Ministry News Update
Dear Christian friends,
In the gospels, we have records of only two times when Jesus spoke about the church: Matthew 16 and Matthew 18. In the famous passage in Matthew 16, Jesus told Peter, “Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” The gates of Hell are being used by Satan to hold his captives in bondage. But God has called his church to tear down these gates so Satan’s captives can be freed.
In the past two newsletters, we have told you something about the opposition we have faced, particularly from the San Francisco Police Department, as we have tried to obtain permits to preach the gospel on the streets. We have been repeatedly denied permits. We had to cancel an outreach with a Sacramento church on May 4 after Off. Hoolihan denied me a permit and refused to give me a reason for denying it. We had scheduled an outreach on April 27 with Harvest Church in Concord (formerly Family Worship Center.) A woman who witnesses with us tried for several weeks to get the permit, but was ultimately denied it. The head pastor of Harvest Church called Off. Gallagher and was told that no more permits would be issued on public sidewalks. But a few hours later we sent Eric Livingston, who had previously been cited for a noise violation (the citation was dismissed) and Off. Gallagher immediately gave him the permit for April 27!
The outreach was held outside the closed Emporium store at Powell and Market Streets. It was a great location with thousands of people walking by. Before we started, one officer threatened to shut us down and cite us if he got any complaints. Although we kept the volume low, about 50-100 people stood around listening to the beautiful worship music most of the afternoon. There were numerous police officers around, but they did not shut us down.
We also got a permit on April 6 to minister at 6th St. and Market. While waiting for the music group to arrive, we preached with our 9-watt maximouse amplifiers. Several people complained, and the police came three times to check our permit. When the group arrived from Independent Community Church in Richmond, we expected a lot of complaints. But they ministered with great anointing, and hundreds of people came around to listen. Raymond Landry preached and gave his testimony. He used to be a homeless drug addict living on these same streets. Several hundred people stood around, almost all lifting their hands to praise God. At least fifty people prayed with us that afternoon and we received names and addresses of twenty for follow-up.
It was certainly one of the most anointed outreaches we have ever had in San Francisco. Stan Green videotaped the outreach, and we want to make copies available to you, so you can see for yourself what God did, something impossible to describe in words. We probably won’t be able to copy the tapes until after the SOS outreach, but you can order one now.
SOS-San Francisco
June 21-29
Despite the problems we are having getting permits, we are proceeding with plans for our SOS-San Francisco outreach. Chuck Girard is planning to minister on Wednesday and Thursday. We also have outreaches scheduled with Open Bible Church (San Francisco), Harvest Church (Concord), and the James Brothers Band (Eureka). We are also expecting youth groups from Eureka, CA and Idaho. Regardless of the permit situation, I believe it will be a great outreach–an opportunity to reach thousands of people who desperately need to know Jesus.
Set aside the week of June 21-29 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. If you prefer, we can send you names of hotels in the area. (The Pacific Bay Inn, 415-673-0234, charges $200 per week for a room with bath for 2 persons.)
DON’T DELAY. SEND IN YOUR SOS REGISTRATION FORM TODAY!
Coming Events
(Events not sponsored by SOS in italics.)
June 12-14 Coalition of Prison Evangelists Conference and Bishop T.D.Jakes Crusade, Sacramento, CA. Contact I.A.W. Ministries (916) 366-0288.
June 21-29 SOS-San Francisco. Set aside these dates for our 17th annual week-long outreach to the people of San Francisco. Call (510) 531-5325 for more information.
July 8 – August 6 Olympic Outreach, Atlanta. Contact Rescue Atlanta, Box 965039, Marietta, GA 30066, (404) 924-0201.
August 15-17 National Street Ministries Conference-West. Phoenix, AZ. Sonny Arguinzoni, Winkie Pratney, Tommy Barnett. Contact N.S.M.C., Box 30642, Phoenix, AZ 85046, (602) 942-6362.
EVERY FRIDAY 7 PM. (Note new time.) Witnessing in various S.F. neighborhoods. Meet at Vineyard, 7th St. and Harrison, San Francisco. Call (510) 531-5325 for more information.
EVERY SATURDAY Noon. San Francisco or Berkeley witnessing. Call (510) 531-5325 for more information.
Ministry Needs
Again we thank you for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. We still need to get a sound system for the ministry. Last month, we purchased a special generator for music with a voltage regulator at a cost of $1200. We hope to install showers in the Vineyard church for our workers. Also, consider supporting a worker for SOS. Many Christians would like to participate in the SOS outreach but cannot afford the registration and meal costs. One special need we have is for an artist who can make some new signs and banners for us.
We continue to witness every Friday night and Saturday afternoon. We have several outdoor rallies planned each month, assuming we can get permits. Otherwise we will still witness on the streets. We must redeem the time, seeking to reach everyone we can with the gospel while we still have some freedom. The day may soon come when we will risk jail and death to do so.
Please pray for those who prayed with us on April 6, including Willis, Larry, Kristy, Jenny, Rodney, Ethel, David, Mattie, Manuel, Danny, Tamara, John, Stella, Arthur, Gladys, Paul, Shawn, and Ruby (all S.F.) and Hattie and Tony (Oakland). Please pray also for Maryo (Daly City) and John (Petaluma) who wrote us in response to tracts.
We have an opening for two Christians to live in our ministry house. This house is not for new believers but for those who are ready for evangelism ministry. We are looking for soldiers who will endure hardship and persist in God’s calling to evangelize the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Gates of Hell
Jesus said, “the gates of Hell shall not prevail” against His church. Too often we think of Hell’s gates pounding on the walls of our church buildings, trying to knock them down, as Christians huddle inside in fear. But gates are not an offensive weapon. The gates of Hell are used to hold people in captivity–those who are unsaved. The church is called to tear down these gates and set the captives free. Jesus promised us that we will succeed in this task. The gates of Hell shall not prevail against His church.
The apostle Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.” And “it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” It is by proclaiming the gospel of Christ that the gates of Hell will be torn down and Satan’s captives will be freed.
We need to use every hour we have left to reach as many as possible for Jesus. Every person on this planet will spend eternity either in the eternal bliss of Heaven or in the eternal torments of Hell. We have the Words of Life that can change the eternal destiny of many people. Will we keep silent or will we open our mouths? It is not too late to reach billions of unsaved people–but soon it will be.
SOS – San Francisco is an opportunity to get training and practical experience in evangelism. The hardest part is overcoming apathy and fear. Once you actually come to SOS, God will give you divine appointments to witness to people. He will give you the right words to speak to each person. The experience you get during SOS week will help you become a bolder and more effective witness for Jesus in your everyday life. Satan does not want Christians to witness for Jesus and he will do everything he can to keep you from coming to SOS.
Please don’t miss this year’s SOS-San Francisco outreach. If you can’t join us the entire week, come on Saturdays and as many other days or evenings as possible. Registration begins Friday June 21 at 6 PM with worship, orientation and evangelism training at 7 PM. Meetings are held daily except Sunday at 9 AM and 6 PM (7PM on Friday and Saturday) at Vineyard Christian Fellowship, 1098 Harrison St. at 7th St. in San Francisco. If you can’t afford the registration fee, come anyway. While we appreciate advanced registration, it is not required. This outreach is guaranteed to change your life–and the lives of those you will reach for Jesus.
Our Tape of the Month is The New Age Movement by Tal Brooke. Tal is President of Spiritual Counterfeits Project in Berkeley and author of the bestseller When the World Will be as One and five other books. He is also a personal friend and he will be speaking at this year’s SOS outreach.
Please continue to pray for us as we prepare for SOS-San Francisco. We need God’s wisdom in putting everything together. Pray that He will guide us in every area of the planning. Please pray especially that we will be able to get our permits. God bless you all. Don’t forget to send in your registration form for SOS. I took forward to seeing you there.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum