- [Nathaniel] Australia is experiencing
some of the worst fires we've ever seen.
My family and I live in New South Wales
and for the third time this season,
our government has declared a state of emergency.
But in the midst of this, more people are praying
to God than I've even seen before,
including people that wouldn't usually pray.
- [Man] These sirens started up,
and at that point, I was praying.
(laughs) I was an atheist mate for 25 years.
I don't pray to the Lord very often,
but yesterday
I've never prayed so hard in all my life!
- [Nathaniel] In this tumultuous time,
many Christian groups are gathering to pray.
- My church congregation have been asked
to pray and fast for rain.
- [Nathaniel] And prayer is extremely important.
But how many of us are actively finding ways
to share the gospel in a country crying out for hope?
Watch can be done whilst at a park with my family.
Where are we gonna go?
- To the park!
- Using three simple questions
and a 20-second video on my phone.
I've been stunned by what's happened,
as I know you guys would have, in the last three months.
There's fires all over Australia at the moment.
It's probably some of the worst fires we've seen
in maybe even in Australian history.
- It's really scary.
We holidayed in Lake Conjola in November,
and it's burnt down there.
- Yeah. - Are you for real?
- Yeah. - Yeah, so the whole entry--
- The whole entry into Lake Conjola--
- Just on New Year's. - Is gone, it's insane.
- My goodness!
And you guys, I'm sure, would agree with this,
but Australians, when things are difficult,
they seem to get together and really give
each other a hand; have you guys found that?
- Yeah, we actually did that, we all got together
and put some money in and bought some beers and ciders
for the guys at Wyoming.
- A lot of people have opened their homes
to people that have been evacuated.
- Yeah, you band together to help your fellow man,
which is a good thing to see,
especially when you're experiencing
scary situations, like the fires.
- Yeah, absolutely, and speaking of scary situations,
something I've found, that Australians are doing more
than any other time that I remember, is really praying!
Even some people who don't usually pray have been praying.
Let me show you a little video example of this.
This is just from ABC
and Channel 7, have a look at this.
- [Man] These sirens started up,
and at that point, I was praying.
I was praying to God, I was praying to Jesus
to turn the wind.
- The team here is amazing, and it's due to them
(laughs) I was an atheist mate for 25 years.
and the prayers from the whole country that we survived.
- Yesterday I thought I was gonna die, I really did!
And I don't pray to the Lord very often,
but yesterday, (chuckles)
I've never prayed so hard in all my life!
- Why do you think that people, when their life's in risk,
or they're in a dire situation like we are at the moment,
why do you think people turn to God, turn to prayer?
- I think it's a bit of a natural instinct.
- No matter what you believe in, there's a creator,
and you wanna know that that creator has got your back,
and is there for the people. - Yeah.
- And we're atheists, and I would do the same thing,
I would pray, yeah. - That's interesting.
- Yeah, I'd agree with that, yeah.
- People run out of options
and feel that they have to look for something,
I guess, beyond themselves.
- I think it's also the hope that there's
something else that could help.
- It's often a last hope, I guess, for people.
- When there's tragedy, people tend to realize
that they're not always in control,
and it gives them reassurance to reach out
to someone higher than them.
- Have you found yourself at all
calling out to God or praying recently?
- Yeah, I (chuckles) had a meltdown on New Year's Eve,
with the fires up at Charmhaven.
- I can't say that I have; I'm not religious.
- Well, I'm Christian, so I do try to (chuckles)
and not just in times of strife, like now,
with the bushfires, but every day as well.
- Have you found yourself turning to prayer
in the midst of any of this?
- Yeah, yeah. - All the time, yeah!
To be honest, don't know who to,
but it's to someone out there listening.
You just hope for the best for everyone.
- Yeah I pray regularly.
- [Nathaniel] After just a few questions and a short video,
people were open to hearing the gospel.
- It says in the Bible that God has put eternity
on men's hearts, and we know
that we're not gonna live forever.
- [Nathaniel] As well as a presentation called the Three Circles.
- This first circle represents brokenness.
We weren't made for brokenness.
We were made for something called God's perfect design.
But we, as humans, we turned away from God,
and something called sin separated us from Him.
- [Nathaniel] People allowed us to pray with them.
Lord, we thank you for Australia.
- We just ask that you would send rain
to put these fires out-
- [Nathaniel] And we were able to plant seeds in the lives
in the lives of those who haven’t yet received Christ.
-I would encourage you not to wait
until times get difficult.
I want you guys to have eternal
inheritance with Him in heaven.
say, "Jesus, I need you as my Savior.
"Today, I give my life to you," just in your own time.
We were also able to encourage other Christians to share their faith.
So I encourage you guys as Christians, as well.
People are really ready and opened at the moment-
Do you think a conversation like what I’ve just chatted with you guys about
could be an encouragement to Christians to step out and chat to people
about what’s going on at the moment?
Yeah definitely! It certainly is an important opportunity more than ever
to be what we’ve been taught and what we’ve been committed to do as Christians.
- [Nathaniel] An important opportunity Christians can even take
at a park with kids. (children laughing)
Please pray for Australia through this crisis.
But whether your country's in crisis or not,
if you’re a Christian share the gospel,
and if you're not sure where to start,
try asking people a few simple questions.
If you’re a Christian and you want to grow in sharing your faith
take a look at Silence Breakers. It’s an online course
and like all of our content it’s available free of charge. ￼
head to silencebreakers.com