SOS Ministry Newsletter - February 2009

Shipwrecked

Dear Christian Friends,

We are near the end of our series on New Testament preaching. In Acts 27, Paul gives a word of knowledge to those who are sailing the ship carrying him as a prisoner to Rome. First, he warns them that the ship will be damaged if they leave Crete immediately. After they ignore his warning, he tells them that an angel appeared to him, telling him that nobody will perish in the wreck, but the ship will be destroyed, and they will be cast on an island. They listened to his advice, and nobody died. While there is no mention of Paul preaching the gospel on this occasion, his word of knowledge, as well as his behavior, ministered to these people. Certainly, these people knew Paul was imprisoned because of his beliefs. Most likely, he also talked with them about Jesus.

When they landed on Melita, a poisonous snake bit him. The natives expected him to die quickly. When he didn’t, they thought he was a god. Paul healed the father of the island’s leader, as well as other people.
When Paul arrived in Rome, he called together the Jewish leaders. “Though I have committed nothing against the people…yet I was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem.” These leaders were more receptive to the gospel than the Jews in Rome. “We desire to hear of you what you think.”

“He expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.” Luke concludes by quoting Isaiah 6:9-10, a prophecy that the Jews as a whole would not receive the gospel, but that the Gentiles would receive it.

In this section, we can see how Paul operated in the supernatural gifts of word of knowledge and healing. God used these gifts to witness to unbelievers. While the passage does not say that Paul used these opportunities to share the gospel with people, he certainly did. After all, he wrote “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to those who believe” and “How shall they hear without a preacher?” Paul certainly would not have missed these opportunities to share the gospel with people. A miracle can certainly get people’s attention and help them to believe. He certainly would not have wanted people to think that these miracles were done through his own power.
Finally, we have Paul, in Rome, making one last effort to reach the Jews. While the Roman Jews were more receptive to the gospel than those in Jerusalem, the Jewish people as a whole rejected the gospel, while the Gentiles were much more receptive. From that point, the gospel went mainly to the Gentiles, and many did in fact receive it.

On The Streets

The Liberated Wailing Wall is the mobile evangelistic music team of Jews for Jesus. Thirty years ago, this group began singing on the streets of San Francisco. Since then, they have traveled the world, ministering in churches and on the streets, and have recorded 12 albums. On December 6, the newest version of this group ministered with us in Berkeley. It was great having them with us, especially since almost 25% of the population of Berkeley is Jewish.

On December 13, Tim Moon and Richard Griffin ministered with us at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. About 1000 people were dressed as Santa Claus as part of “Santacon 2008.” This is a world wide event involving a lot of drunkenness, organized over the internet. They had written a number of extremely crude songs that they were singing (Excerpt from one song: “We’ll just fornicate and fool around.” Many of the lyrics are much worse). Each year, it seems that there is less mention of Christ during this season. Even the songs playing in shopping centers are increasingly about Santa and snowmen, not about Jesus. Nonetheless, we were able to remind people of the real reason for Christmas.

On Friday night, January 2, we witnessed at the Sony Metreon, an entertainment complex in downtown San Francisco. As I preached, several college students wanted to talk with me. I stopped preaching to talk with them. Zach, a young Jewish man, was particularly receptive to the gospel. Larry DuBois began preaching, but a large group of young people soon surrounded him. Five people were asking him questions at the same time. He tried his best to answer their questions.
The next day, we witnessed in Berkeley. Paul and Noreen Coca ministered with us. I saw a young man listening to them, and started talking with him. Zhaoyu is a postgraduate engineering student from China. He has Christian friends and has been to church, but is not saved. He was quite receptive to the gospel as I witnessed to him.

Click on Photos to Enlarge (first two pics below enlargements are unavailable)

Coming Events

Note: Outreaches are subject to change. Call (510) 531-5325 or 926-3299 (new cell phone) to confirm outreaches or for more information.

Friday January 23, February 20, 27 Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods. 7:30 - 10 PM
Sat. January 24, February 21, 28 Evangelism Outreach. Berkeley (Telegraph and Haste St.) or San Francisco (Jefferson St. between Powell & Mason) Call Saturday morning for outreach location.

Ministry Needs

Thank you again for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. I realize that many of you have been hurt by the financial recession. Our donations for November and December decreased 33% from the previous year.
This year we will be planning our 30th annual SOS-San Francisco outreach. This outreach will be a reunion of many Christians who have participated in outreaches over the past 30 years, as well as Christians who have never been to SOS. Please pray for us as we plan this outreach.

We still have two openings in our Oakland ministry house. We are looking for men in their 20’s or 30’s who are spiritually strong, have administrative gifts, and are committed to evangelism. We welcome older people to participate in our outreaches and are open to having them live in our ministry house.  (I am 63 and our youngest house member is 43.) But we also need to train younger believers in evangelism – to reach a new generation and help us continue this work of evangelizing San Francisco and Berkeley.

Many Christian youth today are interested in prayer, worship, and helping the poor, but few are interested in evangelism. A few young people are ministering with us. Alan is a student at the Oakland School of Urban Missions. He witnesses with us on Saturdays. Hannah and Emanuel are staff members at the SF Youth with a Mission who sing with us on Friday nights. But our nation needs an army of young people who are committed to preaching the gospel.

Please pray that God will bring the right people for our house. God did many amazing things in this ministry in 2008. The one thing that stands out, however, is the way He turned back the efforts of the city of Berkeley to pass two laws that would have prevented us from doing outreaches there. There are still efforts to keep us from preaching the Gospel in Berkeley. Please continue to pray that the Berkeley City Council will not take away our freedom to minister in that city. Our CD of the Month is The Purpose of Hell by my pastor, DuBayonne Shortridge of New Life Christian Church, Castro Valley.

Yours in His love,

Larry Rosenbaum