Battle Log

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Battle Log of Operation 513 at Toowong on Tuesday Aug 6th 2024 from 1330-1430

The weather turned much warmer as Winter is about to end. As normal Johnny and Hung served faithfully with many gospel sharing divine appointments as recap below: -

1) Ric from Cambodia is a Buddhist. But he is still open minded to hear the full gospel affirming no one is perfect and we all need a Savior.

2) Noah from Canada is non religious despite a biblical name. He showed initial reluctant to hear anything about religion but I choose to share my testimony and how the Christian faith gives me peace and inner joy despite of my cancer relapse. He turned receptive at the end and even took a tract to read.

3) A girl moved from Melbourne to Brisbane was delightful to have a chat with me. Though I could not finish with the gospel but she appeared receptive and took a tract.

4) Then I caught up with a Malaysian English speaking who is doing mechanic engineering here in UQ. It was a friendly chat though time also not allowed to finish the full Gospel but a tract was given at the end.

5) A local senior Aussie showed his care and concern about HKG. It ended up our conversation was being circle around Hong Kong. Still managed to handed him a tract at the end.

6) Then caught up with Eddie an Indian who came at the age 6. He loves his Indian culture and can still manage to speak Hindy with his parents. He also appeared open to gospel message and too ka tract at the end.

7) A married woman from Hong Kong who has just arrived with here husband now looking for job. She quickly declared her Christian faith affiliation. And she has perfect 100% assurance of salvation possibly because of the teaching of her mother church in HKG being North Point Christian Mission Alliances, but she has stopped going to church for a while. I encouraged her to look for a church around in St Lucia and Toowong area.

8 ) Lastly, I approached an Italian blood Medical Science student. She and parents were both born in Australia but her Grands Pa came from Italy to Australia. She is non-religious, but again very open and receptive to the Gospel and took a tract at the end.

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Battle Log of Operation 513 at Sunnybank on Wednesday July31st 2024 from 1300-1500

Today, Johnny did solo Street outreach as Hung had a day surgery appointment at the nearby Sunnybank Private Hospital to deal with his relapsed cancer treatment.

Here is one of the divine appointment between Johnny and a Christian from East Africa who has no full understanding of salvation that required clarification especially on the assurance of salvation by grace through faith.

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Battle Log of Operation 513 at Toowong on Tuesday July 30th 2024 from 1330-1430

It was only one day before my day surgery to tackle the relapse of bladder caner spreading into the ureter near the outlet to the bladder. I was instructed to do admission at 0630. And my medical procedure would possibly the 2nd in line. I might need a longer rest post-operation. Thus I still managed to do all my routine activity including lap swimming then to Toowong for the weekly street outreach. Today I had to do it as a singleton as both Johnny and Edwin both have important personal matter. The Toowong bus stop was being crowded with long queue at around 1330. I simply go to the end of the queue which allowed me more or less the time for a gospel sharing when my gospel target had moved to the head of the queue ready for the bud, then I returned to the end of the queue until this rush hour was over. Recap below is the Battle log for today.

1) First was a girl from Nanjing, Jiangsu she was a bit timid but still happy to let me finish the full gospel and took a tract at then end.

2) Joseph, a 4th year Computer Science UQ student, is born in Australia with an Aussie Dad and a French Mum. It is a Christian family though Joseph did have an adult unformed conversion moment to have accepted Christ. But He only has 60% of assurance of salvation which was clarified in good order.

3) Then I caught up with a girl Huang? from Suzhou and had a casual chat first. The bus unexpectedly came too quick to clear up the remaining queue so can only pass her a tract.

4) Then I was ignored by a Mainlander girl despite I showed friendliness to connect.

5) Bikes was born in UK but was brough up in Australia then returned to UK home in the Southeaster area once for a brief visit. He is non-believers, but appeared very open to the Gospel and was moved by my personal testimony as such he was happy for a selfie with me.

6) A Maninder named Zhu who claimed to have a chat with me some time ago. I still managed to revise the message with him and he claimed he is a Buddhist. It more so gave me the link to explain Buddhism is actually no religion but a kind of religious education to guide people to practice goodness which exactly is not a solution to tackle sin. He was happy for my explanation.

7) Then I had a long chat with a girl with wide world view exposure despite she is from Wuhan . She avoided the pandemic as she was in USA then, She returned to China momentarily than came over to do post grad study in Sociology.?She has contact with Christian and church in USA though she is still a seeker. The gospel sharing helped her to understand the real need of all good persons to be saved by Jesus alone.

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Battle Log of Operation 513 at Sunnybank on Wednesday July 24th 2024 from 1300-1500

Today, only Johnny and Hung the most long time team mates served at Sunnybank. God kept electing first timers for us to reach and those we met at least once to come meeting us letting us to follow up on their status. God also led a big group of high school students led by a Korean teacher to gather at the bus stop waiting for the school bus. It gave us chance to hand out tracts to all of them with the silent consent by the teacher. God is always good and at work for the best effect.

1) I was led to approach a ME Muslim who is a dumb person. He was friendly and tried to let me know he cannot speak but I still told him he could just listen and then he wrote on the iPhone that he is a Muslim. I nevertheless still kept communicating with him till the bus arrived and he politely took a tract.

2) Next I caught up with a young mainlander Chen from Hanzhou who arrived only very lately. Again time was now long enough for full gospel and a tract was given to him.

3) Then a large group of high school student gathered at the bus stop. Johnny quickly started handing out tracts which were welcome by most students. I manage to share gospel directly with them. But the group was too dynamic and not all could remain focused to listen, but finally Mathew a Christian student listened humbly till the school bus came and promised to share the gospel to his school mates and too ka selfie with me.

4) Then connected with an elderly woman migrated to Australia from mainland China for 10 odd years. She behavio0r a bit impatient but still showed politeness to interact with me on the issue of her assurance of salvation which was not 100%. She showed no real joyous emotion despite I guided her to re-established 100% of assurance of salvation,

5) Then I cam across a Japanese from Tokyo who comes for work. Time just allowed for a rapport building friendly chat and a tract at the end.

6) Then I was led to approach an Indian girl who responded to all the questions positively with a yes and took a tract at the end.

7) Last but not the least, Aries, a Filipino lovely lady attending St Stephen Church in he city, though of Catholic background, but already has her assurance of salvation clarified. Today , just a follow up chat to ensure her spiritual status is in good order. She show appreciation for our ministry and voluntarily take selfie once again with me.

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Battle Log of Operation 513 at Toowong on Tuesday July 23th 2024 from 1330-1430

Praised and thanks God that Edwin can join the Toowong Gospel outreach team regularly on Tuesday during his Bible College school terms and attend the Sunnybank team during term break. With him, God uses us collectively to reach out to many more people predominantly students. The number of people flow increased apparently after the beginning of a new college term. As usual, there were mainly first timers but from time to time second timers or more for our follow up chat. Recap below is the Battle log of Hung.

1) UQ Student from India who has heard before so did the revision and follow up chat again and found no argument against the logic

of the gospel message.

2) Next a Southeast Asia English speaking girl possibly from Malaysia, happy to chat with an open mind.

3) Then caught up with a young lad from La of USA. Reason coming to Australia is just to widen his world view and exposures as such relatively open for a chat on life issues.

4) Next is a girl by the name of Chan who has already come to Australia from HKG for 4 years. She basically is a Christian but weak in spirituality and lacking assurance of salvation. But she was happy to be introduced to Power to Change to gain access to more Christian support.

5) Met a Post graduate Master degree student from NanJing. Since he has been in Australia for a long time as such he is comparatively open minded for chatting on faith issues.

6) Declined by an Aussie girl as she was occupied in a phone conversation. She still politely ask for pardon and obviously she knew who we are and felt not offended.

7) Then came across another Chinese lady who claimed she is readily a seeker. However, she is still biased by the mindset of good deed count as such she cannot accept the idea that a good person only committed one sin will got same eternal death punishment with those very wicked bad guys with million of sin. Pray for another future follow up encounter to help removing her blind spot and spiritual pride.

8 ) Lastly caught up with a French girl who appeared cheerful to have a chat even about the gospel. The bus arrival cut short the gospel sharing and pray for future continuous follow up opportunities.

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I’ve got a bit of a spine tingling report to give.  It’s a practical reminder of what we already know through logic and scripture: that God is sovereign, and that the Holy Spirit is active in seeking and saving the lost through the blood of Jesus.  All glory to God for his justice and mercy.

 

I’m so encouraged.

 

Our church has finished working through the book of Romans, and we are now working through the book of John (morning), and Colossians (afternoon).  The afternoon gathering is new for our church this year.  I’ve always had it in my head that it would be wonderful to talk to someone on the street between gatherings, and then have them come to the afternoon gathering.  Well, that happened today.

 

For the morning gatherings, we are currently in John 3.  Jesus talking to Nicodemus.  We have been learning a lot about ‘regeneration’.  The work of the Holy Spirit in making a person spiritually alive to be able to respond to the gospel.  We are saved by grace alone.

 

After the teaching, the men gather to discuss the teaching.  In my group, one of the guys mentioned his brother in law.  Over the last few weeks, he has seen an openness in him that he hasn’t previously had - which is wonderful.  I’ve actually  talked to this brother in law before, maybe 6 months ago?  So, I rejoiced to hear this report.

 

As I arrived on the street, Andy was already there, engaging a group of teens with the gospel.  After that, I had a brief conversation with Andy, I mentioned the report about the brother in law.  After prayer, we decided to pair up for our conversations for the outreach.

 

There were a lot of people about, and so we had many opportunities.

 

We decided to go for a wander, it was my turn to start a chat, and as we walked along Cashel Mall, I was considering who to approach.  Approaching people can be scary, and I didn’t approach some that I could have.

 

Eventually, we were walking down High Street, and a guy went past. I tried to engage him, but he ignored me, even after my 2nd attempt.  We kept walking when another guy went bounding pass, crossing our path.  So I said, “Excuse me, can I ask you a question?  What do you think happens after life?”

 

He stopped to engage.  And then I recognised him.  And so I said, “have I talked to you before?”  It was the brother-in-law.

 

I was astounded.  There is indeed a change in this young man since I last talked to him.  He was keen to talk, and so we went to a coffee shop, the 3 of us.  We spent about an hour (maybe less), talking through the gospel, motivations, and the basis for reason: the Bible.

 

As the conversation wound up, I invited him to the afternoon church gathering - his sister would be there!  He said he would come.  I’ve heard that many times before, so I was naturally skeptical.

 

I turned up at the afternoon church gathering, buzzing, and gushing at the sovereign opportunity God had given.  What if I had stopped and talked to some of those “scary” people.  What if the guy prior had stopped to talk.  This opportunity would never have happened.  And yet it did.  God is in control.  And even if it hadn’t, God would use other means.  We can rest in the knowledge that God regenerates (saves) people.  We have our part to play, but God saves.

 

The church gathering was starting, and he hadn’t arrived - not surprised.  When I saw his sister (and her husband) arriving, I went out to tell them about what happened.

 

And then, he turns up!  The preaching on Colossians 3 was timely, and wonderful.  And after the formal part of the gathering, we were able to hug and catch up.

 

This young man still has gospel truth to process.  My prayer is that he will see that truth: the seriousness of his sin, and the wonder of Jesus.  That he would repent and believe and become a member of the church - to use his gifts as God has given him (we all have a part to play), in service of others, and ultimately for the glory of God.

 

We were also on the streets on Friday.  I had 3 stand out conversations.  All 3 of them were very natural to start and felt like they were meant to be.  Strangers passing at a point in time and a life changing message shared.  God uses our feeble efforts for his glory as he radically redeems people who simply don’t deserve it.  His mercy is amazing.

 

On Tuesday, I was also in Riccarton with Roger.  I was able to have a follow up chat with the guy I had coffee with the previous week.  This time I cut to the chase.  He had ‘another’ gospel to share.  A gospel of ‘special’ knowledge, that couldn’t be shared quickly.  I resisted that based on clear teaching of the word of God (Colossians!)  He ended up leaving in a bit of a huff.  There was no openness in him at this stage, yet, he has heard the law and the gospel.  God can use our feeble efforts in his timing.

 

I also had an encouraging message from Roger tonight: “One of my contacts from Rotherham St [Riccarton outreach] turned up at Life Church today. Do you remember lending me a biro for him to write down church details ?”  Yes I remember!  Wow, double encouragement for today!  Spine tingling.  God is love.  He saves people, he is building his church, and we get to be involved!  Don’t give up hope for your loved ones.  Keep praying for them, keep sharing the gospel with them.  Who knows who he will bring in their path, just at the right time.  We serve a just and merciful God!

 

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Battle Log of Operation 513 at Toowong on Tuesday July 16th 2024 from 1330-1430

It was rejoiceful that Edwin Qin joined Hung and Johnny from today onwards to do weekly outreach at Toowong. With his team work, the coverage dramatically increased. As a team, we did a good job under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Recap below is the Battlelog of Hung.

1) I was led to approach an UQ student from Cambodia, a Buddhist but still open enough to chat, yet just the started when his bus arrived and only handed him a tract.

2) Then Yvonne Chan of CCCB St Lucia approached me to chat about Restaurant worker Gospel. She wonder if QCCML has any one spending effort on this gospel needs, I encouraged her that she should pray if God will move and call her to help out in this gospel outreach field.

3) Taylor a Vietnamese with parents as Christians but he is not yet a believer. After the sharing of full gospel, he admitted there is no more doubt for him to make the last step of faith to accept Jesus as his savior.

4) Then I caught up with a mum with her young baby kid from Hebei She admitted no one is perfect she inclusive, but she argue that there is no need to be perfect. . I did not drag on to argue with her and just let go.

5) Then I approached a girl from Thailand who is already a Christian and attending local Aussie church. Just don't have time to check her assurance of salvation.

6) Then I was led to approach an Indian girl who claimed we chatted before. But she used the excuse of busy to end my approach.

7) Then I was led to meet Yang from Hebei , who is rarely a Christian already from house church background. Yet he only have 60% of assurance of salvation and had been clarified to professed 100% assurance of salvation.

8 ) Hugo, a local Aussie but parents are from France. He is non-religious and have a rational mindset as a Mechanic Engineering student. Yet he open to gospel and ahs a softened heart to embrace gospel as a logical expression and promised to ponder and accept Jesus in His time soon.

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Battle Log of Operation 513 at Toowong on Tuesday July 16th 2024 from 1330-1430

It was rejoiceful that Edwin Qin joined Hung and Johnny from today onwards to do weekly outreach at Toowong. With his team work, the coverage dramatically increased. As a team, we did a good job under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Recap below is the Battlelog of Hung.

1) I was led to approach an UQ student from Cambodia, a Buddhist but still open enough to chat, yet just the started when his bus arrived and only handed him a tract.

2) Then Yvonne Chan of CCCB St Lucia approached me to chat about Restaurant worker Gospel. She wonder if QCCML has any one spending effort on this gospel needs, I encouraged her that she should pray if God will move and call her to help out in this gospel outreach field.

3) Taylor a Vietnamese with parents as Christians but he is not yet a believer. After the sharing of full gospel, he admitted there is no more doubt for him to make the last step of faith to accept Jesus as his savior.

4) Then I caught up with a mum with her young baby kid from Hebei She admitted no one is perfect she inclusive, but she argue that there is no need to be perfect. . I did not drag on to argue with her and just let go.

5) Then I approached a girl from Thailand who is already a Christian and attending local Aussie church. Just don't have time to check her assurance of salvation.

6) Then I was led to approach an Indian girl who claimed we chatted before. But she used the excuse of busy to end my approach.

7) Then I was led to meet Yang from Hebei , who is rarely a Christian already from house church background. Yet he only have 60% of assurance of salvation and had been clarified to professed 100% assurance of salvation.

8 ) Hugo, a local Aussie but parents are from France. He is non-religious and have a rational mindset as a Mechanic Engineering student. Yet he open to gospel and ahs a softened heart to embrace gospel as a logical expression and promised to ponder and accept Jesus in His time soon.

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Time for another report.  It always feels daunting when I have to write one of these, but then the hour goes fast and I have something to post.  I’m amazed that anyone actually reads these, maybe the hour would be better spent in actually doing evangelism?  Anyway, let’s summarise another week.

 

I made it to all four scheduled street outreaches this week.  The weather was poor for today, but I decided to go anyway (City).  If Joshua can do it in the rain, then so can I.  It rained as I walked to my outreach spot, but then it stopped as I started, the sun even came out!

 

I felt strangely invigorated.  It was like I had an extra dose of energy and joy.  I was able to enthusiastically hand out gospel tracts with a smile and a cherry ‘have a nice day’ to all those that refused them.  Who knows, maybe they will take one the next time, or even stop to chat to see why this crazy old man so persistently does what he does.  (Answer: glory to God for the good he works through wretches like us.)  If people stop, I want them to find out how amazing Jesus is.  He truly is.

 

I saw a lot of my regulars today.  I didn’t spend a lot of time with them, as I wanted to get the gospel to others.

 

But my highlight chat for the day wasn’t with unbelievers but with a couple of YWAMers who were out giving food to the poor. My encouragement to them was to not only give people practical help (Galatians 2:10), but to be precise in sharing the gospel.  Gospel precision leads to gospel understanding, which is the power of God for salvation (Romans 1:16).

 

I had two rather daunting chats this week.  One on Saturday (Riccarton), and the other on Friday (City).

 

On Saturday, I didn’t feel very invigorated.  The outreach was slow.  I felt like an old man, in old clothes, on my own, looking like a fool standing next to a gaudy flip chart.  People in cars driving past must think I’m crazy.  I probably embarrass some Christians.  And yet, God uses what is weak and foolish as a means to show his strength and wisdom.

 

A young couple went past (teens).  I recognised them, I’d talked to them before.  We fell into an easy chat, and I was quick to swing it to spiritual things.  She was the main talker.  She thought about what happens after life, but her way of dealing with it was to put her head in the sand.  Enjoy this life and try not to worry about the next.  My focus was to not let her hold that attitude, but to make her realise that if she faced it, there was hope.  We ended up talking about evil and suffering.  I dealt with this in my usual way.  I gave hope that there would be justice for sin (no one will get away with anything) but also there was mercy and an everlasting life without suffering or evil.  We can respond to evil either with bitterness or forgiveness.  God gave us the ultimate example of what we should do: Jesus' sacrifice.

 

It was a daunting chat, because, sadly, we talked about some pretty dark things.  A very real reminder of the depravity of man.  Sadly, I didn’t get to finish giving my answer to why there is evil and suffering.  They had to move on.  But my heart goes out to them.  I’m going to be regularly praying for them, and I really want to talk to them again.

 

I was grateful to be able to process this chat with one of my elders at church today.  I’m reminded that, although talking about these deep issues can be daunting: the responsibility for salvation is not on us - we have responsibility, but not for God’s job; and we are part of a body of believers - we don’t have to do this alone.

 

Friday’s chat was with an older Muslim man.  It was a conversation that probably would never have started under normal conditions, but I was squeezed into a small spot (other conversations happening around me) and he just happened to be weaving through.  It was natural for me to look up and ask the question: “Excuse me sir, can I ask, what do you think happens after life?”

 

He was a bit taken aback.  But he got engaged anyway.  A few times he asked, “why are you asking me these questions?”.  I was always honest with my answer: I wanted him to understand the sure hope for heaven.  Part of him wanted to move on, but another part of him didn’t want to leave.  He was being forced to face the truth in contrast to things he has held to his whole life.  So, it was a bit of an awkward chat, a very deep tension between us was bubbling under the surface.  Both of us wanting to be polite as our ideologies clashed.  Part way through our chat, he asked for a tract - I think that was the part of him that really wanted to hear this wonderful truth.  I gladly gave him one, and then the conversation ploughed on.  He kept bucking away from the truth, and I gently kept bringing him back to it.  He used various techniques for this, eventually trying to bring political tension into the picture as a distraction.  I wouldn’t let him, pulling him back to the reality that he would be standing before God, alone, on judgement day.

 

The tension under the surface was so tight that I eventually cracked.  I lost my cool, ever so slight, sadly.  But it was good to break that tension and finish up then anyway.  I wasn’t going to make any more progress for the time being.  We parted ways with a handshake.  But, inwardly, I was shaking a bit after that chat.  It was a very real spiritual battle going on.

 

On Tuesday, Roger and I were both in Riccarton for an outreach in very crisp weather (sunny but cold).  The outreach was busy, I think because of school holidays.  I ended up finishing the outreach in a nearby coffee shop with a man who was keen to talk (it was dark and really cold by this stage)!  I think he is keen to talk again next Tuesday.  He knows where we are.

 

Thank you for your prayer for this gospel work, here in Christchurch, NZ.  Be encouraged in your own evangelism efforts, wherever you are.  Tell people about Jesus.  Glory to God alone.

 

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Battle Log of Operation 513 at Sunnybank on Wednesday July 10th 2024 from 1300-1500

It was a busy and fruitful 2 hour session of outreach at Sunnybank. Both Johnny had numerous divine appointment for long and short conversation with both non-believers and Christians. Some even remember when they had chats with us and interested to get connected for future communication. Recap below is the Battle Log of Hung:

1) First approach to a middle age Shanghainese , OK for causal chat but not interested on life and faith issues.

2) Celine a Filipino Catholic Christian typically lack assurance of salvation. Tried to clarify with bus arriving very quick.

3) Two James Cook Student from Kenya admitting they are Christians after sharing the gospel to them. However, like 95% of Christians I met on the street, both of them are lacking assurance of salvation but clarified in time. Very happy to have selfie with me.

4) Filipino Christian lady identified right away, but still no time to test assurance of salvation.

5) Faced consecutive rejections by 3 / 4 persons.

6) Then caught up with a Mainlander from Henan now studying at UQ , admitted an Atheist , as such feel indifference to Gospel

7)Bump into Wu Tam from East Hill Ku of Guangzhou , he recognized my voice and I asked him for a chat saying that we had four encounters hearing the gospel in the past 4 years , even though he is not yet a believer, but he was happy to connect as friend with me via Wechat. Pray for God's continuous work on him and his family who are all very friendly to me.

8 ) Two Mainlander girls both are UQ students and one is from Shuntak , appeared very keen to meet a Cantonese speaking people like me Though not enough time to get into gospel, she willingly took a tract.

9) Then I caught up with a handsome Indian young man from Mumbai aka Bollywood. He is a UQ Data science student having just arrived and going to check in to his hostel in Wooloongaba. He was keen chat with me but it was interrupted by home call.

10) Next was Zhou from Changsha Hunan doing Mechanical Engineering at UQ he was very friendly and care to listen to my testimony first then the gospel.

11) Then I was moved to connect with a Mainlander girl by the name of Liu?. She is from Jilin but already migrated to Australia for 10 years initially she did not want to chat especially no interest to faith, but after ice breaking but finally could still touch base on a life of peace that we cannot find apart from Jesus using myself as a testimony

12) Local Aussie playing computer game, have a few words then asked for pardon to go back to his game.

13) Then, a long chat with Jerry being a migrant family living in Mackay the mining town for 10 years. Thus he is inspired to do mining engineering in UQ now in the second year. Also shared my life witness then the gospel with positive feedback as such a selfie afterwards.

14) Last but not the least with Derrick a Vietnamese studying in QUT. He appeared very open and receptive to the gospel messages.

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