Legal Update
Dear Christian friends,
On January 31, during a Friday night outreach on Broadway St., John Hurst was arrested and taken to jail for singing a Christian worship song on the street. When asked why they were arresting him, the officer said, “We only do what they send us out here to do.” John was held for an hour before being released. He was cited with an infraction for “disturbing the peace.”
The trial was set for May 15. Because he was charged with an infraction (like a traffic ticket), it was heard by Commissioner George Colbert instead of by a judge. Our attorney had submitted a “Motion to Dismiss,” arguing that the activity was protected by the Constitution. On May 15, Officer Cooke was present to prosecute John. But Commissioner Colbert said that he had read the Motion to Dismiss and that he agreed that the activity was a “constitutionally protected activity.” Case dismissed! The arresting officer wasn’t allowed to say a word!
We are very happy that this Commissioner could see the obvious. But Eric Livingston still faces six misdemeanor counts of “disturbing the peace” (potentially involving over a year in jail.) We are filing a more extensive Motion to Dismiss. Please pray that Judge Kevin Young will dismiss these charges so we can avoid a lengthy trial. The trial if needed is scheduled for August 22.
If you get this letter before July 12, we urge you to join us for this year’s SOS outreach. We hold meetings daily at 9 AM and 6 PM at the Vineyard Church, 7th St. and Harrison, San Francisco. The outreach begins on Friday July 4 at 9 AM. Come and join us when ever you can, even if only for one day. If you haven’t mailed in your registration form, bring it with you. If you cannot afford the registration fee, come anyway.
Outreach speakers include Danny Lehmann, director of Youth With a Mission, Hawaii and author of several books on evangelism and discipleship, including Bringing ’em Back Alive; Ed Silvoso, Director of Harvest Evangelism and a leader in the Argentina revival; Michael Brodeur, pastor of the San Francisco Vineyard; Gary Goodell, Pastor, West San Diego Vineyard; and Steve Sjogren, Pastor of the Cincinnati Vineyard and author of A Conspiracy of Kindness, a teaching on servant evangelism. Danny Lehmann, Michael Brodeur and Gary Goodell are all founding members of SOS Ministries.
Musicians include Barry McGuire and Terry Talbot. Both were successful secular musicians before they were saved. Barry also starred in the original Broadway production of “Hair.” When they became Christians, both were prominent in the “Jesus Movement” and recorded numerous Christian albums. Christafari uses a reggae sound to bring forth the gospel message. They made the top 5 Critics’ Choice on Billboard’s Reggae 1996 Chart and appeared at the 1997 Presidential Inaugural Celebration. Also ministering will be the Lower Than Angels Band, an alternative worship group.
This summer is the 30th anniversary of the “Summer of Love.” Hundreds of people still come to San Francisco as a “spiritual mecca,” looking for love, peace and spiritual fulfillment. During this year’s SOS outreach, we are calling on Christians from all over the U.S. to come to San Francisco to bring God’s Word to these people. This summer, we will be working with two other Christian ministries. “Shake the Nation” Ministry is planning to bring 250-500 youth to the city this week, mostly from Assembly of God churches. Also, the Vineyard Churches in San Francisco, San Diego and British Columbia are planning to bring several hundred Christians to the city.
Daily rallies are scheduled at Union Square, Embarcadero Plaza and Washington Square. The final concert will be held on Saturday July 12 at Sharon Meadow (near the Children’s Playground) in Golden Gate Park. Set aside the week of July 4-12 to attend the SOS outreach and bring a friend. We have enclosed a registration form with this letter. Free housing is available during the outreach. Bring a sleeping bag and foam pad. See the bulletin insert enclosed with this newsletter for more outreach details.
Coming Events
July 4-12 SOS-San Francisco. Set aside this week for our 18th annual outreach to the people of San Francisco.
EVERY FRIDAY 7 PM. Witnessing in various S.F. neighborhoods. Meet at Vineyard, 7th St. and Harrison, San Francisco. Call (510) 531- 5325 for more information.
Saturday July 19 12-2 PM San Francisco worship rally. Union Square, Powell & Geary St. (Call first to confirm.)
July 12-19 Jesus Loves You – New York. Contact Abounding Grace Ministries, (212) 614-0370.
July 28-August 2 Miami Outreach. Contact Mel Rolls, Box 965039, Marietta, GA 30066, (770) 924-0201.
September 26-October 19 San Francisco area Billy Graham crusades.
Evangelism in Israel
It reminded me of New Testament stories of persecution of the Early Church by the Jewish religious leaders. On May 25, the CBS Evening News had a report on evangelism in Israel. The story showed Cyril Gordon, who participated in several SOS outreaches two years ago before moving to Israel. He was witnessing to some orthodox Jewish students who tore up and burned the New Testaments he offered, then assaulted him.
They reported that a proposed law in Israel would make giving Christian literature to a Jew a crime punishable by a year in jail. A rabbi said missionaries were breaking up their “happy family.” They termed Christian witnessing as “hate speech.”
Sadly, this is similar to what we are seeing in San Francisco. As people increasingly hate the gospel message, they consider Christian evangelism to be “hate speech” and say it is no longer protected. They say the right of sinners to be “left alone” is more important than the right of Christians to free speech. If you are concerned about this proposed law, you can write or call the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu c/o Israeli Embassy, 3514 International Dr. NW, Washington DC 20008, (202) 364-5500. Israel may not like Christian evangelism, but they do care about the Christian tourist industry. They would like to know if this law would hurt their tourist business.
Below is a letter I wrote Prime Minister Netanyahu:
As a long-time supporter of Israel, I was very disturbed to hear on the CBS Evening News that your government is considering a law to make criminal the distribution of Christian literature in your country. I am sure that many in our nation, both Christians and Jews, are concerned about this proposed law. We have a long history of free speech, which involves the protection of messages that we disagree with. Our Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black once wrote “I do not believe that it can be too often repeated that the freedoms of speech, press, petition and assembly…must be accorded to the ideas we hate or sooner or later they will be denied to the ideas we cherish.” I am reminded of Voltaire’s famous statement: “I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
The May 25 CBS News Report stated “To most Israelites, religious and non-religious alike, the right of missionaries to solicit conversions is a lot less important than the right of Jews to be left alone.” It may be annoying to be confronted with a message you do not like, but that is the price of living in a free society. For many years, evangelical Christians and Jews have been the biggest supporters of Israel in our nation, both politically, financially, and through tourism. Most will become significantly less supportive of Israel if your nation begins imprisoning Christians for obeying what they believe to be their Biblical mandate. I urge you to oppose this dangerous law.
Ministry News
On Friday May 9, we witnessed on Haight St. We had many good conversations and prayed with two people–Eric and Donald. Eric had been raised in a Christian home but was forced to leave when he turned 21. He was unable to find work and ended up on the street. We brought him to the Prodigal House, but he decided not to stay and we haven’t seen him since. Donald stayed with us until we went home. We invited him to join us for our Saturday outreach at 5th St. and Market. He arrived at noon and stayed with us for six hours, passing out tracts all day. We arranged for him to go into the Oakland Teen Challenge discipleship program. After our outreach, we took him there and as I write this, he is still there and doing well.
On May 19, the 700 Club featured a report on the Prodigal Project ministry in the Haight-Ashbury district. They showed the testimony of Cathi Mooney, who gave up a successful advertising business to minister to the kids on the streets. Also they showed some of the kids who have come to know Jesus through their minis try. They also announced the Summer of Love outreach–July 4-12.
On May 22, a committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors rejected Vineyard’s applications for two street closings in the Mission and Haight Districts. Two or three people complained about each location, so their permits were denied. As with our permit denials, “free speech” in San Francisco is based on popu larity. Living Hope Christian Church (an Assembly of God church) was granted a street closing at 19th St. and Mission on July 11. But they were required to pay $2000 for police protection since this neighborhood is considered violent. This is probably ille gal, but I don’t know if they will challenge it or pay the fee. Since permits are subject to the whim of city officials, one is reluctant to offend them by challenging the legality of their decisions. Please pray that our lawsuit will succeed, so that city leaders will be required to grant Christians the same access to present our message in public places that non-Christians have.
Please pray also for those who have written us this past month in response to tracts, including Roberta (Oakland) Lyn (Santa Cruz), Mary (Redding), Zack (San Quentin prison), and Maria O., Maria R., Ursula, Linda and Markcine (Chowchilla women’s prison). Also pray for U. Daveon (Chowchilla) and her husband James (Soledad prison) and two children Vanessa (12) and Chrislyn (8) who are being raised by their Christian aunt. Our Tape of the Month is Organizing a City-Wide Outreach. This is a teaching I gave at an evangelism conference in Florida. Every city should have an annual city-wide outreach like SOS-San Francisco.
We urge you not to miss this summer’s SOS outreach, July 4-12. If you cannot afford the registration fee, come anyway. Please come, even if only for a single day or a weekend. Better yet, come for the whole week. It will change your life, and the lives of those you reach with God’s love.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum
