Battle Log

Wednesday, 4 March, 2020

Posted 4 March 2020, 6:00 PM by Glen Richards. Permalink

It was so good to be back to my regular routine after a busy few months that included the NZ Summer Mission and time in Myanmar.  I’ve had a wonderful week of rest and am raring to go again!

On Tuesday I was in Riccarton in the late afternoon, and on Wednesday I was in Cathedral Square / Cashel Mall in the early afternoon.  Riccarton seemed to have less people around - yet I had an eventful outreach that went thirty minutes over.  The city seemed busy when I turned up, but it ended up being a quieter outreach than usual.  It’s funny how that happens.

Turning up in my usual spot in Riccarton (cnr. Riccarton and Rotherham, outside the SBS Bank), I set up my flip chart across from a lady sitting in the seats enjoying her break.  She was curious as to what it was all about, and so I was straight into my first conversation!  Unfortunately she was nearing the end of her break and she had to go before I could really share any of the law and the gospel - but we had a lovely chat touching on the deep questions of life.  She took a gospel tract as she left.

Unfortunately, many of my interactions of the day ended up being cut short before I could really share the gospel - but most often, tracts would be taken.  God knows.  Praying that they will have other opportunities to hear the gospel… maybe from you? :)

But I did get to share the gospel a few times!  Like when a sailor from Croatia approached me for directions to a store.  After helping him, I was able to politely move the conversation to deeper things.  But I did have to go faster than I like as I could tell he needed to get moving.  I shared the bad news, and then said there was good news, did he want to hear it?  He did, which encouraged me, I gladly shared it.  I gave him two tracts, one for him, and one for his captain! :)

Next a guy came along who liked to talk about deep subjects - the conversation was going nicely till his girlfriend turned up - who was nice, but didn’t want to talk about deep subjects!  He was sad, and as he was leaving he said if he saw me again he would come and talk further… which isn't as doubtful as it seems, as I had a number of follow ups later...

Next up an Indian guy stopped, he seemed very astute and I could tell this was going to be a great conversation… but sadly, he too needed to move on, he had a bank appointment.  But he said he would come back afterwards…

I had two guys stop, one believed in heaven, the other didn’t believe anything happened after death.  I started explaining how we can know there must be an afterlife, and the conversation was heating up when two young high school students walked past, stopped, started listening, and then came back to join in the conversation.  I wasn’t able to hold the attention of the original two guys, but the conversation with the two high school students was fantastic!  In fact, one of them had partly done the flip chart before, but apparently it was interrupted by an angry bald man?  They heard the way to heaven, and were able to clearly articulate it back to me with the first checking question - encouraging!  I didn’t hold them for much longer as they also needed to go.

Another high school student stopped and heard the gospel, and while this was happening, the Indian guy who had to go to the bank came back!  He sat down and waited for me to finish with the high school student.

Once I had done that, I went and sat down with him and we had a long gospel chat (in spite of the rain that had started).  He was sharp and understood the analogies quickly - checking questions confirming.  I was feeling encouraged that this man may actually want to trust in Christ!  He even articulated so.  So I moved to the final analogy: the back pack - which explains the cost of following Christ.  He got it straight away, and his response made me sad, but also laugh… he wanted to put on the parachute (trust that Jesus had paid his fine), and then put the back pack on his front (the things he knew he would have to give up if he did so).  It’s not the first time I’ve had someone say this to me.

In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if there are many people actually trying to do that.  They understand the gospel, they want heaven and all its benefits, but they want their sin too.  They are trying to hold on to both - but it won’t work.  With the gift of faith, comes the gift of repentance.  Which will lead us to wanting to obey - no matter the cost.

I tried to work with the Indian guy to get him to realise the folly of what he was thinking.  But I watched him harden and start bringing up excuses.  I could only shake his hand and let him go.  And yet, while he has breath, there is hope.  He understood the gospel.  May the Spirit of God use that to bring a conviction of sin and change his heart.  May he have further opportunities to interact with Christians ready to share the gospel with him again.  Are you ready?

Wednesday's outreach ended not so well.  A scary guy dressed in black and wearing dark glasses took offense at some of the bad people on the front page of my flip chart.  He wasn’t all there and I just wanted him to leave.  I had flashbacks to when I had to call the police recently.  Remembering Proverbs 9:7 I didn’t intellectually engage him...  And, thankfully he, moved on!  It was the end of the outreach, and so I packed up and headed to my car.  I noticed that he had started talking to the two JWs just down a little further.  I gave one of the JWs a knowing look, and she acknowledged it.  I’m glad she wasn't on her own.

And I’m glad God is always with us (Matthew 28:20b).  Thank you for praying for the Christchurch (NZ) Operation 513 team!  Join us! :)