Battle Log

Wednesday, 17 July, 2019

Posted 17 July 2019, 6:32 PM by Glen Richards. Permalink

A very eventful couple of days of outreach for the Christchurch (NZ) team early this week.

The Tuesday afternoon outreach in Riccarton saw the team size double from one to two for the first time, very encouraging!  We set up on either side of Rotherham Street - along Riccarton Road.  Neither of us had too much down time.

I took note of at least five Gospel interactions for myself during this outreach.

Firstly there was a Hindu man who wanted to go to heaven, and happily went through the flip chart law and Gospel presentation, but afterwards, he made it clear he was a Hindu and followed Kirishna.  When it was re-explained that only Jesus was perfect and the only hope for forgiveness of sin as our substitute, sadly, he walked away in disgust.

An Asian couple were very interested in the flip chart, when asked who was the best person, she clearly exclaimed that the Dalai Lama was the worst person!  It was clear that this couple was from China, which indeed they were!  They did not stay to hear the law and the Gospel, but when she said she was an Atheist, I had a brief opportunity to explain how she knew God existed, she didn’t deny the logic, and said she would read the tract and look at the Operation 513 web site.

I had two young women walk past looking like they were out to party.  They were keen to try the flip chart, and seemed to understand the simple message it conveyed.  But this put a damper on their party mood, and they were keen to move on (sadly), but were polite enough to stay to hear to the end.

I then had a brief, but encouraging, conversation with a delivery truck driver who I often see driving past when outreaching at this location.  He had parked and had hopped out looking for an address to deliver to.  I was able to help him with that.  But then he became curious about me, and wanted to know what church I represented.  It was clear that he had been noticing me week after week - as I had him.  He gladly took a tract and said he would read it (he couldn’t stay as he was working).  I hope to have an opportunity to talk to him again.

My final conversation was a long one with a young Christian guy.  Some of his Christian concepts were a little mucked up, which was concerning, but then he did show a clear understanding of the most important concepts, and claimed to be trusting in Jesus’ sacrifice for his salvation.  He even talked about some key changes he had made in his life as a result of this, including reading his Bible daily.  It turns out his pastor had been encouraging his church to get out and share the Gospel, which to him meant inviting his friends to church.  So most of the conversation was about what it meant to share the Gospel, how to share the Gospel, and what our responsibilities were in evangelism.  This young man accepted some tracts from me, and I encouraged him to share them with his friends.  I also encouraged him to get in contact, and to join me for an outreach.

The Wednesday outreach to the city was hampered by rain.  But in spite of this, I was very busy in many wonderful Gospel interactions.

Pretty much the first gospel tract I handed out, caused a lady to stop and engage.  She was a feminist, and denied the Christian concept of God.  Using some basic apologetics, I was able to engage her long enough to communicate some basic Gospel truths.  In the end, she walked off claiming she was looking forward to oblivion.  I responded that there is hope in Christ.  She laughed.  But I’m confident God’s word had struck home.

I then had follow up opportunities with three people, one after the other before moving into a long conversation with an older lady, who wanted to know if I was one of those “born againers”.  It turns out she had been deeply hurt by some hypocrites, and yet, I was able to share the full law and Gospel message with her three times in the conversation.  The last time was when she wanted to know what my flip chart was all about.  There was resistance in her, but she was also open.  She knows how to get in contact with me.  There was a warmth about this lady, I hope to see her again.

The pre lunch outreach finished with a wonderful flip chart presentation to a mum and her three children.  I always find these situations a bit awkward, often the parents want to get their children away when they realise I’m a Christian who takes the Bible seriously.  So I’m always very up front.  But the mum was fine, and so I was able to clearly articulate the Gospel to this family.  The mum seemed appreciative, and gladly took a tract.

Some light rain had started by now, and so I headed off for a lunch break.  But during lunch, the heavens opened.  I decided to do some letterbox dropping, and continued to do so for two hours as the rain poured.  Finally, the rain stopped, and so I was able to get into the city for a final hour of outreach.

I was amazed, in spite of the lack of people around, how fruitful that hour of outreach was.  I was able to have a number of follow up conversations with various people, I encountered an old workmate, who accepted a tract.  And I got to see Mr. Angry again!  He had been watching me talking with some people about the Gospel, and when they left I looked up and noticed him.  I smiled and waved.  But he turned around and walked off (with his friend).  I will keep praying for him.