Battle Log

2 outreaches over the weekend in Christchurch (NZ).

I had to come out early to the city on Saturday morning as I had a wedding to attend in the afternoon.  I suspected this would mean the beginning of the outreach would be a bit slow, so I started with some street walking, politely greeting people and offering them tracts as a conversation starter.

After a few rejections a guy took a tract and he was open to talk.  But once he realised I was a Christian he quickly gave the tract back!  But he wanted to talk about some of the struggles in his life and share what he believed, so I allowed him to, doing my best to listen and understand what he was saying.  After some time, I gently moved the conversation to the reality of death, God, conscience and judgment - and by this stage he was more open to me and this adjustment in the conversation, but he had an appointment to go to and had to move on.  I offered him a more in depth gospel tract than the one he gave back earlier - and to my pleasant surprise, he took it!  May this conversation be a step the Lord uses to eventually lead him to repentance & faith in Christ.  Are you ready to continue that conversation?

I then proceed to Cathedral Square, set up my flip chart, and started handing out tracts while enjoying some time in prayer.

The morning was fruitful with conversations, including a discussion with a young couple - one of whom was a homosexual - both of whom heard of the hope of forgiveness of sin and eternal life - in Christ.  I also had a wonderful opportunity to briefly follow up with one of the hecklers of Andy's preaching from the previous day.

On Sunday, the rain came.  But it was a surprisingly fruitful time of witnessing.  None of the market stalls were out (I guess due to the weather) so Cathedral Square was open for people, and I had many opportunities for preaching, conversations, and tract distribution.

My preaching drew out a heckler early on, who aggressively challenged me on many points rapid fire.  He would challenge me with a question, and as I tried to answer it, he would move on to another question.  I spent a lot of time listening, trying to understand, trying to respond, and then straight back to listening.  I had to keep my patience in check!  I did manage to get some points across: how we know God exists, and that there was hope for eternal life.  At a point in the exchange it started raining again, and we had to go under a tree for cover.  Eventually the heckler decided he had had enough and turned to go.  To my surprise, when I offered a tract he gladly received it - this encouraged me that the time spent was not in vain.  Are you ready to continue this conversation?

I went back to preaching in the rain.  And I knew there were people listening.  In particular, one couple who had found some shelter in the distance.  After finishing, I walked over to them and one of them gladly took some tracts - I was encouraged.

I finished the outreach with a conversation with 4 German tourists, who became engaged when I offered them the "Intelligence Test" tract.  I went through 3 of the questions with them, and showed them how they got all 3 wrong.  It amused them and paved the way to swing to the more serious question of getting "what happens after death" wrong.  I was able to clearly explain the law and the gospel with them, and finished up with a checking question to confirm they had understood.  They wanted to know why I was doing this in the rain.  If you knew of the holiness of God, the reality of righteous judgment, and hell, and the amazing God news of mercy, grace, forgiveness, and the hope of eternal life found in Jesus - wouldn't you want to get out and share?

Come and join me, where the harvest is ripe.  Laborers required, apply with in!

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On Thursday, I took a bit of a break in the morning, but ended up being in the city anyway and couldn't resist going into Cathedral Square to see what was happening.  It was great to see a fellow evangelist there, but he was tied up in a conversation with our main Atheist heckler.  I headed for speakers "corner" (it's actually a rectangle), and feeling refreshed from the rest I decided I would preach before heading off for the afternoon outreach at the Eastgate bus stops.

To my pleasant surprise, our main Atheist heckler didn't come to bark at me.  Even better than that, God saw fit to send 3 other hecklers.  This was so encouraging because often it feels like no one is listening and I'm wasting my time & looking like a fool.

I was able to interact with these hecklers, and actually have some reasonable dialog!  One was particularly challenging, and would ask question after question.  I did my best to answer the questions, and constantly come back to the gospel message and proclaim it.

Because of this, it turned into one of the longest periods of preaching I've done.  My throat was starting to dry up.  And then the heckler with all the questions smiled and said "I believe too brother"!  He was a Christian!  He came over and shook my hand and gave me a hug.  I was grateful that my ordeal was over, and I felt like I had passed the test.  But I was mildly disappointed.  I don't recommend any Christian pretend to be a heckler - it feels deceptive to me.

But one of the genuine hecklers had stuck around to listen, as well as some other people.  Very encouraging.

On Friday (today), I headed into Cathedral Square early to try to preach before the paid musicians started up eliminating the opportunity.  This worked, and I was able to preach again.  Later, one from the OAC team preached, and then Andy preached.

Andy preached under fire from our main Atheist heckler right from the start.  There were many people around and some other hecklers pitched in as well for some very robust and heated interaction.

Andy ended up staying to have some follow up conversations, while the rest of the team headed to Cashel Mall for some flip charting.

Tracts were handed out and 1 to 1 conversations were had - through out the day.  I thank God for the opportunities to share His precious gospel message.  All glory to Him.

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On Tuesday I was in the City in the morning, and in Riccarton in the afternoon.

I had a conversation at each location, where the person involved was keen to hear what I had to say and to discuss it.  But it came apparent, in both situations, that the person was understanding the gospel, but was rejecting it as the cost was too great.

For the first person, who felt safe enough to say he was bi-sexual, he was not willing to give up his boyfriend.  For the second person, the exclusivity of Christ (salvation through Christ alone) was too much.

I was discouraged, but I'm reminded of the following scripture (Mark 10:24b-27):

But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."  And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, "Then who can be saved?"  Jesus looked at them and said, "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God."

It is impossible for us to be saved by our own effort.  But, because of what Jesus did, we can enter His kingdom by His grace.  God can still use the gospel message these 2 people heard to bring about repentance and faith.  I leave them in His hands.

On Wednesday I was in the City in the morning, and outside the Hospital in the afternoon.

It was very difficult in the morning.  There was construction noise everywhere I went, and I couldn't settle in one spot to share the gospel from.  And it was difficult to get a conversation to start: I took a lot of rejection today.  I ended up just forcing myself to stay put and hand out tracts.  I did manage to get into a conversation outside the bus exchange, and I was able to share the gospel once at the entrance to Cathedral Square.

So as I headed for the hospital, I was keen for some quality conversations.

And as soon as I set up my flip chart at the entrance to the hospital, I was approached by 2 guys keen to give it a go.  It turned into a difficult discussion with someone who already had a good understanding of Christianity, but who was resistant to the gospel.

The key issue seemed to be why God allowed suffering.  And this was a theme for the afternoon.

And yet it's interesting how different people react to the issue of suffering.  I had one guy hand a tract back and, with bitterness, said something about the people suffering in the burns unit.  But another guy, who's daughter was born with part of her bowels outside of her body, had to have multiple surgeries to correct this, and who was currently suffering from infection - had no bitterness and was very open to the gospel.

He started out believing in reincarnation, and the idea that whatever we believed would be true (in a spiritual sense).  But at the end of the conversation was understanding that we can only be saved by trusting in Christ, and what He did for us on the cross - but that there was a great cost to following Him.

He left with a Bible, gospel booklet, various tracts: including one about why God allows suffering, and my contact details.  I will be praying for them.

Many tracts were handed out in front of the hospital.  Mostly to staff coming and going.  And I got much encouragement from Christians.  One guy even stopped to pray for me!

I have no idea what impact the days labour will have.  To my eyes, it feels impossible for anyone to come to Christ.  And yet I know that "all things are possible with God".  He has asked us to go, and tell people about Him.  At the very least, I have obeyed Him in that today.  People have heard, and understood the gospel.  I have worshipped Him in my obedience.  I leave the results with Him.

Come join me, on the streets, in worship of our Creator and Saviour: Jesus the Lord.

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It turns out that the Chinese New Year Parade coincided with our regular Sunday afternoon outreach.

There was a momentary opportunity for handing out lots of tracts! But once the parade passed, the crowds drifted off with it.

The team of 5, from 3 churches, still had plenty of opportunity for gospel conversations, before and after the parade passed through.

There were many Christians out and about. One conversation was with a Christian guy from Finland struggling with how it was fair for God to send people who haven't heard the gospel to hell.

By looking at Romans 1 and 2, I showed how everyone knows that God exists through creation, and how we all know we have done wrong by our conscience. Everyone will be without excuse on judgment day, and God would be completely just in sending everyone to hell.

But by His amazing grace, through the precious blood of Jesus, He has made a way for all, who hear the gospel and trust Jesus as Lord, to be saved.

This is why there is urgency to share the gospel!

The guy from Finland seemed to appreciate the conversation, even looking up verses on a Bible on his phone in his own language.

May we all be encouraged to make the most of our opportunities to share this precious gospel message with all that we can reach!

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Saturday's outreaches: in the city in the morning. It was awesome to have Ravi with me!

And then instead of the usual New Brighton or Sumner outreach in the afternoon, a team was gathered to reach people at Classical Sparks in the Park 2019 in the evening.

Hundreds of tracts were given away as the crowds entered the event, and flip charts were set up with pretty much constant gospel conversations happening.

It was great to have 10 involved in this outreach (including 3 children). All of varying levels of experience and ability, but all getting involved - for the glory of God! :)

Some of the team then stayed to enjoy the end of the concert and the wonderful fireworks display. It was a great evening out. Many thanks to the organizers! We are blessed to live in Christchurch.

May many come into the Kingdom of God through the proclamation of the gospel this day.

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Friday: 2 outreaches: both in the city: afternoon and evening.

A team of 5 from 4 different churches in the afternoon in Cashel Mall. (And there were at least 2 from OAC sharing in Cathedral Square.)

We faced some opposition, with a lady telling us that we were doing evangelism wrong by condemning people. No, we are not condemning people:

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
- John 3:18

Our job is to share the law to bring knowledge of sin:

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
- Romans 3:20

Then the gospel:

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you-unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
- 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

We do this so people will understand:

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
- Romans 8:1

In the evening outreach (in Cathedral Square), I saw the 2 young men again who I previously mentioned had some "life wounds". And they had another friend with them. We spent time continuing the gospel conversation started the other day. I will continue to pray for them and hope, God willing, I'll see them again.

Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
- Matthew 9:37-38

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Thursday: 2 outreaches: City; and another new outreach: Eastgate Bus Stops. It was great to have Graeme join me in the City, and Daniel at Eastgate. Hot day, over 30 degrees Celsius - but so worth being out!

At Eastgate, I was surprised at how easy it was to start conversations. I was in pretty much constant gospel conversations for the first hour and a half, before I had to force myself to take mini breaks to pace myself through the last hour and a half. It is a wonderful field for harvest in that sense, but in another there wasn't much spark or engagement from many that I talked to (that I could see). I will start praying for receptive hearts on this weekly outreach - will you join me in prayer?

Earlier, in the city, I had some long conversations.

1 was very special with 2 very young men dealing with some very severe "life wounds" (I don't want to give details for their privacy). They were drunk (and drinking), but very receptive to conversation. I did a lot of listening, and I did my best to share the gospel, but I kept getting cut off - but that's ok, as I'm confident I will see them again and be able to continue the conversation. My heart goes out to these guys! They are on my prayer list. I'm praying for gospel break though in their lives!

There was a lot of activity in the Square: university students on Orientation Week with trumpets, construction noise, people out giving free hugs(!? :) ) - so it was quite difficult to open air preach. But I tried anyway. I made it through the law and the gospel, but I was very aware of how ineffective it seemed. Yet I know God can use our efforts - as feeble as they are.

Please consider joining me, as feeble as we are - God can use us for His glory!

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Today, Wednesday, 2 gospel outreaches: city in the morning, and a new outreach outside the hospital in the afternoon.

I was feeling really tired this morning. It can take a lot of energy to start conversations from cold - and then maintain them. So I needed to pace myself by planting my flip chart, and relying on tracts (and prayer) to allow conversations to come to me more naturally.

And I was incredibly encouraged with the first conversation.

When Andy Barlow and I were in Aussie last year, we had an opportunity to do some (intense) ministry outside an abortion clinic with Andrew & Tom from the Project 139 team. A guy turned up at the clinic with his girlfriend (not for an abortion) and he stayed to talk (argue) with all of us.

Well, this morning, in Christchurch, NZ - this same guy and his girlfriend walked past and recognized me from the previous encounter. They were very keen for a chat (he approached me), and wanted me to explain the flip chart to them. (Always my pleasure!) I think the guy was quite impacted by meeting me again. He has had a 2nd opportunity to hear the gospel - he may not get another, today is the day of salvation. May they trust in Christ.

Later, I preached in the Square before taking a break for lunch and then heading to the Hospital.

I was a bit concerned that this new outreach would be slow, but I was pleasantly surprised by all the gospel conversations I managed to have.

The stand out conversation was with a hospital worker who had seen me standing on the sidewalk from within the orange hospital building (see pic), and took the time to come down and find out what I was doing. It turned out she was a Christian, and she gave me some wonderful encouragement and feedback. I'm looking forward to coming back to this spot next week.

I appreciate all the prayer, support and those that are making time to join me. Thank you so much. SDG

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Tuesday outreach involved trying a new location: Riccarton Road. It turned out to be a decent spot. I was there in the afternoon, and there were plenty of high school students open to a gospel chat. In 1 conversation I had 6 students gathered around the flip chart. One of them said he thinks about death every night (not in a suicidal way, but in a "I don't want to die" way) - he accepted a gospel booklet from me.

Earlier in the day, I was in the central city and it was wonderful to have Graeme serving our Lord along side me.

I had a really difficult conversation today. It was with someone who had been to Bible College and was working in Christian ministry, but who had seen the flip chart (the law and the gospel) before but wasn't a fan, as it made people feel bad. We had quite a long discussion, and the subject swung to homosexuality - another area where we disagreed.

I became concerned that this person didn't understand the gospel, and didn't have their trust in the finished work of Jesus upon the cross for their salvation. Out of my love for them, I raised this concern. And it didn't go well. They stayed to discuss, but they eventually said that they felt judged, and started crying - leaving in that state.

I felt stink. My prayer is that this person wouldn't harden their heart and become bitter, but that this would lead to soul searching and new life in Christ.

I've been working the conversation through my mind, looking for ways I could have done better. Oh, how I want to represent God correctly. I know how short I fall - and this motivates me to study more. I am open to correction and reproof.

Some of you may know this person. Some of you might agree with them over me on this. I understand that. And as much as I want to be liked by people, and please them, I must be faithful to the truth of scripture. I must fear God over men.

In gentleness, and as best as I can, I will be honest with you.

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A team of 4 out sharing the gospel on a sunny Sunday afternoon - so wonderful to have a new team member. We met her during the summer mission a few weeks ago.

There were many opportunities for gospel conversations - much to the irritation of our atheist heckler, who came through to interject his opinion into the various 1 to 1 conversations that were happening. In my case he said "all he wants is your money" - which couldn't be further from the truth! No, my motivation is the truth: the seriousness of sin, reality of hell, and the amazing grace through faith in Jesus' finished work on the cross! We must get out to share the good news with those that don't know it!

Amazingly, the conversation that our heckler tried to interrupt ended up in the listener (a tourist from Berlin, Germany) understanding the good news of Jesus and saying there was nothing stopping him from trusting in Christ. May he do so! He is leaving Christchurch tomorrow, so I left him with a booklet and a way to get in touch if he desires. I'll leave the "follow up" to God.

We finished the outreach with preaching in Cathedral Square.

Thank you for your prayer and support, and please consider joining the team! The harvest is ripe, laborers required.

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