SOS Monthly Newsletter - August 2004

SOS-San Francisco Outreach Report

Dear Christian friends,

For the past 25 years, Christians have come from all over the U.S. to help us reach the people of San Francisco and Berkeley for Jesus. About 200 Christians ministered with us throughout the week, with about 50 participating each day. Four leaders from our first SOS-San Francisco outreach participated (besides myself): Scott Crawford, Michael Brodeur, Richard Paradise, and Dennis McNally. Several people attended who had participated in SOS outreaches in the early 1980’s, including Chuck Girard, who first joined us in 1984. The Berean Bible School in Oregon brought 7 students. The Prodigal Project brought 6 students from their discipleship school in Northern California. Christians came from Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Kansas and Utah.

On Saturday, Chuck Girard ministered at Powell and Market. Gayle saw a girl she knew from Ukiah. She was raised in a Christian home, but had lost her faith while attending college in Santa Cruz. Gayle prayed with her to rededicate her life to Christ. The youth worship band “Peculiar” ministered at UN Plaza. While he was preaching, Scott Crawford saw a demonized woman in the crowd. As he spoke to the demon, the woman walked off. Later, Terry ministered to the woman and prayed for her deliverance.

On Monday, Chuck Girard, Paul and Noreen Coca, and Tim Moon ministered on Haight St. Jeff spoke with Jeremiah, age 14, who attends church with his grandfather. He was quite open to the gospel, but is not saved. Don prayed with a young man who was on his way the Rainbow (new age) Gathering near Lake Shasta.

On Tuesday, we ministered on Telegraph Ave. in Berkeley. Craig spoke with Mark Hawthorne (known as the “Hate Man”). Mark is famous in Berkeley for heckling Christians. In the 1980’s, he drew huge crowds of mockers by heckling our preaching. He believed people needed to express their hatred of others. Today, he no longer heckles us. He told Craig, “It’s about love and forgiveness, just like that group preaches (pointing to us).” Please continue to pray for Mark. On Tuesday night, Terry saw a man she had seen passing out Satanic literature on Friday. This time he was much more open to the Lord. That night, Mark Whitehead’s team ministered in the Haight. Mark told his team that they could bring anyone who was open to the gospel to McDonalds and he would feed them. Eight people came.

On Wednesday and Thursday, a team of 70 high school students from Yorba Linda Friends Church ministered at Justin Herman Plaza and at Union Square. Hundreds of people gathered to listen to their excellent musical presentation. At Union Square, Gary ministered to Carson from Germany. Carson’s wife and son are Christians, and he had prayed several times for God to reveal Himself to him, but “nothing happened.” Gary shared his testimony about how he had gone backpacking in the wilderness for 10 days before God revealed Himself to him. Carson broke out in goose bumps as he spoke. He prayed with him to receive Christ. Mark spoke with a 19-year-old girl who was a Christian but didn’t have a Bible and wasn’t attending church. He gave her a New Testament and prayed with her.

We also witnessed at Fisherman’s Wharf on Wednesday and Thursday. Daniel, from the Berean School in the small town of McMinnville, OR, met a street person with a sign begging for money. He was also from McMinnville. They spoke for over an hour. Josie had noticed a cashier (Vanessa) at Carls Jr. on Saturday but was not able to witness to her then because she was working. She saw her again at the Wharf and witnessed to her. Joan witnessed to two teenage boys at the Wharf: Waylan and Mark. Waylan had attended Christian school, but was now a Buddhist, as was Mark. Andy prayed with Michael, a homeless man who was paralyzed. He asked Jesus to be his savior.

On Friday we ministered at 24th St. and Mission. Teresa spoke with Sean (18) who had been influenced by gypsies who were involved in the occult. Noreen Coca spoke with a woman (Roxanne) who received Christ. Dennis McNally prayed with a man (Peanut) to receive Christ.

On Saturday we had an outreach at Powell and Market. After that outreach, we marched to Washington Square. Mae preached in Chinese and we gave out 800 Chinese tracts as we marched through Chinatown. The New Hope worship group and the Revelation City Blues Band ministered at our closing rally at Washington Square. Isaiah ministered to Jason all day. That night, Jason went with Norman to his discipleship ranch in Northern California.

Thank you for your prayers for this outreach. God is truly doing a great work in San Francisco and Berkeley. We hope many of you will plan to join some of our outreaches this next year. Also, we hope you will encourage your church's youth group to get involved in SOS-San Francisco next summer, and that you will plan to join us for next year’s SOS outreach.

ON THE STREETS

	Yorba Linda Friends youth choir ministers at Union Square
	Mark and Karol pray with man at 24th and Mission
	Camille passes out tracts while daughter Hannah holds sign at Powell and Market
	Many people hear gospel at 24th and Mission
	Isaiah (r) ministers to Jason, before he went to a discipleship ranch
	Christians march through Chinatown

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 August 13, 20, 27, September 10, 17, 24 7:30-10 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods. (Call for location).

Sat. August 14, 21, 28, September 11, 18, 25 12-5 PM San Francisco Outreach. (Call for location).

Ministry News and Needs

This past month, Eric Livingston found a four-bedroom house to rent near Daly City and a new job nearby. After living in our house for nine years, Eric, Cammie, and their five children needed their own home. Eric is taking a short break from ministry. He wants to continue to work with us after getting some much-needed rest. We now have four rooms available for mature Christians who want to be involved in evangelism. We also need a volunteer to help with office work about four hours a month — making address corrections, mailing out tapes, etc. Finally, we need help and finances to remodel the portion of our ministry house that is now empty.

Please pray for those who heard the gospel during this year's SOS-San Francisco outreach, that God will continue to work in their lives and send other Christians to witness to them until they are saved. Please pray for everyone who was mentioned in the newsletter. Also, pray for our workers. Satan often attacks the Christians who witness with us -- before, during and after the SOS outreach. Please pray that God will send more laborers to help us reach the people of San Francisco and Berkeley for Jesus.

We need more Christians to witness with us on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons. One special need we have is for a musician to minister with us on Friday nights. Our Tape of the Month is Involving Youth in Outreach by Mel Rolls, Director of Rescue Atlanta ministry.

Yours in His love,

Larry Rosenbaum