Battle Log

Thursday, 27 December, 2018

Posted 27 December 2018, 2:57 PM by Glen Richards. Permalink

Today ended up being a day where few people would stop for a tract or to do the flip chart.  But instead many conversations occured after simply approaching people to start a conversation.  Yes, I know that sounds completely un Kiwi like!  But I was surprised how open people were to it.  And often expecting a rejection, I would get people very keen to talk about the important subjects of life!  Now you might be thinking - that's easy for you, you are gifted at this, that's why you are an evangelist.  No, I'm terrified of it, and I'm just as gifted as you (actually, I'm sure many reading this would be way better than me).  But out of my love for God and people, I have learnt to overcome my fears.  And so can you.  You can do this, I encourage you to get involved with the Great Commission.

2 examples from today:

1) Twin guys were encountered and approached in Cathedral Square, they were open to a conversation and I made it up to the 3rd of 4 commandments of the law that show us our sin before they needed to leave suddenly.  They took tracts, but I was sad that they weren't able to hear of the amazing grace of Jesus.  But later, when I was in Cashel Mall with my flip chart, the twins and their family walked past!  The family and 1 of the twins didn't want to stop, and kept walking, but 1 of the twins stopped, and wanted to know what the 4th question was!  He had open ears as I was able to talk about the last of the 4 commandments: adultery (and just looking with lust is adultery of the heart!) and then, with the context of the law showing the seriousness of sin, I was able to share the good news of Jesus.  Praise God that He directed the steps of this young man so he could hear the whole presentation.  May He save him for His glory.

2) Feeling a bit discouraged from the slow day, and because I was feeling the fear of man, I decided to head for home 15 minutes early.  Realising that this was not the attitude of a good leader, I ended up deciding to try handing out tracts to the people sitting in the mall as I was heading to my car.  And I was so encouraged that the first guy I approached was very open and keen for a chat.  I was able to sit down with him for about 20 minutes as he was waiting for his wife and children to come out of a shop.  When he was young, he had been one of Jehovah's Witnesses, and so the conversation centered around the deity of Jesus and the reality of Hell, but the key thing that was discussed was the subtle but very important distinction between salvation through grace alone, and salvation through grace plus works.  Through out the discussion, I always tried to come back to the serious nature of sin, and the gospel of Jesus - as it's only the gospel which is the power of God for salvation: Romans 1:16.

Photo: 1 of the few flip chart conversations of the day for the team.  Did you know, that the Summer Sale is On Now?!  Up to 60%! ;)