SOS Monthly Newsletter - January 2007

Shut Down At The Wharf

Dear Christian friends,

On Saturday November 18, we went to Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. We set up our sound system at 11 AM and started playing recorded worship music very quietly. A few minutes later, Officer Peter McLaughlin told us we could not use our sound system. He said that because of complaints, the police had decided not to allow any more sound systems in the area. They still allowed the use of battery-powered “boomboxes” such as were used by the “silver men” and some break dancers. While they have refused to give permits at the Wharf, the police have allowed unpermitted sound systems in this area for at least 20 years.

A few years ago, we started holding outreaches in this area, using our sound system. Over 10 million people from all over the world visit Fisherman’s Wharf every year, making this a great place to reach multitudes of people for Jesus. Also, we were not limited by the time restrictions that are put on our permits, so we could minister for over five hours each day. Jesus said, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day; the night comes, when no man can work” (John 9:4). As non-Christians become increasingly hardened to the gospel, it has become increasingly hard for Christians to preach in public places.

In November, 2002, San Francisco voters passed Proposition F, which took the power to issue permits away from the Police Department and gave it to a newly-formed Entertainment Commission. Many people were concerned that the Police were hostile to entertainment, and thought that they had no business making decisions regarding who gets permits. While the main concern was for nightclubs, which often had noise complaints from neighbors, the Entertainment Commission also was given control over loudspeaker permits.

Today, I obtain street-corner permits from the Entertainment Commission. I obtain park permits from the Park Department. Either way, my applications are sent to the Police precinct for approval. Our time was cut from 4 hours to 2 hours at Washington Square because a Police Captain wrote on the application “prefer 2 hours.” I tried calling him three times, leaving messages. He did not return my phone calls so I do not know why he cut our hours. Three years ago, my permit at Powell and Market was limited to one hour because a police officer wanted it that way. Last year, they gave me two hours.

So while officially the Entertainment Commission is in charge of permits, in reality the Police Department has control over what permits are issued and for how long. The Entertainment Commission and Park Department seem unwilling to override their decisions, at least in regard to our permits.

I will try to get permits at Fisherman’s Wharf, but I think it is unlikely that we will get one. Even if we do, it is likely that the police will start denying our permits or limiting our hours as soon as someone complains. Meanwhile, I have applied for 25 San Francisco park permits for 2007. At many locations we are limited to 2 hours so we will need to set up at one location from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, tear down, go to a second location, and hold our second outreach from 3-5 PM. I do not know how many permits we will get or if we will be able to afford them. I am also applying for 17 permits in Berkeley.

Please pray that we will be granted permits at Fisherman’s Wharf, and at the other locations we have requested.

The Offense of the Cross

“All who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution'' (2 Tim. 3:12). Christians love to claim the promises of God, but this is one promise few Christians like to claim. Whenever we talk in our newsletter about arrests (which haven’t occurred since 1998), permit denials, and being shut down by the police, some Christians assume that we must be doing something wrong. Otherwise the police would leave us alone.

The apostle Paul had the same problem. He knew that being persecuted was part of the Christian life and he expected it. However, he found that many Christians forsook him and denied that he was an apostle because he was constantly being imprisoned. He found this really hard to take.

“At my first defense, no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me'' (2 Tim. 4:16﷓17). Paul was suffering tremendous hardship in a Roman prison, yet the thing that disturbed him most was that every Christian seemed to have forsaken him. We expect that non-Christians will not appreciate our Christian preaching and will persecute us. However, it really hurts us when Christians say that the reason we are being persecuted is that we are preaching the gospel in the wrong way.

While the persecution we have endured in San Francisco is not nearly as bad as what Paul experienced, it is real persecution. And it seems that every time we mention this persecution in our newsletter, we hear about Christians who are saying that the police are acting justly, and that our method of witnessing is wrong.

Of course, we are not perfect. I am sure there are times when we are not completely led by God’s Spirit in our witnessing. However, those who criticize us seem to think it is possible to preach the gospel without offending anyone. The methods they generally suggest are “servant evangelism” and “friendship evangelism.” Nobody will get upset if I give out food to a homeless person or offer to mow my neighbor’s lawn. I can make friends with all kinds of people without upsetting them.

Feeding a homeless person is a good work, but it is not preaching the gospel. Making friends with someone is not preaching the gospel. I can spend my life feeding people, but if I never mention the name of Jesus, or God’s plan of salvation, most likely nobody will be saved. “How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” Romans 10:14.

At some point, if I feed a homeless person or make friends with someone, I must tell that person that he has sinned against God, and that he needs to repent of his sins and trust in Jesus for his salvation. At that point, no matter how tactful I try to be, the person may get offended.

“Brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the offense of the cross ceased” Gal. 5:11. Paul could have avoided persecution by preaching salvation by works. However, that would have been a lie. The preaching of the cross is an offense to the self-righteous person, who thinks his good works will save him. It was the Pharisees who were most upset by Jesus’ preaching, They were responsible for him being crucified. Self-righteous people are offended by the gospel. They get upset when they hear it, and often will try to stop it from being preached.

I realize that there are some preachers who are obnoxious and condemning. We try very hard to preach a balanced message. We play lots of music, because it is a much more gentle way to minister to people. We speak of God’s love and mercy. But we must not neglect to talk about God’s holiness, His judgment, and repentance from sin. We do so as gently as possible, but we must not compromise the Gospel message that our Lord has commanded us to preach. I only wish more Christians would pray for us instead of criticizing us.

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.

ON THE STREETS

	Was this our Last Outreach at the Wharf?
	Larry passes out tracts at Wharf on November 18
	Outreach at Powell and O’Farrell St
	Tim sings while Jeff witnesses in Berkeley

Legal Update

On December 7, we held the oral argument in our 10-year old Federal Civil Rights lawsuit before a three-judge panel. From the beginning, all the judges made clear their opposition to us. First, they said they thought the previous opinion of the 9th Circuit was of no importance. Second, they seemed ready to accept every lame excuse given by the city for arresting us. Our attorney, Rick Nelson, tried to counter their objections, but I don’t know if anyone could have convinced these judges that our rights had been violated.

Still, I remember the last time we went before the 9th Circuit in this case. After the oral arguments, I was convinced we had lost. However, they ruled in our favor. God is able to soften the heart of any judge. Please continue to pray that God will change the hearts of these judges (T G Nelson, Ronald Gould and Consuelo Maria Callahan), cause them to carefully examine all the evidence in this case, and to rule in our favor. The right of Christians to preach the gospel without fear of arrest is at stake. A ruling could come down in a few months, or take a whole year. If we lose, we can appeal to an 11-judge panel of the 9th Circuit, but it is unlikely that they will allow this.

Coming Events

Note: Outreaches are subject to change. Call (510) 531-5325 or 213-3092 (cell phone) to confirm outreaches or for more information.

Friday January 5, 12, 26 7:30 - 10 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods.

Sat. January 6 and 27 12:30 – 4:30 PM Berkeley Outreach
(Telegraph and Haste St)

Sat. January 13 12-5 PM San Francisco Outreach (UN Plaza, 7th St. and Market)

Ministry News and Needs

Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. We hope to print 60,000 tracts within the next few months. We still need a musician to lead worship on the streets on Friday nights. Also, we still need a volunteer to help with office work about six hours a month.

Please pray for those who have written us recently seeking spiritual help, including George (SF), Leslie (Berkeley), Norm (Hayward), Chris (San Jose), and Angel (Philippines).

Our Tape of the Month is Jail and Prison Ministry by Sharon Burton. There are over 2 million prisoners in U.S. prisons. They are truly a “captive” audience. We need to reach them for Jesus.

Yours in His love,

Larry Rosenbaum