SOS-San Francisco Outreach Report
Dear Christian friends,
Once again, God did a great work during this year’s SOS-San Francisco outreach. About 300 Christians joined us throughout the week, with from 40 to 100 participating each day. Teams of Christians came from Carson City, Nevada, and Redding, Leggett, and Paradise, California.
Throughout the week, we witnessed to about 100,000 people through gospel tracts, preaching, music, signs and banners, and personal witnessing.
We were blessed to be able to meet at Temple Baptist Church. It is a wonderful facility with plenty of space for meetings and sleeping and a full kitchen. The church members made us feel very welcome. Randy, a professional cook from Tulsa, made hot, gourmet breakfasts for us. We took showers and swam at the YMCA and ate at a food court a block away. There was plenty of parking at Stonestown Shopping Center.
Chuck Girard ministered on the street and in our church meetings from Saturday to Tuesday.
We held outdoor rallies at Washington Square, the Embarcadero, Haight Street, U.N. Plaza, three times at Powell & Market and twice in Berkeley.
For the first time, we sent teams to Pac Bell Park. They witnessed to thousands of people attending baseball games there. Other teams witnessed at Fisherman’s Wharf, Union Street, Valencia Street, Broadway Street, Castro Street and Haight Street.
Throughout the week, many people responded favorably to the Gospel. On the first night, a woman who was roller-blading down Union Street stopped and spoke with Randy and Todd. She was backslidden and lived with a man who was into witchcraft. She repented and committed her life to Christ.
On Saturday June 24, a man and his wife both prayed to receive Christ at Powell and Market. That same day, Randy prayed with Nate, a gay teenager from Boston. He had come here to march in Sunday’s gay parade.
On Monday, Paul prayed with a Tibetan Buddhist at the Embarcadero. Jacob prayed with Jamal, a Muslim man. And Randy prayed with a Satan worshipper and a young male prostitute at Fisherman’s Wharf.
On Tuesday, Mary prayed with Moag, a Buddhist from Southeast Asia. That night, Craig was witnessing to Jesse at Pac Bell Park. Brandon was preaching about 20 feet away. Jesse asked, “What about Buddha?” At the same moment, Brandon, who could not hear their conversation, started talking about Buddha. Craig pointed out that God was using Brandon to answer his question. That night, Craig prayed with Jesse.
On Wednesday, Pastor Dennis McNally and Dennis McCourt prayed with a teenager named Chris. Also, Brenda witnessed to John, who had been robbed and found himself on the streets. He came to our meeting at Temple Baptist that night. Later that evening, Paul and Noreen walked into a cafe on Haight Street. They asked the manager if they could play some songs. He said, “Sure.” They sang several Christian songs in the cafe.
On Thursday, Jack walked onto the U.C. campus in Berkeley. He handed a woman a tract. Soon he found himself surrounded by students asking him questions about God. He prayed with all of them. Joan spoke with a man who had just been beaten up. He rededicated his life to Christ and was filled with the Holy Spirit. That night on Castro Street, Ernest prayed to receive Christ and was also filled with the Holy Spirit. Also, Derek witnessed to Damon for two hours at Fisherman’s Wharf. He prayed with him to receive Christ.
On Friday, the Sons of Thunder Power Team did feats of strength and preached to a crowd of about 1000 people at Powell and Market. Deron McBee, an actor who has been in many movies, including Batman and Mortal Combat, gave his testimony. A team of men from the Business Men’s Fellowship National Convention joined our outreach that afternoon.
Later that day, Prashanth was preaching (for the first time) at 5th St. and Market. He said, “I think there is someone who will die soon without Jesus. Now is the time to get right with God.” A man with AIDS came forward to pray with him.
On Saturday, Paul prayed with Tom. He had attended a Pentecostal Church in Oakdale, but had backslidden into drugs. He said he used to mock us when we came to U.N. Plaza, but noticed that people stopped selling drugs whenever we came into that park. He rededicated his life to Christ that afternoon.
These are but a few of the testimonies we heard during the week. On Thursday night, Kathleen shared at our meeting how she had been saved at an SOS outreach in 1986, and was still walking close to Jesus. Yesterday, I got a call from Mark. He saw an article on us in the Christian Times newspaper and wanted to witness with us. As we talked, I learned that he was saved at one of our outreaches on Broadway Street in 1983! Only God knows how many people have been saved at SOS outreaches over the past 22 years and are still walking with God.
Coming Events
Note: All outreaches are subject to change. Call (510) 531‑5325 or (510) 616-0712 (pager) to confirm outreaches or for more information.
Friday August 10, 17, 24 7:30-10 PM Witnessing in various S.F. neighborhoods. (Call for meeting location.)
Sat. August 11 San Francisco “Church on the Street” worship rallies. 12-1 PM. Powell and Market St. 1:30-5 PM. United Nations Plaza (7th St. and Market) (Independent Community Church, Richmond)
Sat. August 18 Berkeley Outreach. 12:30‑4:30 PM. Telegraph & Haste St.
Sat. August 25 San Francisco worship rallies. 12-1 PM Powell and Market St. 2-5 PM. Washington Square (Columbus & Union St.) (Promised Land Fellowship, S.F.)
Ministry Needs
Thank you for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. We were able to finish the outreach with all our bills paid. We were also able to help several workers who needed money for food and transportation during SOS.
Please pray for all those we witnessed to during SOS week, including those mentioned above and Francine, Bill, Ruben, Kevin, Clarence, Robert and Jesse. Also pray for Florida, Joaquin, and Mike, who wrote us in response to tracts.
Our Tape of the Month is Getting Started in Street Ministry by Mark Whitehead. Mark is Director of Living Hope Ministries, which witnesses on the streets of San Jose and San Francisco. In this brief message from this year’s SOS outreach, Mark tells how he got involved in street ministry.
God bless you all. Please continue to pray for us. I hope you will join one of our outreaches this next month.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum