Battle Log

This report comes from the Christchurch (NZ) team, but we are now part of a more global, online, team (temporarily, due to Covid-19).

And it’s wonderful seeing people we haven’t previously known joining us.  On Good Friday we had a gentleman join us for prayer at the start of outreach.  I then offered to pair up with him and show him how we do online evangelism.

It was a joy to get to know this man, from Sydney, it turns out we had a mutual friend (it’s a small world)!  We, of course, also had a mutual love of Jesus and a desire to make Him known.

In Sydney, he normally does outreach at a market (I think he said), and door to door.  But not being able to do this at the moment, due to Covid-19, he joined us.  Praise God!

So in our Jitsi meeting, I shared my screen and audio with him, and then I fired up Omegle.  I showed him a technique for how to hide the video feed, in case something undesirable came up, and then (after he muted his microphone) I proceeded to demonstrate how an Omegle gospel conversation works.

I received an initial round of people who saw me and instantly bailed (I intend to shave my beard to try to make me look younger!).  But then I got into a gospel conversation with some kid from America.  He was resistant to my explanation of how we know God exists, and what he is like.  He threw evolution dust in the air.  I addressed that, but he wasn’t being logical, and I could see we were heading down a rabbit trail, so I quickly changed tack and asked if he was a good person.  That worked, and I was able to take him through the law, and then present the gospel, and then start working on some checking questions.  But I could tell this kid wasn’t engaged, and so I let the conversation come to a natural end.

My new friend who had been observing then unmuted, and we had a discussion about it.  He was very encouraged!  I then went to demonstrate how text based gospel conversations can be had through Omegle too.  And I started a conversation expecting the person to bail straight away (The first thing you usually get asked is if you are male or female - M or F - and when I say “M”, they usually just leave).  But to my surprise, the person engaged, and I was into a text gospel conversation.

The person seemed to have a Christian background (and wasn’t Catholic), but without really realising it, were trusting in their good works for salvation.  They were reserved and suspicious, but clearly had never heard the law and gospel presented the way I did.  They even wanted to look up Bible verses - which is great!  The conversation ended a bit abruptly, but on good terms:

You: It's why Good Friday is so "Good" :)
You: Now, what will our response to the gift be?
Stranger: It’s it 5am?
You: 4pm here
You: I'm in NZ
Stranger: Ohhhhh
You: NeedGod.net
You: Our response will be gratitude
Stranger: Well sorry for the abrupt ending but I have to go
Stranger: Fun talking to you
You: ok, please take a look at that link
You: :)
Stranger has disconnected.

So, my new friend was able to observe that as well, was encouraged and willing to give it a go for himself.  I was so blessed to have met him.  I hope he will continue to join us, online, for prayer at the start of outreaches, and debrief at the end.

Anyone is welcome to be involved, get in touch for more details!

Later on Good Friday, I got into a long text gospel chat with someone.  They were very resistant to the gospel, but I was careful not to push too hard.  I would step back and talk of other things, before gently trying to re-open the discussion to spiritual things.  To my surprise, the person became very engaged.  There was a real connection with this person - amazingly purely via text messaging.  The discussion turned a bit pastoral, as they opened up about some difficult issues, including depression and suicide.  They completely refused to look at any resource links I sent them, but they were willing to talk to me.  It got to the point, where they would just fire question after question at me, and I would do my best to answer.

You: I don't do those things to earn my way
You: Still there?
You: Sorry, I'm preaching
Stranger: Yes
Stranger: No go on
You: I'm a Pastor
Stranger: I could guess
You: haha, right.
You: But, I've only been a pastor for about a year
Stranger: I have lots of q but I don't want to bug you

I would return with checking questions to reinforce the gospel message I was trying to share (by this stage, they were comfortable with me talking about it, even though they were still resistant to it).  But it got to the point where this person just didn’t want to stop, and so I had to end the conversation:

You: haha
You: ok!
You: Will you read NeedGod.net?
Stranger: I won't
You: okay.
You: Thanks for your time, I gotta go.
Stranger: Thanks
Stranger: Bye friend
You: God bless you.
You: :)
You have disconnected.

There is only so much you can do, online, or even on the streets - you have to leave them in God’s hands.  He has the power to save them, and lead them into a place where they will be discipled.  But God condescends to use weak vessels like us to bring the gospel message to them.

The team was also out on the virtual streets on Thursday.  I had an interesting video chat with a biker guy from Ohio, who was smoking pot.  Surprisingly he claimed to be a Christian, and even seemed to understand (or at least articulate) the concept of salvation by grace through faith.  But I could tell this guy didn't really want to talk about spiritual things, and it wouldn’t be long before he bolted.  So I made a decision to focus on talking about repentance and the fruit of which is evidence of true faith (after I had quickly taken him through the law and tried to explain the gospel in that context).  Sure enough, the conversation ended soon after.  He did receive a link to NeedGod.net.  My gut says he will forget ever talking to me, but only God knows what is going on inside, behind the outward exterior.  God can use our weak gospel efforts powerfully.  Be encouraged! :)

 

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