Battle Log

Wednesday afternoon in the city came with surprising rain showers that would clear the square in a matter of moments. But this meant that the team could find conversations under cover quite easily. Again there were seven team members out, three of whom came down from their local offices during their lunch breaks because, to quote one of them, "There are things more important than burgers in this world".

An early conversation before the rain came was with Michael. He said he had a Catholic background but through the conversation came to understand why he needs Jesus and what the Gospel is. At the end he didn't seem overly moved but he was challenged to open a Bible and come to understand who Jesus is from the eye-witness testimony recorded in it. It was encouraging as he responded that at his work it is a requirement for there to be one in each desk. Please be praying that God will move in his heart and cause him to open it one day and to come face to face with Christ.

Another conversation was with Jackson, who was only on a short break from work but was shown that buildings need a builder and creations need a Creator. He responded by saying, "Twelve years of Catholic schooling and I'd never heard that but it makes sense". He was then shown the law and the problem it left him in but he had to run. He said he would try to be a better person but was told that wouldn't work and was given a tract and encouraged to read it to find what God has done to save sinners.

A short conversation was with Ella. She saw that God exists, then why it matter. She saw her guilt through the law and that she was headed for Hell. As the cross was being explained her bus arrived and she had to leave. But she took a tract and said she'd read it.

An final conversation that took place was with Connor. He engaged as his girlfriend sat next to him not paying much attention. Same as always at first he thought he was good and that there was no God and came to understand that in both cases the opposite was true. He actually seemed challenged by what was said. He wasn't just responding because he had to but was responding because he wanted to know more. It was exciting to see his engagement and he comprehended the Gospel and said he would have to consider what Jesus had said.

Please be praying for those who heard the Gospel today, that God would use it to bring them to trust in Him! Please be praying that God would raise up more labourers in the local city area that many Christians would come to share the Gospel during the lunch breaks and that God would be glorified through many people hearing His message of salvation!

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On Saturday night there was another decently sized team out, despite the afternoon rain. Due to the rain the temperatures were cooler and it was a very pleasant night. The night also was filled with conversations. As those on the team come out week after week you can see the growth that is taking place in their ability to get into conversations. It is exciting to see how each member grows in the boldness over the weeks.

One exciting conversation early on was with a man, named Yanic, who hadn't been in Brisbane long. He was travelling from Europe and had his girlfriend with him. He expressed that he had some level of Christian background and said that he was going to Heaven because he is good. He was shown that because God is good, sin must be punished and therefore, seeing his sin via the law, he saw that He deserved Hell and this reality shook him. He went from being mostly apathetic about eternity to being very serious in the conversation.

He said that he wasn't really relying on Christ to pay for his sin rather was just living how he pleased. To this he was shown the foolish position he had placed himself in, he now knew what God had done to save him and that only those who are trusting in Christ will be pardoned but he was still choosing to reject the offer of salvation at this moment. He said he was going to consider what was being said and thanked the team for the opportunity to hear.

A shorter conversation was had with Sueheifa, a Muslim lady who saw many challenges made against what she proposed and heard what God had done to save sinners. She said she had never heard the good news like that before and up until that point wasn't sure what Christians believed. Please be praying that she would heed the call to trust in Christ alone for her salvation, rather than holding onto the false hope of an "unjust mercy".

Another exciting conversation was with a man named Shan, he knew God exists and that there was a day of judgement coming but was unsure about his eternity. Saw God's law, his guilt and God's saviour offered to him and said that he would have to think about what was said.

Lastly a lengthy conversation took place with two very wealthy young men, who flaunted their riches and yet to their surprise had nothing to offer. They are men who epitomise Jesus' saying, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and yet forfeit His very soul". These men surprisingly stayed, listened and engaged for over an hour. A notable point was that these men were engaged, they weren't directly dismissive but took with weight what was being said. It would be rare for most people they meet to be so serious and truthful with them and also to be so strong on what predicament they were in.

These men left with a clear understanding of the reality of Hell and that it was their current destination and also the only means of hope for lost sinners, the humble saviour who came to save proud sinners. The conversation was finished with one final and strong warning that although they have heard the message of forgiveness today, they may never have another chance to trust in Christ, this could be their only opportunity, as there is no guarantee of tomorrow.

Please be praying for those who heard the message of hope today, that they would respond in trust in Christ and as a result turn from their sin to follow Him! Please be praying that God would be working on hearts for the coming outreaches this week that God may be glorified through the salvation of sinners!

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On Wednesday God provided a steady stream of rain keeping the conversations under the sheltered areas. What has been extremely exciting is that there are now six different Christians who work in nearby offices that are using their lunch break to share the Gospel. At first there was one man faithfully coming out (during his lunch hours) who ran into the team then committed to coming on Wednesday's specifically. Then a second man joined and now there are six.

This week four city-workers made it out. If you work in Brisbane City, may you be encouraged to join the team, or with these men as they head out at other times during the week.

One funny moment during a conversation was with a man named Christian. He said he was quite sure there was nothing after death because there was no God. When asked why he believed that he didn't give much of a reason just that he thought it was true. Then he was shown that creations need a creator. For example, a bus that drove past was pointed to and he was asked, "How do you know someone built that bus?", quickly he responded, "Because I can see it".

Next he was asked, "How do you know someone built that building?", again responding, "Because I can see it". Then he was asked, "How do you know someone built this world?", this time responding, "Because I can. Actually no, I don't believe there is a God". The simplicity of the explanation showed that it wasn't really an intellectual disagreement with the existence of God but a moral one. This moment was taken to point out to Christian that our real reason for the rejection of God is our love for sin and hatred of what is good, we want to be in charge.

He was shown his guilt through the law, the penalty it deserves and all the while David jumped between two arguments, "There is no God" and "I'm not really that bad". He was shown that neither of those two answers will be of any help on judgement day, just as they wouldn't help you get out of a speeding fine. As his bus arrived the predicament he was in was left before him and he headed off.

An interesting conversation was had with Carla who at first was saying things like, "This life is an illusion" all a product of our brains. This was addressed a number of times and she seemed to understand that couldn't be the case. But the most confusing thing she believed was that forgiveness is actually the acknowledgement that the someone hasn't actually done the wrong thing. She gave a number of examples from her own life.

What was so confusing is that she struggled to understand that forgiveness is only needed if someone has wronged you. What she was describing is denial. This was the link taken to show that what God does in regards to forgiveness is far better than pretending we're not guilty, He actually pays the debt we owe, so that the guilty can walk free on the basis of trust in Christ. She seemed to understand and it was actually exciting to see that she purposely missed two buses so that she could continue to talk.

Lastly Ben was engaged and he had many ideas but surprisingly with a simple apologetic about the Bible was so challenged that he went on and listened to the Gospel and responded positively. He didn't say that he would trust in Christ straight away but seemed visibly challenged upon hearing the Gospel.

Please be praying for those who heard the Gospel today, that God would continue to work in the hearts and minds of these people. Please also consider, if you work in Brisbane City, to come and join the team one Wednesday and help us share God's glorious gospel!

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If you're confused or scared about what to say in evangelism, you don't need to be afraid. You don't need to rely on yourself or your own strength, you have the Holy Spirit.

You also don't need to try and learn alone, there are many other Christians who are willing to show you how to evangelise, stand alongside you as you seek to share and give you simple tips and encouragements for future conversations.

We can work together, with each other, to reach the lost in this world with the Gospel.

Take a few minutes, hear some encouraging stories from a recent outreach of team members being able to encourage and equip those who are newer to evangelism in how it can be done!

Come join us next Saturday, 7-10pm in King George Square, you'll be glad you did!

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In an evening when there were thousands of people around throughout the night, there was a team of 19 Christians that headed into Brisbane City to share the Gospel!

Excitedly Kane mentions that 50-60 people heard the Gospel but the reality is it actually is higher than that, over 100 people heard the Gospel, through more than 70 conversations over the course of the evening!

And if there were twice the amount of team members, there could easily have been twice the amount of conversations!

Bek shares about a conversation in which she was able to share the Gospel with four people at once using the flipchart. 

Lastly, Andrew brings an encouragment that whilst he is often scared, in prayer he is reliant upon God and as a result God uses him. You can hear about a conversation he had with two British men about what God has done to save sinners!

Praise God for raising up labourers and for encouraging the team through many conversations. We will see you next week!

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On Wednesday in Brisbane city, there was a team of eight out! What is most exciting is that three local city workers came down during their lunch break to spend some time sharing the Gospel before heading back to work! Praise God that he is raising up labourers and giving the boldness to enable His glorious gospel to go forth!

Many on the team were rejoicing in conversation that they'd had throughout the afternoon!

One exciting moment of God's providence was early in the afternoon. There were a man and woman sitting on a bench separate from each other. The man had his headphones in and the woman didn't. When considering who to speak with, the decision was made, the man was approached but the prayer was made, "Lord if it be your will, keep that lady around if she needs to hear".

Sure enough after a twenty minute conversation with Sam, which consistent of him being shown how we know God exists, what it matters and what the solution is, he headed off. It wasn't even seconds after he had left that Breanna from the other side said, "Hey, I saw the back of your shirt (which says, "Heaven will be filled with sinners saved by Jesus") and I was interested in a bit of context, what does the front say?

Then she read it out, "Hell will be filled with "good" people". The opportunity was taken, "Which of the two are you? A person who thinks they're good, or a sinner trusting in Jesus?" And the conversation opened up. It was a wonderful conversation, Breanna had many questions, she said that she had been thinking about this a lot over the last two days and was wondering where she would be going.

All the while as the questions was being answered, praise was going to God, who had bought Breanna there at the right time, who had kept Breanna there to speak, who had prepared Breanna with her recent thoughts and considerations and enabled her to be open to hearing what God had done to save sinners!

Breanna walked away with answers, said she would consider it and also took a Gospel of John to have a read. Please raise her up in your prayers this week, that she may come face to face with the God who made her and come to know Him!

A quick side note is that during the conversation Breanna shared some very personal and private information about struggles she had. This also wasn't the only conversation of the afternoon in which this occurred. What is surprising is that people on the street are so often willing to share some of their deepest, darkest secrets with the team because even though they don't know the team very well. These people feel comfortable that the team actually cares about them and are willing to chat about the hard topics of life that most people just shy away from. These people even are willing to talk more after hearing some really hard truths about the seriousness of sin!

In light of this, may you consider people in your life, that you care about, those who you know are struggling, may you display your love for them, not just in kind words or actions but ask God for the courage to speak up, to engage with them about these issues and help them wrestle with the reality of evil, suffering death so that you may point them to the one who has overcome death and evil by suffering in our place!

There were many others who heard the Gospel including some very exciting conversations with some Catholics but for today, may you pray for Breanna and consider how you can reach out to those, who may not know that well, so that you can show them the God who loves sinners!

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On Saturday night in Brisbane City, the rain began halfway through the outreach. The first part of the night was in the open then it was mostly confined to the covered areas.

You can hear two very good reasons to join the team, the first comes by way of implication. Ryan, Fynn and Harry share about people who responded positively to the Gospel. That is reason number one, God uses the Gospel to save people!

Secondly, you can hear Ryan and Harry share about how the team can help. You may be scared, new or tired and there will be other team members willing to encourage you and assist you in proclaiming the Gospel.

So why not come and join us next week, you will be glad you did!

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This afternoon in Brisbane city was almost unbelievable. It is usual to have a day with a single or maybe two really encouraging conversations where people respond positively but today it seemed that God was at work in softening hearts.

The first conversation of the afternoon took place with a lady named Dell. She at first said she didn't know if there was a God, maybe just an energy. She was shown how this couldn't be the case because energy cannot create anything, only a being wielding energy can. Then she saw God's law and the universal guilt and understood that there is a day of judgement because a good God cannot ignore evil. She acknowledged that she was mostly just ignoring thinking about it because it was uncomfortable and she didn't have a solution.

She was shown what God had done to save sinners, was given and tract and encouraged to read the Gospel of John. She didn't say she would but she said she was very thankful for the conversation and was glad she had heard and said she would consider what was said.

Next was a short conversation with Juke. Throughout the conversation on a number of occasions he reiterated, "I really needed to hear this today!" He knew God exists, and knew of the afterlife but wasn't sure where he would end up. He was shown God's law and realised his guilt and that he deserved Hell.

Then for the first time in his life he saw the Gospel of grace. He came to understand that it is a gift for the guilty not a reward for the righteous. At first he didn't understand how to receive the Gospel and thought it was by doing good works and being worthy but then came to understand that no one could be worthy and that it was a gift! He was asked a checking question to which at first he said the wrong answer but then corrected himself and got it right. It was exciting to see.

He responded by saying that has goes to church with his grandmother sometimes and said that he wants to have a read of his Bible now! He was encouraged to start in John, then have a read of Romans.

Maybe the most exciting part of this, is that the discussion took place in an area the team normally doesn't visit but "it just so happened" that today, due to the immense heat and some of the seats being off limits that the area where Juke was sitting was approached. God is utterly sovereign even using the heat to bring about individuals to hear the Gospel and respond positively!

A quick sad conversation was with a man named Peter. He was so worried about eternity. He had a Catholic background and knew that he was utterly hopeless at getting himself to Heaven but due to the works based salvation being taught in Catholicism he was left utter hopeless. He heard the Gospel briefly and was offered hope but for some reason he didn't want to hear more. He did take a tract though.

A final conversation was with Josh. He has spoken to the team before and has some sort of Christian background but has damaged his mind with drugs. The majority of the conversation was Josh being dismissive and trying to avoid the reality of God, the authenticity of the Bible, the Creator, judgement, Heaven and Hell simply by saying, "I don't believe that" without really giving a reason as to why. Even when asked why he didn't believe he couldn't give a reason. It was over and over pointed out that it was a sinful bias that leads people to believe anything that can momentarily numb their conscience.

But then in an almost last ditch attempt to get the Gospel out, he heard a relatively short monologue about what God has done so that sinners can be forgiven and at this moment his whole demeanor changed. Instead of being frustrated and dismissive he started asking questions, he admitted that he had been considering heading back to Church because the life he was living was shallow and unsatisfying and he even said when he is on drugs he often hears voices telling him that he is doing the wrong thing.

He was encouraged to have a read of the Gospel of John and was encouraged to head to a local church in his area!

Please be praying for those who heard the Gospel today and were challenged. Praise God that he uses the means of feeble men and women preaching to bring people to salvation! Please pray specifically for Peter that his hopelessness would find a solution in Christ's worthiness and that he would begin to attend a Church that seeks to accurately represent what God has said.

Please also pray for the others who heard the good news today, that God would draw them unto Himself as they began to read a Bible!

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As usual the team headed into the heart of Brisbane city, on another Saturday night that God had given them, with the intention of sharing the message of the Gospel to those who were willing to listen.

It was exciting to see another night where many conversations were had, again over fifty took place! Praise God for such a wonderful location with so many conversations to be had!

From tonight you can hear Matt raise a couple to pray for, who originally professed Buddhism but as they saw the existence of God, the judgement that sin deserves and that no amount of good deeds or "karma" could ever pay the penalty for bad deeds that there needs to be a better solution!

Praise God that their eyes seemed to be opened and they desired to know about what God had done to save sinners!

Next hear and encouragement from George about two conversations he had with people who were close to Christianity but had misunderstood the person of Jesus and the way to Heaven.

Please be praying for those that heard the message that God would bring them unto salvation!

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As the Wednesday outreach began the team were reminded that summer in Australia hasn't quite left yet. Meaning it was a nice and warm day where many people remained in the square to talk and engage. Due to some team members being away on holiday the team started mostly in the shade near the road, where conversations are harder to start as usual, despite many rejections the team were able to get into conversations and and early conversation was had with an older gentleman.

This man asserted that he would be all okay on judgement day because he was a nice guy. He was shown God's law and tried to brush off his guilt by arguing that God forgives all. He was shown God's utter hatred of evil and that therefore someone must pay. He wasn't keen to talk and hear the good news and was very seriously warned of his current eternal destination, Hell.

There were two similar conversations had with Trudi and Elaine. They both were seated in the square in the shade and were approached and asked about eternity. Both had very little idea about God and then slowly but surely heard piece by piece of who God is and what He has asked of us, how we have failed and what the solution is. Both seemed to be understanding, at least in part and were able to articulate back a simple Gospel.

Please be praying for these two that this exposure to Christianity would lead them to search out more, that they would read a Bible, talk to a Christian friend or even come to a saving knowledge simply through this conversation and want nothing more than to trust in Christ alone for their salvation!

Oppositely later in the afternoon two other conversations were had with Andrew and Brendan. Similarly they knew very little about Christianity but instead of listening, engaging and seeking to understand every time a point was raised or they were shown something that made sense they both simply said, "I don't believe that" or "I think that's just true for you". Instead of humbling themselves to hear what God had said they proudly declared their own foolish ideas and to their loss neither of them came to understand the Gospel.

Please be praying that God would graciously show them their pride and show that their are trying to numb their consciences hiding behind their faulty arguments. Please pray that God may open their eyes and enable them to be willing to listen next time an opportunity is provided for them to hear His good news of salvation for sinners.

An interesting conversation was had with Maree an older lady who wasn't able to chat long, said she had a Catholic background but at the same time said no one would know what would happen after we die. She was shown God's law quickly and therefore it was pointed out that no one can get to Heaven based on their goodness. She had to run to a meeting but was encouraged to read the Gospel of John to see who Jesus really is.

There were other conversations where people responded positively, another lady named Marie, who heard the Gospel and asked for a local Church she could attend and Katie who also was so interested she asked for a contact number for a local pastor so she could find out more!

Please be praying for those who heard that they would remember, reflect and want to know more. Please be praying for those who rejected before hearing that God may do as He pleases but that if it is His will He would graciously let them hear the Gospel and for those who responded positively that they would begin to read their Bibles and start attending local Churches coming to know God more and more each day!

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