SOS Monthly Newsletter - May 2007

A History of Street Preaching Part 2

Dear Christian friends,

In last month's newsletter, we traced the history of street preachers up to the time of John Wycliffe. This month, we will conclude this history, starting with the Protestant reformation. The early Protestant reformers necessarily had to be outdoor preachers, since the churches were in the hands of the papacy. William Farel (1489-1565), who has been called the pioneer of Protestantism in Western Switzerland, was a street preacher. "He turned every stump and stone into a pulpit, every house, every street, and market-place into a church."

The Presbyterian Church was founded in Scotland by John Knox (1513-1572), who started out as a bodyguard for a street preacher named George Wishart. After Wishart was martyred in 1546, Knox took over as leader of the Reformation. Wishart was not allowed to preach in the churches and so preached in the market places and fields. John Knox accompanied him on his preaching tours, sword in hand, to protect him from violence. The Presbyterian Church was started by street preachers!

Later, when the Church of England was established in Scotland, Protestant preachers were banned from their pulpits and became field preachers, proclaiming their message in the open air.

After the Reformation, other great movements were started by street preachers. The Methodist Church, co-founded by George Whitefield (1714-1770) and John Wesley (1703-1791), is an example of this period. These two were Anglicans, but being banned from speaking in churches since they were not "licensed," they took to field preaching, boldly proclaiming God's Word to large crowds in streets and markets. Whitefield spoke to estimated crowds of up to 20,000 people in the open air. They traveled throughout England and the American colonies, and were instrumental in the great awakening, a mighty revival that swept the colonies in the eighteenth century. The Methodist Church was started by street preachers!

George Whitefield stated: "I believe I never was more acceptable to my Master than when I was standing to teach those hearers in the open fields. ... I now preach to ten times more people than I should, if had been confined to the Churches."

Also from John Wesley: "I am well assured that I did far more good to my Lincolnshire parishioners by preaching three days on my father's tomb than I did by preaching three years in his pulpit. ... To this day field preaching is a cross to me, but I know my commission and see no other way of preaching the gospel to every creature."

Another great Methodist outdoor preacher at this time was Gideon Ouseley (1762-1839). He traveled on horseback and preached several times a day, without dismounting, in streets, fairs and markets throughout Ireland.

A great Baptist revival in Scotland was the result of the field preaching of Robert (1764-1842) and James Haldane and Rowland Hill. They were Anglicans, but became Baptist when the established Church forbade their field preaching. Robert and James left their business and sold their estate to devote their time to preaching the gospel.

The first modern Protestant missionary society was started by William Carey (1761-1834), the first missionary to India. Carey went to India and started by preaching to large crowds that gathered in the streets of the brothel district. One of Carey's associates, Mr. Chamberlain, would go to the Ganges River where Hindus gathered, and start an argument with one of the Brahmins. When the argument drew a crowd, he would preach to the assembled Hindus. The modern missions movement was started by street preachers!

Other famous preachers started their ministries by preaching in the streets, such as C.H. Spurgeon, D.L. Moody, and Billy Graham. Spurgeon began preaching in the streets of London at the age of 16, which he continued until he became pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle at 19.

Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899) was a well-known preacher in the Chicago area. "One of his regular practices in the late sixties was to exhort the passersby in the evenings from the steps of the court house. Often these impromptu gathering drew as many hecklers as supporters." Moody was a street preacher!

The Salvation Army and the YMCA both started out doing a lot of street preaching. Today, they are mainly known for operating thrift stores, hotels and health clubs.

Within this paper we have only scratched the surface concerning the impact that street preachers have had on the world. This information is often neglected in today's churches. It is our hope that by remembering and publicizing this history, hearts and minds will be inspired to see the timelessness and power of this simple approach.

Street preaching has been the most powerful tool for reaching the world, not only throughout Biblical times, but also in every age of history. We believe that in today's critical times the Church of Jesus Christ needs now more than ever to revive the proven ministry of street preaching.

As Charles Spurgeon testified: "No sort of defense is needed for preaching out of doors, but it would need very potent arguments to prove that a man had done his duty who has never preached beyond the walls of his meeting-house. More defense is required for services within buildings than for worship outside of them." (Continued from the April 2007 Newsletter. Edited from www.soulwinning.info/sp/lessons/02.htm.)

Summer of Love-Jesus Movement Now July 27 - Aug 18

Summer 2007 is the 40-year mark for three significant events: the San Francisco Summer of Love, the Jesus Movement, and all of Jerusalem coming back into Jewish hands for the first time since AD 70! Since Jerusalem is a sign in the natural of what God is doing spiritually, 1967 marked the beginning of a huge shift in the spirit world. 40 years later, it is time for the next generation to cross over into the promises of God with the Calebs and Joshuas on board helping to steer. Malachi 4:5-6

1967 was also San Francisco's Summer of Love, which ignited a "hippie" counter-cultural explosion of drugs, casual sex, and eastern mysticism that swept around the world. Over 100,000 young people from around the world (including me) flocked to SF's Haight-Ashbury, Berkeley, and the cities of the Bay. In the midst of all this, out in the streets a powerful move of God began sweeping thousands of kids into the Kingdom. Many of the pastors and leaders in the church today were saved during this revival later dubbed the Jesus Movement. According to one account, the Jesus Movement began in San Francisco in 1967 with the opening of a small storefront evangelical mission called “The Living Room” in the Haight - Ashbury district by Ted Wise (one-way.org/jesusmovement).

As we feel the wind of God stirring, preparations have begun for Summer of Love / Jesus Movement Now this summer. The focus will be the three weeks from July 27 - Aug 18 with Pastor Michael Brodeur, coordinator, and Pray the Bay providing leadership with a steering committee from Jesus Revolution Now, San Francisco House of Prayer, Justice House of Prayer (Lou Engle), The Homeless Church, and SOS Ministries. Congregational & ministry leaders from all over the city and region are beginning to work together with us on this evangelistic thrust.

SOS-San Francisco (August 10-18) will be the final week of this three-week outreach. We will be giving you more information in future newsletters. I hope many of you will join us as much as possible during this time.

ON THE STREETS

Five young people from the New Life Drama Company in Tennessee joined us on the streets on March 2-3 and stayed at our house. Jeff and Jerry, who live in Southern California, also stayed at our house that weekend. Friday afternoon, Eric witnessed with Jeff, Jerry, Jessi, Sarah, and Paul Kaiser at San Francisco State University. Paul’s preaching drew a large crowd. Afterwards, the Christians got to witness to them in small groups, answering many of their questions.

On Friday night we witnessed at 16th St. and Valencia. About 20 Christians joined us that night. Michelle sang and the drama group did evangelistic skits. Several people stood around and listened, and we had some good conversations.

On Saturday we ministered at United Nations Plaza. It was a warm, sunny day. About 35 Christians from Southern California, Sacramento, Redding, Ceres and several other places witnessed with us. Paul and Noreen sang and the drama group did their skits. Several people preached that afternoon. I witnessed to four boys, about 12 years old, who live in Sausalito. They all had a Christian background, but none currently attended church. Several of them said they read the Bible and prayed. However, when I asked them what God had done so that they could go to Heaven even though they had sinned, none of them could tell me. I explained the gospel message to them. That night, about 20 Christians witnessed at the Chinese New Year Parade. Paul Kaiser preached and May translated his preaching into Chinese.

	Jessi preaches at student union plaza, SF State University
	New Life Drama performs skit at UN Plaza
	Kim preaches at Chinese New Year Parade
	Four boys hear gospel at UN Plaza. The large dollar bill is a gospel tract

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 4, 11, 18 7:30 - 10 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods.

Sat. May 5 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM San Francisco Evangelism Outreach. Washington Square (Columbus & Union St.) 3-5 PM Union Square (Powell & Geary St.)

Sat. May 12 Evangelism Outreach (call for location).

Sat. May 19 San Francisco Evangelism Outreach. 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM Justin Herman Plaza (Market & Embarcadero) 3-5 PM Powell & Market St.

August 10-18 SOS-San Francisco (year 28)

Request SOS Outreach 2007 Registration Form

Ministry News and Needs

Thank you again for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. Please pray that we would get loudspeaker permits we have requested at Fisherman’s Wharf, Powell and Market, 24th St. and Mission, and Haight and Masonic. Also, please pray for me, as I am having a problem with my left foot that makes it difficult to walk. We still have openings in our house for mature Christians with a desire to witness for Jesus.

Our Tape of the Month is Evangelical Frustration by Ray Comfort. When we witness, many people profess faith in Jesus. We need to see more true converts.

Yours in His love,

Larry Rosenbaum