Battle Log

New Zealand Mission - Week Two - Christchurch - Day Five

Well, we are two thirds of the way through the NZ Mission.  Again we focused on the city again today.

I had a great morning.  It started by talking to three sets of Christians in a row.  The second guy pointed at his good deeds as the reason he would be going to heaven.  I indicated that if that is true, I wouldn’t be going to heaven!  And we fell into a good chat from there.  I worked to explain my reasoning, taking him through the law and the gospel.  And yet, strangely, he kept insisting his good deeds would get him to heaven!  I laboured on the serious nature of sin, why it’s impossible to be good (perfect) and scriptures that teach justification by faith alone.  But nothing would convince him outwardly, but I think he was challenged, he took tracts and a church contact card.

We moved to the bus exchange, and I was able to hand out quite a few tracts before falling into a great conversation with an Indian guy who looked familiar, yet I couldn’t place him.  The concept of grace was very unfamiliar to him, and so I really had to labour to get him to understand the gospel.  Checking questions helped greatly.  Even after considering the cost, he seemed like there was nothing stopping him from trusting Christ’s sacrifice.  He downloaded a Bible and I set it to John and I invited him to a church meeting.  He has my mobile # and asked him to text me - nothing so far :(  I leave him in God’s hands.

We had lunch at the Square (pictured) where John joined us - he is new to us and joined for some training (pictured with Andy in gospel conversations).  We didn’t open air preach today, instead moving back to Cashel Mall for the afternoon of outreach.  Roger and Graeme joined us, and so did Keith for a while.  The afternoon was a bit slower and harder than the morning.  I had a period where I experience a fair amount of drive by hate from those walking past.  Yet there were many gospel opportunities!

So, that’s the Christchurch leg complete - next up Dunedin!  Please pray for:
Safe travels for those coming from Nelson and Christchurch to join with the church down south.
Unity among the team that will form for the week.
That many would hear the gospel!
That the church would be encouraged in evangelism.
That God would be glorified!

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New Zealand Mission - Week Two - Christchurch - Day Four

Today we started with gospel + abortion outreach outside the hospital.  A team of eight.  It started out peacefully, but then four counter protesters arrived, and then more, and the more.  I lost count how many there were - 13?  They were pretty well behaved, and so things proceeded peacefully.  They would try to bait us into long distance exchange, but we wouldn’t - if they come up to talk reasonably, we are more than happy.

And we really want to talk!  So Andy did something brilliant, he moved across from the main line, just down from where the protesters were.  They couldn’t resist, and so a group of them moved down to talk to him.  Sonya then went and engaged the other group.  Two sets of conversations were away - praise God!

Later, one of our original counter protesters turned up - a bit of a ring leader.  They put on some music with filthy language and paraded and danced in front of us.  Then a song came on talking about hatred and how wrong it is, and then the song started talking about how they hated those that hated them!  How ironic!  And the amazing thing is - we don’t hate them, we don’t hate anyone, even our enemies.  Very sad indeed.

We wrapped up the outreach and gathered to pray, they played the music right behind me while this was happening.  We prayed for them!  We want the best for them.

The team split up, a few of us headed into the city.  Andy stayed behind because he fell into a wonderful gospel conversation with an Asian couple who came to grasp the gospel and want to start coming to church!

In the city, Marty open air preached the gospel using the NZ national anthem.  Later, a large group of school kids turned up just before Andy was due to preach - perfect timing.  Many of the students started listening, and even engaging with questions and responses.  Not surprisingly, the teachers gathered up the students and moved on, but not before Andy was able to touch on the gospel.  He continued to preach - one of our regular hecklers arrived to interact.

After lunch, a team of three continued with one to one gospel conversation on High Street and Cashel Mall.  Many wonderful conversations.

The highlight for me was the last conversation I had.  I was handing out Eternity tracts.  A guy refused the tract, but he heard me ask: “What do you think happens in Eternity?”  To my surprise, a minute later, the guy came back and engaged me in conversation.  Just then, a busker came down to join the conversation - and yet she ended up killing it.  The situation was out of my hands.  I just prayed I would be able to get back to the original conversation.  The guy wasn’t going anywhere, and the girl wasn’t going anywhere, so there was a bit of a stalemate.  Eventually the girl gave up and moved on, and then the guy said: “I’ve been going to a Bible study.”  Later he said that my question had caused him to come back.  We sat down and had a long chat.  Turns out he had nearly died a year ago, and since then he had turned back to Jesus.  He really wanted to talk, and so I let him, trying to respond appropriately.  My initial checking question revealed an understanding of the gospel.  The guy had to go, but he wanted my contact details before he left.  He said he would be in touch - I’m more hopeful than usual that he will!

Team - again, thanks for your prayers.  Prayer for energy and strength, and that God would be glorified in what we do.
 

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New Zealand Mission - Week Two - Christchurch - Day Three

Today we focused on outreach in the city.  With a team of three there were more than enough people around to keep us busy in one to one gospel conversations.

We started in the Square, moved to Cashel via Colombo, and then down Cashel to the Bridge of Remembrance.  Having conversations as we went.

After some time at the Bridge, we followed the same track backwards to the Square.  One conversation that really stood out for me was one Craig and I had with an older guy from Ashburton.  He was happy to talk and it turned out he was a Christian.  We chatted for a bit, and then I said, “please don’t be offended, but because I don’t know you, I want to check - why can God let us into heaven?”  (I wanted to know what he thought it meant to be a Christian.)  Well, he got offended!  “I’m not answering that, I’m a Christian, I’m not interested in debates.”  We chatted some more, and I tried again - but he shut me down.  Bemused, we parted ways soon after that.

We had lunch in the Square, and then decided to head towards Ara.  We spent the first hour in conversations with people on the way before Andy insisted we move on - he wanted to get to the students!

The rain came, but it didn’t stop the team from having many chats down by Ara.  Craig had some great chats.  Andy got into a long chat with a Jewish guy - deeply religious, and they had the Bible out in deep discussion.  And I had great chats too.

Two days of mission to go in Christchurch - please keep us in prayer!  Thank you so much.

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New Zealand Mission - Week Two - Christchurch - Day Two

Today a team of four were at Northlands in the morning and then in New Brighton in the afternoon.

The bus stops weren’t busy - four evangelists was a bit much saturation!  So a couple of us stayed at the bus stops, while the other two went searching down Papanui Road.

One encounter was quite interesting.  Andy was talking to someone about the gospel while an elderly lady was listening from a distance.  After his chat, he approached the lady - she didn’t want to talk, but accepted a tract and said she would read it when she got home - fair enough.

Well, soon after I was talking to Andy and we noticed some new people gathering near the elderly lady.  I went over to engage them, but was told by Andy he had already approached her.  One of the guys took a tract, the other was willing to engage for a short time before his bus arrived and he had to go.  But I was using different tracts to Andy and the elderly lady noticed.  She asked if she could have a copy of my one too!  She still didn’t want to talk, but was happy to take tracts.  I gave her two kinds, so she had three in total.  People are interested!

But by eleven o’clock, we decided it would be more fruitful at New Brighton, so we made the move early.

Before lunch we had some great chats.  I offered a tract to a guy at the car park - who accepted it.  Soon after, Sophie came across him again on the Pier and she had a wonderful gospel chat with him!

After lunch I had a VERY long chat with two people who were drinking alcohol.  It wasn’t your usual gospel chat, I had to be patient, and listen as there was real openness and yet real resistance.  It was like a spiritual battle.  We talked about many things, but multiple times I was able to go over the law and the gospel.  I could see understanding in one of them, but hopelessness at the same time.  It was like it was impossible for them - and it is, but not for God!  There was a moment when I said, “It’s not try, but trust…”  something clicked and one pulled out their notebook and wrote it down!  I hope they don’t misunderstand.  I used checking questions at the end.  When I finally moved on, we had some deep hugs.  I could tell they were impacted.  Oh God, I can’t save them, only you can.  Only you can change our hearts, and break these evil addictions.  I leave these precious people in your hands!

After this the team focused on the mall area - there weren’t many people, but enough to keep us busy.  Many heard the gospel - including a pirate!  Glory to God alone.  Give us strength to continue in this mission Lord.
 

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New Zealand Mission - Week Two - Christchurch - Day One

It was a lot cooler this morning in Christchurch than what I’m used to up in Whangarei!  Autumn is arriving!  We started this leg of the mission in Riccarton, and then moved to Eastgate in the afternoon.  A team of three today.  Craig has joined Andy & I for the week from windy Wellington.

A bit of a slow start in Riccarton (for me) - I manned a flip chart, while Andy & Craig paired up and approached people.  But then I started to have a great run of conversations.

There was a Muslim guy who was clearly looking at his good deeds to save him.  He heard the law and gospel.  At one point he looked at his watch - usually a que to say “I need to go”.  So I gave him the option of leaving - to my surprise he said, “no, I have some time - it’s okay”.  Encouraging that he wanted to stay.

I had an elderly guy go past me a few times, the first time he refused a tract and an offer for a chat, so I didn’t bother him the second time.  But on the third time, he approached me!  He said, “I think I’ll take one of those things” - accepting a tract!  We started chatting, and he said he didn’t believe in that Bible stuff, scientists have proved x, y, z.  I think he was expecting me to fight - but I decided not to.  I was just overjoyed that he felt safe enough to approach this “crazy” Christian guy.  But oh how I wanted to engage him - but I could just tell he wasn’t ready or willing for it.  We chatted politely for a few minutes before he moved on.

The last interesting engagement of the morning was when I was paired with Craig.  I offered a tract to a guy who used to be a pastor for twenty years, but who was now apostate.  I so desperately wanted to talk with him, but he was a closed book that refused to open.  He even handed the tract back.

We had lunch together before making our way to Eastgate for the afternoon.  The highlight chat was with two guys waiting for their bus.  They followed the logic of the gospel presentation flawlessly, I was so encouraged at how fast they got it, and with no resistance.  I could tell one of them was counting the cost of the gift as I walked away.

Thank you for your continued prayer for the three week NZ Mission!
 

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New Zealand Mission - Whangarei - Day Six

Well, this was going to be a five day mission split over Auckland and Whangarei but - in God’s sovereign plan, due to Covid lockdown in Auckland - ended up being a six day outreach all in Whangarei!  And what a wonderful week it’s been, so wonderful seeing the Christian’s in Whangarei getting involved, being challenged, encouraged and equipped for the great commission.  I have made many new friends, and existing relationships are deepening.  A BIG thank you to all in Whangarei that were involved!  Forget the things we (Andy & I) did wrong, and remember we (all of us) do this in God’s strength.  May the gospel continue to go forth in Whangarei! :)  Glory to God alone.

I’m currently sitting in Whangarei airport after a morning outreach in Cameron Street Mall.  At least ten Christians were involved: prayer, observation, pairing, tracts and conversations.

I spent a lot of time with Christians, answering questions, and explaining the pages of the flip chart.

Then a group of teen guys came past - including one I had talked to a previous day.  I asked if they wanted to do the good person test, they were keen, and suddenly I was focusing on four of these guys, plus some Christians keen to see what they had been learning in action (pictured).  It was an amazing conversation, where almost every page of the flip chart was utilised.  They came to understand the gospel (checking questions confirming), and were challenged to respond after counting the cost.  One of the guys was asking good deep questions, showing his engagement, e.g.: “Why is God allowing Covid?”.  And the crowd gathered a crowd, I had multiple people stop and listen to part of the conversation - including a lovely lady - elderly Maroi lady, dressed up fancy.  She had a mixture of concentration and laughter as I engaged with the boys.  She even got involved by answering some of the questions herself.  Half way through she had to go, but she thanked me, and took a tract.

I was exhausted afterwards, but overjoyed that the Christians watching had seen such a good example of the gospel being shared in action.

THANK YOU to the church in Whangarei - esp. Clark Road Chapel.  Thank you to our wonderful hosts for letting Andy & I stay in your homes, and feeding us.  For all your sacrifice and service, may God bless you!

Oh Lord, thank you for getting us through this wonderful week, and answering our desperate prayers for you help in this endeavour.  Have mercy and save people.  Continue to encourage the church.  Correct us when we get it wrong.   We love you JESUS!  Glory to you alone!
 

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New Zealand Mission - Whangarei - Day Five

What an exciting day!  There were earthquakes off the coast overnight and in the morning (I didn’t feel them).  As we were about to head off to the first outreach of the day at the town basin, we became aware of a Tsunami warning.  After some debate, we decided to change the outreach to Kamo - which is high ground.  Some of the team didn’t make it!  Because our phones started receiving emergency warnings (we received many through the day).  Richard, Christine & Andy had to head for high ground somewhere else… but that was fine, because everyone else was heading for the same high ground, they had opportunities to share the gospel where they were.

A team of about seven made it to Kamo - and it was hot!  We ended up shifting the flip chart to the other side of the street to get into the shade.  I’m glad we did, because we ended up having a wonderfully long conversation with four young teen guys.  They came to grasp the gospel, and then they started asking really good questions.  One of them said: “I’ve learned more just now than I have at school”!  But another of them started processing the cost of the gift, and became resistant.  I exhausted their questions, and all my analogies - but they just didn’t want to leave - how good is that!

After lunch we went to Tikipunga for a change of scene.  As we parked the car, I noticed two guys sitting on a bench in the shade, and I knew that would be a good conversation.  And it was, it was the best conversation of the whole week so far.  Because these two guys were so laid back, Phil and I were able to slow right down and really work through the law and gospel and make sure they really understood.  The checking questions were really powerful, and they seemed to be blown away by the gospel.  One of the guys said, “You’ve changed my mind”, and “I believe that Jesus died for my sins”.  But they were both very engaged.  They were pointed to the Bible and to Clark Road Chapel before they moved on.

We moved back to Kamo for the last hour, and the high school kids were streaming past allowing many opportunities for gospel conversations.  Phil and I got into a lovely chat - almost as good as the last one!  The kid didn’t come from a religious home, but he was a deep thinker and thought about the afterlife all the time.  He already knew there must be a God, and so he heard the law and the gospel.  He really came to grasp it through the checking questions, and I could see him looking intently at nothing as Phil encouraged him towards a Bible and Clark Road Chapel.

Andy made it safely to the airport - praise God.  As my flights home were cancelled earlier in the week, I am now flying out Saturday afternoon, so there will be a final Saturday morning outreach tomorrow.  Thank you for your continued prayer!  Glory to God alone. :)
 

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New Zealand Mission - Whangarei - Day Four

Is it really the end of Thursday?  Time is going so fast.  We have just finished another day of gospel outreach at the Kamo shopping area (morning), and then in Cameron Street Mall (afternoon).

It was quite wet in Kamo - but that didn’t dampen the enthusiasm.  There were about eight of us out.  And as per the pictures, everyone was busy in conversations.

I had a follow up conversation with Chris.  I’d had a long chat with him the previous morning in the mall.  So I was really surprised to see him walk past in Kamo!  He had been thinking about what we had talked about the previous day - sadly, he was resistant.  Yet he was happy to chat again - I tried to address his objections as best as I could, but I couldn’t see any progress.  This reminded me of my dependence on God in what we are doing - I can’t convert people!

I had a sad chat with a guy called Hal who claimed he didn’t care about what happened after life - in fact he said he welcomed death (he wasn’t suicidal).  Yet he stuck around and we had a good chat.  He seemed to already understand the gospel, a checking question confirming.  And yet he said, it “didn’t click” for him.  Again reminding me of our dependence on God in what we are doing.

By this stage, Emma and I were paired up and we approached two ladies sitting on a public bench.  We fell into a good conversation - and yet one of those ladies started dominating the air time and resisting, yet I could tell the other lady was interested.  So I started focusing on the other lady, and naturally the conversation split, Emma taking the talker.  It was just what was needed.  I was able to work through the gospel with the lady I was talking to - having to go through checking questions multiple times for her to really start grasping it.  And praise God, the lady Emma talked to opened up and was also able to hear the gospel!

And yet, I was burdened with the need for prayer.  After lunch, Christine suggested we pray together - and we did!  Praying for the lost to understand the gospel and for His help in the work we are doing.

We had a wonderful time in the afternoon.  A guy I had approached on a previous day and refused, approached me today, and we had a long chat.  It turns out he is a Reiki Master & Clairvoyant.  He was deeply resistant, and yet the chat went well - Christine joined in.  He heard the law and the gospel was touched on, but most of the time was spent navigating the resistance.  We parted ways with a handshake, and he took a tract as I had taken one of his cards.

Later I ended up having one of the best chats of the week so far!  Beth was taking some of the new team members through the flip chart when suddenly she noticed two ladies watching from a distance.  Beth invited them over to join in, but they were happy watching from a distance.  I decided to engage them - a mother and daughter and they came to grasp the gospel.  Even after checking about the cost of discipleship, the daughter said there was nothing stopping her from trusting that Jesus died on the cross for her sins.  I asked what they would want to do now, and they brought up the Bible, and the fact that they would want to start going to church!  They don’t live in Whangarei - so I asked them to get in touch via needGod.net (Instagram) so we could point them to a good church.  I also showed them how they could get a good Bible on their phone and they left with tracts.

Ok, way over time on this report, but please keep praying!  Day five and six to come, and we are meeting up for more training tonight. :)
 

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New Zealand Mission - Whangarei - Day Three

Okay, it’s unintentional that most of the pictures from today have Andy in them!  There was a team of 12 out today.  It’s so encouraging seeing everyone getting involved, giving it ago, sharpening up - glorifying God and seeing him show himself strong through our weakness.

We started in the Cameron Street Mall again - and it became very busy by 10 am.

I know the team is having awesome opportunities - I’m hearing all the testimonies.  But I think the highlight conversation for me was one that occurred just as I was sitting down to have lunch.  I looked up and noticed three separate people watching a flip chart presentation occurring!  The person on the flip chart could only focus on one person, and didn’t even notice the person at the back.  I watched him start to move off, so I decided to go and talk to him.

I greeted the gentleman, and offered him a tract saying that it explained the content of the flip chart presentation.  But I also asked if he would like to talk about it.  To my surprise, he looked at me and said he would, but that he had had a hip replacement and needed to sit down.  So, we shuffled down the mall until we could find a place to sit.  Then he turned to me ready to talk about religion.

I didn’t hesitate, and we started by discussing how we know God exists.  Instantly he had questions, which I worked through one by one.  We moved through the law, why there is a hell, why hell is severe.  Finally I was able to share the gospel.  His response was that he couldn’t accept it - but I could tell he was interested.  I pleaded with him on the urgency of the matter.  He said he had questions, I offered to answer his questions.  But he refused, he needed time to process what I had said - understandable.  But I pointed him to the local church I am working with: Clark Road Chapel if he decided he wanted to talk further with someone.  He also had the gospel tract I gave him.  We parted ways with a handshake.  Please pray for George.

Before this, a Phillapino lady decided to accept an offered tract - she went out of her way to accept it, so I knew she was interested.  Sure enough, she wanted to talk.  She believed in God - having a Catholic background.  Surprisingly, she considered herself to be a bad person.  I was trying to swing the conversation to the gospel when she started to open up.  She had lost her husband nearly a year ago, and she was lonely.  She even came to tears - understandably.  Just at the right time, Christine came past and I pulled her into the conversation.  It ended up with the lady giving Christine her phone number and follow up will occur!

There was another great story - I started a conversation with a couple of guys.  One resistant and wanted to walk off.  The other wanted to talk, but had to follow his friend.  But to my joy, fifteen minutes later, I see Emma sitting down and talking to this guy (pictured).  So great being in this team, and seeing people have multiple opportunities to engage with the gospel!

After lunch, Andy & I open air preached, and then we moved to the Okara shopping area for outreach there.  Andy had a couple of outstanding gospel chats there.  One while paired up with Phil, the other while paired up with Pastor Andrew.  Apparently Pastor Andrew took them through the law, while Andy took them through the gospel - tag teaming the conversation.  Praise God.

I was paired with Callum, we had a few difficult chats, but at the end of the outreach I had a really great chat with a high school kid named Max - who came to grasp the gospel, took a tract and was pointed to the church.

And I’m over time for this report!  That is just a glimpse of the day.  Overjoyed at how things are going, but won’t stop praying - we are so desperately in need of God’s help in this work.  All glory to Him alone!
 

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New Zealand Mission - Whangarei - Day Two

A wonderful second day of outreach!  There is no way I’m going to be able to cover all the encounters in this short report, but I’ll do my best.  We were out for six hours today - two times three hour outreaches - with an hour for lunch in between.  About a team of ten today.  We started in the Cameron Street Mall with prayer before pairing up and spreading out.

I was initially paired with Christine, and we quickly fell into a conversation with Greg.  He was very happy to chat, and Christine quickly took control of the conversation and shared the law and the gospel with him.  It turns out he doesn’t live far from the church in Kamo: Clark Road Chapel - he even knew someone who attends there!  He happily took tracts, including one with Christine’s contact details.

After this, other Christians started joining the team and we decided to head down to the “Town Basin” - a lovely spot with a walking loop & cafes all on the edge of a yacht marina.

Christine and I found a seat next to the walking loop, and as people walked past we would offer tracts and try to get conversations started.  Two young ladies stopped, and a conversation got rolling.  There was resistance to the idea of God, but they were willing to stay to continue the conversation.  They heard the law, but as I was moving to the gospel - I could tell one of them was feeling uncomfortable and wanted to move on - but they were both happy to take tracts.

We then had another two young ladies stop and they were very happy to talk about spiritual things, one asking good questions.  At the end of the conversation the other said, “I’ve got goosebumps talking about this - thanks so much”.  Interestingly, the two girls were in different places, and Christine and I discussed splitting the conversation in situations like that.

Well, low and behold, our next conversation was an approach of an elderly couple enjoying the marina.  There was instant resistance, and yet they were very friendly - and although they said they didn’t want to talk about spiritual things, they kept engaging us!  And it turns out this was a perfect situation to split the conversation.  I ended up engaging the gentleman, who wanted to spar on evolution, while Christine talked to the lady.  She was open, he was resistant.  She heard the law and the gospel, he had his difficult questions answered and in the process came to understand the seriousness of sin.  She accepted tracts, he refused.  And yet the conversations were very friendly.  We parted with handshakes all round - so very encouraging!

We had lunch down by the marina in the shade.  And low and behold, a guy who had been talked to by Brian in the morning, came over and wanted to talk more - this time with Alan!  Pictured is the team (with a sea gull in the foreground) - Alan is on the right explaining things in the tract the guy is holding.

After lunch I was paired with Phil.  We had two great chats (which I’m out of time to talk about), before the team moved back to Cameron Street Mall.
Outreach continued around the Mall & I’m going to have to leave the pictures to do the talking!  Many chats of all kinds: short ones, long ones, hard ones, great ones - even some opportunity for follow ups from the previous day!

So encouraging seeing so many Christians taking time out of their day to come and be involved - even if it’s only for thirty minutes.  Oh Lord, please encourage your church, and use our feeble efforts for your glory.
 

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