Battle Log

Another busy week for the Christchurch team!  Mainly because of the Oxford A&P Show outreach on Saturday.  But we were out on the streets in the city on Friday and Sunday as well.  For the 2nd week in a row, Tuesday’s outreach in Riccarton was a wash out!  But that time was well spent online.  It’s almost a full time job keeping up with the messages we receive on Instagram - at one point we had 256 unread messages! :O  Such a good problem to have, because each thread is a gospel conversation!  Very grateful for the opportunity we have to work online sharing the gospel there!

But let me start with Friday’s outreach.  It was a hard day!  I spent the morning sharing the gospel on Instagram, before having a difficult video chat on the YouTube live stream.  The girl I was talking to was very resistant, and had a deep hatred for God: that he would allow the world to be the way it was.  My heart was really pumping through that chat - because I found it so difficult to stay calm in the face of such hostility.

Roger joined me on the street.  He had his flip chart up.  I decided to work without a flip chart.  I was busy, but pretty much all my chats were difficult.   First up was a young man with a Sri Lankan background - he was intelligent, and willing to talk, but was resistant to the idea of God being real.  We sparred for a while, before he said he had to go.

The next chat was probably the hardest of the day.  A guy wearing bright red lipstick and a dress came past.  As always, I smiled and offered a tract.  He looked at my eyes, and he stopped to accept it.  I smiled and said, “it comes with a question: if you have a moment; what do you think happens afterlife?”.  He contemplated for a few seconds and said, “I guess I have some time”.  So, we fell into a law and gospel conversation.  As I took him through the law, it was obvious that he was uncomfortable with the conversation. From time to time, his eyes would dart around, instead of look at me.  Yet, I was giving him the respect I would give any person.

Part way through the chat, a lady approached us, and then asked him if he was okay.  We were both surprised, and there was an awkward pause.  Then he said, “it’s okay, we are just having a conversation”.  The implication was obvious, and I actually felt very hurt by the insinuation that I was doing something wrong.  But I smiled and shook her hand as I politely included her in the conversation.  But once she realised “all was well”, she moved on, and I could continue the conversation.

The issue of homosexuality was raised and discussed.  And I didn’t shy away from saying what it is: sin.  And it’s not okay to stay in sin.  But, that God’s forgiveness is totally a free gift.  It was obvious he didn’t like the answer.  But the truth is the truth.

He wanted to know what church I was part of, he even wrote it down, just before his phone ran out of battery life.

The way our culture is going, the biblical position on sin and sexuality is not going to be tolerated.  I know there will be consequences for this.  But I will continue preaching the gospel in love.  If I go to prison, I will preach to the other prisoners.  And if they kill me, I will preach to my persecutors and pray for them before I expire and go to heaven.  God, have mercy.

I then moved into another difficult chat.  With a guy who was obviously struggling with the reality of evil and suffering.  Again, the guy's subtle anger towards God was evident.  And my emotions couldn’t take it.  I told him I’d had a hard day, and I wasn’t up for a fight.  He was happy to take a tract as he left.

My last chat of the day was with a young university student.  Again, deep resistance, but he was friendly and happy to chat.  I was able to work with him for a long while.  The outreach even went long as a result.  There was a focus on apologetics, but I was able to share the law and the gospel.

The Oxford A&P Show outreach was a long and busy day of outreach.  A bit slow at the start, and at the end, but really busy in the middle.  A good solid team of Christians ran the site, I think exclusively made up of members or prospective members of Redemption Church.

Again, my daughter Dani joined me, and also Haley.  I know Julia was keen, but she has a new job now and had to work!

It was so encouraging seeing the church getting involved with the great commission: struggling with the realities of life with people and sharing the hope of Jesus with them!

Haley found herself in a difficult conversation with a Hindu man, and she said she really needed my help - but I wasn’t available.  But in the end she had enjoyed the conversation and had learned a lot!  Well done Haley!

I’ll let the photos do the talking for the rest of the outreach.  But I do want to mention that I had some intense conversations with a large group of teens.  I had a long talk in the morning - it was a bit of an apologetics battle - and they were giving as good as they were taking! :)  But it was in a good way.  Their worldview was challenged, and they were testing the new information they were getting.  Those kids came back and talked to other members of the team throughout the day.  They even came back with other friends to get them to do the “good person test”.  I don’t think those kids changed their minds.  But they were challenged, and had something to think through.

I’ve got a few minutes of writing time left to reflect on the Sunday afternoon outreach.  It was a busy outreach.  Mike and Susan were with me.  A highlight was having Malachi come over to catch up.  I first met Malachi about 4 years ago.  At the time he was living on the street.  And I had many gospel conversations with him.  He got off the streets a few years ago, and I see him from time to time.  Today he had a friend with him, and so I started sharing the gospel with him.  And then I spent a lot of time working through check questions with them both.  They agreed that if they had died before our conversation they would be going to hell.  So I challenged them to respond to the gospel today.  They left with tracts, a gospel of John each, and cards for my church.  Lord, have mercy!

Later in the afternoon, I had a challenging chat with 2 couples on a bit of a (drinking) road trip from up north.  They have a long drive home, and they have some reading material to go with them! :)

Next weekend is Easter, and we have 2 special outreaches planned: hot cross bun and gospel tract giveaways in Cashel Mall 11am till 1pm Easter Saturday, and Easter Monday.  If you are in Christchurch, come join us in this fun outreach. All glory to God alone.
 

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