Battle Log

Friday, 5 March, 2021

Posted 5 March 2021, 5:35 PM by Glen Richards. Permalink

New Zealand Mission - Whangarei - Day Five

What an exciting day!  There were earthquakes off the coast overnight and in the morning (I didn’t feel them).  As we were about to head off to the first outreach of the day at the town basin, we became aware of a Tsunami warning.  After some debate, we decided to change the outreach to Kamo - which is high ground.  Some of the team didn’t make it!  Because our phones started receiving emergency warnings (we received many through the day).  Richard, Christine & Andy had to head for high ground somewhere else… but that was fine, because everyone else was heading for the same high ground, they had opportunities to share the gospel where they were.

A team of about seven made it to Kamo - and it was hot!  We ended up shifting the flip chart to the other side of the street to get into the shade.  I’m glad we did, because we ended up having a wonderfully long conversation with four young teen guys.  They came to grasp the gospel, and then they started asking really good questions.  One of them said: “I’ve learned more just now than I have at school”!  But another of them started processing the cost of the gift, and became resistant.  I exhausted their questions, and all my analogies - but they just didn’t want to leave - how good is that!

After lunch we went to Tikipunga for a change of scene.  As we parked the car, I noticed two guys sitting on a bench in the shade, and I knew that would be a good conversation.  And it was, it was the best conversation of the whole week so far.  Because these two guys were so laid back, Phil and I were able to slow right down and really work through the law and gospel and make sure they really understood.  The checking questions were really powerful, and they seemed to be blown away by the gospel.  One of the guys said, “You’ve changed my mind”, and “I believe that Jesus died for my sins”.  But they were both very engaged.  They were pointed to the Bible and to Clark Road Chapel before they moved on.

We moved back to Kamo for the last hour, and the high school kids were streaming past allowing many opportunities for gospel conversations.  Phil and I got into a lovely chat - almost as good as the last one!  The kid didn’t come from a religious home, but he was a deep thinker and thought about the afterlife all the time.  He already knew there must be a God, and so he heard the law and the gospel.  He really came to grasp it through the checking questions, and I could see him looking intently at nothing as Phil encouraged him towards a Bible and Clark Road Chapel.

Andy made it safely to the airport - praise God.  As my flights home were cancelled earlier in the week, I am now flying out Saturday afternoon, so there will be a final Saturday morning outreach tomorrow.  Thank you for your continued prayer!  Glory to God alone. :)