Battle Log

I love climate change marches.  Or any kind of gathering that brings people passionate about some form of justice.  Because I always end up getting to talk to a lot of young, intelligent, people about Jesus - who makes so much sense!

 

It was no different on Friday, with a climate change march just getting started as I arrived at the bridge of remembrance.  It was interesting profiling all the people there (gay rights, palestinian rights, animal rights) and seeing a common thread: hurt people with no answers, who need to hear the answer: Jesus.

 

Anyway, after the march, young people would be moving through the city in little groups, and I could hand out tracts, or get into gospel conversations with them.

 

There was one young man, in his last year in high school.  We started by talking about the march and what the ultimate goal / solution of the march was.  I was then able to gently swing the conversations to deeper things.  Interestingly, his parents went to a good local church, but he was at a crossroads with Christianity.  He reminded me of me at his age.  I wanted to save him some pain, and so I pleaded with him about Christ.  But I could tell he wasn’t interested.  He was being polite in continuing the conversation, and so I respected that and wrapped it up.

 

By this stage, Roger had engaged his friends, who didn’t want to engage with me.  Rogers' chat seemed to be going well, so the kid I talked to went down a bit to wait for them patiently.  That was good, but sad that he was rejecting Christ himself at the moment.

 

I ended up finishing up the outreach in an unusual way.  There are usually Jehovah’s Witnesses about, and I normally leave them to themselves, but today I decided to approach them.  Usually when I approach people in cults, I take a non standard approach, them being prepared for a frontal assault.  And today was no different.  I started by asking them about another cult that is rampant in Christchurch at the moment: World Mission Society Church of God (the mother god cult).  I was curious on how 1 cult deals with another cult.  Interestingly, they didn’t know much about it.  But we ended up getting into a friendly conversation and getting to know each other better.  We talked about things we believed, without ever directly attacking each other.  I guess it could be considered a ‘waste of time’, as I never got to work on sharing the law or the gospel with them.  But at least I know them better as people - I know their names.  God willing that will lead to more conversation opportunities in the future - if not with me, with another Christian who will be able to bring truth and clarity to them.

 

On Sunday, I had Joseph and Elijah - from my own church - join me for the afternoon outreach.  They are familiar with the flip chart, so I decided to bring that with me for this outreach.  We prayed, and then set it up on the corner of Cashel and Colombo.

 

The first 15 minutes of the outreach was slow.  No takers.  I was concerned that my boast about an outreach always ending with at least one meaningful conversation would fall flat!  Yet, God was faithful, 2 young ladies who had gone past earlier, came back and were keen to engage.  It was a set up: they were there for a fight.  It became clear early that climate change was something they were passionate about.  But I was able to swing the conversation away from that and to the question of how we know what is right and wrong.  That led to the Building / Builder analogy.  They fought hard, but I didn’t back down, just answering their objections and sticking to my main point: there must be a universe maker.  It was interesting to watch the main opponent eventually concede the point (without actually saying so), I was then able to move into the law and get to the gospel.  It was a great chat, but sadly they had to go.

 

From here the outreach was busy.  If we weren’t in a conversation, sharing the gospel, I was debriefing and training with Joseph and Elijah.

 

Next we had another 2 girls there, this time not to attach, but just curious.  Sadly, they weren’t really engaging, so I touched on the law and the gospel before giving them tracts.

 

There was a young Catholic guy, who was also in it to fight.  That was a great chat, as we got to wrestle with the tension of repentance (that our deeds don’t save us, but deeds will follow our salvation).

 

There was a young couple who didn’t believe in God, but when they heard the building / builder analogy, he said, ‘that makes sense’, and they opened up to hear the law and the gospel.

 

These chats would often draw others to find out what was happening.  And tracts were able to be distributed.

 

God truly answered our prayers.  I was encouraged, because I so want Joseph and Elijah to have a good experience and be willing to come again and to grow in their ability to share Christ, for God’s glory alone.

 

We ended the outreach with a chat with one of my regulars.  Sadly, he knows about Christian things, but is clearly trusting in his works for salvation and now willing to reason - just wanting to joke around instead.

 

No outreaches on Tuesday or Saturday.  I decided to work online instead, and regather my strength.  God willing I’ll be able to do a full week of street outreach next week.

 

Please keep the team in prayer.  Soli Deo Gloria!!

 

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