Battle Log

On Thursday, Andy & I were going to go to the bus stops - but due to the weather, we ended up going online instead.  So my whole Thursday was spent in online outreach.

In that time I spoke to:

• Suicidal girls
• A Muslim man (+ someone off camera) living in northern Israel.
• A man who spoke in riddles and would turn everything I said into a riddle - avoidance?  I gave up.
• Another Muslim who was up to no good (based on what he said at the start) - he heard the law and the gospel before disconnecting.
• A Hindu who heard the law and the beginnings of the gospel.
• A great chat with a guy from the UK who was struggling with why there is suffering and evil in the world (God is “mean”).
• An epic text chat (I talked, they typed):

Stranger: Be good in life and just even at your lowest always be the best person you can be
Stranger: Yes
Stranger: It’s not good to lie
Stranger: Yeah
Stranger: It wouldn’t be the best
Stranger: None
Stranger: Heaven
Stranger: I totally agree I didn’t see it that way
Stranger: Heaven
Stranger: To be truthful in some sort of way or be able to speak to Jesus and not only rely on him
Stranger: Yeah that’s true
You: Trusting
You: Jesus died for your sins
Stranger: Yeah thank you for that I didn’t see it that way but that’s really encouraged me
Stranger: To be good in life and be the best person you can be
Stranger: To be able to rely on Jesus and take the punishments we make for us to go to heaven
Stranger: Trusting?
You: needGod.net
Stranger: Heaven because Jesus took their punishment?
Stranger: Honoured and respectful towards him
Stranger: No way
Stranger: Because I may have done bad things in life but Jesus took those punishments for me to be able to go to heaven
Stranger: Nothing I totally understand now
Stranger: Yes
You: start in "John" in the second half of the Bible
Stranger: Yes but closed because of corona
Stranger: Yeah
Stranger: It’s a Christian one
Stranger: No I think you’ve covered it all to be honest
Stranger: Can i ask
Stranger: Do you make content
You: needGod.net
You: insta: needgod.net7
You: Tik Tok
Stranger: Yeah I’m gonna give you a follow thanks for that I appreciate it have a good day my friend
Stranger: Hopefully see you too
You have disconnected.

• A South African
• Claire from the UK, and her friend Jordan.  Working with the elderly and suffering was her sticking point too.  She was making a case for Euthanasia - which I stood firmly against.  I thanked her for the awesome and important work she was doing in caring for the precious elderly in our community.
• Someone from the Czech Republic
• An excellent chat with a lady who also struggled with evil and suffering.  “Why weren’t my prayers answered?”
• A chat with a guy from Afghanistan - I think my first with a person from there.

Just to name a few.  I had some technical troubles during the day, that sadly slowed me down a bit.

Friday was a busy day of outreach.  I was in the city in the morning and into the early afternoon.  It was great to have Jermaine, Roger, Gary, Mike, Steve, my Mum, and others join me at various times through the day! :)

My first chat was with someone whom I thought was a construction worker - but he turned out to be homeless.  He had really good answers to my questions - he seemed familiar with the gospel.  He then said he had been “anointed” a few months ago - it turns out he was talking about Baptism!  Sadly, he had had a turn for the worse in his battle with sin - so I was able to encourage him with the gospel!  It was a lovely chat.

The buskers festival is on in Christchurch, so I was able to have a great follow up chat with a busker who was biding his time before his first act started.  I didn’t really have an opportunity to get to the law and the gospel - there was a lot of discussion about worldview and apologetics.  God willing, I’ll have yet another opportunity to talk with him.

I set up my flip chart (as did Roger).  Jermaine had a gospel chat with some kids (pictured).

Later, I had a gentle chat with an older lady with a Catholic background but was leaning Bhudist.  She took a tract.

Just before lunch time, I headed to the Square.

I approached a few people.  Tash had been to a church, but through “being kind” would get her to heaven.  She grasped the gospel very quickly.

I then talked to Tony.  He said I didn’t need to talk to him, he was already a Christian.  So I turned the conversation to other things.  But as the conversation progressed, it became very clear that this guy was trusting in his works for salvation - he really didn’t understand the gospel.  I knew I had to be very gentle and careful in communicating this - and what the gospel really was.  Finally I asked him how sure he was of going to heaven.  He said, 99.99%.  I asked why he had 0.01% doubt?  He thought about it and said: “I might sin”.  So I said, “what are you trusting in to get you to heaven then?”  Sadly, he erupted: “I don’t like this conversation”.  He sneered and gave me the fingers when I offered him my hand to shake.  I really tried to be gentle and respectful - but I love people too much to not confront them with the truth (I know I fail to do this too often).

After this I moved into open air preaching.  One of our hecklers had told me he had been researching the web site of the church I’m a member of - he was ready with ammo.  And yet, he seemed to misfire?  He did have a few goes at me, I did my best to listen and respond appropriately and then just proceeded through my usual law and gospel presentation.  Andy preached as well.  There was much discussion afterwards.

In the late afternoon and early evening, I was back online.  My first chat was with a guy with “a very religious family - they will be glad you’re talking to me”.  He heard the law, the gospel, the reason why God has done things the way he has, and the real reason why people reject it.  During my explanations I said something that “can’t have been a coincidence”.  There are no coincidences - there is God.

I had an interesting live stream chat with a kid who said: “I need to believe in Jesus and stop sinning” to be saved.  Going from there I clarified that it’s only the first part that saves us: Jesus paying our hell fine, and we accept that by believing he did it for us.  It seemed to click for him.  I was clear that, of course, we will want to stop sinning - but that does not save us.  Later I asked him how sure he would be of going to heaven.  He started by responding with 80% - but he stopped himself, and corrected by saying - now I’m 100% sure.  Christians can have assurance of salvation - because salvation is not dependent on them!

A tiring couple of days.  I’m about to head into the city for a Saturday morning outreach - Ravi is joining me.  I’m feeling encouraged, because more Christians are contacting me to get involved.  Long may that continue!  SDG
 

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