Battle Log

New Zealand Mission - Week Three - Dunedin - Day Three

Dunedin is cold!!!  But when you are wearing thermals, bennie, gloves and a brand new woolen jersey (knitted by my amazing Mum - thanks Mum - you are amazing) - you don’t notice!  Others in the team had to do an emergency run to the store to buy thermals and bennies to get them through the day!  Haha.

And what a day.  A bigger team with the addition of two families of missionaries joining us from Christchurch.  In the morning we were at the Uni, and in the afternoon we were at the Octagon.

I was paired up with Samara initially and we managed to have some great chats.  We had a lovely young lady stop and engage, and Samara took her all the way through the mini flip chart.  The lady came to grasp the gospel and seemed deeply impacted by it.  Well done Samara, you did a fantastic job!

I had an older lady go past and accept a tract and a conversation got started.  She was torn - as she needed to be somewhere, so the conversation ended.  But right at the end of the day, while Andy and I were waiting to gain access to the car park - this very same lady came walking past!  We were both surprised to see each other - very providential.  So we fell into an easy conversation, and it turns out she is involved with Christian Science!  (Which is honestly, neither Christian nor Scientific.)  I asked her what her hope for eternal life was, and she couldn’t answer - but she said she wanted to email some information.  I promptly gave her my email address before we parted ways.  Low and behold - I have an email from her within the hour.  I will certainly continue the conversation!

In the afternoon, I was with Jeff and Aliyah.  Pairing with Aliyah initially she also did a fantastic job getting involved with three gospel conversations!  Great job Aliyah.  So awesome seeing Christians growing in their confidence sharing the gospel.  Glory to God.

To finish the day I was able to observe Jeff sharing the gospel with a very open hearted and passionate young man.  Before Jeff was able to observe me doing the same.  It was interesting being able to discuss our differences in method and emphasis and yet see that we were sharing the same core gospel message - which is the power of God for salvation!

Two days left in Dunedin, please continue to pray for the team! :)
 

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New Zealand Mission - Week Three - Dunedin - Day Two

Dunedin is cold!  It was mostly sunny today, but there was a very cold wind.  I’ll be better prepared for the rest of the week.

We started the day's outreach in the Octagon - the center of Dunedin.  There weren’t as many people out as I was expecting (compared to Jan last year), so we would often have to venture out to find fish.  But still, many good conversations were had.

Damien is a Christian who joined us yesterday for lunch, and today he was able to make it for the first half hour or so of the outreach - he was keen to go through the flip chart.  As I was showing it to him, a fish swam past.  I cast my line by asking if he had a minute for a question - a deep one.  He was keen, and so I invited him to try the good person test - a great opportunity for Damien to see it in action!  And it sure was.  The young man was a student from Syria and a Muslim.  We went through the law and the gospel.  He understood it very quickly, but then started gently resisting it.  I had already worked through all the ways people think they can be forgiven, but won’t actually work: good outweighing bad, saying sorry, prayer.  So in his resistance, he tried to raise these reasons and quickly realised he was backed into a corner with the only escape being Jesus.  He softened and said he is currently researching these things.  So I pointed him to the Bible and to Cornerstone International Bible Church (which Damien is a part of) - he seemed very keen.  It was a great chat.

Later I had chats with: a couple of Seventh Day Adventist who had stopped attending fellowship, a couple of electricians on a break, and a young atheist who was starting work soon.

After lunch we moved back to the Uni - outside the Otago Museum.  I LOVE this spot.  Such a flow of people, many who are willing to stop for a chat.  And the chats are so good, people grasp the gospel so quickly and are honest in their response to it.  For example, I had a young lady keen to chat and quickly grasp the gospel.  At the end of the conversation, I checked in to make sure she was still understanding by asking what she would say if God asked her why He should let her into heaven.  She pondered and agreed that she couldn’t point to her goodness anymore, but then she said she knew she wasn’t trusting that Jesus died for her sins.  She was in a pondering phase!  This is great - yet I challenged her to get answers to her questions (she said she had none, but a million at the same time) & pointed her to the Bible and the Church while at the same time showing why there is an urgency to respond.

Another conversation started with me asking if a couple had ever thought about Eternity.  To my surprise the guy asked: “what do you think?”.  From there I explained the law and the gospel - he grasped it very quickly.  And then he started plying me with very good questions - what a joy!

I had an interesting experience approaching a medical student having some relax time - very early I gave him an ‘out’, by asking if he wanted to talk about the deep question I had raised.  He thought about it, and decided he didn’t - but he said something very interesting: “thanks for asking that - most people don’t and I really appreciate you doing it.”  He was happy to receive a tract.  Hopefully he reads it, and the next time a Christian raises a deep question hopefully he will be more willing to engage.

The outreach ended with a wonderful chat with Joe - a philosophy student.  He was very pleasant to talk to, but he started contradicting himself.  The first time he did it, a look of “I’ve been caught” flashed across his face.  But he doubled down and started digging a deeper hole for himself when he continued to contradict himself, time and again.  He even admitted he was being absurd because he loved his sin!  At one point I said, “I wish I was recording this” - it was amazing seeing the lengths he was going to to deny the obvious.  It was hard work, but I was able to get him out of the stratosphere and back to earth so he could hear the law and the gospel.

I know the rest of the team were having great chats too.  Andy had a very very long chat with a Muslim (pictured).

Please keep us in prayer!!!
 

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New Zealand Mission - Week Three - Dunedin - Day One

After attending the Sunday morning church meeting with our own local fellowship, Andy and I did a roadie in the afternoon from Christchurch to Dunedin.  We made it in time to pick up some groceries and then head to our hosts place (for the first two nights): Jeff and Averil Coleman.  There was a small gathering of evangelists and friends for BBQ, some discussion / planning time and prayer.  It was wonderful to be reunited with many we met last year.

In the morning (after a stellar sun rise - glory to God!), we gathered outside Otago Museum and the University (Dunedin is known for its university and student life).  We spent the whole day there.  Conversation after conversation.  As soon as one gospel chat finished, you’d turn and soon be into another!  I love this place!

Multiple times I would get a conversation started with someone that had to go to a lecture, but later in the day, they would go past again and be keen to talk.

One of those talks was with a Christian guy who came back just before lunch and joined in on a flip chart conversation - a look of concern on his face.  He stayed around afterwards and we had a long chat.  His concern seemed to be around who we were and whether we were doing the right thing.  It turns out he has become confused by the culture around him, and what the truth really is.  We talked a lot about abortion, and homosexuality.  I was able to introduce him to Jeff - I really hope he gets in touch to follow up and clear his confusion.

The last two hours of the outreach saw rain, but we managed to keep going under the shelter of trees.

Please continue to pray for the mission, esp. for good sleeps, and energy to make it through each day.
 

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New Zealand Mission - Week Two - Christchurch - Day Five

Well, we are two thirds of the way through the NZ Mission.  Again we focused on the city again today.

I had a great morning.  It started by talking to three sets of Christians in a row.  The second guy pointed at his good deeds as the reason he would be going to heaven.  I indicated that if that is true, I wouldn’t be going to heaven!  And we fell into a good chat from there.  I worked to explain my reasoning, taking him through the law and the gospel.  And yet, strangely, he kept insisting his good deeds would get him to heaven!  I laboured on the serious nature of sin, why it’s impossible to be good (perfect) and scriptures that teach justification by faith alone.  But nothing would convince him outwardly, but I think he was challenged, he took tracts and a church contact card.

We moved to the bus exchange, and I was able to hand out quite a few tracts before falling into a great conversation with an Indian guy who looked familiar, yet I couldn’t place him.  The concept of grace was very unfamiliar to him, and so I really had to labour to get him to understand the gospel.  Checking questions helped greatly.  Even after considering the cost, he seemed like there was nothing stopping him from trusting Christ’s sacrifice.  He downloaded a Bible and I set it to John and I invited him to a church meeting.  He has my mobile # and asked him to text me - nothing so far :(  I leave him in God’s hands.

We had lunch at the Square (pictured) where John joined us - he is new to us and joined for some training (pictured with Andy in gospel conversations).  We didn’t open air preach today, instead moving back to Cashel Mall for the afternoon of outreach.  Roger and Graeme joined us, and so did Keith for a while.  The afternoon was a bit slower and harder than the morning.  I had a period where I experience a fair amount of drive by hate from those walking past.  Yet there were many gospel opportunities!

So, that’s the Christchurch leg complete - next up Dunedin!  Please pray for:
Safe travels for those coming from Nelson and Christchurch to join with the church down south.
Unity among the team that will form for the week.
That many would hear the gospel!
That the church would be encouraged in evangelism.
That God would be glorified!

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New Zealand Mission - Week Two - Christchurch - Day Four

Today we started with gospel + abortion outreach outside the hospital.  A team of eight.  It started out peacefully, but then four counter protesters arrived, and then more, and the more.  I lost count how many there were - 13?  They were pretty well behaved, and so things proceeded peacefully.  They would try to bait us into long distance exchange, but we wouldn’t - if they come up to talk reasonably, we are more than happy.

And we really want to talk!  So Andy did something brilliant, he moved across from the main line, just down from where the protesters were.  They couldn’t resist, and so a group of them moved down to talk to him.  Sonya then went and engaged the other group.  Two sets of conversations were away - praise God!

Later, one of our original counter protesters turned up - a bit of a ring leader.  They put on some music with filthy language and paraded and danced in front of us.  Then a song came on talking about hatred and how wrong it is, and then the song started talking about how they hated those that hated them!  How ironic!  And the amazing thing is - we don’t hate them, we don’t hate anyone, even our enemies.  Very sad indeed.

We wrapped up the outreach and gathered to pray, they played the music right behind me while this was happening.  We prayed for them!  We want the best for them.

The team split up, a few of us headed into the city.  Andy stayed behind because he fell into a wonderful gospel conversation with an Asian couple who came to grasp the gospel and want to start coming to church!

In the city, Marty open air preached the gospel using the NZ national anthem.  Later, a large group of school kids turned up just before Andy was due to preach - perfect timing.  Many of the students started listening, and even engaging with questions and responses.  Not surprisingly, the teachers gathered up the students and moved on, but not before Andy was able to touch on the gospel.  He continued to preach - one of our regular hecklers arrived to interact.

After lunch, a team of three continued with one to one gospel conversation on High Street and Cashel Mall.  Many wonderful conversations.

The highlight for me was the last conversation I had.  I was handing out Eternity tracts.  A guy refused the tract, but he heard me ask: “What do you think happens in Eternity?”  To my surprise, a minute later, the guy came back and engaged me in conversation.  Just then, a busker came down to join the conversation - and yet she ended up killing it.  The situation was out of my hands.  I just prayed I would be able to get back to the original conversation.  The guy wasn’t going anywhere, and the girl wasn’t going anywhere, so there was a bit of a stalemate.  Eventually the girl gave up and moved on, and then the guy said: “I’ve been going to a Bible study.”  Later he said that my question had caused him to come back.  We sat down and had a long chat.  Turns out he had nearly died a year ago, and since then he had turned back to Jesus.  He really wanted to talk, and so I let him, trying to respond appropriately.  My initial checking question revealed an understanding of the gospel.  The guy had to go, but he wanted my contact details before he left.  He said he would be in touch - I’m more hopeful than usual that he will!

Team - again, thanks for your prayers.  Prayer for energy and strength, and that God would be glorified in what we do.
 

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New Zealand Mission - Week Two - Christchurch - Day Three

Today we focused on outreach in the city.  With a team of three there were more than enough people around to keep us busy in one to one gospel conversations.

We started in the Square, moved to Cashel via Colombo, and then down Cashel to the Bridge of Remembrance.  Having conversations as we went.

After some time at the Bridge, we followed the same track backwards to the Square.  One conversation that really stood out for me was one Craig and I had with an older guy from Ashburton.  He was happy to talk and it turned out he was a Christian.  We chatted for a bit, and then I said, “please don’t be offended, but because I don’t know you, I want to check - why can God let us into heaven?”  (I wanted to know what he thought it meant to be a Christian.)  Well, he got offended!  “I’m not answering that, I’m a Christian, I’m not interested in debates.”  We chatted some more, and I tried again - but he shut me down.  Bemused, we parted ways soon after that.

We had lunch in the Square, and then decided to head towards Ara.  We spent the first hour in conversations with people on the way before Andy insisted we move on - he wanted to get to the students!

The rain came, but it didn’t stop the team from having many chats down by Ara.  Craig had some great chats.  Andy got into a long chat with a Jewish guy - deeply religious, and they had the Bible out in deep discussion.  And I had great chats too.

Two days of mission to go in Christchurch - please keep us in prayer!  Thank you so much.

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New Zealand Mission - Week Two - Christchurch - Day Two

Today a team of four were at Northlands in the morning and then in New Brighton in the afternoon.

The bus stops weren’t busy - four evangelists was a bit much saturation!  So a couple of us stayed at the bus stops, while the other two went searching down Papanui Road.

One encounter was quite interesting.  Andy was talking to someone about the gospel while an elderly lady was listening from a distance.  After his chat, he approached the lady - she didn’t want to talk, but accepted a tract and said she would read it when she got home - fair enough.

Well, soon after I was talking to Andy and we noticed some new people gathering near the elderly lady.  I went over to engage them, but was told by Andy he had already approached her.  One of the guys took a tract, the other was willing to engage for a short time before his bus arrived and he had to go.  But I was using different tracts to Andy and the elderly lady noticed.  She asked if she could have a copy of my one too!  She still didn’t want to talk, but was happy to take tracts.  I gave her two kinds, so she had three in total.  People are interested!

But by eleven o’clock, we decided it would be more fruitful at New Brighton, so we made the move early.

Before lunch we had some great chats.  I offered a tract to a guy at the car park - who accepted it.  Soon after, Sophie came across him again on the Pier and she had a wonderful gospel chat with him!

After lunch I had a VERY long chat with two people who were drinking alcohol.  It wasn’t your usual gospel chat, I had to be patient, and listen as there was real openness and yet real resistance.  It was like a spiritual battle.  We talked about many things, but multiple times I was able to go over the law and the gospel.  I could see understanding in one of them, but hopelessness at the same time.  It was like it was impossible for them - and it is, but not for God!  There was a moment when I said, “It’s not try, but trust…”  something clicked and one pulled out their notebook and wrote it down!  I hope they don’t misunderstand.  I used checking questions at the end.  When I finally moved on, we had some deep hugs.  I could tell they were impacted.  Oh God, I can’t save them, only you can.  Only you can change our hearts, and break these evil addictions.  I leave these precious people in your hands!

After this the team focused on the mall area - there weren’t many people, but enough to keep us busy.  Many heard the gospel - including a pirate!  Glory to God alone.  Give us strength to continue in this mission Lord.
 

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New Zealand Mission - Week Two - Christchurch - Day One

It was a lot cooler this morning in Christchurch than what I’m used to up in Whangarei!  Autumn is arriving!  We started this leg of the mission in Riccarton, and then moved to Eastgate in the afternoon.  A team of three today.  Craig has joined Andy & I for the week from windy Wellington.

A bit of a slow start in Riccarton (for me) - I manned a flip chart, while Andy & Craig paired up and approached people.  But then I started to have a great run of conversations.

There was a Muslim guy who was clearly looking at his good deeds to save him.  He heard the law and gospel.  At one point he looked at his watch - usually a que to say “I need to go”.  So I gave him the option of leaving - to my surprise he said, “no, I have some time - it’s okay”.  Encouraging that he wanted to stay.

I had an elderly guy go past me a few times, the first time he refused a tract and an offer for a chat, so I didn’t bother him the second time.  But on the third time, he approached me!  He said, “I think I’ll take one of those things” - accepting a tract!  We started chatting, and he said he didn’t believe in that Bible stuff, scientists have proved x, y, z.  I think he was expecting me to fight - but I decided not to.  I was just overjoyed that he felt safe enough to approach this “crazy” Christian guy.  But oh how I wanted to engage him - but I could just tell he wasn’t ready or willing for it.  We chatted politely for a few minutes before he moved on.

The last interesting engagement of the morning was when I was paired with Craig.  I offered a tract to a guy who used to be a pastor for twenty years, but who was now apostate.  I so desperately wanted to talk with him, but he was a closed book that refused to open.  He even handed the tract back.

We had lunch together before making our way to Eastgate for the afternoon.  The highlight chat was with two guys waiting for their bus.  They followed the logic of the gospel presentation flawlessly, I was so encouraged at how fast they got it, and with no resistance.  I could tell one of them was counting the cost of the gift as I walked away.

Thank you for your continued prayer for the three week NZ Mission!
 

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New Zealand Mission - Whangarei - Day Six

Well, this was going to be a five day mission split over Auckland and Whangarei but - in God’s sovereign plan, due to Covid lockdown in Auckland - ended up being a six day outreach all in Whangarei!  And what a wonderful week it’s been, so wonderful seeing the Christian’s in Whangarei getting involved, being challenged, encouraged and equipped for the great commission.  I have made many new friends, and existing relationships are deepening.  A BIG thank you to all in Whangarei that were involved!  Forget the things we (Andy & I) did wrong, and remember we (all of us) do this in God’s strength.  May the gospel continue to go forth in Whangarei! :)  Glory to God alone.

I’m currently sitting in Whangarei airport after a morning outreach in Cameron Street Mall.  At least ten Christians were involved: prayer, observation, pairing, tracts and conversations.

I spent a lot of time with Christians, answering questions, and explaining the pages of the flip chart.

Then a group of teen guys came past - including one I had talked to a previous day.  I asked if they wanted to do the good person test, they were keen, and suddenly I was focusing on four of these guys, plus some Christians keen to see what they had been learning in action (pictured).  It was an amazing conversation, where almost every page of the flip chart was utilised.  They came to understand the gospel (checking questions confirming), and were challenged to respond after counting the cost.  One of the guys was asking good deep questions, showing his engagement, e.g.: “Why is God allowing Covid?”.  And the crowd gathered a crowd, I had multiple people stop and listen to part of the conversation - including a lovely lady - elderly Maroi lady, dressed up fancy.  She had a mixture of concentration and laughter as I engaged with the boys.  She even got involved by answering some of the questions herself.  Half way through she had to go, but she thanked me, and took a tract.

I was exhausted afterwards, but overjoyed that the Christians watching had seen such a good example of the gospel being shared in action.

THANK YOU to the church in Whangarei - esp. Clark Road Chapel.  Thank you to our wonderful hosts for letting Andy & I stay in your homes, and feeding us.  For all your sacrifice and service, may God bless you!

Oh Lord, thank you for getting us through this wonderful week, and answering our desperate prayers for you help in this endeavour.  Have mercy and save people.  Continue to encourage the church.  Correct us when we get it wrong.   We love you JESUS!  Glory to you alone!
 

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New Zealand Mission - Whangarei - Day Five

What an exciting day!  There were earthquakes off the coast overnight and in the morning (I didn’t feel them).  As we were about to head off to the first outreach of the day at the town basin, we became aware of a Tsunami warning.  After some debate, we decided to change the outreach to Kamo - which is high ground.  Some of the team didn’t make it!  Because our phones started receiving emergency warnings (we received many through the day).  Richard, Christine & Andy had to head for high ground somewhere else… but that was fine, because everyone else was heading for the same high ground, they had opportunities to share the gospel where they were.

A team of about seven made it to Kamo - and it was hot!  We ended up shifting the flip chart to the other side of the street to get into the shade.  I’m glad we did, because we ended up having a wonderfully long conversation with four young teen guys.  They came to grasp the gospel, and then they started asking really good questions.  One of them said: “I’ve learned more just now than I have at school”!  But another of them started processing the cost of the gift, and became resistant.  I exhausted their questions, and all my analogies - but they just didn’t want to leave - how good is that!

After lunch we went to Tikipunga for a change of scene.  As we parked the car, I noticed two guys sitting on a bench in the shade, and I knew that would be a good conversation.  And it was, it was the best conversation of the whole week so far.  Because these two guys were so laid back, Phil and I were able to slow right down and really work through the law and gospel and make sure they really understood.  The checking questions were really powerful, and they seemed to be blown away by the gospel.  One of the guys said, “You’ve changed my mind”, and “I believe that Jesus died for my sins”.  But they were both very engaged.  They were pointed to the Bible and to Clark Road Chapel before they moved on.

We moved back to Kamo for the last hour, and the high school kids were streaming past allowing many opportunities for gospel conversations.  Phil and I got into a lovely chat - almost as good as the last one!  The kid didn’t come from a religious home, but he was a deep thinker and thought about the afterlife all the time.  He already knew there must be a God, and so he heard the law and the gospel.  He really came to grasp it through the checking questions, and I could see him looking intently at nothing as Phil encouraged him towards a Bible and Clark Road Chapel.

Andy made it safely to the airport - praise God.  As my flights home were cancelled earlier in the week, I am now flying out Saturday afternoon, so there will be a final Saturday morning outreach tomorrow.  Thank you for your continued prayer!  Glory to God alone. :)
 

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