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Coming Events
Note: Outreaches are subject to change. Call (510) 282-5629 to confirm outreaches or for more information. We may change the outreach location when rain is likely.
Friday January 31, Feb. 14, 21, and 28 6 – 9 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods.
Sat. February 1 and 15 11 AM — 4 PM Fisherman’s Wharf outreach, Jefferson St. at Powell San Francisco.
Sat. February 22 12:30-4:30 PM Berkeley outreach. (call for location)
Prominent Atheist Saved
Dear Christian friends,
Kirsten Powers is a commentator for Newsweek, USA Today, and Fox News. Recently she gave her testimony in Christianity Today. It shows some of the challenges of reaching people with the gospel in today’s world, and the power of God to reach those who seem to be the most resistant to the gospel message. (The quotes below are from this interview.) She grew up in an Episcopal home, but didn’t have a strong faith in God. When she went to college, she lost any faith and wavered between atheism and agnosticism.
After college, she got involved in Democratic politics and worked for the Clinton administration from 1992-1998. Afterwards, she moved to New York, where her friends were aggressively atheist.
“I sometimes hear Christians talk about how terrible life must be for atheists” she wrote. “But our lives were not terrible. Life actually seemed pretty wonderful, filled with opportunity and good conversation and privilege. I know now that it was not as wonderful as it could have been. But you don’t know what you don’t know. How could I have missed something I didn’t think existed?”
However, she started dating a man who told her that Jesus is his Savior. He said he was thinking about marriage but could not marry a non-Christian. This man was well-educated and intellectually curious, yet he believed in Jesus. He asked her if she could keep an open mind about this. She remembered thinking “What if this is true, and I’m not even willing to consider it?”
Eventually, she went to church with him at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York. She thought the praise music was strange, but was quite interested in the pastor’s message. “[Pastor] Tim Keller’s sermon was intellectually rigorous, weaving in art and history and philosophy. I decided to come back to hear him again. Soon, hearing Keller speak on Sunday became the highlight of my week. I thought of it as just an interesting lecture—not really church. I just tolerated the rest of it in order to hear him.
“Each week, Keller made the case for Christianity. He also made the case against atheism and agnosticism. He expertly exposed the intellectual weaknesses of a purely secular worldview. I came to realize that even if Christianity wasn’t the real thing, neither was atheism.
“I began to read the Bible. My boyfriend would pray with me for God to reveal himself to me. After about eight months of going to hear Keller, I concluded that the weight of evidence was on the side of Christianity. But I didn’t feel any connection to God, and frankly, I was fine with that.
“Then one night in 2006, on a trip to Taiwan, I woke up in what felt like a strange cross between a dream and reality. Jesus came to me and said, ‘Here I am.’ It felt so real. I didn’t know what to make of it. I called my boyfriend, but before I had time to tell him about it, he told me he had been praying the night before and felt we were supposed to break up. So we did. Honestly, while I was upset, I was more traumatized by Jesus visiting me.
“When I returned to New York a few days later, I was lost. I suddenly felt God everywhere and it was terrifying….I didn’t know what to do, so I spoke with writer Eric Metaxas, whom I had met through my boyfriend and who had talked with me quite a bit about God. ‘You need to be in a Bible study,’ he said….I remember walking into the Bible study….In my mind, only weirdoes and zealots went to Bible studies. I don’t remember what was said that day. All I know is that when I left, everything had changed. I’ll never forget standing outside that apartment on the Upper East Side and saying to myself, ‘It’s true. It’s completely true.’ The world looked entirely different, like a veil had been lifted off it. I had not an iota of doubt. I was filled with indescribable joy.
“The horror of the prospect of being a devout Christian crept back in almost immediately. I spent the next few months doing my best to wrestle away from God. It was pointless. Everywhere I turned, there he was. Slowly there was less fear and more joy. The Hound of Heaven had pursued me and caught me—whether I liked it or not.”
On the Streets
On Friday Dec. 13 we witnessed at Powell and Market St. in San Francisco. We had heard that the police were starting to prohibit any amplifiers at that location, but we had no problem that night, even though several officers passed us. A group of Jehovah’s Witnesses set up near us with a literature rack. Eddie approached them and spoke with one of their leaders, Cam, for about 30 minutes. He made sure he spoke loudly enough that the others could hear him. Most of the group was from a small town in Texas. Eddie asked him how he could be forgiven for his sins and be saved. Cam had a hard time answering him. Dave witnessed to Jerry and Anna, both of whom were receptive to the gospel. Later on, Mike witnessed to Anna in Spanish.
The next day, we witnessed in downtown Berkeley. James Croci played Christmas carols and other worship songs. Dave witnessed to Yvonne, who had read the Bible but didn’t understand it. Like many, she got lost in the Old Testament genealogies. He also witnessed to Louis, who had noticed all the attacks on Christians around the world. Mike bought Shane some food and witnessed to him. I witnessed to Felix, a Berkeley high student, and gave him a New Testament, which he said he would read. I also witnessed to Ali, a Muslim from Yemen, and Tensen, an ex-Buddhist, both Berkeley high students. Finally, I spoke with Noah and Nathan. They remembered that I had witnessed to them five years ago when they were in middle school in Berkeley. Now they are college freshmen.
On Friday Dec. 20 we again witnessed at Powell and Market St. This is the heart of San Francisco’s shopping district, and there were thousands of people in the area, many doing their Christmas shopping. Again there was a group of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the area. Dave witnessed to one of them, Aaron, for an hour. As he showed him several scriptures, Aaron said, “I’ve never seen that before. I’ll have to do my homework.” He also witnessed to William, about 18, a Muslim from a Christian home. He was quite receptive to the gospel. Finally, he witnessed to Joe, a homeless man. He bought him some food and shared the gospel with him. Eddie shared the gospel with a Muslim. Afterwards, he renounced Islam!
The next day, we witnessed half a block away, at 5th St. and Market. Tim Moon played Christmas carols and worship songs. Dave witnessed to Derek, a Jehovah’s Witness, for 45 minutes. He asked him “Are you forgiven right now?” He responded, “I don’t know. I hope so.” He also witnessed to Ricardo, from Peru. He read one of our tracts and realized he was not a good person. Dave shared the gospel with him.
Mike ministered to Raymond, 34, who lives in a downtown hotel, for 1 ½ hours. Raymond is a new believer and lonely, with no Christian fellowship. Mike has met with Raymond several times since that day.
Ministry Needs
Thank you for your prayers and financial support for the ministry. We still have openings in our evangelism house in Oakland for Christians with a serious interest in evangelism. We are particularly looking for Christians in their 20’s or 30’s. We need to reach the younger generation for Jesus.
This past month I got a message on Facebook from Keith. I had known Keith for 40 years but I had not realized that I was one of the people who first witnessed to him. Keith told me that I had witnessed to him on the University of Oregon campus 40 years ago and he was saved as a result. He is now married, lives in Seattle and is still walking strongly with Jesus.
Please pray for those we have witnessed to recently, especially those mentioned in this newsletter.
As we move into the rainy season, our outreach location depends on the weather. The weather is often uncertain, so it is best to call us a few hours before the outreach – 3 PM for Friday night outreaches and 9 AM for Saturday afternoon outreaches.
I hope some of you will join one of our outreaches this next month.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum