Battle Log

Christchurch (NZ) Team

Sunday, 29 December, 2019

Posted by Posted 31 December 2019, 2:57 PM by Glen Richards. Permalink

It’s Sunday afternoon.  I’m slipping into holiday mode, I have a bit of a headache, and I’m leading my daughters on outreach again - which is great! - but is more work.  So, admittedly dragging my feet a little, we headed out to share the gospel in Cashel Mall.

And then we met up with Willem (Operation 513 Team Leader in Timaru) - I forgot he was joining us today - and so I was encouraged by that.  And then Jermaine turned up with his children!  So it ended up being a team of eight.  Praise the Lord.  So there were three flip charts running, and heaps of kids handing out tracts.  I was also very encouraged to see Willem and Jermaine into gospel conversations quickly.

For me, it was a little harder than usual to get gospel conversations started.  I’m wondering if the new front page of my flip chart is too direct: “What happens after life?” - I guess a lot of people don’t like thinking about the afterlife.

But an old man did approach me.  One of the kids had given him a "good person" tract, and he wanted to talk about it.  It turns out he was a seventh day adventist, so he wanted to talk about the fourth commandment.  I had to be patient and listen a lot.  Eventually, I cut to the chase and asked him what he had to do to go to heaven.  His answer was: “Love the Lord and follow His commandments”, and so this was my opportunity to explain that it was impossible for us to follow His commandments - we needed a saviour and we are saved only by faith in His sacrifice!

My last conversation of the outreach started without the assistance of the flip chart, I ended up talking with two English tourists about the gospel.  It was a short conversation, but they took tracts as a follow up.

So things don’t always go the way you hope, but Jesus has given the command to go.  And I want to obey out of my love for Him - no matter how I’m feeling or the results.  And He is a wonderful master and is worthy to be served.  I’m grateful for the rest I am able to have over this holiday period!