Battle Log

Page 125

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It was a wonderful week away getting some refueling at a conference.  I arrived home on Wednesday morning, and I was back to work on the streets in the afternoon.  It was so good to be back!  But wow, was it cold!  This was my first official winter outreach.  I’d really appreciate your prayer as I face my first winter as a full time street evangelist.  With God’s help, I can make it through.

The highlight from that Wednesday outreach was talking to two Christians and seeing a desire for evangelism in them.  I was able to encourage them to join me and I was very encouraged by them.

Thursday saw another outreach into the city where I had the pleasure of open air preaching, before Andy and I moved to the Eastgate bus stops for many walk up conversations.  There was one point where the outreach slowed down, so I just paused and started praying, and before long, another bus rolled in, releasing a fresh group of people to hand tracts to and start conversations with.

Today (Friday) started with our Gospel + abortion outreach in front of the hospital.  We had some wonderful opportunities for dialogue and to share the Gospel in spite of much opposition.  This outreach is so vital.  We are continuing to pray that God would use this for His glory.

We then moved to Cathedral Square, where Andy and I both open air preached, with no buskers or heckling - nice for a change.

We finished up with an outreach on Cashel Mall.  It was wonderful to, yet again, have a new team member join us for the first time!  Long may this continue.  May labourers be raised up for His glory.
 

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I joined the Sports Fan Outreach on Wednesday at the Oval before the match between Bangladesh and New Zeeland.  Bill Adams and his crew were on the tube side of the street and I stayed on the side where the Oval and the bus stops were.  

I learned that you pick a spot early and stay there, because you have no hope of establishing another spot if you move when the big crowds start filing past.  The crowds were almost all from Bangladesh and I was patient handing out tracts during the three hours leading up to game time.  Many came and asked me what I was doing and took tracts from me.  I handed out twenty "Jesus and the Quran" tracts for those who didn't want an overt Gospel tract.  I preached for about 50 minutes prior to game time as the crowds grew very large, using Mark 10:45, which summarizes the Mark's gospel in one verse.  I asked the crowds "What is greatness?".  Is it skill on the pitch, bowling and batsmanship?  I gave them Jesus' definition, which is found in Mark 10:43-45.  He who would be greatest is the servant of all. I found many approving nods from this mostly Muslim crowd pointing them to Jesus' humility.  And I added that Jesus further humbled himself when he came (incarnation) and gave his life a ransom for many.  I had many brief exchanges, but one young man named "Muman" or Muhammad told me how he has been estranged from his sisters and regretted the lack of reconciliation.  I pointed him to Jesus, who reconciled man with God and reconciles us to others.  

At one point, a comedy team dressed in white coats and Groucho Marx glasses and moustaches animated the people waiting to get into the stadium. 

It was an incredible experience to be in a largely Muslim crowd.  I really sense how important that patience, kindness and respect were important to build a rapport with the people

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The afternoon at Woodridge started with an encouragement from a Fijian lady who is a Christian and knows the gospel. She was encouraged by our presence and shared about some of the recent outreach opportunities she has had. She was encouraged to see if she can share the gospel on the bus home and then she headed off.

The next was a lady named Mama, who believed that God exists and then saw the law showing her the predicament that she is in. She saw that Hell awaited her at this stage but then was shown the good news that there is one who has dealt with the punishment sinners deserve, so that all who trust in Him to pay for their sin will be with God in Heaven eternally.

Mama seemed to understand, with a few checking questions she seemed to understand and was encouraged this day to trust in Christ alone for her salvation, forsaking her sin and living for Christ!

A following conversation was with Junior. He was shown the law and his guilt, the penalty he deserves and then was shown the gospel. He just couldn't grasp it. He was so set in thinking that it is earnt or that we have to do something to keep ourselves saved that even despite four different examples and explanations he could not seem to get the simplicity of the gospel. He ended up having to run for his train and took a tract.

Another conversation was with Ariel. She was waiting for a lift and was shown the seriousness of her predicament. She knew that she was guilty but was thinking it would be better to avoid guilt by raising enough "doubt" in her mind to not believe in God. She was shown how we know God exists and then was pointed to that fact that someone must pay. She was shown her current eternity but then heard of the kindness and love of God that He offered forgiveness to her on the basis of his own sacrifice. Ariel sadly had to run without getting to flesh it out a bit more but she took a tract.

This was followed by a chat with a young man who said that he once believed but now does not because he doesn't have any evidence. He was shown how we know God exists and said it made sense but remained hesitant to acknowledge that there is a God or a day of judgement and this was shown to be on the basis of a desire to live his own way.

At the end of the day, these four non-Christians came to hear God's law and some came to understand the good news for sinners but all the results are in God's hands. Only He can change a human heart and only He can cause someone to believe.

Please be praying that God would be gracious to these people and do what only He can do, so that when He does it only He gets the glory!

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On Sunday night the team has started heading into Brisbane City for outreach. It is set up in a way that enables new members, after their night services at local Churches to come in to be equipped and encouraged. This past Sunday, twelve people came out to proclaim the gospel! It was exciting to see the conversations that took place and that people who'd never spoken of Christ before taking this opportunity to share and loving it!

The first conversation of the evening was spread across three team members. There were a group of five Nepalese who walked up and one spoke to one team member, another three spoke to another and the a the last spoke to another. The first lady professed to be a Christian and was showing that she knew all the answers. The next three were mixed between Hindu's and Buddhists and the last was unsure. Individually they were spoken to and encouraged to consider who God is. Then as they all came together at the end they together were taken through the good person test and where shown God's judgement against sin, the penalty it deserves and therefore that the only way of forgiveness is if Christ pays for our sin.

They were shown the simplicity of accepting the gospel by faith and therefore they each were challenged this day to trust Christ. They were able to answer simply back as to how one can be saved and each took tracts to have a read of!

This was followed by a conversation with two men from the UK. They were being silly and when shown God's law squirmed under guilt. They came to understand that they were deserving of Hell but continued to try and play down the seriousness of their sin. They tried to joke about it and be silly but there came a point where they simply didn't want to face the reality of the lie they were living and so they left, not hearing of how they could be forgiven, instead trying to avoid it by being silly.

There were other conversations with Amelia and V, Lily and Jack and Ida each who responded positively to the gospel, took gospels of John, said they would think about it further and were recommended to local Churches.

The last conversation of the evening was with Will. He was quick with understanding and seemed to get it first try and even was thinking ahead and asking good questions about implications of it all. At the end of it all, knowing the gospel, understanding how one can be forgiven and the dire consequences or rejecting Christ, Will said, "You've been really interesting. This has been a great conversation and I am thankful that I stopped and talked but I don't want to believe. If I was less stubborn maybe I would".

He was left with a final reminder that sin isn't worth it in the end but he remained defiant toward God.

Please be praying that those who heard the gospel would trust in Christ alone for their salvation and forsake all other hopes or desires to gain right standing before God. Please pray that they will have a change of heart where they hate the sin they once loved and now love the God they once hated!

Why not come and join us some Sunday night, you'll be glad you did!

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On Saturday night in King George square there was a team of ten out. The team spread throughout the area. Some paired up with more experienced members and others went out solo to proclaim the excellencies of Him who bought us out of darkness into His marvelous light!

The first conversation of the evening was with Barry. He came up to the table asking for a Bible and the first few probing questions to find out where he stands had him declaring, "Yes, I'm a Christian just like you". Then the question was posed, "What are you trusting in to get you to Heaven?" To which he responded, "My belief in God and my obedience to Him". This was a good reminder that it isn't great to just assume upon someone's profession of faith that they are a Christian but it always helpful to ask a few clarifying questions because in almost every case they don't actually know Christ.

Barry was then taken through a very simple question and answer gospel presentation taking a tour past God's Holiness, humanities wickedness, our universal guilt and Hell deservance and therefore that we have no hope in ourselves to fix our problem but we are stuck desperately in need of someone outside of ourselves, outside of sin to save us. Barry was then shown the beauty of God's love for us in Christ and all that He did in order to bring His people back to the Father. Then he was shown the simplicity of our response, that the gift of forgiveness isn't received on the basis of obedience, good works, asking or being worthy but it to be received by faith in Christ.

Barry was then asked some new clarifying questions and he now had a comprehension of the gospel to which he responded, "Those were some great analogies, I understand the good news now!" He was then given a Bible and encouraged to attend a local Bible believing and preaching Church.

Another conversation was had with Verity a young lady with a Jewish/Catholic heritage. She still comprehended the gospel and understood the way to Heaven but this week she'd been thinking a lot about what she'd heard and knew about God and asked many questions about it all. She said she hadn't trusted in Christ yet but had thought about it at length this week. Many questions were answered but at the end of the conversation she was given a gospel of John and encouraged to read. She said she is quite a reader so she will have read it and have some questions for next time she see's us. She too was recommended to a local Church!

The last conversation of the evening was almost identical to the first. Jason approached the table, professed to be a Christian and then over the subsequent conversation came to see that was not the case but in fact that he'd never understood the gospel. He too left being able to articulate it back and was glad to receive a gospel of John to take a read of.

Please be praying for these conversations and the many others that took place on Saturday night and may God be using His word, written and spoken to be drawing those who are His unto Himself!

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As the team headed to Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast the wind was cold meaning that there were fewer than usual people during the later hours of the outreach. This made it a little hard at times to find gospel conversations but thankfully these moments only lasted a few minutes before it was full steam ahead in conversations. Even though there were moments of quietness, the team of seven that were out could have easily had more conversations if they were a team of fourteen. So why not come on out this week?

The first conversation of the evening was with Max He had a Catholic background but a mixture of forgetfulness and poor teaching lead him to have very little idea about God, eternity, sin and forgiveness. He thought that he should probably be good enough for God on that final day. He was quickly shown the serious reality that this just wasn't the case, in fact there was a very serious judgement and eternal punishment awaiting him. Max took this seriously and asked how he could be forgiven.

The gospel was explained, using many questions and back and forth, making sure he was constantly on the same page and at the end of it all when he was asked how someone is forgiven he was accurate in his ability to explain the simple message that upon trusting in Jesus to pay for ones sin, their sin is forgiven and this will drive a person to want to hate their sin, love God and serve Him! Max understood and was then encouraged to count the cost of following Christ, to find a local Church and to start reading his Bible everyday. Please be praying that Max will heed the summons of the gospel and that he will trust in Christ alone!

Whilst this all took place, another team member was talking to his son, Luan who is only around 10 or so years old. He also came to grasp Christianity and together this father and son left, knowing the gospel with the seriousness of this decision ringing in their ears! What an exciting start to the evening as this family walked away with all the knowledge required to trust in Christ. Please be praying that God will work on their hearts and cause them to trust in Him!

A following conversation was with a Muslim man and his friend. This man said he is Muslim and God loves everyone so even as a Muslims he eats pork, drinks alcohol and has sex with whomever he wills. He loves his sin and even then said that his hope for eternity is simply more of this. He was so blinded, not just that he was totally blind even to what his own religion teaches and had just fashion another god, similar to Mohammad's ideas but that he was also closed of to hear what the true God of this universe has to say.

At least if he understood God's goodness, in that because God is good he must hate evil he would be rightly scared of the coming judgement but this man was so proud, so blind and just running toward Hell without even a moments hesitation. It was horrific to see his blindness but he was shown God's law, warned of the coming judgement but didn't want to hear of any solution because he declared there was no problem.

There was a man who dropped past later in the night named Connor who has spoken to the team a number of times, one most notably was during schoolies week. Connor was able to respond back with a simple comprehension of the gospel but said that he didn't want to think about it all because he was happy living his way now. He was then strongly warned about the folly of leaving it until another time as his life could be taken from him this very night!

Please be praying for Max and Luan that God would turn their family from one of apathy into a tiny picture of the covenant family! Please pray that they would find a local Church to attend together, where God's word is preached that they may grow in their knowledge and understanding of God.

Please be praying for the Muslim man and Connor that God would be severe in His mercy and do whatever it takes to shake these man out of their folly into reality and cause them to seek out how they can be made right before God!

Lastly, why not ask God to give you love for the lost, that can overcome fear and schedule in a time to come on out and join us!

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On Monday at Capalaba the usual team of four were out again and God's word went out. It was a surprisingly quiet afternoon but God provided just enough people to be spoken with to consistently keep the team in conversations over the afternoon.

The first few conversations were sad and tough. There was a woman who said she was sure there was nothing after death but when asked why she had no reason. She was pointed to how we know God exists but was defiant and her bus arrived. Then Dylan said a lot of things about what he thinks but very few aligned with what God had said. He was shown God's law and his guilt but said he didn't want to know anymore.

But then a conversation with Matt took place. He took a long time to understand. It was hard work and there were three different explanations given until he understood but in the end of it all, after the struggle Matt seemed to understand. It was exciting to see as he seemed to finally grasp it and was encouraged to count the cost and to this day and to spend time reading the gospel of John he was given.

Then as the conversation with Matt was finishing, there was a man who a couple of times wanted to join in but held his tongue. When the conversation finished he was approached and asked and it turns out his name is John and he goes to a local JW meeting. He was then asked, what do you think will pay for your sin? He said Jesus pays for it. Then when asked how he receives the forgiveness Jesus has paid for he said, "you have to obey Jesus". Was shown that Jesus says the standard is perfection. But he had to leave without any opportunity to hear what Jesus says the way of forgiveness is.

There was an exciting conversation with Robin who at first was quite closed and distant but with a few simple questions she opened up and a good conversation took place leading her to hear of Christ and how she can be forgiven of her sin. It wasn't comprehensive as she had to leave but it was enough for her to be interested in chatting again.

The highlight conversation of the afternoon was with Amy. It was so surprising. She has spoken to the team before but wasn't quite sure. She was open about it all and saw that God exists, saw the condemnation of the law and then understood the gospel simply and quickly. She got the checking questions straight away and asked some good follow on questions, even preempting the next ones usually that would be asked and she got it. Then came a lengthy discourse where she asked lots of questions that she had wondered about how that would impact her life.

Over the course of the conversation she became more and more convinced to the point where she said at the end that she was going to think about it and seriously consider trusting in Christ like she'd never before. She took a gospel of John and said that she would read it before she saw the team next. She made other comments about how it made sense and was seriously challenged about how she was living.

At the same another team member was speaking to her boyfriend and he was less interested but was seriously challenged as well and they were encouraged to read together.

Praise God for such an encouraging afternoon and please be praying for those who heard the message of salvation that they would trust in Christ to pay for their sin!

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Saturday, I joined the Sports Fan Outreach group, who are in town for the International Cricket Championship games this week. 

Gerry was already preaching when I got to Piccadilly Circus (fellow in the blue shirt.)  I paired up with Gene from Mobile, Alabama, and we preached off to the side near the large fountain with the horses across from the Trocadero.  Tourist season is well underway in London.  

Tract uptake was pretty good with large groups going through the area.  Buskers and street artists were the biggest problem with their 100-200 watt amps.  The police passed by several times, but said nothing to us.  After 2 and 1/2 hours, I left.  I was pretty well worn out by then.  Conversations were limited today, but the Gospel was going out. 

Bill Adams and his crew were going to stay out for six hours, which is what they pledge to do for their sponsors. I was too tired to join them Sunday morning at the Oval for the first match, but I hope to be out on Wednesday. I owe a lot to Bill for raising my game considerably in the past six years.

I gave three NT's to homeless guys.  Jamie and Dean each took one, but the first guy's name has gone out of my memory.  Not unlike prison, someone with a lot of time on their hands will wear a Bible out in a few months.

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I had one more outreach before going on leave for a week to attend a conference and get some R&R: the Tuesday afternoon outreach to Riccarton.

This location can be slow from an outreach perspective.  Once I went for a whole two hours without having a single Gospel conversation.

But today, as soon as I set up my flip chart and looked up - a person had stopped and wanted to know what it was about.  I was straight into a Gospel conversation!  After that, I then had opportunity after opportunity to share the Gospel.

I had a Mormon lady stop for a brief chat.  My first question to her was about what she had to do to go to heaven.  Sadly, her answer included: “keep the commandments”, and “try”.  It was a friendly encounter, but I knew she wasn’t going to hang around.  So I was direct in challenging that she would never be good enough in her own effort, and that she needed to instead trust in Jesus to pay her fine by His grace.  She took a tract and said she would read it.

Then a Buddhist lady stopped for a friendly chat also.  My question for her was about where the standard for “karma” came from - which seemed to make her think.  She had to go, bur refused to take a “Which one is Right?” tract from me.

I had two teens with a church background who didn’t seem to have a clear understanding of the Gospel - they stayed for the whole flip chart presentation, and both took tracts.

And I finished up with a very encouraging conversation with a young Christian where we were able to mutually encourage each other.

I also had two very brief follow up encounters with people I’ve talked with on previous outreaches at different locations.

I managed to finish the outreach before rain, that had been threatening, came to disrupt things.

I thank the Lord for a very encouraging outreach.  May it encourage you!
 

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On Thursday there were seven team members out at Sunnybank and the gospel was spread to many people. Over fifty people during the afternoon came to hear in part or whole how sinners can be forgiven. What a privilege it was to be a part of.

The afternoon started as usual with some shorter conversations but early on a longer opportunity was had with Dot and Donny. These two seemed to have some understanding of Christianity but it was quite limited. They were quickly shown the bad news, the universal guilt of humanity and therefore that God will have to send them to Hell on judgement if something isn't done. They saw what God had done and the offer of forgiveness that was extended to them and they hopped on their bus hopefully with the question, "When will you trust that Jesus paid for your sin?" ringing in their ears.

There was a lady named Yasmin who was a funny character who actually chose to miss her bus to keep listening. As a result of this extended conversation she came to understand the whole gospel. She got the checking questions easily, was challenged to count the cost, was shown some examples of what trusting Jesus may cost her and she too was left with the understanding that her eternity will be based upon her response to what Jesus has done on that cross.

The following conversation was unusual. Marko and Cliff knew the way to Heaven and had no trouble repeating it back, even before the conversation had gone far. Why? They had spoken to a team member some weeks back and remembered it. They got the checking questions correct and had no issues understanding it but then they were given the parachute analogy in a different way. They were asked if it would be wise, if they were on a plane that was crashing, someone offered them a parachute and said, "Believe in this parachute and you'll be saved?" and they took it, packed it into the luggage compartment and stayed on the plane until it crashed.

They said no it would be silly and then it was pointed out that it there current position. They know how to be saved from the wrath to come but they've just packed the solution away. They know exactly where to get it but they've decided to take the risk of leaving it for later, even though they don't know when they will be asked to give an account.

There was a man named Michael who heard the law and gospel but got stuck. He couldn't get over the fact that forgiveness is not earnt but is simply accepted by faith in Christ. He was so caught up in his desire to earn God's favour that he was blinded to the fact, not only that he could never earn it but also that it was freely offered to those who believe not earn by those who think they've done enough. Michael was caught by his own pride.

There was also an encouraging conversation with Oliver who likewise had spoken to the team before and knew the gospel but he too was hesitating to respond in faith because there were things in this world he wanted to hold onto. He was shown some glimpses of the supreme value of Christ and was left with the serious choice, to not just know the gospel but to trust in Christ.

Please be praying for those today who heard the word that they would come to trust in Christ alone that they may know everlasting life!

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