SOS Monthly Newsletter - April 2007

A History of Street Preaching Part 1

Dear Christian friends,

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. (Continued from the Mar. 2007 Newsletter. Edited from www.soulwinning.info/sp/lessons/02.htm)

ON THE STREETS

February 17 was a warm, sunny day. We witnessed at UN Plaza for five hours. We began with music from Hargis and Dell. Later, Christian recording artist Kathleen Carnali brought a worship group from Nashville. Mark Whitehead brought 19 people from Victory Assembly of God in Ceres. They gave out food and witnessed to people. Another team of 30 Christians from Oregon was witnessing with Youth With a Mission and joined us that afternoon. They gave out lunches to people and spoke with them. In all, about 80 Christians were witnessing in this area that afternoon. We prayed with many people that afternoon. Mark Whitehead and I prayed with a 14 year-old boy, Michael, from San Francisco. His father is in jail and his mother died a few months ago, so he is living in a group home. He reads the Bible regularly but has a problem with stealing and gambling. Please pray for him.

	People line up for food at UN Plaza on Feb. 17
	LaRedda and Phyllis with Johnny, who just prayed to receive Christ
	Kathleen Carnali and Nashville worship team minister at UN Plaza
	Mark prays with Michael, age 14. I had prayed with him earlier in the day

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 April 6, 13, 20 7:30 - 10 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods.

Sat. April 7 and 21 12:30 – 4:30 PM Berkeley Outreach (Telegraph and Haste St)

Sat. April 14 12-5 PM San Francisco Outreach (UN Plaza, 7th St. and Market)

SOS-San Francisco August 10-18, 2007

We have set dates for our 28th annual outreach to the people of San Francisco. This is the 40th anniversary of SF’s “Summer of Love.” Please set aside these dates for this important outreach. Ask your employer for the week off.

Ministry News and Needs

Thank you again for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. We still have openings in our house for spiritually-mature Christians with a desire to witness for Jesus.

On March 1, I met with several pastors and ministry leaders to plan a major evangelism outreach and Christian gathering this summer. It will commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Summer of Love in San Francisco, the 40th Anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem, the Jesus Movement, and calling for a new “Jesus Movement” to reach this next generation for Christ. A number of ministries have expressed interest in participating—The Call (Lou Engle), International House of Prayer (Mike Bickle), Jesus Revolution, and Pray the Bay. Also, musicians Chuck Girard and Lindell Cooley are planning to come from Nashville to minister at this year’s SOS Outreach, August 10-18.

Our Tape of the Month is ABC’s of Street Evangelism by Ron Radachy. Ron is Director of the Oasis in Hollywood.

Yours in His love,

Larry Rosenbaum