SOS-San Francisco
June 28-July 6
“I solemnly urge you…to preach the Word of God urgently at all times, whenever you get the chance, in season and out, when it is convenient and when it is not” (2 Tim 4:1). “And let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we will reap if we faint not” (Gal. 6:9).
Dear Christian friends,
Perhaps you read about the soldier who returned from Saudi Arabia to his home in Detroit. Soon after he arrived, he was murdered on the streets. The article noted that it was safer to fight in Iraq than live in many of our cities.
For the past forty years, Christians have been moving out of our cities into the suburbs. Without a strong gospel witness, city people turned to drugs, sexual immorality and crime. When these problems spread to the suburbs, we could no longer ignore them. Despite the billions of dollars we have spent on social programs, education and law enforcement, things have only gotten worse. The only solution is for people to turn to Jesus Christ.
Sixteen years ago, God called me to preach the gospel to the people of San Francisco. During the early years of this ministry, some Christians thought that God would save multitudes in this city within a year or two as a result of our prayers and evangelism. Others were convinced that God would soon destroy this city because of its wickedness.
We Americans are used to instant foods and instant cash machines. But God’s ways are not our ways. It takes time for prayer and evangelism to bear fruit. A day is with the Lord as a thousand years. So 16 years is but a few minutes according to God’s time. God never told me the timing or size of the harvest we would see in this city. He only told me to keep preaching the gospel here. “Whether they listen or fail to listen–for they are a rebellious house–they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words” (Ezek. 2:5-6). Noah preached God’s word for perhaps 600 years, but only his family was saved. Jonah preached a message of judgment without love for a few days, and everyone repented.
Some have said we should “shake the dust from our feet” and leave San Francisco to the devil. This concept is used three times in the New Testament. In each case it refers to rejection of the gospel by Jews in smaller cities. The apostles continued to evangelize the key cities of their day (such as Jerusalem and Rome) even though they were rejected and persecuted.
San Francisco is certainly one of the most influential cities in the world, along with New York, Los Angeles and a few other places. Its influence has been almost totally for evil. I certainly believe that we need to reach the whole world, especially those places with no gospel witness. While most San Franciscans have heard about Jesus, they have seen a lot more religious hypocrisy than real Christianity. And there are thousands of children, immigrants and tourists here who have never heard the gospel. This city is still the third most popular tourist destination in the world.
So for the twelfth year we are sending out an “SOS” — a call for Christians to “preach the Word of God urgently” (2 Tim. 4:1) to the people of San Francisco. God also wants to use this outreach to shake us from our spiritual apathy and lukewarmness and give us a new excitement about serving Jesus. Those who think Christianity is boring have never been to SOS-San Francisco.
Outreach Details
This year’s SOS outreach is co-sponsored by Youth With a Mission. They will be helping us expand the outreach into new areas: a Torch Run, prayer teams, drama teams, mercy ministries, King’s Kids children’s ministry, and ministries to the Russian, Asian, and Hispanic communities. We are also planning a special event for July 4. If you are not comfortable with “confrontational” street witnessing, you can get involved with a prayer team or one of these other ministries.
We have scheduled two special guest speakers for this year’s outreach. Both will help you become more effective in preaching the gospel and getting fired up for Jesus. Ray Comfort is an evangelist from New Zealand who recently moved to Southern California. He preaches regularly in Los Angeles and teaches evangelism to Christians around the world. He is also a prolific writer, and has written twenty-three books. His most recent book is on the mid-east situation as it relates to Bible prophesy.
Phil Aguilar is pastor and founder of one of the most exciting churches in America. Set Free Christian Fellowship in Anaheim began 9 years ago and has grown to a congregation of about 4000. Set Free currently runs a dozen discipleship homes plus ranches in California, Texas and Illinois. They are very active in evangelism and have a special ministry to gangs, bikers and low riders. Their ministry involves a radical view of discipleship and Christian community much like the early church.
We have printed 5000 posters and will soon be printing 40,000 bulletin inserts to let people know about this outreach. Please help us get this literature to churches, Christian bookstores, and Christian schools in your area. Also, you can give it out at Christian concerts and other events. A card has been enclosed to order literature. Also, talk with your pastor and Christian friends and encourage them to get involved. Set aside the week of June 28-July 6 to attend the SOS outreach and bring a friend.
We have enclosed a registration form with this letter. If you register by June 1, you will also receive a free SOS T-shirt. Free housing is available during the outreach. Bring a sleeping bag and foam pad. We are planning to serve breakfast and lunch from July 1-6. We hope to serve dinners also, and will let you know later if we can do this.
Meetings are scheduled daily except Sunday at 9 AM and 6 PM (7 PM on Friday and Saturday). From the evening of June 28 to June 30, we will meet at the Vineyard Christian Fellowship, 151 10th St. near Mission. From July 1-6, meetings will be held at Russian Gospel Temple, 2233 17th St. near San Bruno St. We suggest you call before coming so we can advise you of any last-minute change in plans [(415) 531-5325].
DON’T DELAY. SEND IN YOUR SOS REGISTRATION FORM TODAY!
Ministry News
Before each outreach, I receive calls from people asking if we still have our outreach if it rains. The answer is YES. The Powell St. BART station has a large covered area. It did rain during the Chinese New Year Parade Outreach, but we ministered to thousands of people as they arrived for the parade. We were especially happy to have Chuck Girard join us. Chuck was doing some concerts in the area so he sang and ministered with us. Also, Tim Charles has organized a new outreach group from New Life Christian Church, which led us in a wonderful time of worship. We were able to pray with many people for salvation and other needs. That evening, we witnessed to many people along the parade route and gave out thousands of special Chinese/English tracts. We also had worship rallies on February 9 and March 16 with Reachout Ministries from Jubilee Christian Center, San Jose. They also will be joining us on April 27 (note the date change).
During the past month, we also witnessed on Fridays at Fisherman’s Wharf, Polk St., Mission St., Haight St. and Castro St. On Saturdays, we witnessed in Berkeley with the Neighborhood Church and in downtown Oakland at a block party and a housing project with Shiloh Christian Fellowship and several other churches.
On Saturday April 20 we will join with New Hope Christian Fellowship for a celebration of Israel Independence Day. Christians from several churches will be joining together to show our support for Israel. “I will bless them that bless you and curse them that curse you” Gen 12:3. Time and meeting place—
Ministry Needs
Once again we want to thank you for your prayers and support for this ministry. Our expenses are always greatest in the spring as we prepare for SOS-San Francisco. Also, the recent postage rate change increased our mailing costs by 25%. We finally got the copy machine we have been praying for. It is a used machine, but produces excellent copies.
We still need Christians to live in our ministry house. This house is not for new believers but for those who are ready for evangelism ministry. Be prepared for spiritual warfare. Satan views everyone who moves into this house as a threat to his kingdom and will try every scheme to get you to leave. We are looking for soldiers who will endure hardship and persist in God’s calling to evangelize the San Francisco Bay Area.
Our Tape of the Month is “Ministry to Family, Friends and Co-workers” by Rick Rael. Rick is an evangelist from Colorado and this teaching will help you become more effective in this important ministry that all of us are called to.
Please continue to pray for us as we prepare for SOS-San Francisco. Because of the extra people who will be involved and the extra ministries we will be doing, it will be more difficult to organize. We need God’s wisdom in putting everything together. Pray that God will provide places to house and feed everyone, people to help with cooking and babysitting, and that He will guide us in every area of the planning. God bless you all. Don’t forget to order SOS posters and bulletin inserts, and to send in your registration form by June 1 to get a free T-shirt.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum
