Battle Log

Monday, 8 March, 2021

Posted 8 March 2021, 6:09 PM by Glen Richards. Permalink

New Zealand Mission - Week Two - Christchurch - Day One

It was a lot cooler this morning in Christchurch than what I’m used to up in Whangarei!  Autumn is arriving!  We started this leg of the mission in Riccarton, and then moved to Eastgate in the afternoon.  A team of three today.  Craig has joined Andy & I for the week from windy Wellington.

A bit of a slow start in Riccarton (for me) - I manned a flip chart, while Andy & Craig paired up and approached people.  But then I started to have a great run of conversations.

There was a Muslim guy who was clearly looking at his good deeds to save him.  He heard the law and gospel.  At one point he looked at his watch - usually a que to say “I need to go”.  So I gave him the option of leaving - to my surprise he said, “no, I have some time - it’s okay”.  Encouraging that he wanted to stay.

I had an elderly guy go past me a few times, the first time he refused a tract and an offer for a chat, so I didn’t bother him the second time.  But on the third time, he approached me!  He said, “I think I’ll take one of those things” - accepting a tract!  We started chatting, and he said he didn’t believe in that Bible stuff, scientists have proved x, y, z.  I think he was expecting me to fight - but I decided not to.  I was just overjoyed that he felt safe enough to approach this “crazy” Christian guy.  But oh how I wanted to engage him - but I could just tell he wasn’t ready or willing for it.  We chatted politely for a few minutes before he moved on.

The last interesting engagement of the morning was when I was paired with Craig.  I offered a tract to a guy who used to be a pastor for twenty years, but who was now apostate.  I so desperately wanted to talk with him, but he was a closed book that refused to open.  He even handed the tract back.

We had lunch together before making our way to Eastgate for the afternoon.  The highlight chat was with two guys waiting for their bus.  They followed the logic of the gospel presentation flawlessly, I was so encouraged at how fast they got it, and with no resistance.  I could tell one of them was counting the cost of the gift as I walked away.

Thank you for your continued prayer for the three week NZ Mission!