Battle Log

Page 32

Page 1 . . . 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 . . . 282

Battle Log of Operation 513 at Sunnybank on Wednesday 26/7/2023 from 1300-1500

Praise be to God that Qin Hao has been moved to become a regular Gospel Outreach team member to serve at Sunnybank every Wednesday with Johnny and Hung. We thank God for Qin Hao who is a very productive member grasping every opportunity to reach out to people assembling at the Bus Stop on the Eastern side of Mains Road. God uses our team work to cover as many varieties of people group as possible during our 2-hour ministry hour. With the team division of work, Johnny focus on approaching Chinese speaking people leaving English speaking target to Qin Hao and Hung. But aftercall, it was the work of the Holy Spirit to guide us to make our individual approach and will follow up on the response of those gospel target when they are moved to read the tract and home with their heart being touched and moved by the Spirit to make their respective faith response. We are just the vessel used by God to channel the bottom-line blessing to people of all nations.

1) Joseph and Jim were two QUT students from India. They were both very open and keen to listen to the full gospel and appeared very receptive. They took a tract to read and ponder afterwards to make their faith decision.

2) Next, I was led to approach a QUT students from Taiwan. Again, very open and receptive to the Gospel.

3) Then came a Mainlander girl but was persistently not interested to talk about faith issue. Still managed to chat it out on other softer issue but at the end, still refused to take a tract after listening to the gospel.

4) Ella an Indonesian lady who quickly disclosed she is a Christian when Qin Hao approached her. I quickly took over to test for her assurance of salvation which surprisingly is 100% certain simply because of the redemptive work of Jesus taking our place to receive the punishment of our sin. I asked if this orthodox teaching applies to the whole congregation or just to a few matured Christian like her. She claimed it is the norm that everyone at their church is very clear about the gospel and salvation. I can only give all praise and glory to God that amidst a Muslim country, Indonesia Christian can be so matured. I only hope and pray that they will also be mobilized to share the gospel in Indonesia to their own people and cross culturally to other ethnic groups.

5) After that, there came a large group of teenagers possibly from a private high school. Qin reacted quickly handing out tracts to many of the students waiting for their coach to come and many of them did read the tract immediately on the spot. But after they boarded their chartered bus but still waiting at the bus stop. A young handsome boy came to the bust stop and sat down by my side. Girls on the bus kept signing him as if they were friends. But this handsome boy Birdie claimed he knew none of the girl on the bus. Anyway, I got connected with him because of this brief exchange of words and ended up sharing him also the full gospel. He also took a tract to ponder on the salvation issue and to make his step of faith decision accordingly.

6) Then I approached a Korean girl who is a non-believer. She also appeared open and receptive to the gospel.

7) Then I turned to a Chinese lady who claimed herself a Buddhist. She also said she had already had a chat with Winnie at Toowong. I nevertheless still repeat the gospel message to him stressing Buddhism is good bout only guided us to be a good person but could not resolve the issue of sin. She appeared a bit too resistant to all other religion other than Buddhism despite I clarified to her that Buddhism is actually not religion but a kind of education to teach people to be a good person.

8 ) Lastly, I caught up with a Buddhism lady Mardi from Bhutan, I took long time to share her the gospel with many side dish of testimony. She anyway was a bit too proud of her Country being ranked as no one happy country as such she even thought there might be perfect person in their community. But of course, going through the tract, she finally admitted there is no perfect person in the human race and that as long as we are not perfect, then we all need a saviour to cover up our imperfection or sin by His sacrificial blood.

---

 

Battle Log of Operation 513 for Toowong on Tuesday July 25h, 2023 from 1330 – 1500

It was a pleasant day for open air outreach, not hot, no cold but just warm. Also as the beginning of a new term, there was a long queue of students waiting for the bu. Many new students were caught up mostly by Johnny, who gave preference to Chinese students. I picked up people randomly with more other nationalities. One surprised encounter was with a Aussie look Hong Kongers who has just returned to Brisbane a week ago. Apart from a small group of mainlanders who were rejective to hear the gospel, people of all other nations appear open and receptive. Recap is the Battle Log of Hung.

1) My first approach was with a mainlander girl from Tsinghai she is of Han tribe and majoring in Economic We had a good chat though when touching on the life issue if good person can go to heaven, she seemed to have a bit of reservation but in general, still appeared open to the gospel.
2) Than I approached an Indian man who did not queue for the bus. Thus, I thought he was nt in a hurry, but he looked a bit uneasy and use an excuse to queue for the bus when a few buses arrived. I anyway still had chance to catch up with him slightly about the gospel until he really boarded a bus.
3) Then I picked up an Indian couple from Bangalore. The boy showed initial no interest but still ended up with a good chat and took a tract.
4) Then I caught up with a girl from Wuhan who studies Sociology in UQ. She was delighted to know I had been to Wuhan and was empathy with the time the city was in complete locked down. She was happy to take a tract when her bus arrived.
5) Then I connected with yet another Indian girl Rachel who has migrated and live here in Brisbane. She was also very open for a chat and listen the full gospel.
6) Amber from Shandong China Has been here for three years doing study in Finance. She was also all open to the gospel message.
7) Ashley another Indian doing Social Science was also open for a chat on the gospel message.
8 ) Thereafter, I suddenly encounter numerous rejection by the Mainlanders.
9) Then it was the surprise of the day that I met a Hongkonger but of Aussie origin. He showed me his HKG ID card. It was a pity his bus came and we took a selfie to give each other a chance to chat if we can meet next week.
10) Naveen an India from Southern India Galore. He was very open to the gospel message and indicated he has friends sharing similar message to him before.

---

It’s report time again.  Good weather during the week, but a very rainy weekend.  So, only 2 street outreaches this week.  Roger was with me in Riccarton on Tuesday; Andy, John and Roger joined me on Friday in the city.

There is no problem with going out in the rain.  I’ve done it many times, and the harvest field is so ripe that opportunities always present themselves, even if standing under a shop front!

But at the same time, God is blessing us with an almost overwhelming amount of gospel opportunities online.  We have face to face conversations with people, sharing the gospel with them and pointing them to the Bible and a local church.  From that, TikTok and YouTube videos are generated.  And that in turn generates people to come to us, via Instagram Messenger, with questions, and that always turns into a gospel conversation, leading to people being pointed to the Bible and a local church.

This morning, before church, I spent a couple of hours sharing the gospel via Instagram Messenger.  As per the picture, there were 1040 unread messages, not including new message requests.  Each unread message represents a person waiting for a response from us in a gospel conversation.  This brought the reality of the ripeness of the harvest field to mind.  And it’s not only online; on the street, there is limitless opportunity to share the gospel!

Yes, of course we should be sharing the gospel with those within our natural spheres of influence: friends, family, work mates, etc.  But, in the sense of the # of people you can reach, the opportunity is always going to be limited (it’s a long term game).  But when we intentionally go out to find gospel opportunities (a numbers game), the opportunity is limitless.  We need both, no doubt.  Of course we want to reach our friends, family, and work mates, etc with the gospel.  But if we don’t also be intentional in reaching out beyond that, the church will miss opportunity to glorify God.

The foundation is Christ and his word: the Bible.  By the power of the Holy Spirit, through prayer, we can overcome our fears in spiritual warfare to bring the gospel to the lost.  All to the glory of God alone.  This applies to the church, families and individually.  Teach the Bible, pray, and share the gospel.  All in reliance of the triune God of the universe, who shows his strength through our weakness!

Anyway, enough rambling.  I’m struggling to remember the details of Tuesday’s street outreach (I’m writing this on Sunday).  I think it may have been a bit of a slower outreach.  But I had a familiar face turn up.  A young man who I think has been to a few Tell Me Conferences turned up to investigate the street outreach.  He ended up joining me for about half an hour.  In that time, I had a young soldier and his girlfriend (wife?) stop to find out what we were doing.  They were willing to give the good person test a try, although there was much hesitance on their part.  Many people try not to think about the difficult realities we were discussing.  He tried to buck away from it.  But I was able to get him to stick around to at least hear the gospel, if not understand it.  They didn’t stay long.

I’m racking my brain, I’m sure I must have had other conversations, but I just can’t remember.  I remember glancing over the street and seeing Roger busy.  What a blessing!

On Friday, I paired up with John and we did some ‘walk up’ down Cashel Mall.  We both had conversation opportunities, but they were awkward in their own way.  We decided to cross Colombo St and head towards High St.  I don’t often go that way.  I ended up getting a conversation going with a young man from the USA, in NZ to play rugby.  He had a Christian background, but he pointed to ‘being good’ as the reason he was going to heaven, and so a law / gospel conversation ensued.  He became mildly emotional as he wrestled with the realities of the difficult truths we were discussing.  He started asking hard questions in defence.  One of them was: “what about those that have never had the opportunity to hear about Jesus, where do they go?”  Now, I’ve got a stock answer for this, but I sometimes forget that the question is less intellectual, and more emotional (and a deflection).  I tried to address the emotion as best as I could, but the intellectual answer is still valid and helpful, even though difficult.  Here is the stock answer by the way:

Everyone, even those in the amazon jungle with no contact with outside society, know God is real in the same way: the universe proves the universe maker (Romans 1:18-20; Psalm 19:1-4).  And, everyone knows they have done wrong: by conscience (Romans 2:14-16).  Therefore everyone justly deserves hell.  God is not doing wrong (in fact he is doing what is right) when he sends people to hell.  But, by his grace he saves some.

So, someone who doesn't know about Jesus will go to hell.  But, God is so merciful, he has asked us to go and tell everyone the good news!

The tensions in the Bible can sometimes be difficult to hold rightly.  Christians struggle with this stuff.  I struggle with this stuff.  But the truths of the tensions in the Bible are there for a reason.  They are right, good!  But John and I had to sit down and spend some time discussing, and digesting these truths.  The gospel, in one way, is so simple that a child can understand it, but in another, so deep, that a scholar will never exhaust it.  Even today, as I was listening to the truth’s of the gospel being explained in church, I was in tears.  Why does God choose me?  Oh, the wonders of his grace!!

Later, John and I had an opportunity to share this grace with two young Indian guys.

I’ve been doing more training work online.

On Friday I was able to spend an hour with a young man from Malta.  He has come to understand God’s grace and is now passionately sharing it with his friends.  But he wants to get sharper!  To my amazement, this young man has a stutter.  I was so encouraged that he would be willing to train with me to share the gospel, in spite of his impediment.  May this encourage you to face your constraints and fears and be prepared to share the gospel!

I was also able to spend about 45 minutes with a Pastor in Mississippi, who is writing a paper on sharing the gospel across cultural boundaries, online.  I was able to explain what we have learned about the benefits and shortfalls of online evangelism, and the tools and rules we have put in place to manage this.

On Saturday, I had a 2nd session with a lady in the USA.  I’m so encouraged to hear all she is doing, encouraging her church in evangelism, and leading training and outreach (flea markets, door to door, etc).  In this session I was able to communicate the power of questions, both to 1) keep someone engaged (don’t monologue), and 2) check that they are understanding the gospel.  I think she has much to process (I know it took me time!)  God willing, she will be ready for a 3rd session soon!

I’ve been having some wonderful face to face gospel conversations online too.  But I’m out of time to discuss them.

Come, join us in the harvest field.  It’s so exciting!  Come share in the joy of telling people about Jesus.  All glory to God alone.
 

---

Battle Log of Operation 513 at Sunnybank on Wednesday 19/7/2023 from 1300-1500

It was a great day of street outreach with a full team of four all turning up including Johnny, Hung, Amy and Qin Hao. God ordained and used the four of us to supplement each other’s. Qin Hao is the most enthusiastic one quick in action. Hung looked after more Cantonese and Japanese speaking persons. It was a fruitful day of outreach. Recap below is the Battle Log of Hung: -

1) I was moved to approach a Filipino Mum and son of Catholic background. They were open and friendly for a long chat. I basically test their assurance of salvation, finding the lacking area of their understanding of salvation, explaining them in full. I was surprised the kid Liam is smart enough to get better and quicker understanding of my teaching than his mum Wilma.

2) Peter of Sherwood suddenly turned up and we had conversation on doctrine and Christian living.

3) Then I approached a mainlander . She was opened and took a tract when the bus came.

4) Then I approached an Aussie girl and used the slang dinkum as ice breaker. She was opened to the gospel message as well and also too ka tract when her bus came.

5) Next was a Korean girl, a non-believer, when asked if she think there is any perfect person, she was the rare lonesome person who think there might be some perfect person! It imposed difficulty for me to explained but her bus also came pre-maturely before I can finish my explanation.

6) Two Hong Kongers but appeared not interested and left the bus stop for more shopping, later after they come back, both Qin and Hung tried to approached but then time run out when the bus arrived.

7) A seemingly Filipino girl was opened but was interrupted by an incoming call, so I just left her a tract first.

8 ) Then I approached a Vietnamese man he was not keen for a chat.

9) Then I met a rare Indonesia Christian girl. It was a pity her bus also came very quickly that I did not have time to diagnosed her assurance of salvation.

10) Arusha was a Japanese lady from Tokyo for working holiday. Her English is not good, so Johnny and Qin refer her to me and I can greet her in fluent Japanese to keep her relax for a full gospel sharing. She was so appreciative and willing to take a selfie with me.

11) Then I caught up with Three Hkger and got good chat before entering to gospel sharing then two show reluctant to listen with one interested to carry one and took a tract from me at the end.

12) Finally, I approached two mainlander and one of whom is of minor tribe Uighur. We chatted pleasantly for a while but was interrupted by an incoming call.

---

Battle Log of Operation 513 for Toowong on Tuesday July 18th, 2023 from 1330 – 1500

Today is the new term starting week of UQ. We met many new students, some just arriving to do the student registration. We had been helping some of them to get on the right bus to get to UQ. It was good that we can serve as local guide to point them to the right direction for both their Uni study needs and the need of eternal life in Christ. God also called and moved a pious Australian born Indian students to stop and offer to pray for Johnny and me. It is good to know that we are not alone but God has raised up many prophets to prophesize turning people back to God. Recap is the Battle Log of Hung.

1) Chole a local Aussie girl who was open for conversation as such full gospel was shared and initial receptiveness was witnessed.

2) Andreas an Italian QUT Engineer student however lives in St Lucia, shared the nutshell of the gospel as bus came quite quick.

3) Kabir the Australian Born Indian but came to Christ in 2014, 10 years after an near death experience in 2004 that he really died for 9 minutes but came back to life being shocked by the Heaven scene he saw when he lied dead. It triggered his search for way to eternal life and received Christ 10 years later, But he only became a fervent Christian joining power to change and engaging in gospel outreach in the campus. He anyhow was moved to pray for us as a God sent angel.

4) Then I caught up with a Maninder from Jiangsu Changzhou , he was open to the gospel and moved to pursue salvation by grace through faith in Christ.

5) Then I approached an Indian guy who was on the phone but still chatted with me for a short while letting me know he was approached before possibly by Winnie. He was at the right time for another extensive chat, so I had to let him go to continue with his phone call.

6) Then I turned to my right to try to chat with a Muslim look lady. But after chatting for a while, she suddenly claimed she does not speak English but how can she become a UQ student? So I could only draw to the conclusion that she took an excuse to decline my invitation to chat and share.

7) Then I turned to a Sweden girl nearby and she was open for chat. It was a pity her bus came a bit too quick to let me finish the full gospel.

8 ) Then I connected with a new student from Xian who just arrived today and was about to go to the student registration office. I guided him the way and started the gospel sharing which he was open for understanding about Jesus.

9) Finally I caught up with a Singapore student who claimed he is a Christian, but has not assurance of salivation and don't even know much about Jesus and full of doubt about the Biblical account likes creation in 6 days. It was a pity his bus arrival cut short our conversation. But we both hope to chat again next week so we took a selfie to recognize each other's face.

---

It was a public holiday on Friday, the weather was good, and the fish were swarming the central city.  Maybe a lot of fish that wouldn’t normally swim in this hole too.  I started out with prayer and then handing out a few tracts before going for a wander.

I made it to the square, it was good to see the OAC team busy there.  I noticed a couple of skaters and decided to approach them, to my surprise I recognised one of them!  I had talked to him before in a group setting.  He calls himself Sarah.  I said gidday, and we fell into a good long chat - about 1 hour.  We never talked about sexuality - except that I once mentioned sexual immorality.  He is sharp mentally, and so at the beginning of the chat we mainly discussed worldview with a focus on how we know God is real.  I was then able to explain the law and then the gospel, and then we moved into a phase of conversation where he was asking a lot of good questions.  He was clearly rejecting the gospel at this stage, and yet there was an openness of sorts.  He accepted a gospel of John and a gospel tract.  I suspect he will still read the book of John through his own worldview, and yet, God can change his mind.  I pray that he does, and that I will get to see him again.

I made it back to Cashel Mall, looking at all the fish swimming past.  All I had to do was reach out - it was so easy to get a conversation started.  I talked to two young men.  They were being a bit cheeky when one responded that we would enter a feast after life.  The other said ‘Valhalla’.  I knew they were both joking around with me, but I just rolled with it.  I was able to share the law and the gospel.  At one point, one of them flared up ever so slightly, so I knew the message was getting through in spite of the joking.  But he contained himself well.  We parted on good terms.

I then turned and reached out to one of the many other people going past.  It happened to be a tourist from Scotland.  He was intrigued by my question of ‘what happens after life’, and he settled in for a long chat.  He seemed to respond to what I was saying in a way, and yet there was a hesitancy.  It turns out that when he gets back to Scotland he is going to university to study astrophysics, and he grew up Bahá'í.  We ended up talking for about 45 minutes, and the law and gospel was shared.  I thought he might accept a gospel of John too, but as he was travelling light he wouldn't have accepted one (it turns out I had run out anyway).  But he did accept a tract.

So, that was about 2 hours of conversation, within about 2 and a quarter hours.  I was going to pay for that with a pretty bad headache the next day.  But it was worth it.  I was so sad other believers were not able to join me.  I may make this public holiday an official outreach for next year.

Before heading to the street, I had a great chat online with a couple of young ladies (live streamed here).  It went for 45 minutes.  They were in different places, and so I ended up focusing on the one who believed in God.  I had to really labour through all the check questions.  Not because she was stupid, but because the idea of heaven being a gift is not natural to our thinking.  But it was encouraging that by the end of the chat, she really seemed to be correctly articulating the gospel.  And the gospel is the power of God for salvation.  I was encouraged to learn that one of my fellow church members had listened to this chat and been encouraged by it (he told me at church today).

I had a number of other great chats online through the week, including with a swearing Muslim from Saudi Arabia, two young men who followed the ‘script’ of the gospel and made a profession of faith.  A great 30 minute chat with a young man from the UK who seemed genuinely stoked when he came to understand the gospel and exclaimed “I have to tell my parents about this”.  Among other chats.

On Saturday, I had a one hour training session online with a lady from the USA.  But it didn’t end up being a training session.  She really likes to talk, and so she spent about 50 minutes telling me all about how she is encouraging her church in evangelism, and the outreaches she leads.  I was so encouraged, I just let her talk!  It certainly wasn’t wasted time, and we got to know each other, and I was encouraged to learn how she has been processing the way Ryan shares the gospel.  We discussed the differences to the way she usually does it, and why.  We are all teed up for another training session next week, even though she is older, and aware what she is getting into, she is very keen to try online evangelism!

I then headed to the streets, Riccarton.  I had a fantastic chat with a guy called Danny.  It was fairly text booked, and he seemed impressed by the gospel.  He happily received a gospel of John (I had restocked my supply).

As pictured, the homeless lady is back.  Her bed was there, but she was away for the time I was there.  I left another tract, and hope to get into a conversation with her in the near future.

Sunday I had Susan with me in the city.  She was very keen to do walk up chats, and so that’s what we did!  We had many opportunities.  Including with an Italian guy on Cashel Mall, a group of teens at the intersection of Hereford and Colombo, Susan talked to Simon (a regular) in the Square, and then we had a chat with a young couple of tourists from Germany.  They were very friendly, and sadly very resistant to the idea of God being real - esp. her.  Susan did share the law and the gospel.

Well, that’s a wrap for another week!  Thank you to all those that support what we are doing on the street and online.  It is very much appreciated.  All glory to God alone.
 

---

Battle Log of Operation 513 at Sunnybank on Wednesday 12/7/2023 from 1300-1500

Praise be to God to move Qin Hao to join us at Sunnybank despite Bible college school term has restarted. He could not come on Tuesday as there is class at BST but he was moved to come on Wednesday to join the Sunny bank Outreach. The three of us made a good team supporting and supplementing each other’s. Qin Hao is very quick and determined to approach stranger without hesitation. So by sight, he got the most number of divine appointments to share the gospel. I took a relax approach and at time pick up some Christians outreached by Qin first but I continued on for clarification of their assurance of salvation. Johnny again had got fruitful result today leading many people including a HongKonger just a step away from salvation by accepting Jesus. Recap below is anyway the Battle Log of Hung.

1) I was moved to approached madam Xu. ? originally from Shanghai but migrated to New Zealand? and then now ended up in Brisbane Australia. She was actually waiting for her daughter to come to pick her up. When I approached her, she had the common initial reluctant to chat using excuse that she got a flu and really put on her mast. I was moved to stay put though keep a safety distance from her. She seemingly was impressed by my persistence and passion to share the gospel so God softened her heart to listen up my full gospel sharing. She even recognized Qin as my team members when he came to evangelize someone besides her. She was happy to take a tract and introduce me to her daughter who thought we were friend. Pray that this divine encounter will bear fruit in His time.

2) Gloria a Christian girl from Solomon Island of Seven-day Adventist background, I spent considerable time to test her assurance of salvation which was found lacking. Then I shared many Bible doctrines and strengthened her faith in Jesus. I even clarified some controversial prediction of Jesus 2nd coming by the Adventist denomination which was admitted wrong as such their doctrinal stand nowadays is no different from other evangelical churches.

3) Mia from Sudan was initially approached by Qin but prepared to quit after knowing she is a Christian. I took the chance to demonstrate to Qin that we still have a task to diagnose the assurance of salvation of every self-proclaimed Christians. Again, Mia was lacking of 100 % assurance of salvation which was clarified in length. She was moved to ask where my church is. I anyway advised her stay with her own church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

4) After Mia left, I approached a family of three but I mainly chatted with the daughter. The family was from Guangzhou for sight-seeing. That was the excuse the daughter young lady used to reject chatting as she thought I was trying to convert here and bring her to church. Another excuse was they are Buddhist but I insist to share the gospel message as a cross cultural concept. Basically, I shared the nutshell of the gospel to the daughter while the mum kept leaving the seat to check the Bus arrival schedule screen.

5) Then I was moved to approach Joseph and her girlfriend both from Indonesia Jakarta, They are not Christian but also possible not a Muslim. He appeared very friendly and open for a chat. I could only manage to make a start but the bus came. He anyway seriously asked for a tract to read himself. Pray for God's own follow up and change of heart work.

6) Then I was led to meet yet another Japanese girl who came to study English. I greeted her in very fluent Japanese to gain the right to carry on with the chat. Again, her bus came far too quick and cut our conversation short.

7) Daniel Liu was a mainlander but Johnny shared the gospel to him years ago. He obviously was moved to accept Christ and once attended the Rock Church at Church of Christ at Station Road. But he did not attend "The Rock" anymore. Pray for God's guidance to lead Daniel not just accepts Jesus to become a nominal Christian but a World Christian on mission.

---

Battle Log of Operation 513 for Toowong on Tuesday July 11th, 2023 from 1330 – 1500

It was a fine day for outreach and both Johnny and Hung had got Spirit led divine appointment with God's elected person to have good conversation with us. For Johnny, he first had consecutively talked with three group of Islamic Muslim, especially a group of three Muslim ladies who all appeared with an open mind and softened hearts to learn about the gospel of Jesus' salvation. Towards the end, Johnny had a long chat with Owen from Hong Kong and he showed great interest to listen to the full gospel and promised to take it very seriously to consider accepting Jesus as his Saviour after reading the tract again at home. As for Hung, there were mixed results to have good chat with Senior persons with Catholic background and non-believers from both Local Aussie, India and Indonesia. On the contrary, all the mainland Chinese we approached today were all rejective. Recap below is he Battle Log of Hung today.

1) Jasmine a local Aussie I met last week and good to catch up with here. She was not in a mood to chat today but however thanks for my care and consideration to greet her. Pray that the seed sowed will sprout in His time if we can meet again.

2) Kevin Catholic Christian with his wife hiding behind the bus booth in the shade. He however was very open and delightful to have a l7 min chat with me under the sun despite he just finished a nose skin canner removal day surgery. His biblical understanding of many Christian teachings was not rock solid. Lacking assurance of salvation was one of the signs. He was happy for me to help him clarified his understanding of assurance of salvation.

3) Gloria a local Aussie girl who is a non-believer but was opened and receptive to the gospel message. She was happy to take a selfie with me to signify this divine encounter.

4) An India couples who have been here for a few years already. The girl friend was most sceptical, but the boy appeared a good listener to the full gospel.

5) Philip another old man seemed to be a non-believer, but still let me share with him the full gospel.

6) Then I met up with an Indonesian young man who look like a little bit of Chinese blood. Just kicked start the issue but no time to finish but still able to leave a tract.

7) Two mainlanders took English tract but cut short the conversation.

8 ) Another two groups of Mainlander, first three girls then later a boy all appeared to be afraid of being seen for listening to gospel.

---

Winter continues!  But we had a break in the wet weather for outreach on Tuesday (Riccarton with Roger) and Friday (City with Roger, Martin, and Andy).  The weekend was very wet again, so I just worked online.

But, the two outreaches were phenomenal.  Busy, no lack of opportunity!  I came away from Tuesday’s outreach in joy!  Part of me is happy there are so few Christians out joining me, that just leaves more opportunity for me!  But, of course that’s not right.  There is more than enough opportunity to share the gospel with the lost - come join us!  You are missing out in this joy.

So, the highlight conversation from Tuesday was the last one.  Two young lads went past.  I didn’t think they would be interested, but they surprised me by stopping.  There was an openness (respectful engagement), but at the same time a resistance (not willing to submit to the God they know is real).

I used the flip chart, but only sparingly, the conversation was basically me explaining the law and the gospel, and them hitting me with all the questions they had.  I can’t be sure how long the chat went for, but I’d say 45 minutes?  As they left, I noticed it was dusk, and it was cold.  Outreach time was over!

I learnt something interesting from the conversation.  At the start, I could tell these guys weren’t dumb, and so I said, “I’m not going to argue from what I don’t know, instead, I’m only going to rely on what I do know - no god of the gaps.”  They were happy with that.  But by the end of the conversation, as one of them was fighting to keep the wraps on their suppression of God tied down, drifted into what we don’t know: “But, in the future, we could learn something that proves there is no god”.  I instantly went back and said, “hold on, I told you at the start that I won’t argue from what I don’t know, but only from what I do know.  You are now appealing to what you don’t know”.  It was an accidental set up, but it was powerful, it hit home, and he struggled to keep his composure (but to his credit, he did).

I pleaded with them both to repent.  And they both took tracts, “everything I’ve said can be summarised into this little 8 page cartoon”.  That’s how simple the message of the gospel is.

Earlier I had some interaction with 3 youth’s.  The young lady was very sharp intellectually, but I don’t think she realised it.  Her rebellion against God was sophisticated, and yet simple minded.  I instinctively knew that it wasn’t wise to engage her further, as it would just lead to intense heat and no fruit.  I let them go, after a simple gospel explanation, and with tracts each.

Earlier in the day, while online, I connected with a lady from the USA.  I had a 19 minute conversation with her, in which she came to tears.  She professed faith in God early in the chat, but it was clear that she didn’t really understand the gospel.  You have to be gentle in these situations, because if you are too direct “you aren’t really a Christian”, then they just get offended and walk away.  So, I laboured with her to try to get her to see what I saw for herself.  Eventually she did flare up in protest, but I didn’t back down, and I made it clear I wasn’t backing down out of care for her.  As we continued to talk, I was surprised to see tears start coming down her face.  She opened up, and revealed her struggle: she is in a church that teaches baptism in the Spirit and tongues for salvation.  She doesn’t ‘feel’ the Spirit, and so she concludes she is not saved as a result.  I was able to bring the balm of the true gospel.  She continued to weep.  It was a special chat.  She thanked me for what I was doing.  When I suggested she look for a church that teaches the gospel and the Bible, she was eager to take down the details of how to find one.  I was very encouraged.

Later in the week, I had a 1 hour online chat, with a young man and his friend.  It was funny, because his response to my question, “what do you think happens after life”, was to say, “You’re on, I want to talk about this… hold on, let me move my mouse so I don’t accidentally skip you”.  He was all questions and resistance initially, but I found an opportunity to swing to the law and suddenly I had control of the conversation.  I shared the gospel, and then moved straight to my first check question.  He instantly got it wrong, and when I pointed that out he understood, “Oh, man, this takes time to correct your thinking”.  Actually, it doesn’t have to take a lot of time.  I continued working through the checks.  He kept getting them wrong, but this just caused him to process and correct his thinking.  By the end of the chat he was not only articulating the gospel perfectly, but he professed that he was “110% sure that he was going to heaven when he died, because Jesus died on the cross for my sin”.  Both he and his friend were grateful for the chat, and were willing to start reading the Bible for themselves and find a local church.

Friday’s outreach in the city was amazing.

I had Martin (from Hamilton way) with me.  We arrived at the outreach location, and I instantly spied someone who I thought would be good to chat too.  She was!  And we ended up talking for exactly 1 hour!  She claimed to be open, but very much hated the idea that God was allowed to make rules and tell her how to live.

I went for a wander, and encountered 3 young people at the corner of Colombo and Hereford.  I’d apparently talked to 1 of them before (but I don’t remember it), he said, “Faith that Jesus died on the cross for your sin”!  Well, he had an understanding, but it was clear he wasn’t doing that - he didn’t want to chat.  But 1 of his friends did.  I was able to give a short gospel presentation, at the end of which, he asked, “can I give you a hug?”  No problem!  What a blessing.  He really seemed to appreciate the chat, and he left with a gospel of John.  And all 3 of them left with tracts.

I got another hug later on, from a streetie, also whom I don’t remember - but he knew my name!  He even remembered the gospel too.  We talked for a while, I’ll work on remembering his name, and hope to see him again.

Well, I’m out of time to write further.  Thank you for praying for this ministry, and please, come join me out in the harvest!  It’s such a joy to labour in it.
 

---

Battle Log of Operation 513 at Sunnybank on Wednesday 5/7/2023 from 1300-1500

In contrast to an all wet and rainy day yesterday, praised be to the Lord we have a bright and sunny day for Street Outreach at Sunny bank. It was a pity Qin could not join us to day in his last week of term break from BST study. So just Johnny and I teamed up as usual. God led us into different gospel sharing divine encounters or faith building sharing with Christian of varying spiritual maturity level. Recap below is the Battle Log of Hung: -

1) First I was led to two ABC high school girls of grade 9 who claimed that they had spoken before with possibly Qin Hao last week. They claimed they had other religion but nevertheless they had understood the message through the chat and the tract. However, it seemed that they were not yet getting the point. But they were very opened to the gospel sharing and not that resistant to the message about our need to be redeemed by Jesus.

2) Madam Zhang ?an ex-EMP Methodist member but now is with Hill Song. She has enough Bible knowledge but is still struggling to have full Assurance of salvation. The root cause is not at all clear about the salvation package by God in three stages, namely the 3 fold deliverance in the Past, Current and future. We had a long chat and hopefully cleared up the myth of God's grace in her mind.

3) Madam Li ? from Henan appeared very friendly as I connected with her in her by greeting in her local dialect. She showed no uncomfortable talking to me as a Christian Pastor. Time run out when her bus arrived but she happily took a tract to read.

4) Then I was moved to approach Elizabeth a young non-believer girl but also appeared very receptive. Thanks God I had just enough time to share her the full gospel which she admitted that she heard it for the first time but found it sensible logical and rational. She seemed to have no resistance at all to make her last step of faith to accept Jesus as here Saviour and Lord. She showed her appreciation to take a selfie with me though the bus was ready to go. Pray for God's last follow up work to send the Sprit to bring her the conviction to receive Christ as Saviour and Lord of her life.

5) Then I came across a Hongkonger , but he was all resistance to any religious talk. Yet by the Spirit I still managed to share him the full gospel in a nutshell.

6) Then I picked up a Pakistan mum and daughter who again appeared very friendly. But time ran out for me to share as her bus came quickly. Just managed to leave a tract.

7) Last but not the least, I was led to connect with Madman Guo? from Shandong Tsing Dao. We clicked in many way and I even shared with her my mission trips in China. She was happy to take a tract and promised to understand the message I am so passionate to convey to her.

---

Page 1 . . . 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 . . . 282

---