Newsletter – May 2011

May 2011

Cherry Blossom Festival outreach

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 Kylan witnesses to Fumiko, a Japanese dancer at Cherry Blossom Festival at Japantown.

Dear Christian friends,

We don’t witness very often at special events. Normally, I prefer to organize our own event, rather than witness at someone else’s event. That way, we can create a Christian atmosphere in a location, instead of entering someone else’s territory. Also, when the police are used to seeing us in an area, they are more likely to leave us alone.

However, it is also good to try new things. So we decided to witness at the Cherry Blossom Festival at Japantown. Kylan, who lives in our house, speaks Japanese and is planning to become a missionary in Japan. He had attended the event last year, and thought it would be a good opportunity to minister to people.

When we arrived, our first problem was to park our 15 passenger van. We dropped off our workers and most of our equipment at the event, and then proceeded to look for parking. This was extremely difficult, but after about 30 minutes, we found a spot a mile away. When we returned to the event, everybody was sitting around, waiting for us. Apparently, an event volunteer told them they could not pass out tracts or use amplification at the event. Kylan decided to speak to the event coordinator, to see if we could get permission, and after another 30 minutes, he found her and got her permission.

We started passing out tracts, but immediately a volunteer told us we couldn’t do that. We said we had permission. The volunteer spoke with the event coordinator, who revoked the permission she had given us. She said we needed to move off the event grounds.

We walked around the site, and found the best location off the grounds to set up, across the street from one entrance. Our preaching could clearly be heard across the street at the event. Soon after we arrived, two large buses arrived with signs announcing that Judgment Day was coming on May 21. A dozen people came out of the buses holding signs which read “Judgment Day May 21, 2011.” They went inside the event, but were quickly removed. They stayed on the same side of the street as us, holding their signs. Two of the women with us, Dena and Diana, made a sign quoting Mark 13:32, “But of the day and the hour no one knows…”

After about two hours of preaching, a police officer arrived and told us we could not use our amplifier.  We decided it was time to leave. Despite the problems, we had a good time of ministry. Kylan witnessed to an older Japanese woman named Fumiko. Dave spoke with Ted, who was part of the Family Radio group. Ted apparently believes in salvation by works, that it is necessary to believe Judgment Day is coming on May 21 to be saved. Dave got Ted’s phone number, and is planning to call him after May 21. Dave also witnessed for 45 minutes to four young people from Norway. They asked many questions about God and the Bible, and seemed really interested in getting answers.

SOS-San Francisco

July 12-16

We have set the dates for this summer’s SOS-San Francisco outreach. This is the 32nd year we have sent out an “SOS” to Christians to bring the gospel to the people of San Francisco. I hope many of you will join us for this outreach. We have shortened the outreach this year, since it is getting increasingly difficult for people to take so much time off work. The outreach will begin Tues. night July 12 and ends Sat. afternoon July 16. Again we will be meeting at The Gate Ministry, 1429 Mendell St. (near 3rd St.), SF. We provide breakfast, lunch, and housing. The cost is $40, but this fee will be waived for those who cannot afford it.

On the Streets

Some of our best witnessing opportunities come when we take a lunch break during our outreach. On Sat. March 5, we witnessed at Fisherman’s Wharf. Dan witnessed to his waitress, Nara, who was from Mongolia, at IHOP. Dave met Jonas, who was about 20 years old and from Germany, at McDonalds. He shared his testimony with him.

The following Friday, we returned to the Wharf. Kylan prayed with Giselle, an Hispanic woman, and James witnessed to Josie, a homeless woman with demonic problems. Gary spoke to a group of Mormons for a long time. Dave spoke with an Australian man also named Dave, who was open to the gospel and said he would read a gospel tract. I tried to witness to Dave’s father Don, but he is partially deaf, quite old and an atheist. Dan also witnessed to Joshua, and gave him a Bible. Later, he returned to thank Dan for it.

On Saturday, Tim Moon had lost his voice and couldn’t sing. Eric Martinez normally plays music with our team on Friday nights. He agreed to come at the last minute, and brought his wife Charlyne and two small children, Caleb and Ruth. Charlyne had never ministered on the street before, but she sang and has a beautiful voice. That afternoon, Kylan witnessed to Yuri and Ashley. They said they used to give out gospel tracts, but were now quite hardened to the gospel.

On April 2, we witnessed in Berkeley. Richard Griffin played music and several of us preached. Dave witnessed to Scott, a newly-homeless man from Concord. He said he hadn’t eaten in 2 days, so Dave bought him lunch. He said “I think God is punishing me for my sins.” Dave witnessed to him and we made a phone call to the Richmond Mission. They offered him housing and we offered him a ride,  but Scott decided not to go. Dan gave tracts to five teenage boys aged 12-14 and gave one a New Testament. The boy said “thanks” and they crossed the street. A few minutes later, another boy returned with the New Testament, tore it up in front of us, and threw it in the trash.

On April 8, we witnessed at 16th St. and Mission. Dave witnessed to Keith, a backslidden Christian who was addicted to drugs. Carsten spoke with an Hispanic man who said he had never heard about Jesus. Kylan witnessed to a Muslim named Jahad. He had difficulty with the idea that Jesus was the son of God, and Kylan explained it to him. There was a big anarchist gathering that night, and we got pelted with eggs. Kylan got hit, but he was wearing a raincoat and it was easily washed off.

I received an email from Michael, who said he heard a young man preaching with us at UN Plaza around 2007. He was addicted to meth at the time, and “remember tearing up inside because his message was so moving.” Since then, other Christians witnessed to him and he was saved. He now lives in a Victory Outreach discipleship home in San Jose. He has a good job and ministers at San Quentin prison twice a week, witnessing to hundreds of men there.

I received another email from Naomi. A Christian near Seattle witnessed to her and gave her one of our gospel tracts. She wrote, “I have a lot of need for God to be part of my life. I struggle with depression…I feel my life is heading in the wrong direction. Before I moved here I lived in NC. There I did attend a church on a regular basis. If I were to die tonight, I do not feel I would go to Heaven.” From her letter, I could not tell if she was a Christian who doubted her salvation, or was unsaved. I wrote her and gave her contact information for a local pastor in her town, and encouraged her to discuss this with him. Please pray for Naomi.

Coming Events

Note: Outreaches are subject to change. Call (510) 761-6120 to confirm outreaches or for more information.

Friday May 6, 20, 27 Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods. 7:30-10 PM (Call for location).

Sat. May 7 Berkeley outreach. Telegraph & Haste St. 12:30-4:30 PM. Chuck Girard.

Sat. May 21 San Francisco Evangelism outreach. 11:30-1:30 PM: Union Square (Powell & Geary St.) and 3:30-5:30 PM Washington Square (Columbus & Union St.)

Sat. May 28 San Francisco Evangelism outreach: Dolores Park. 19th St. & Dolores. 1-5 PM.

Ministry News

Thank you for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. We have scheduled 18 outreaches in San Francisco parks this year. The permits will cost us at least $1000. Also, we need a volunteer who lives in the SF area to help us obtain permits at Fisherman’s Wharf by attending a monthly meeting on Thursday from 9:30 AM -3 PM (not every month) and a volunteer to help us a few hours a month with office work.

We also have several openings for Christian musicians and music groups to minister with us at our park outreaches. This year we have had difficulty finding musicians for these outreaches. Please pray that God will meet this need. Also, please continue to pray for work for three house members, Dan, Dave, and Jeromy. I hope some of you will join us for an outreach this next month.

Yours in His love,

Larry Rosenbaum

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Family Radio false prophets announce ‘ Judgment Day’ on May 21 at Japantown.

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Dave witnesses to Norwegians at Japantown outreach.

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Amanda  (who is from Iran) witnesses to Muslim woman in Berkeley.