Battle Log

Friday, 5 February, 2021

Posted 6 February 2021, 12:52 PM by Glen Richards. Permalink

A very busy couple of days of outreach for the Christchurch (NZ) team.

On Thursday I was with the online team for five hours, and then Andy & I were at the bus stops (Northlands then Eastgate) for four hours.

My time online saw mainly difficult conversations - many false starts, lots of resistance, hurting people (suicide, wanting to go to hell).  Yet they were good chats: the gospel was heard.  One of the chats was interesting in the fact that the guy I was talking to whispered all the way through it!  I had another interesting one with a teen who was resisting the logic I was trying to explain when his uncle came into his room.  His uncle joined the conversation, sadly he was just as resistant.  It seemed like they had a Mormon background.  I focused on grace through faith and answered their questions until it became silly (going to absurdity to avoid the truth).  There was a chat with a girl who had a very visible GOT IT moment, when she heard the gospel after going through the law.  Sadly the video connection froze at that moment.  I have no choice but to leave them in the hands of God.

The bus stops saw many follow up opportunities.  A group of three school kids had flawless gospel answers, and yet it was clear they weren’t converted (they were almost mocking in their answers).

It was very quiet in Cathedral Square on Friday.  Four Christians proclaimed the gospel in the open air to no opposition.  I had some great one to one gospel opportunities.  There was also a newbie there.  As he was new, I offered him a tract which he took.  I soon learned he was joining us.  To my amazement, five minutes later he was approaching someone to offer them the tract I had given him and start a conversation!  I was so encouraged by this.  Oh Lord, raise up labourers for the harvest!

It was a quiet outreach in Cashel Mall too - even Roger noticed it.  And yet, there were many opportunities to share about Christ.  Lord, use our feeble efforts for your glory!

I finished Friday with the online team again.  A blur of eight conversations.  I was able to share the gospel with a fellow Kiwi, and with a guy who had such a deep fear of death it makes him physically ill - he came to hear the good news!