True Conversion
Greetings in the Wonderful Name of Jesus. This letter is being written before the SOS outreach. Next month’s newsletter will feature an SOS-San Francisco Outreach Report.
I once knew an evangelist who prayed with about 100 people “to receive Christ” each time he witnessed. He would grab a stranger by the hand, tell him about Jesus and persuade him to join in a “sinner’s prayer” in about two minutes. He never did follow-up so there is no way to know how many of these people were really saved.
When I first came to San Francisco, I tried using a witnessing method involving a religious interest survey and gospel booklet, which I read to people. When I got to the prayer in the back, I asked the person to join me in the prayer. Many people did. I requested their names and addresses and tried my best to follow up on them. I prayed with hundreds of people using this method but, to my knowledge, not one of them later showed evidence of true conversion.
Three months ago, I saw a Christian praying with three teenagers. He told me that he had just prayed the “sinner’s prayer” with them. After he left, I spoke with the three young men and learned that each was trusting in his good works for salvation. I tried to explain the gospel to them, but they rejected it. Why did they pray with the Christian? Perhaps they were trying to be polite. Perhaps they thought their prayer was a work that would help them earn salvation.
In Luke 18, when the “rich young ruler” asked Jesus how he could inherit eternal life, Jesus didn’t tell him to “believe in Me.” He told him to keep the commandments. When he claimed to have done this, Jesus told him to sell his possessions and give them to the poor.
Why did He do this? Jesus knew that before a person can be saved, he must see himself as a lost sinner in need of a savior. Jesus used God’s law, specifically the Ten Commandments, to show the ruler his lost condition. When the man claimed to have kept the commandments, he told him to sell his possessions and give to the poor.
Jesus knew that this man had put his possessions above God. Jesus’ command to the ruler confronted him directly with his sinfulness. He finally realized that he had broken God’s law: “You shall have no other gods before me.” He saw that he was powerless to change his sinful nature. He needed to ask Jesus to forgive him and change him.
Over the years, I have learned not to worry about the number of people who are saved through our ministry. Certainly, I want to see many people saved. I am eager to pray with a person who sees his or her need for a savior and wants to trust in Christ. But I now focus on being a true witness for Jesus. As Campus Crusade founder Bill Bright said, “successful witnessing is simply taking the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, leaving the results to God.”
If I witness for seventy years and only one person is saved, that one soul is worth more than all my labor. Even if nobody gets saved, God’s Word has accomplished its purpose in leaving people without excuse on Judgement Day. Noah was called a “preacher of righteousness.” He preached to the people of his day for hundreds of years, but only his family was saved.
Over the past 21 years, God has allowed us to see many people saved and continue serving God. When we get to heaven, we surely will meet many others who were saved through this ministry. Satan may tell you that it is a waste of time witnessing to people in San Francisco (or in your community). Don’t believe his lies.
Coming Events
Note: All outreaches are subject to change. Call (510) 531‑5325 the day before to confirm outreaches or for more information.
Friday August 4, 11, 18 7:30-10 PM Witnessing in various S.F. neighborhoods. (Call for meeting location and directions.)
Sat. August 5, 19. San Francisco Worship Rally. 12-1 PM Powell and Market St. 2-4 PM Union Square (Powell and Geary St.).
Sat. August 12. Berkeley Outreach. 1:30‑5:30 PM. Telegraph and Haste St.
On the Streets
On Saturday June 17, we ministered at United Nations Plaza. This area is located in downtown San Francisco near 7th St. and Market, a few blocks from City Hall. The plaza is filled with hundreds of homeless people. A worship group from Faith Fellowship Foursquare Church in San Leandro ministered, followed by a Christian band called “QF1.” Many people listened to the music and preaching, and we prayed with a few people.
The following Saturday, we ministered at Washington Square Park in San Francisco’s North Beach district. The band “Machaira” from Sacramento and “Children of the Rock” played that day. For the first time in many years, we had no problems with the police in this park.
On Friday June 9, we witnessed on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley. This is the first time we have gone to Berkeley on Friday night in ten years. From 1986-1989, we witnessed in Berkeley every Friday night. We are no longer able to get loudspeaker permits in Berkeley after 8 PM. Also, there are not as many people on this street as there were 10 years ago. Still there are plenty of people to witness to and we had several good conversations that night.
On Friday June 23, we witnessed at Fisherman’s Wharf. The area was filled with tourists. I spoke with Todd, who is backslidden and no longer believes in Jesus, and Will, who had just left the Prodigal Project Christian discipleship ranch. Please pray for them.
Ministry Needs
On the last Sunday of June, San Francisco holds its annual “Gay Pride” Parade. This parade began 30 years ago when a few hundred homosexuals were willing to face the jeers of hostile onlookers and proclaim to the world that “we’re gay and proud of it.” Today this event draws perhaps 500,000 people. “Their glory is in their shame” (Phil. 3:19).
Today, many homosexuals are out of the closet and not ashamed of their sin, while many Christians have retreated into their closets (churches) and are ashamed to confess Jesus before men. The Supreme Court recently ruled that Christians cannot pray publicly at football games, but we can still preach the gospel on our streets and in our parks. Very few Christians take advantage of this freedom.
We all have our excuses. We’re too busy, we’re not called, and so on. Meanwhile, millions of people face eternity without Jesus. “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38).
Again, we thank you for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. Our two greatest needs are for prayer warriors and workers in the harvest field. Our Friday night outreach has become very small. Often, only our house members participate.
Wilma from San Rafael wrote “I will pray for all your requests and I will pray for your mother (with a prayer partner) for her salvation. This month I was 82 years old, but I did not know Jesus personally until I was almost 60 years old. My only regret is that I didn’t know him sooner (but no one in our family did). Your last newsletter was so very encouraging. I used to witness with you in San Francisco and Sausalito.”
Our Tape of the Month is Evangelical Fervor: Explosive Bible principles to set you “on fire” for the kingdom of God by Ray Comfort. I hope many of you will join us on the streets this next month.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum
