SOS Monthly Newsletter - May 2006

Revival or Judgment - continued

Dear Christian friends,

I suppose there has always been a dispute in the church regarding the relationship between Evangelism and Social Action. Many Christians emphasize the importance of urging unbelievers to repent of personal sins and trust in Jesus for their salvation. Others emphasize the importance of ministering to the physical needs of the poor and needy. Certainly, there are many exhortations in the Bible for Christians to care for orphans, prisoners, and the poor.

In the early 1900’s, liberal “churches” preached a “social gospel” that Christianity consisted merely of helping the poor and engaging in political action so that the government would care for the poor. In response, many churches became “fundamentalist,” emphasizing the Bible as God’s word, salvation through faith, and sound doctrine.

Evangelical Christians are often criticized for not caring for the needs of the poor. In 1977, Ron Sider wrote Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger. He criticized evangelical Christians in the US for living with great material abundance while most of the world was living in great poverty. Today, several large missionary organizations are involved in helping the physical needs of people around the world. In this kind of ministry, there is a question as to whether to share the gospel with those being helped and, if so, in what way. In many nations, it is illegal to preach about Jesus. Missionaries often witness quietly, or not at all. Even where witnessing is legal, “missionaries” often do not talk with unbelievers about their need for salvation. Some think that “letting their light shine by their good works” is sufficient. Some don’t want to offend. Some feel so bad about the church’s past indifference to the poor that they think they need to make up for it by good works. Maybe one day, after Christians do enough good works and their reputation for helping the poor improves, we will have “earned the right to preach the gospel.” Maybe they are waiting for those they are helping to ask them about Jesus. Maybe that will never happen.

The same conflict exists in our nation. Each year, thousands of youth from evangelical churches go on short-term mission trips—both in this country and around the world. While some youth share the gospel through drama, music, or (rarely) through personal witnessing, the vast majority are involved in work projects to help the poor and needy. Often, those ministered to are never told about their need for salvation. Many of these youth, of course, are not saved. Often, the unsaved youth return home in a lost condition and the Christian youth return home with no training or experience in evangelism.

When I was in high school, I spent part of a summer painting houses in a poor neighborhood in our city, working with a church youth group. I felt good about what I was doing, but I never heard about Jesus. I do not know if anyone I worked with that summer was a born-again Christian. While there is some value in exposing middle class youth to poverty, it would be far better if we would bring our unsaved youth to Christ and train our Christian youth to share the gospel with the lost.

Jesus talked a lot about giving to the poor, visiting the orphans and those in prison, etc. However, He clearly was more concerned about the spiritual condition of people and their eternal destiny than their physical condition. When a crowd followed Jesus after He fed the multitudes, He said, “Labor not for the meat that perishes, but for that meat that endures unto everlasting life” (John 6:27).

We need to help the poor and needy. It is the right thing to do. Also, it helps others become more receptive to the gospel. Some times our good works will cause unbelievers to want to hear about Jesus. However, we do not need to “earn the right to be heard.” God has commanded all believers to preach the gospel and commanded all unbelievers to repent and believe the gospel. The fact that real or professing Christians may have treated them badly does not give them a valid reason to reject Jesus. We must not forget that our ultimate goal, which we never need to apologize for, is to bring the world to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

On the Streets

February is usually the rainiest month, but it didn’t rain during our outreaches. On Feb. 10 and 11, Adrian Simila brought a team of six Christians from the Lord’s Ranch, a discipleship home in Spokane, to witness with us. On Friday night, we went to Powell and Market. We prayed with several people that night, including Jeff, a backslidden Christian. We brought three people who said they wanted to go to the Lord’s Ranch to our house. Two left the next day, but one, Daniel, stayed with the group. On Saturday, we witnessed at Fisherman’s Wharf. That evening, about a dozen Christians from our group witnessed at the Chinese New Year Parade.

About six Christians from Calvary Chapel in San Francisco have been joining us on some Friday nights. They have two musicians, which is an answer to prayer. On Feb. 3 we witnessed at Fisherman’s Wharf and on Feb. 24 we witnessed at the Sony Metreon. On Sat. Feb. 25, Raymond Landry and the Independent Community Church in Richmond ministered in Berkeley. Their music drew many people and we had several good conversations that afternoon.

On Friday March 3, we were planning to witness on Valencia St. When I called Camille, she was concerned about rain so we moved the outreach to Powell and O’Farrell, a block from Union Square. This location has a good canopy to protect us from rain. It didn’t rain that night, but one man listened to our preaching for 30 minutes, then asked us some questions. Several other young people talked with us, and seemed receptive to the gospel message. On March 4, Tim Moon had planned to minister with us, but he was really sick. I made several calls and Tony from Calvary Chapel agreed to come and bring his guitar. He had a bad cold and could only sing a few songs. So we played recorded music and preached at Fisherman’s Wharf. It was a beautiful, sunny day and a lot of people listened to us and received tracts. This was also the day of the annual “Human Iditarod” (based on the Alaskan dog-sled race). Hundreds of people in crazy costumes ran past our outreach location and heard about Jesus.

On Sat. March 11, we ministered at UN Plaza. The Park Department gave us this one permit the day before the event. Shiloh Full Gospel Church in San Francisco drew a large crowd to hear the gospel. We prayed with quite a few people that afternoon.

	People respond to altar call at UN Plaza on March 11
	Shiloh Full Gospel ministers at UN Plaza
	Brandon preaches at the Wharf
	Praying for man at UN Plazas

SOS-San Francisco June 23-July 1, 2006

While we are making a special effort to involve youth groups this year, Christians of all ages are welcome to participate in SOS-San Francisco. This year we will be meeting at a new location: Dolores Park Church (formerly First Covenant), 455 Dolores St. (near 18th St.), San Francisco. Our first SOS-San Francisco outreach was held at this church in 1980. It is a great facility and we are very thankful to the church leadership for allowing us to meet there.

Registration begins on Friday June 23 at 6 PM. Meetings are scheduled daily except Sunday at 9 AM from June 24-July 1. Evangelism training will be provided throughout the week. We will be holding daily noon worship rallies in city parks, bringing the church to the street. Free housing is available during the outreach. We will be serving breakfast and lunch from June 26 – July 1. Youth under 18 need adult supervision. This outreach is an opportunity to bring the love of Jesus Christ to people who desperately need to know Him. It is truly a life-changing experience.

We have printed thousands of full-color cards to let people know about this outreach. Please help us get this literature to churches, Christian bookstores and Christian schools in your area. You can give it out at Christian concerts and other events. Please encourage your Christian friends to get involved. Set aside the week of June 23 - July 1 to attend the SOS outreach and bring a friend.

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 May 5, 12, 19 7:30-10 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods. (Call for location).

Sat. May 6 and 20 11:30-5 PM San Francisco Outreach. (Call for location).

Sat. May 13 12:30-4:30 PM Berkeley Outreach. Telegraph and Haste St.

June 23-July 1 SOS-San Francisco

Ministry News and Needs

Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. Three months ago, I applied for twelve 2006 San Francisco Park permits. I learned that a new General Manager wants to start charging us $500 for each park reservation, in addition to the $56 loudspeaker permit fee. I was told we could request a waiver, which I did. I have still not received a response from him. Our lawyer, Russell Davis, sent a letter showing legal reasons why such a fee would be unconstitutional.

The government is allowed to charge a fee for the “costs of the licensing process.” However, this fee must be based upon the actual cost of issuing the permit. Also, it must not be so large as to exclude people from exercising their First Amendment rights. The US Supreme Court wrote in one case (Murdock v. Pennsylvania): “Freedom of speech must be available to all, not merely to those who can pay their own way.” In that case, the Court rejected a $1.50 per day licensing fee on Jehovah’s Witnesses who go door to door, characterizing it as “a flat tax imposed on the exercise of a privilege granted by the Bill of Rights.”

Please pray that we will be granted this waiver. We certainly cannot afford such a fee. The uncertainty is making it very difficult for us to plan this year’s outreaches. We would like to avoid another lawsuit, but will go to court if necessary to protect our rights, and those of all Christians.

We still have an opening for one Christian 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.

Our Tape of the Month is Take Him to the Streets by Jonathan Gainsbrugh. Jonathan is a pioneer in street ministry who has had a great influence on today’s street evangelists.

Yours in His love,

Larry Rosenbaum