(Outreaches subject to change. Call (510) 282-5629 a few hours before the outreach to confirm)

Friday October 4, 11, 18, 25  5-8 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods.

Sat. October 5 11:30  AM – 2:30 PM Union Square (Powell & Geary St.) Bridgepoint Church Pacifica

Sat. October 12 12 – 5 PM U N Plaza (7th St. and Market)

Sat. October 19 12 – 4 PM  Berkeley outreach (Shattuck and Center St.)

Sat. October 26 12 – 4 PM 5^th and Market St. S.F.

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HOW SOS MINISTRIES GOT STARTED – PART 6

Discipleship Houses

Dear Christian friends,

During the first few years of SOS Ministries, we decided that we needed to start our own discipleship house ministry. We had put a lot of time and energy seeking to bring people to Christ. It was very frustrating to see so many fall away because we could not find a good Christian living situation for them. We realized we would have two major problems: obtaining finances and finding the right house leader. We wanted the house leader to be supported financially so he could dedicate himself fully to ministering to the new believers.

In order to run a successful discipleship house, you need to have the right leader. The house leader needs to be a mature Christian who can lead and at the same time be a servant. He needs to set a good example for the other house members. He needs to know when to be gentle and patient with people, and when to be firm. The position is a very demanding one, since people will constantly be coming to him with problems. You should also have an assistant leader who can oversee the house so the leader can get at least one day off each week.

Our first discipleship house was established in 1984. We had written about the need for a house for several months in our newsletter and raised about $350 in monthly support.       We had hoped to raise

about $1000 monthly but we decided to go ahead with the house. Ron Woodruff, my co-worker in SOS Ministries, agreed to be the house leader until we could find someone else. We rented a house and it was soon filled with new believers. Initially we required that everyone in the house get a job. However, many of the people who moved in were not able to get or hold a job so we allowed them to stay on welfare temporarily.

The house functioned fairly well as long as Ron was the leader. However, after about six months, Ron got married and left the house. We were unable to find a good leader so we closed the house. We continued to pray for a house and in the summer of 1985, a married couple, Wes and Paula Dennison, wrote us that they were interested in leading a house. About the same time, we met a man who owned a house he was willing to let us use rent-free. So we started a new house. In this house, the new believers spent 4 hours daily in Bible study and prayer and 4 hours working. One staff brother led a work crew.

After about a year, this house also closed down. It became evident to us that our houses were being filled with people who wanted a free place to live and free food, and were willing to act like Christians to live there. Those who lived in these houses would appear to be sincere Christians, but after they left they would invariably “backslide.” We put a lot of time, energy and finance into these two houses, but saw no lasting fruit.

Other Christian discipleship programs, such as Teen Challenge and Victory Outreach, continue to do well and produce genuine disciples. However, it appears that discipleship house ministry was not something God was calling us to.

On the Streets

Last month’s newsletter featured an outreach report on SOS-San Francisco. I am several months behind on outreach reports, but I don’t want you to miss some of the great testimonies we have from our weekly outreaches. On Friday May 10, we witnessed on Castro St. It had been over a year since we last went there, and we do not preach or bring signs on this street. This is the main homosexual district in San Francisco, and we try to avoid hostile reactions. Alex witnessed to David, who was homeless and had a drug problem. Alex bought him some food, and shared how he had lived in a shelter for 3 years and also had a drug problem, but Jesus delivered him. Dave witnessed to Elaine, from Taiwan. She has Christian friends but did not understand the gospel. After Dave gave her a Chinese gospel tract, she said “I will read this when I get home.” Dave also witnessed to Isaiah, Julius and Camilia, all 19-20. They are interns at an LGBT youth center. They asked, “Why do Christians hate us?” Dave shared that we are all sinners and need a savior. The following Monday, Dave saw Isaiah a few blocks from our house in Oakland. He said, “God is looking for you.” Dave and Cal ministered to Bridget. She is a Christian journalist who was confused by Catholic teachings. She gave Cal her number and Cal followed up on her.

I offered a tract to a  young boy, but he refused it. He was alone in the Castro, very dangerous for a young boy, so I silently prayed for him. A few minutes later he approached me and asked for a tract. Theo, 14, is a Catholic and said he was very interested in God. I gave him a gospel of John and shared the salvation message in the front of the booklet with him. I also witnessed to a couple with a 2 year old boy. The boy called his father “Abba.” It turns out they are Jews from Israel and the father’s name is Abba. The mother said her family is from the Dead Sea area and was involved in discovering the Dead Sea scrolls. I told her that one of the scrolls included Isaiah 53, dated before Christ’s birth, and that it and other passages in the Jewish Bible predicted the coming of the Messiah.

The next day, we witnessed at Fisherman’s Wharf. Cal and Cordelia ministered to Ron. He had worked as a “silver man” street performer (who paints his body silver) for 37 years, since he was 17. He said he was a Christian but was not living right with God and had an alcohol problem. He cried as he shared about his mother’s recent death. I witnessed to Paolo, 18, who said he had been studying the Bible and asked me about homosexuality.

On Friday June 7, we witnessed at the Sony Metreon. Dave witnessed to Joy, a Filipino. She was raised Christian but said she was not sure if she was going to Heaven. Dave explained the gospel using the chart in our gospels of John, and she understood. He also witnessed to Miriam, a Muslim from Gambia. She took a gospel of John. Alex spoke with Chris, who was wearing a “Jesus heals all” T-Shirt. He didn’t understand about sin or repentance, and thought there was truth in all religions. He also witnessed to Resin, who listened to the gospel and took a gospel tract. He said, “You possibly stopped me from robbing a place.” Mike also witnessed to an 18 year old boy in Target who was hiding in the bathroom because he was shoplifting.

On Friday June 14, we witnessed at Powell and Market. Dave witnessed to Nihal, from India, who attended Catholic school. After he shared the gospel, Nihal said he understood and thanked him. Dave and Esther witnessed to Theodora and Brandon, both about 20. Theodora was raised up Catholic but didn’t know about the new birth. Dave and Alex ministered to Robert, 22, who is a Christian but didn’t understand the gospel very well. After Dave shared with him, he said “That’s really deep. I never heard it like this.” He had been struggling with temptations and they prayed with him. Alex witnessed to Jesus, a Jehovah’s Witness. Alex shared his testimony with him and he listened.

Mike witnessed to Aetena, who joined the Hare Krishna’s when he was 16. He is now in his late 40’s. He did not say whether he was still involved with that cult,  but said he believes the Bible was altered.  Mike also spoke with Ian, who had been with the Hebrew Israelite cult. Several months ago, Steve had witnessed to him and helped him leave that cult. He is now following Jesus and doing well spiritually.

The next day, we witnessed at Union Square. Paul and Noreen Coca, Mark Whitehead and Teddy Rendazzo played music. Dave witnessed to Josue, Diana, and Michael, all Catholics who were receptive to the gospel. He also witnessed to Hassam, a Muslim from Egypt, and Lee and Yu, both from China. Lee is a lawyer and Yu is a computer programmer. Both live in San Francisco.

Ministry Needs

Thank you for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. I recently received a You Tube update from Cal Grant, who lived with us for 3 years and is now a missionary in London. He has been staying in hostels, and has been able to witness to people from all over the world there. He witnessed to a Jewish woman from Israel whose parents are Orthodox. After he shared Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah, she was convinced that Jesus is the Messiah! Please pray for Cal and for the woman.

We still  have room for two men in our ministry house. We are looking for spiritually mature Christians who are seriously interested in doing street evangelism. We are also looking for younger Christians, as our desire is to see this ministry continue for many decades.

I hope many of you will join us for an outreach this next month.

Yours in His love,

Larry Rosenbaum