Back to Batchwood

Last Friday I took a group from the current September DTS (Discipleship Training School) to Batchwood (a local club). Where we give out water and lollies to the folks coming and going to the club, and talk with the people we meet if they want to. A group of us goes there most Friday’s and it’s always really good. 

It’s been a few months since I last went, as I was away leading a short-term mission trip, so it was really nice to see the bouncers again and catch up with them, they always enjoy having us come down. The club was not as busy as it has been, but everyone who came with me ended up in significant conversations with people. I spent about 45 minutes chatting with a guy called Matt before him and his mates headed off. His comment to me was that it is really nice to be able to talk with someone who listens. He had some really deep questions that he wanted to talk about, but said he has found it really difficult to find anyone to be able to talk with. He was really open to God and very close to actually making a commitment to follow Christ.

One of the guys we talked with (on the left)

We did not manage to pass out all the water that we took, but we certainly blessed a few people, including all the taxi drivers that come and wait for the club goer’s at the end of the night. It is really nice to go and reach out, and do something that people do not fully understand, but really appreciate. So many said that it was really cool what we were doing. We all had a lot of fun, and I ended up going to bed about 5am on Saturday.

Something Matt said to me really got me thinking, “You get two types of people, those who listen to listen and those who listen to talk.” If Christians are really going to be people who make a difference to the those around us then we need to get good at listening to them, and hearing where they’re at and what’s going on in their lives, not just engaging with people to try and tell them things that maybe they are not in a place to hear.

Being in Church is great, being with other Christians and encouraging each other, but we need to get out there as well. I really believe that Jesus is walking the streets, and you see so much of God’s heart for you and those you meet when you go on that walk with Jesus.