Battle Log

I can speak in tongues!  It’s true!  See the pictures for proof.  One of them you will see a snap shot of a TikTok direct message conversation in Arabic.  I don’t know Arabic, and yet I was still able to communicate the gospel (or at least start a gospel conversation).  All this, thanks to modern translation software.  It’s so great.  Whoever it was said, “there are no Christians around me, and I have many questions”.  I responded with, “Sure, what’s your first question?  Also, why can you go to heaven when you die”.  And we went from there.

 

Technology can be used for so much bad, but it can be used for so much good too.  E.g., Roman roads brought the destructive might of the Roman army, but it also brought the gospel.  The printing press has enabled the propagation of destructive ideas, but it also brought the gospel.  The Internet, same thing.  Social media, same thing, Translation software, same thing.  Let’s use these tools for God’s glory, and push back against evil with the most effective weapon we have: the gospel!  His Kingdom come, and His will be done, on earth as in heaven.  Hallowed be His name!

 

This month has been great.  No special outreaches, just regular, routine outreaches: Street work, Online work.  Face to face chats, chats via text.  Training - one on one, both online and on the streets.  All glory to God, what a privilege it is to be able to serve Him and others in this way.  Please keep us in prayer!

 

The other pictures were selections from the month.  Many of them are “spot the gospel chat” style, with many different chats happening at the same time in them.

 

On the Friday just been, there was a spring-like feel in the air.  Nice sun, but a gusty wind.  Roger didn’t set up his flip chart, but Brian and Laura did.  There were heaps of school kids out fundraising for something, and I noticed many of them were having gospel chats with our team as well! (as per the pics)

 

I had plenty of good chats, but the one that stands out really felt like a divine appointment.  I was at the corner of Colombo and Cashel, handing out tracts, when a young man went past.  He took one and I was able to get a conversation started.  He had a fairly good gospel understanding (which is unusual), and yet he was lacking some clarity.  I laboured to sure that up.  He also had some personal struggles that I was able to bring some biblical advice to.  It turns out he had been sitting in the Cardboard Cathedral in contemplation just before our conversation - then he heads down the street and bumps into me!  There are no coincidences!  Is what we are doing effective?  Absolutely!  The gospel is the power of God for salvation (Romans 1:16)

 

On Saturday, I was very encouraged to have Toby join me again.  He’s a member of the same local church as me.  We were at the corner of Riccarton and Rotherham.  I set up my flip chart, and we had a very very busy 2 hour outreach.  The highlight was being able to talk to multiple groups of school aged kids, including one group down from Nelson for the weekend.  Also, it was so good seeing Toby getting involved and giving it a go!

 

Also, on Tuesday, Roger, Sam and I were in Riccarton in the late afternoon.  Two stand out chats come to mind: the first was with a young guy walking past, I gently asked, “Excuse me sir, can I ask you a question?”  It was almost like he had been waiting for me to ask, knowing what I was going to ask, and really wanted to talk: “Yeah, sure”.  We had a 15 minute chat, where I was able to present the law and the gospel to him, and then work through the suite of check questions.  At one point he made this comment “No one has explained it this way before” - I think the gospel was starting to click with him.  He had been reading the Bible in the Old Testament, so I encouraged him to try again, starting with John.

 

Later, at the same spot, a guy came out of a store and walked past, I offered him a gospel chat.  “No thanks!”.  I responded with, “No problem, have a nice day”.  But he had to stop at the crossing till the light went green.  Because I was there too, he turned and made a comment about the weather.  We fell into a friendly chat, and when the light went green, I walked with him to continue the chat.  I was able to ask what he thinks happened after life, and it turns out that he is agnostic.  We kept chatting and walking, but I wanted to test his interest.  I decided that I would stop walking, and see if he would stop too.  He did!  We continued the chat, which was mainly apologetical in nature. He didn’t stay for too long, but when I offered him a gospel tract the 2nd time, this time he took it.  I was encouraged.

 

Soil ploughed, seed scattered.  God will bring the increase, in His timing.

 

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