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Coming Events
Friday September 16, 23, and 30 6 – 9 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods.
Sat. Sept. 17 Dolores Park (18th St. and Dolores SF) 1 – 5 PM
Sat. Sept. 24 Fifth St. and Market 12 – 4 PM
Sat. October 1 UN Plaza 12-5 PM 7th St. and Market, SF. Calvary Assembly of God, Merced
SOS-San Francisco Outreach Report
Dear Christian friends,
Our 37th annual SOS-San Francisco outreach was held from July 6-9. Chuck Girard flew in from Nashville to join us. Paul and Noreen Coca, Tim Moon, and Cal Grant played music. And the rest of us preached, passed out tracts, and witnessed to people throughout the city.
The outreach began on Wednesday at Fisherman’s Wharf. We had reserved the best location, at Powell and Jefferson St., from 1-4 PM, but, since no other performer wanted the spot, we were able to minister there from 11 AM to 5 PM. Cal witnessed to Alissa and Jeremiah, both in their 20’s. She had been raised a Christian but had walked away. As Cal shared his testimony, she began to cry. Dave witnessed to Will, a Jehovah’s Witness (JW). Unlike most JW’s, he believed that we needed to be born again, but disagreed on what that meant.
On Thursday, we witnessed at 5th and Market St. We had been at this location many times, and normally had no problem. However, after 1 ½ hours, the police captain told us to shut down. We complied, but when I disagreed with her regarding the local laws, she threatened to cite me and confiscate our equipment. Fortunately, she relented. We spent the rest of the day at Fisherman’s Wharf. Dave witnessed to Joe, a JW, near 5th St. As he spoke of Hell and judgment, Joe said, “You’ve got me thinking and I’m going to do research on this subject.” He also witnessed to two other JW’s, Ron and Lucas, at the Wharf. They were less receptive, but Lucas seemed to be listening. He also witnessed to Suvajit, a Catholic from India who graduated from Tufts University in Boston. After going through the law with him, he said “According to this, I’m going to Hell” but he didn’t seem to be concerned about it. He also witnessed to Bob, from Romania, who took a gospel of John and was quite receptive. Mike and Kathy witnessed to Frank, an Irish Catholic who works for a tourist bus company across the street from where we ministered at the Wharf. He was listening to Jacob’s preaching and took a gospel of John. Mike also witnessed to Morgliano, a homeless man, and invited him to City Impact.
On Friday afternoon, we had a permit for a four-hour outreach at First and Market St., in the heart of the Financial District. Jacob witnessed to Matthew, who initially refused a tract but later called him over. Like Jacob, he was from Texas. He said “I’m a homosexual. What is the resolution of that with Jesus?” Jacob shared his testimony of deliverance from homosexuality. Matthew said “You gave me a lot to think about.” Jacob witnessed to Jennifer, a lesbian, who initially walked away but later returned to talk with him. She was very hurt inside, and said she had tried to quit smoking marijuana but couldn’t. They also spoke about evidence for Jesus’ resurrection. Jacob also witnessed to Trinity, who thought she had always been saved. He explained about being born again, and prayed with her. Dave witnessed to Marie, a Catholic whose niece is a born again Christian. She said, “I hope I’m forgiven.” He also witnessed to Eric, a Chinese American teen who interned for a computer company. He seemed not to know anything about Jesus, and thanked Dave for sharing the gospel with him. Dave and Jacob also ministered to Sierra, a young Christian whose faith was under attack by her atheist friends. They shared with her about evidence for the Christian faith.
Friday evening, we had a two hour permit to minister at Haight Street and Masonic. Jacob witnessed to Lin, who had stopped to listen to the music. He asked if Jesus was OK with him smoking weed. Jacob answered his question and then shared the gospel with him. Jacob also witnessed to Liam, in his 20’s, who liked the music. He shared the gospel and his testimony with him. He asked for Jacob’s phone number, and he gave it to him. Mike witnessed to Jason, a Catholic, who was with three friends. His friends wanted him to leave, but Jason stayed around so he could hear about Jesus. He thanked Mike for witnessing to him. Mike also ministered to Danny, who is a Christian but had no fellowship.
On Saturday, we witnessed at Fisherman’s Wharf and at Union Square. Cal witnessed to Malak, a nominal Muslim who works as a security guard for Gucci. He also witnessed to John, a street performer who plays classical guitar. Dave and Daniel witnessed to Steve and Scott, both JWs. As they spoke of judgment and Hell, Steve appeared quite troubled. He said, “I don’t have all the answers and will have to do some research.” Allan witnessed at a Black Lives Matter protest nearby. Chris, one of the protesters, asked Allan if he was there to protest. Allan said he was there to share about Jesus, and Chris listened as he witnessed to him. Jesse and Mike witnessed to Abbas, whose father is a Muslim and mother a Christian. He asked them if they had a place where they could meet and talk more about this. Mike invited him to meet him at City Impact. Mike also spoke with Elias, whom he had seen six weeks earlier. Elias had killed a 16 year old boy in Chicago, had joined a gang and spent time in prison before getting saved. Mike invited him to City Impact. He came on Sunday and said he liked it.
I want to thank all of you who joined us for SOS-San Francisco, and also those who prayed for us and donated to help with our expenses. Over the past 37 years, we have planted and watered, perhaps, over a million gospel seeds. Only in Heaven will we know what God has accomplished through these outreaches. I look forward to meeting many people in Heaven whose lives were changed because some Christians took time from their busy schedules and overcame their fear of witnessing to share the gospel with them.
Rise Up And Walk!
The second New Testament evangelistic message took place at Solomon’s porch at the Jewish temple. Peter had just healed a lame man who regularly begged there. Word quickly spread of this miracle, and a crowd gathered. Peter’s message to them was similar to the one he gave on Pentecost. Many in his audience had been part of the mob that called for Jesus to be crucified, and Peter accused them of rejecting God’s Messiah and killing Him. He then called for them to repent and be converted, so that they could receive forgiveness of sins. He spoke of Moses’ prophesy in Deut. 18 concerning the Messiah, which included a severe warning to those who would not listen to Him. “All the prophets from Samuel…have likewise foretold of these days.” Peter’s sermon was interrupted as the Jewish leaders arrested Peter and John. However, it was noted that 5000 adult men were saved that day, in addition to many women and children.
In Luke 24, after the resurrection, Cleopas and another disciple were walking towards Emmaus when a man (later revealed as Jesus) “beginning at Moses and all the prophets … expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” These disciples undoubtedly told the other disciples, including Peter, what they had learned from Jesus. In this message, Peter began with Moses’ prophesy in Deut. 18. He mentioned that there were many other prophesies fulfilled by Jesus.
What can we learn from this message? Again, Peter took advantage of the attention drawn to the gospel by a miraculous healing. The audience knew that Jesus had performed many miracles and healings. On Pentecost, the believers were speaking in languages they had never learned. Now, one of his disciples had performed a dramatic healing on someone most of them knew. Certainly, they must be wondering if Jesus is truly the Messiah.
Again, we see Peter using Old Testament prophesies fulfilled by Jesus to argue that He is the Messiah. Also, we again see Peter pointing out the sin of those who had called for Jesus to be crucified. He called people to repent and be converted. However, this time Peter softened his message, “I know through ignorance you did it” and “God…sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.” Sometimes our preaching can get too hard, and we need to soften our approach – emphasizing God’s mercy and forgiveness in addition to His holiness and judgment. At the cross, Jesus had prayed, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” The thousands who were saved in response to Peter’s first two sermons were a dramatic answer to His prayer.
Ministry Needs
Thank you again for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. As we mentioned last month, Scott Crawford has moved into our ministry house in Oakland and we will be helping him with his food and living expenses. He will be seeking to get churches to minister with us, helping train Christians in evangelism and also ministering on the streets with us. This will cost us an extra $850 per month. We appreciate any help you can give us with this additional expense.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum
