Battle Log

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A busy week this week.  Street outreaches to Riccarton on Tuesday afternoon, and into the city on Friday afternoon.  And then on Saturday we were at the Ellesmere A&P Show.  Also busy with outreach online - that was so good.

Starting with Tuesday, honestly, it was a bit of a slow outreach (cold and dreary day - may have had something to do with it).  The reality is, not every outreach is going to be filled with stella gospel chats.  But we plod on anyway!  I was able to have some chats with people.  One in particular stands out in my mind, a young man who has been involved in a youth group and so was familiar with some of the lingo.  He came to grasp grace, and even made a profession of faith.  On the other side of the street, Roger was having an interesting chat with a young Muslim lad (pictured).  It was a fairly intense conversation at times!  We ended up wrapping up the outreach early and having a cuppa.

Friday’s outreach was really interesting.  Mark joined Roger and I.  I paired up with Mark for the first 30 minutes or so - before he had to leave.

I then needed to fill up my drink bottle when I noticed a couple of young ladies protesting against the CCP (as far as I could tell, against human rights violations). I went over to open dialog with the intention of swinging the conversation to the basis for human rights: the reality of God, and then what the ultimate solution to the problem must be: Jesus.

The conversation was rolling when all of a sudden a group of Chinese tourists went past.  They were disgusted at the protest, and they didn’t hold back in expressing their very intense anger at it.  I was shocked at their intensity!  But the protesters weren’t, one of them just pulled out her phone and started filming.

This fascinated me, and so I tried to engage the tourists, but they walked off.  Suddenly, another Chinese couple came up, their anger was just as intense!  This time I succeeded in engagement, I was able to pull this couple aside and start a conversation to try to understand the emotion.  It took some time, but I was able to get them to calm down a bit, while I was listening to their reasoning.  I was successful in eventually swinging the conversation to root causes, “where does absolute right and wrong come from?”  When they realised where I was going, you could tell they didn’t like the implications.  They tried to switch the conversation away from root issues back to fruit issues, but I was able to swing it back again.  I was successful in showing how we know there is a universe maker that would be the basis for absolute truth, and then I was able to take them through the law.  In this situation, it had a powerfully humbling effect.  But, before I could share the gospel, they suddenly said, “we need to get to the Museum”.  I wasn’t surprised!  They had some things to think about!  I was pleased when they both accepted tracts.  And we parted ways with handshakes.  Great chat!  I love learning about people and what makes them tick!

I went back to the protesters, and I was able to finish up a warm conversation with them.  I was able to touch on the law and the gospel with them as well.

Those interactions ended up taking most of the rest of the outreach.

The Ellesmere A&P Show had nice sunny weather, but there was a very very strong wind.  The pictures don’t do it justice.  Other stalls had to pack up and leave, because it was just too windy to be practical for them.  We managed to set up, although we kept the gazebo in the low setting, and we had to tie down the flip chart stands, and hold the flip charts tightly!  We decided to proceed with the outreach, and it wasn’t long till Andy was into the first chat.  We ended up in outreach for a total of 4 hours, before we finally decided to pack it up (after getting emergency texts on our phones about the winds).

We ended up with a team of 6 running the site (pictured).  But if it hadn’t been so windy, we would have had a team of 10, which is decent for an outreach like this.  By mid week, I was concerned that there would only be 3 of us (Andy, Lily and myself), but with some desperate messages, and a facebook post, it was great to have the calvary arrive. Thanks so much team!

So, even though my hands got quite sore having to hold the flip chat pages in place against the wind, I ended up having some wonderful gospel conversations.

My first was with a young couple.  He was struggling to grasp grace, so I had to labour, but it was fascinating watching her face, as she became more and more interested in the good news I was sharing.  The gospel is so amazing when truly grasped.

The other chat that really stands out in my mind was a long one.  Four young people boldly approached me, and I suspected I’d be in for a fight - I wasn’t wrong.  I reasoned with them for a long time, and in the process answered their objections and shared the gospel.  I had to deal with the 2 most common questions: 1) evil and suffering, and 2) homosexuality.  I was able to be faithful in explaining that homosexuality is a sin, and yet demonstrate that I don’t hate or fear anyone, and that there was forgiveness for sin in Christ.  By the end of the chat, one of the guys was willing to open up that he was gay, and even in a relationship with one of the other guys in the conversation.  They refused to give up their Idolatry (making a god that says they can sin), but I could tell they were understanding the good news of Jesus.  We finally parted ways on good terms (although we disagree).  The gospel is the power for salvation!  I leave them in God’s hands.

One other chat comes to mind.  It was with a young man with really frizzy hair.  It was awesome seeing what the wind did to his hair!  But what was great about the chat was seeing him go from joking about the conversation, to slowly sobering up about the seriousness of the situation of sin and hell.  By the end of the chat he seemed genuinely impacted, and thanked me with a firm handshake.

God is good!

Because we left the A&P Show early due to the wind, I ended up joining the training outreach online.  I was paired up with Issac in Sydney who did a fantastic job!  I had 3 conversations. The 2nd was awesome, because the young man came to truly grasp the gospel (he was close but so far), he was genuinely stoked by it!  And the 3rd chat was amazing too, the young lady came to tears as she came to understand the grace of Christ.

Anyway, that’s a wrap for this week.  Keep up the good work of sharing Christ with others!  Be encouraged!
 

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Battle Log of Operation 513 at Sunnybank on Wednesday October 11th 2023 from 1300-1500

Today only Hung and Amy, the CFC ministry Team were available for the Street outreach at Sunnybank bus stop. All other regular team members were unavailable for personal matters. Despite of our sub quality health condition, we still managed to share with many people with mixed results. Recap is the Battle Log of Hung.

1) My first chat was with Beth, a Local Aussie young girl. She is not religious but was still open and receptive enough for the full gospel.

2) Then I was moved to connect with a young Mainlander from Fujian , who is an UQ student of commerce. He almost appeared open and receptive to the gospel message taking a tract afterward.

3) Then I caught up with a Vietnamese girl. No time for a full gospel, just a brief chat and a tract.

4) Next, I was led to approach a Filippino lady who migrated to Australia in 1986. She is of Catholic background but now attending an Anglican church. Her faith anyhow is still not purely by grace through faith. As such she lacks assurance of salvation but still a good chat to help clarify a number of faith issues for her.

5) Then I caught up with a Mainlander lady who is an UQ student of accounting. Just enough time for the nutshell of the gospel and a tract.

6) Netanyahu, an Indian girl of Sikhism background. They also have the faith of a mono God head and address the issue of sin like Christianity just walked her through the Chrisitan faith and she felt convincing to trust in a Saviour God Jesus to address the issue of our sin. She was thankful for this divine encounter and conversation as such she was happy to take a selfie with me.

7) Then I bumped in a young man from Bhutan but was just enough time for a tract.

8 ) Boris a young man from Sichuan who was 10 year old in 2008 when the Sichuan earthquake took place. He was lucky to survive now meeting me a foreigner who was there in Sichuan to join the disaster relief work. He was thankful for that as such I earned a very long conversation with him on the full gospel message.

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Battle Log of Operation 513 for Toowong on Tuesday October 10th, 2023 from 1330 – 1500

Thanks God helping me overcame the sore throat problem I developed towards end of the Taiwan trip as well as some minor tooth pain issue, I officially have resumed my regular street outreach at Toowong with Johnny. God was gracious to have led me into divine encounter with 7 persons from different background but all leading to favourable result. Recap below is the Battle Log of Hung: -

1) There was a long queue for bus when we arrived at the bus stop. I was led to approach a girl from Hong Kong by the name Ng ?who came to do a Master Of IT at UQ. She did his first IT degree at CUHK, Chung Chi College. Thus we are dual Alumni of both CCC and UQ. I was moved to share a bit more my life testimony as she knew the HK background. Then I rushed through the gospel when the bus arrived. She anyway seemed touched and eager to know more by taking a tract.

2) Israel is an Australian born Bangladesh in Sydney. He is of Islamic background because of his parents as such he rejected me initially. But the Spirit moved me to stay put and be friend first with him to soften his heart to listen the gospel finally showing good degree of receptiveness.

3) Then I was moved to approach a lady from Peru who comes to visit her daughter studying in UQ and do some sightseeing herself. Her English is limited, but still sufficient to hear the gospel.

4) Then I was led to approach a Mainlander. He actually has extensive reading of the Bible but also has a lot of prejudiced understanding because of the lack of the Holy Spirit. I answered all his queries but he still needs more enlightenment by the Spirit to convict of him the self-righteousness as a sinner in flesh.

5) Then next was a young man from , who was very willing to listen to the gospel. He took a tract to read on the bus.

6) Then I bumped into a young lady of mixed blood with an Aussie dad and a Filipino mum. She seemed to be of no religious background but still polite and willing to listen to the gospel.

7) Jess is a local Aussie girl full of Sun shine. She is also not religious but appeared very keen to the full gospel message with receptiveness. She was also willing to take a selfie with me to memorize this divine encounter and conversation of life issue importance.

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It’s been a while since I’ve written a report.  I didn’t write any while I was in the Philippines, as Bekk was doing video summaries of our outreach there.

I’ve been home for a week now.  Still struggling a little with a bit of jet lag.  I was back into outreach on Tuesday, but I didn’t do my first street outreach until Friday (in the city).  I ran some evangelism training on Saturday morning.  And I was back in the city for outreach on Sunday afternoon.

Before I report on these outreaches, I just want to mention a surprising encouragement. In this report the first gospel conversation I described was with a Muslim lady and her daughter.  When I have chats with people who seem very engaged or who respond positively, I hand out a contact card for my church and write my name, #, and email address so they can follow up if they want to - and I did that with this lady.  Sadly, from time to time, I might find these contact cards discarded, and rain stained.  But, on Friday, I received a phone call from her!  (Almost 1 month later.)  I didn’t initially remember her, but as we got talking I was able to remember the conversation.  I was able to check her gospel understanding, and then ask how I could help further.  I guess I was caught a bit flat footed, because I don’t usually get follow up calls, but I’m more prepared now.  I might follow up with her later next week.

So, it was good to see Roger again on Friday for outreach.  The OAC boys were out as well.  Steve even preached open air.  I was fairly busy in conversations, I’m just struggling to remember any of the details (I blame the jet lag!).  The conversation that stands out in my mind is the last one.  I had a man and his daughter stop.  He was curious about what I was handing out (gospel tracts), and so that led straight into a conversation about deeper things.  He seemed agnostic, but he involved his daughter in the conversation show said, “I think about what happens after we die all the time”, and then listed the various things she thought might happen (the common answers: heaven / hell, nothing, reincarnation - actually he brought that one up).  Yet, unlike her Dad, she did believe in God.  I could sense that they wouldn’t be staying around for a long chat, and so I was able to share a brief law / gospel summary, and they left with a tract.  What struck me most about the conversation was that they felt safe to approach me and talk to me.  The word ‘evangelist’ often provokes thoughts of the stereotype of a mean guy holding a bull horn screaming at people about hell.  No, I’m just a normal, logical, friendly person (I hope) with an amazing message, not only of hell (justice), but hope of eternal life (mercy).

Saturday’s training went well (as far as I could tell).  I had 9 people attend.  6 of them from my church.  We covered the biblical basis for the evangelism method I was going to teach, how to deal with 2 difficult subjects: 1) evil and suffering & 2) sexuality, general tips for street evangelism and evangelism in our everyday lives, and then finally the nitty gritty of the evangelism method.  It was raining, and no one was able to join Andy or I for the optional street outreach afterwards.  And so I joined the online training outreach on Saturday afternoon instead.

Sunday’s outreach provided nice weather.  Mike, Susan, and Binu joined me.  It was so nice seeing the new green leaves on the trees down Cashel Mall.  The outreach started out a bit slow, but then got very busy.  The stand out conversation was with two young ladies.  They were attracted by the flip chart I had up.  One had been in a cult, and the other was an atheist.  Sadly, I didn’t get to share the gospel, because even though they professed to be ‘open’, they really weren’t.  I don’t mean that in a bad way, because they were lovely to talk to, but whenever I would make progress on sharing the simplicity of the message, they would deflect in various ways.  So even though we focused on ‘how we know God is real’, and ‘how we know what is right and wrong’, much progress was made in those areas.  We talked about homosexuality a bit.  And the atheist trusted me enough to open up about some very hurtful things that had been said to her in regards to this.  It brought tears to her eyes as she explained (but she was quick to suppress them.)  And yet, she said to me, without me even prompting: “you think homosexuality is wrong, and yet you don’t hate homosexuals”.  She was right.  This led into a discussion about justice and mercy and eventually to the issue of why God allows evil and suffering.  It was a great chat.  I hope it paves the way for some other Christian to be able to clearly communicate the gospel.  Or even, it would be great to see them again myself!

Thanks for praying for us, without God, our feeble efforts are in vain.
 

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Mission successful! The team of 10 (from Australia, NZ, and USA) have returned from the Philippines. It was an epic and exciting time sharing the gospel in Metro Manila with the local people.

The seed was sown, with some making professions of faith, while others are considering it and counting the cost. No chat is in vain!

Thank you for your prayers, please continue to pray for those who heard the good news.

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Battle Log of Operation 513 at Sunnybank on Wednesday Sep 27th, 2023 from 1300-1500

It was a pity Qin Hao could not join us today but we still had Sister Li Su Yi teaming up with Johnny and Rev Hung to do the street outreach at Sunnybank making best use of her 2 weeks School term break holiday. It was a very fruitful and productive journey for Su Yi to have been empowered and equipped for cross cultural evangelism outreach. Recap below is the Battle Log of Hung.

1) My first approach was to two UQ students from Mainland China. They were indulged in electronic game, but I was able to catch up with one who is from Wuhan where I had visited before. It was a pity they both were indifferent to gospel and refuse the tract when the bus arrived to cut our chat to an end.

2) Next, I chatted with a lady from Singapore who was friendly for casual chat. But once changing topic to religious things, she immediately show no interest and was indifferent to the gospel message despite I tried keep sharing it to her. She also declined the offering a tract to her.

3) Then I caught up with a young man from Taipei coming to study Movie Director at Taffe. He claimed himself a Catholic background Chrisitan and understood the doctrine of human are being saved by grace through faith . Yet I did not have time to test for his assurance of salvation but he was willing to take a tract.

4) Then I was moved to approach two young kids, namely, 1) Koby a cross breed between Australian father and Chinese mother who has just arrived from Hongkong and 2) Stephen from Nigeria. Both claimed they are Christian and is now studying at Brisbane Chrisitan College. I switched to test for their assurance of salvation which are both just 80%. But they seemed to be Spirit filled person quickly understand through my explanation that they should have 100% assurance of salvation, because it is all by the work of Jesus alone. They were appreciative for my clarification as such they were happy to take a selfie with me to memorize for such divine encounter.5) Then I bumped into a very extraordinary person who was born in Changchun , and the whole family migrated to Japan and now the son came to study in Griffith University. His upbringing was in an atheist environment in China and also a secularized society in Japan, but still appeared comparatively open than most of the Mainlander. I was able to share to full gospel and he took a tract to follow up reading afterwards.

6) Then I caught up with Ben from Thailand though he looks more like Chinese. Even he is a Buddhism follower but he was relatively open to listen to the gospel and showed good response to the message finding it very rational and logical. His interest was aroused to take a tract to read.

7) Then I was led to meet up with a young man who rejected me upfront with the excuse as a Communist Party member the Spirit had wonder work through me to turn around his attitude to become at least open up to the full gospel message being expressed in a contextualized way to a Communist. At the end, he even asked for a tract to revise on the message I shared with him.

8 ) Last but not the least, I spent a long time with a couples already migrated to Australia from Guangzhou, China but originally from Taishan. They were in typical atheist mindset as person brought up from Communist background, but at the end, the Spirit seemingly had move them at least the wife to realize our imperfect status as a human being so even we are a good citizen but not a perfect person as demanded by God thus they need to address the issue of sin. Again, the wife too ka tract to signify the message has made impact to their thought about sin.

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Battle Log of Operation 513 for Toowong on Tuesday September 26th, 2023 from 1330 – 1500

It was a hot sunny afternoon more like mid-Summer rather than early Spring. Johnny and Hung both switched to summer dress in short. Nonetheless, our passion for sharing the gospel of Christ is not less fervent. God gave us both very fruitful gospel conversation. Johnny at the end even had to bring his target to the side of the road for a longer and more private gospel sharing time. Recap below is the Battle log of Hung.

1) First I encounter a Chinese look lady from NZ who was born there as such she does not speak Chinese at all. Despite she lives in the free world, but appears to be a very materialistic person with little if not none religious appeal. After a near full gospel sharing, she simply showed no interest and did not even bother to take a tract.

2) Jacks from Venice, Italy. Despite he grew up from a Catholic background, but he regarded himself more an Agnostic person though he still deems there is a god as a supreme being. After my full gospel sharing, he was convinced again that there is one God and we all need to rebuild trusting and loving kindness relationship with him through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. He was very happy to take selfie with me to signify this new change of mind about God our creator and Jesus our redeemer.

3) Then I was approached to approach two guys with the one from Nanjing engaging into conversation with me and the other just stood by the side as an audience. Form facial expression, both were open and receptive to the Gospel.

4) Sofia a Hinduism Indian from New Deli whom Winnie might have approached before. I followed on with his impression and understanding of the gospel through the tract which obviously has become blurry. But after my clarification, he could not deny anything in the gospel and appeared very receptive to accept Jesus as saviour. As a result, he was happy to take a selfie with me to keep it as our common memory of this divine encounter.

5) Then I approached a Mainlander lady? from Jilin . She is major in Biology so I could for a moment gained her identification . Yet after sharing the full gospel she still appeared very indifferent with a stone heart.

6) Finally, I had a very extraordinary long conversation with a PHD in IT from Brazil. Initial he showed aggressively to denounce God or any religions as he deems all Gods are also not perfect as such, they caused the chaos in our secularized world. But the Holy Spirit empowered me to un arm his defensive system and at the end appeared very receptive to the gospel message.

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Battle Log of Operation 513 at Sunnybank on Wednesday Sep 20th, 2023 from 1300-1500

Praise be to God, the Street Outreach team from Sherwood Methodist Church has grown from strength to strength with 3 persons joining including Johnny, then Qin Hao, the Bible College student and pastor reserve joined us 3 months ago and today their sacred music choir pianist Siste Li Su Yi joined us during the school holiday. Both are very gifted evangelist making numerous fruitful gospel chats. Recap below is the Battle Log of Hung

1) My first target was a lady migrated to Australia from Shanghai. . I was only able to kick off the conversation but no time to share too much before the bus arrived, but she delightfully took a tract to read. At least she was open mind to the gospel.

2) Then Qin Hai collaborated with me to approach a group of Filipino of three youngsters. I focused in chatting with the youngest girl. She was receptive and took a tract to revise on what I shared with her.

3) Then I caught up next with a lady from Henan Changzhou . She is a UQ student and was still open enough to have a chat though she did not take a tract at the end.

4) Then I noticed a Japanese cross breed boy was reading the tract Qin Hao gave him. I waited until he finished reading the tract and chipped in to ask for his understanding and impression of the rationality of the Gospel. He fully get the real meaning of the tract and agree everybody good or bad, are all imperfect as such we all need salvation offered by Jesus. His sister was also pleased to hear the good news of God.

5) Then I turned to an UQ student Mao? from Beijing. who majors in IT. He was the first one I can shared the full gospel with his bus still not coming to take him away. He might not be fully open but still was polite enough to listen to the full gospel and took a tract afterwards.

6) Then, I caught up with yet another person from Shanghai . She study at Griffith but our conversation was interrupted by a phone call.

7) Then I bumped into two girls one looks like cross breed with Chinese blood but actually is a Japanese and the other a Thailand girl. They listen just in time for the full gospel and delightfully took a tract to revise on the message.

8 ) Then I caught up with a Local Aussie girl. I spent some time for ice breaking talking about fair dinkum. She appreciated for my knowledge input but then I only have time for half of the gospel message when her bus arrived.

9) Next God brought a girl from Shenzhen by the name of Ln?who studies at Griffith. She was unwilling, if not reluctant to hear the gospel claiming it was fine she does not need religious message. Nevertheless, I put aside the tract and from friend point of view to share about the common thing we know as a Hongkonger and Great Bay Area residence. It ended up she listened up to the full gospel and became soften, if not receptive to the message about the salvation of Jesus. I was able to establish with her that as an imperfect person, we all need Salvation of Jesus.

10) Then a couple from Shanghai , both listened to the gospel one after the other and both showed openness to the message with appreciation.

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Battle Log of Operation 513 for Toowong on Tuesday September 19th, 2023 from 1330 – 1500

Chi Ming could not join us in his last week in Brisbane. We apprecuate his faithfulness to joined us without fail in the past 4, 5 weeks. So today again only Johnny and Hung teamed up to serve at Toowong. Despite it is the beginning of school holiday, yet the Uni is in its normal term period. So there were plenty of students around at the Bus Stop. Hoever, it was not a good day for us, at least for Hung. I had up to 12 conversation opportunities, but only a few last long enough for me to share the full gospel. Nevertheless, we still felt our effort was not in vain. God will be responsible the outcome and follow up in His way and in His time frame. Recap below is the Battle Log of Hung.

1) I met an ABC girl whose parents was from DaLan , when she realized I was to share the gospel to her, she immediate indicated she is a Chrisitan. I switched to test her assurance of salvation which is 100% correct. It is really rare andI had no time to check her denonimational adherence.

2) Then I was led to approach a youngman from Shenzhen who greeted me in Cantonese but just the greetings. He was keen to listen to the Gospel but I could just manage to share the nutshell.

3) Then I caught up with an Indian young man. He was proud to tell me he had visited HKG for 2 months and his favorite spot in HKG is Lan Kwai Fong. This ice breaking catching up had taken much time as such I could not even start to share so could just give him a tract to read.

4) Then Yvvone of CCCB St Lucia flashed past giving me a sign of get going for the street outreach mnistry before she rush to catch the bus.

5) Then I caught up with a mainlander girl who claimed she had a caht with Qin Hao (not me or Johnny). I still felt moved to follow up on her understanding of the gospel and the impression about the tract. It was a pity she was interrupted by a phone call that cut an end to our conversation.

6) I instead switched to chat with another mainlander girl, who was willing to listen but the bus arrival end our conversation and I could only end up handing her a tract.

7) Then I was led to catch up with a mainlander girl from Shandong who had a long chat with me. She actaully recognized me so I follow up with her by a revision of the gospel. This time she was really impressed and actaully took the initiative to take a tract again to read and seriously ponder for the making the step of faith.

8 )Then I was led to catch up with a Japanese student from Tokyo . He was amazed I could speak OK Japanese. Again the bus came too quick so I could only leave him with a tract.

9) Next I was led to catch up with an Indian middle age man. His perception of region is just a cultural expression to find peace in our life. I drew him to the awareness of sin and what we need to face in addressing the issue of sin which cannot be resolved by religion but salvation. He could not deny my asseration and pray he would really make self awareness of our sinful nature that needs redemption by Jesus.

10) Next was Zhu ?from Taipei who is 4th year student of Economic which was also my major in Chinese University that gave me the edge to identify with him. Again , it was a pity his bus came too quick that I could only leave him a tract.

11) Next I caught up with an Aussie girl who is not a student. She was very open tochat but time was limited so again handing out a tract to her.

12) Finally, I had a long chat with Bella from Surrey of UK. My extensive stay in UK in the past for business and for study earned the rapport with her as such she was keen and drawn to the sharing of gospel together with my life witnesses.

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A warm, sunny spring day in Christchurch today (Sunday) - although it was windy, so didn’t bring the flip chart.  My daughter, Julia, was with me, and Susan joined as a bit later.

Julia’s getting practice for the upcoming evangelism trip to the Philippines.  And she did a fantastic job.  Before Susan arrived, she did walk up with me.

Our first chat was with 4 Filipino girls!  It was a short chat, but Julia got some practice in, they heard the law and the gospel, and they all received tracts.

Next up we encountered a deep thinking young man who was rejecting religion based on grounds of logic.  I fielded most of this chat, although Julia handled the main points (building builder, law, gospel).  It was a good chat where we were able to reason with him based on logic as to why religion (specifically Christianity) is true.  It was a great chat, he certainly had a lot to think about, and left with a tract.

Next up were 4 young men from the local Catholic High School.  It was a good chat in that it was fairly standard script wise.  When we got to the ‘false ways to heaven’, they naturally went to “reconciliation” which they defined as “asking for forgiveness”, and then “do more good than bad”.  Julia was able to address both of those with analogies explaining why they won’t work, and then we shared the gospel.

We took a few moments to discuss ways of sharing the gospel, and it was at this point that Susan joined us.  I noticed a couple of girls doing a survey, and suspected they were from the World Mission Society Church of God.  I was right.  I asked if I could do the survey, and they came over and let me.  It led to a good conversation, where they told me that we must ‘obey’ to get to heaven, esp. Keeping the Sabbath (Saturday) and passover.  I was able to show them how it’s impossible for us to obey, and then the truth about Jesus.  It was encouraging seeing how challenged they were.  Not surprisingly, they didn’t take tracts when I gave them back the survey clipboard (I’d only made it through the first few questions).

But at this point, and now that Susan was here, it was time for Julia to get some practice without me.  She was keen!  And so she paired up with Susan for the last half hour.  They managed to get into 2 conversations (pictured).  Well done!  The more we practise, the better we get!

I handed out tracts, and managed to get into another short conversation at the end of the outreach.

Yesterday (Saturday) I decided to work online in the morning to try to keep on top of the TikTok messages.  My wife, youngest daughter, and myself were also able to attend the local ‘March for Life’ in the afternoon.  It went really well.  It was good to hear the gospel preached!

Friday was also windy, but I brought the flip chart anyway, as I’m testing out Mike’s new stand.

We had a team of 5: Roger, Dom, Mark, Andy and myself.  Roger found a sheltered spot for his flip chart, Andy paired up with Mark, and Dom paired with me.

We used the flip chart for an initial chat with a couple.  He was barely engaged, but as we made progress she became more engaged.  She ended up asking about a church, and so I gave her a contact card for mine.

That chat led straight into another chat, but the flip chart had to be packed away - just too windy, even with Mike’s sturdy stand!  That gave Dom an opportunity to lead the chat while I did the pack up.  They guy was pretty resistant, even though he was friendly.  We did our best, and were able to share the law and the gospel.

We then headed down Cashel to find people to talk to.  We had a long chat with a young couple, and that went well.  And then a short chat with a young man who took my mobile # (he hasn’t messaged yet).

Dom had to leave at this point.  I had 2 more chats, but I was so tired, I wasn’t really able to engage well.  But who knows, God can still use those conversations for his glory!

Now, Tuesday’s outreach was amazing.  Roger and I in our usual spots.  I remember being busy for the whole outreach.  The 2nd to last conversation was memorable, because it was with 2 young ladies who denied God was real, for emotional reasons: evil and suffering.  I was able to reason with them: 1) empathy, 2) God doesn’t do evil, people do.  I decided not to go to the 3rd point: why God allows evil in the first place - I didn’t think it would help.  But I hoped they saw my love and concern, which is a reflection of God’s greater love and concern for them.  The first girl stuck to her guns, but the other girl seemed to be listening.  Sadly they didn’t stay to hear the gospel, and refused tracts.

By this stage I was noticing an older guy in a suit down the road, but not far from me.  He was making phone calls while drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes.  I assumed he must be rich!  I only had 5 tracts left and made a comment across the road to Roger about needing to hand them out before we finish up.  Well, I turned and noticed this guy, he was looking at me.  So I offered him one.  He was keen!  We only had a short chat, but in that time he really opened up about trials in his life.  I felt honoured that he felt safe enough with me to do that.  He had a Catholic background.  I was able to touch on the law and the gospel with him, and he shook my hand firmly as he moved on with his tract.  I felt elated for some reason.  I’ve got the best job in the world, being able to minister the truth about God and the hope of eternal life.  All glory to him!

Please keep the team of 10 flying to the Philippines from Australia, NZ and the USA 20th till 30th of September to partner with Rock of Refuge Church (and other churches) in Manila for evangelism.  I hope to write a few reports about it here.  Thank you!
 

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