (or something like that).  So Mike asked “Will you go to heaven when you die?”, and then launched into a law presentation (see picture).  The two guys became so engaged, that they forgot time and the conversation ended up going for 45 minutes!  Praise God for that.

And praise God for all He is doing through all of you who head out, weak as you are, and share His precious Gospel.  Be encouraged!  Take the step, get involved: for the glory of God alone. :)
 

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Tuesday afternoon at Woodridge, was filled with many conversations. There were five team members out and a surprisingly hot sun and God was at work in the midst of it all.

The first conversation of the afternoon took place with Cheryl and her elderly mother and it was beautiful to see God's providence on display. Cheryl was interested to listen and was seeking to engage in the gospel conversation but her mother on the other hand was a lapsed JW who still believed their falsehoods. It was a struggle to get through the law and to the gospel as the mother kept trying to interrupt with different JW arguments about things. These were mostly palmed off and the tract to explaining the good news was taken. But it was getting harder and harder, then God in His providence sent the mother a phone call which took her attention for the next few minutes.

This enabled the daughter to hear in simplicity the desperate state humanity is in that each one of us deserve and eternity in Hell for our sin and therefore that the only thing that can solve this is if God Himself does something in order to save sinners. As she was hearing about what God had done her mother got off the phone and started interrupting again but it wasn't even thirty seconds before another phone call came in taking her away again.

In this moments that followed for the first time in her life Cheryl understood what repentance is, that it isn't "cleaning up your life", "stopping sinning" or "asking for forgiveness" but rather a simple change of mind about who God is and what sin is. It was pointed out that this repentance will always result in a changed life of actions but those actions aren't what saves us and nor is repentance. Rather, one is saved on the basis of accepting God's gift of salvation, through trusting that Jesus paid for their sin on the cross. Cheryl was speechless, she almost couldn't believe how simple and beautiful it was.

There wasn't any time for checking questions to give her a deeper understanding of the gospel but it was amazing that God had opened her eyes to the truth despite many years of confusion from the contradictory and works based ideas she'd grown up in.

There were a range of other exciting conversations where people came to comprehend the gospel for the first time but one that was wonderful was with a lady named Moana. She had some Christianity in her background but had basically just lived as though she was in charge. She saw that God exists via the building's need a builder analogy. She saw that she was in trouble via God's law and Holy standard and therefore was taken through a simple explanation of why Christ alone and His sacrifice can save a sinner.

She was then shown that this gift of forgiveness, purchased by Christ is on offer and to those who trust in Him they will receive forgiveness of sin and the gift of eternal life. In the next few minutes Moana came to comprehend that it was nothing to do with ones good works that saves a sinner but rather simply by trusting in Christ. She even came to understand that it isn't trusting in Jesus, then living a good life that makes someone right before God, rather that it is simply trusting in what Jesus did.

She then was able to understand that the changed life of good works that a Christian lives is a result of the salvation provided by Christ, not a requirement to receive it. At the moment Moana seemed to comprehend it all, her bus arrived. God had enabled her to come to a simple understanding of the essential truth of how someone is made right before God and what role our works play in that.

Please raise Cheryl and Moana up before God that they would not just comprehend the offer of forgiveness but that they would in whole-hearted surrender, trust in Christ for their forgiveness and be forever changed, wanting to know God, to be known by God and to make Him known!

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On Saturday night in Brisbane City the team headed in to share the gospel with those whom God allowed to stop. The night was filled with many conversations but there was one stand out.

Anna, a German lady, was walking past early on and was asked what she thought would happen after we die. She had a range of ideas but mostly about God being a force not a being, the afterlife not being about judgement and therefore each of us could live by our own rules and desires as long as we don't hurt anybody else. She was challenged on this as to God's personhood, God's goodness and God's justice. This opened up an over two hour conversation where Anna came to comprehend the gospel and understood why Jesus alone can offer salvation.

She heard many reasons as to why Christianity can be trusted and why she should place her trust in Christ alone for the forgiveness of her sins. Anna tried to argue for her own righteousness by the way that she treats the planet but was shown that no amount of good deeds can ever take away one's history of sin. She then comprehended that all people deserve God's justice for their sin in Hell and therefore that our only hope is if God Himself pays the debt for out sin. She learned how forgiveness will change a persons life and they will no longer want to live in sin but that they will want to honour Christ as Lord with their lives.

The conversation ended as Anna was challenged a number of times to consider what God had said and how one can be forgiven and to count the cost of trusting in Christ. At this Anna was thankful for the conversation and she headed off.

A few other conversations were attempted, with two young guys mocking God saying that they were "so scared" of Him when they saw their guilt by the law. Another guy said he was good and didn't need God and a third said he was too busy to chat but it was less than fifteen minutes later when Anna returned and offered to buy a coffee. Funnily enough, another team member who speaks Dutch started chatting to her and then offered to buy her a coffee instead and then another half an hour conversation took place.

Anna had some more questions and this time the tone was even more serious. She was encouraged that God didn't make mistakes and He may have even bought her all this way to Australia so that she could hear what He has done to save her. She was talking about being thankful for now understanding others opinions but was challenged strongly that this wasn't just anyone's opinion, this what what God has said, done and promised and therefore it isn't just to be treated as a nice idea but the truth by which life should be live.

The conversation finally came to a close and Anna was comprehending the gospel, said she would consider it and was left with the very serious choice, trust in Christ and live or rely on oneself and be punished eternally.

Please be praying that God would be at work in Anna's heart, that she would hear this good news and trust in Christ alone for her salvation and that her life would be changed, that she would return to Germany as a Christian, wanting nothing more than to know God, be known by God and make Him known!

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On Labor Day, a public holiday in Queensland, a team of ten used the day off to head into Brisbane City to share God's glorious gospel with anyone willing to listen.

It was a privilege to be able to use a fourth public holiday, in as many weeks, on the streets.

In this video you can hear Heidi rejoicing in God's grace that even despite her best efforts to share the gospel with Sue didn't come to pass, another team member was able to share the gospel with two men sitting next to her and she was able to listen.

You can also hear Hanno and Zelda share about encouraging conversations they each had as they as a team, took turns looking after their children as the other went to share the gospel.

Lastly be encouraged that like Fynn, who would have been otherwise occupied if it wasn't a public holiday, was instead able to come out and preach Christ and Him crucified.

Why don't you schedule in an outreach on your next day off?

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On Tuesday I normally go to Riccarton which is west of the City, but I decided to try a new outreach location: Northlands Mall in Papanui, which is north of the City.

I like routine, and so this broke it.  I ended up feeling as nervous as I used to feel when I was first getting involved with street outreach.  It’s good to feel that, as it gives me empathy for all you Christians who are just getting started!  But I went out anyway.  I consoled myself with the fact that I could just hand out tracts, which helps me with my nerves.

But as I walked down the street, towards the mall, and the bus stops, I was surprised at how many people there were.  So I started saying “Hi” to people and working on getting a conversation started.

Admittedly, it was a bit awkward initially, but I was quickly into a Gospel conversation with a young man.  It turns out he was heading to the doctors with heart concerns!  So the conversation was timely.  He was happy for me to walk with him, and I was able to share the law and Gospel - which he seemed to understand and appreciate it.  I challenged him to respond to the Gospel.

The outreach then proceeded from conversation to conversation.  Praise God, my nerves had evaporated.  And I had “broken soil” at a new outreach location.  It seems to be a wonderful location, with more bus stops than at Eastgate (east of the City).  Please join me in praying for this new outreach location.

Wednesday was back to routine, with an outreach in Cathedral Square, and then to the Hospital for a regular (not abortion) outreach.

In Cathedral Square there were two stand out conversations.

The first was a brief chat with a Christian tourist.  Very early on he said: “I try”.  Instantly I had concern, and so I stopped him and explained that, for salvation, we don’t need to try.  It is a completed work done by Jesus, on our behalf, on the cross.  Salvation is a gift.  He then mentioned something about “regret”.  Which is great - we should all regret our sin.  But regret, alone, does not remove our sin: we must place our faith in Jesus.  Yet he still didn’t seem to grasp what I was saying until I explained a third time.  He seemed to appreciate our chat and smiled as he left, after we shook hands.  He gladly accepted a tract.

The second was a complete contrast.  Firstly, the conversation went for an hour!  But the key difference was that the guy I was talking to completely rejected salvation by faith alone, and insisted that works were required for salvation!  He seemed to accept the Bible (including the OT, the Gospels, the general epistles, and Revelation), but he rejected the Pauline epistles!  He insisted that repentance was required for salvation, and that it is a work.  I agreed the repentance is required for salvation, but had the opportunity to explain that repentance is not a work at all, but a change of mind away from sin and to God that leads to obedience (works).  We are saved by grace, through faith and not by works, but for works.  This issue is critical to get right.  If you think you need to do any works to be saved, then you can’t have your faith in Jesus alone to save you!

I ended up getting the guy to say something amazing.  I asked if I needed to be circumcised to be saved, and he hedged.  So I asked if I needed to keep all the food laws of the OT to be saved.  He ended up admitting that we did need to do both!  So I asked him, assuming I knew I was dying in a few day, what I needed to do to be saved.  He seemed stuck and then said: “Well, I would recommend you give $1000 to the first charity you can think of - that should help”.  I was shocked.  This guy was trying to earn his way to heaven by his own effort.  Something Jesus clearly explained that is Impossible to do (see Matthew 5:21-29 and Mark 10:17-31).

It was a very friendly conversation, but at the end, I had to call this guy to repentance (ironically).  He was wrongly trusting in his works to save him, which would lead him to damnation.  I told him he needed to change his mind and only trust in Christ to save him: to accept the gift by faith.

He lives out of town, but I made sure he knew how to get in touch if he wanted to discuss further.  I hope to hear from him.

The Hospital outreach was surprisingly active, with some really good Gospel conversations: including a man who regularly went to the mosque to pray - but had not been there on that fateful day.

Later, while I was talking with someone else, suddenly an angry lady broke into the conversation.  She was angry that I was outside the hospital doing what I was doing.  She stormed off before I could really interact, but she made it clear she had called security.

Sure enough, a security guard came past five minutes later.  He walked up the steps and watched me for a minute (I know because the person I was talking to told me) - but they left me alone.  I’m on the sidewalk, which is public property, and I have every right to be there and talk to people about my religious convictions.

Yet, the intensity of her anger unsettled me.  I need to get used to this, our next abortion outreach will be Friday morning…

As always, your prayer and support is much appreciated.  All this work would not be able to happen without it.  It is truly amazing what God is doing in getting regular outreaches established in Christchurch.  Thank you!
 

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