SOS Monthly Newsletter - October 2003

A HISTORY OF STREET PREACHING
(Part 1)

Edited from the Internet:

www.streetpreaching.com/preach2.htm

There are those who say that preaching in the streets was good for Biblical times, but not for today. In this article, we will do a study of open air preaching and its effectiveness throughout Church history. Street preaching has brought about some of the greatest revivals in Church history. It is the best way to get the gospel to the most people in the least time and at the least expense.

It would be very easy to prove that revivals of religion have usually been accompanied, if not caused, by a considerable amount of preaching out of doors, or in unusual places" Charles Spurgeon. Street preaching has spawned major movements and Protestant denominations in the last 2000 years. Time and space will not permit us to give more than a few highlights.

The Apostles spread Christianity throughout the Roman Empire through street preaching, but soon the early church began to see persecution by the Roman Empire. Since public expression of faith in Jesus resulted in death, the Church went underground. When Constantine became emperor, Christianity became the official state religion, and there was a decrease in zeal to spread the faith. Then absolute power corrupted the Church, and it became more of a political organization, losing sight of the self-sacrificing discipleship of the New Testament.

Some attempted to stay on the pure path and questioned the new directions of the "Church," challenging papal authority, infant baptism, and other unbiblical doctrines. These groups were suppressed by those in authority, and were persecuted by the Bishop of Rome and his followers through the centuries. This faithful line, known by various names (Paulicans, Bogomiles, Cathari, Montanists, Donatists and Albigenses), is traced back to apostolic times, and is no doubt responsible for a continuation of the narrow path.

Because of intense persecution, public proclamation of the Word of God was virtually non-existent, but as time went on some became very vocal about their displeasure with the papacy. This came from groups within the Catholic Church upset at its growing worldliness. They became "heretics" whose exhortations got them excommunicated.

Here are just a few of the history-changing street preachers of the last 20 centuries:

Catholic Orders: Franciscans, Dominicans

Francis of Assisi (1182-1226) founded the Franciscan Order in the Catholic Church. Francis was son of a wealthy cloth merchant, and spent his youth in pleasure and frolicking until an illness, while he was a prisoner of war, caused him to reflect on eternity. He later took seriously the commands of Christ to His disciples to sell all and give to the poor, which Francis and his followers did. He received permission from the Pope for their order "to preach repentance everywhere." According to the Catholic Encyclopedia (1909) Francis "usually preached out of doors, in the market-places, from church steps, from the walls of castle courtyards." Francis of Assisi was a street preacher!

Many of the early Franciscan preachers were so popular that the churches were not big enough to hold the throngs that came to hear them. They were forced to preach outside the church in the open air to accommodate the crowds. Some of their popular preachers were Berthold of Regensberg (1220-1272), Anthony of Padua (1195-1231), and Bernardino of Sienna (1380-1444). The fearlessness of these Franciscan friars can be seen in this account of some early Franciscan missionaries to Spain:

"Six brothers were sent to Arab Spain. At first, they were politely received, but in Seville, they entered a mosque and preached against the Koran.... They were hauled out, beaten, and dragged before the Emir. They defied him and reviled Mohammed, that wicked slave of the devil. They were then taken to the top of a tower; whence they shouted down that Mohammed was an imposter. Jailed, they tried to convert the jailer and the other prisoners. Since the authorities could do nothing with them, the missionaries were sent to Morocco, where, being still defiant, they were tortured and beheaded...."

Another shining light from the followers of Francis was Raymund Lully (1232-1315). He had a burden to preach to Muslims on their own turf. He wanted to travel to North Africa and evangelize in the streets of a Mohammedan town. When he was in his sixties, he traveled to Bugia in North Africa and "found his way to a public place, stood up boldly, and proclaimed in the Arabic language that Christianity was the only true faith." He was promptly arrested and deported. He returned, however, when he was in his eighties, and "came forth into the open market and presented himself to the people as the same man whom they had once expelled from their town. ... Lully stood before them and threatened them with divine wrath if they still persisted in their errors." This time Raymund Lully was stoned to death by the mob. He died a martyr, preaching in the streets of a Muslim town, in 1315.

The Dominicans were founded by Dominic (1170-1221), who traveled with Diego and journeyed from town to town conducting open air debates. Some Dominican preachers were so popular that they had to preach outside the church to accommodate the crowds that came to hear them. Such a Dominican preacher was Vincent Ferrer (1350-1419). Before Luther and the Protestant Reformation came along, the groundwork for their success was laid by several groups that rose within the Catholic Church and questioned papal authority to the point of getting excommunicated. Three such groups arose in France in the 12th century, all started by street preachers.

Henricians and Petrobrusians

The Henricians were started by Henry of Lausanne (died 1148); the Petrobrussians by Peter de Bruys (died 1126). They worked together denouncing Romanist doctrines like infant baptism and transubstantiation. Both were eventually condemned as heretics and martyred. They also rejected Church buildings, and "preached on the streets and in the open places." The Henricians and Petrobrusians were street preachers!

Waldenses

Peter Waldo, a wealthy merchant in Lyons, France, started the Waldenses in the 12th century. One day he asked a theologian what he should do to gain eternal life. He was answered with the words of Jesus to the rich young ruler, to sell his possessions, give the money to the poor, and follow Christ. Waldo took this literally, selling his business, giving away his wealth. Together with his followers, they traveled by twos, preaching in the streets, reading passages of Scripture which they translated themselves into the common language. According to Foxe's Book of Martyrs, the Inquisition was originally launched against the Waldenses. The Waldenses were street preachers!

The Lollards

Now we come to John Wycliffe (1330-1384), "the Morningstar of the Reformation". Wycliffe was the first to translate the Bible into the English language (from the Vulgate). His followers were called Lollards, and traveled throughout England preaching in the streets and marketplaces against the errors of Popery. The Lollards were street preachers!

In the next part of this teaching, we will trace the history of street preaching from the Protestant Reformation to the present day.

ON THE STREETS

	Street Preaching in Manchester, England 1910
	Paul and Noreen Coca minister in Berkeley on August 16
	Sonhouse ministers at UN Plaza.
	Paul Coca (right) witnesses to Paul at UN Plaza on Aug. 9

Coming Events

Note: Outreaches are subject to change. Call (510) 531-5325 or 541-9903 (cell phone) to confirm outreaches or for more information.

Friday October 10, 17, 24, 31 (Halloween!) 7:30-10 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods. (Call for location).

Sat. October 11, 18 12-1 PM Powell and Market St. 2:00-5:00 PM UN Plaza (7th St. and Market), San Francisco

Sat. October 25 12:30-4:30 PM Berkeley Outreach. Telegraph and Haste St.

Sat. November 1 12-1 PM Powell and Market St. 2:30-4:30 PM Union Square (Powell and Geary St.), SF.

Prayer Requests

As I write this letter, we still have not heard from Judge Chesney regarding our Federal Civil Rights lawsuit. Without a legal victory, it may soon become very difficult or even impossible to hold outdoor amplified outreaches in San Francisco. PLEASE PRAY that Judge Chesney will order the city to allow us to use amplification in city parks and on street corners.

We have set the dates for next summer's SOS-San Francisco (Year 25!): June 18-26. Please set aside these dates to attend this important outreach. Also, pray that we will have more workers to help us on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. Pray for those who have written us recently in response to tracts, including Debka, Pablo, Miguel, Dwayne, Jose, Crystal, Bob, and Adelaida (SF), Jonah (Oakland), Reno (Richmond), Altaseb (Alameda), Angie (Fremont), Arden (Daytona, FL), and Chris (San Andreas CA prison).

Thank you for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. We are currently seeking to print 200,000 tracts. Our tract supply is almost gone. Our Tape of the Month is Open Air Preaching by Scott Crawford. Scott is one of the founders of SOS Ministries and has preached on the streets for many years.

Yours in His love,

Larry Rosenbaum

Note From Webmaster: This months newsletter marks two years since Larry Rosebaum ask me to help with this web site. I'd like to publicly thank Larry and the SOS Ministry Team for allowing me this awesome privilege and world wide way to serve our Lord Jesus Christ…………THANK YOU.

In His Mighty Name,
Michael Hamilton