Newsletter – August 2012

August 2012

SOS-San Francisco Outreach Report

Photo 1 Sam IMG_0452

Sam does sketch board presentation in San Francisco’s Financial District.

Dear Christian friends,

On June 14, I drove to the BART station to catch a train to the monthly street performers meeting where Fisherman’s Wharf permits are issued. I was planning to get permits for SOS-San Francisco on Wednesday and Friday afternoon. A sign at the BART station said that no trains were going to San Francisco because of a fire. I tried to drive to San Francisco, but all the streets were clogged. It would take me at least two hours to get there, which would be too late for the meeting.

With the door closed at Fisherman’s Wharf, clearly God was leading us in a different direction for our SOS outreach. After praying about the matter, it seemed that God wanted us to go to the financial district. Almost 300,000 people work in this area, but we do not normally witness to them, since we normally witness on weekends.

The last time we were in this area, about 15 years ago, we had concluded a four-hour outreach and loaded our PA into our van and were ready to go home. The day had been peaceful, with no complaints or police visits. Suddenly, a police officer arrived and cited me and ordered us to unload our PA system. It was confiscated for a year while we defended ourselves in court. I testified in court for three full days, after which the law we were cited under was declared unconstitutional!

On June 17, I drove around downtown San Francisco looking for a good location in the financial district to hold an outreach. I found a small plaza with benches at 1st St. and Market that allowed us to play music and preach without disturbing the nearby businesses. I decided to apply for a four-hour permit there, thinking that there was little chance I would get one. A week later, our permit at 1st St. and Market was approved for the full four hours! Normally, I can get one permit a year at Haight St., so I applied for a permit there. Our Haight St. permit was only approved for 2 hours. But at least we had permits for our outreach.

The team from Forcey Bible Church in Maryland arrived on June 25. They ministered at Powell and Market most afternoons, performing a drama skit and doing a sketch board gospel presentation. In the late afternoon, they ministered to children and their parents at the Potrero Hill Housing Project. On June 27, Paul Adams, their leader, joined me in sharing about our outreaches on KFAX radio, the largest Christian station in our area.

On June 29 the Maryland team joined us at Fisherman’s Wharf. The next day, we witnessed at Dolores Park. A team from Word of Grace Church in San Francisco played music and did Christian rap. Paul and Noreen Coca also ministered. The Maryland team did sketch board evangelism.

Our SOS outreach began on Wednesday July 4 at Haight St. and Masonic. Chuck Girard, Paul & Noreen Coca and Tim Moon played music Wednesday through Friday. When our two hour permit ended, the Maryland group ministered through drama and sketch board. I was impressed by the sizeable crowd that regularly gathered to watch them present the gospel with a sketch board. All the youth had been trained to do sketch board presentations. Across the street, a man was giving away free hotdogs.

Amanda spoke with Carmen and Carina, two sisters visiting from LA. Carina is saved but Carmen said she couldn’t believe in anything she couldn’t see. Amanda shared about various ways in which we believe in things we cannot see. Carmen paused and asked “What am I supposed to do now?” Amanda shared the gospel with her and gave her a Bible, which she eagerly received. Her sister was clearly pleased with what happened.

On Thursday we witnessed in Berkeley. A lot of incoming freshmen were on campus that day. We played music and preached at Telegraph & Haste St., while the Maryland youth ministered through sketch board on the university campus. Jeff witnessed to Richard, a homosexual who said he was born that way and didn’t understand why God thought what he was doing was sinful. Amanda witnessed to a homosexual named Alex. She also witnessed to Miles, who believes all religions are the same. Kylan witnessed to Simon, a Chinese student. He was very receptive to the gospel. He received a New Testament and they prayed together.

On Friday we witnessed at 1st St. and Market. When we first arrived, it was difficult even to pass out a gospel tract. By the end of the afternoon, a lot of people received tracts, and several people stopped to watch the Maryland team’s gospel presentation. Dave witnessed to Blaine, who was backslidden but wanted to return to Christ. Amanda and Loretta witnessed to Sally, who was dressed provocatively and waiting for a “date.” She thought she was a Christian because she was raised in a Christian home.

After the outreach, the Maryland team ministered at the San Francisco Rescue Mission. That night, we witnessed at Powell and Market. Larry DuBois witnessed to Harold, a homeless man who was on methadone.

On Saturday, a band called “Mars Hill Revisited” and several Christian rappers joined us with a team from Shelter Cove Church in Modesto. First, we ministered at Justin Herman Plaza, in the financial district near the Ferry Building. A farmer’s market and street vendors draw a lot of people into this area.

We concluded our outreach at Union Square. The band, rappers and Maryland team drew a large crowd, most of whom stayed to listen to the preaching. Dave witnessed to Florestin, a Catholic from Switzerland who was receptive to the gospel. He also witnessed to Jun, a Filipino. Loretta witnessed to a man who said he didn’t believe in sin, and thought he didn’t need a savior. He admitted he had murdered three people and spent eight years in jail for it.

On Monday July 9, a team of 50 youth from First Baptist Church in Stockton witnessed with Larry DuBois and me at UN Plaza. They had brought 200 packets of toiletries to give out to the homeless people there. After a brief evangelism teaching, they gave out the toiletries along with gospel tracts. They also shared their testimonies and prayed with about a dozen people.

Coming Events

Note: Outreaches are subject to change. Call (510) 282-5629 to confirm outreaches or for more information.

Friday August 10, 17, 24 7:30-10 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods.

Sat. August 11 11 AM–1 PM San Francisco Outreach, Fisherman’s Wharf (Jefferson St. near Mason) 3-5 PM Union Square (Powell & Geary St.) Factor 11.

Sat. August 18 12-5 PM U N Plaza (7th St. and Market)

Sat. August 25 1-5 PM Dolores Park (19th St. and Dolores)

A Final Word

Thank you again for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. Our tract supply is quite low after the SOS outreach and we need to print some more. I haven’t yet gotten a price quote but the last time we ordered them it cost us about $1200 for 80,000 tracts. Those tracts lasted about one year.

I hope many of you will join us for an outreach this next month. If you don’t live in this area, please pray for us and ask God to give you opportunities to share the gospel with others in your own community.

Yours in His love,

Larry Rosenbaum

Photo 2 IMG_0329

Tim Moon, Noreen & Paul Coca and Chuck Girard play music on Haight St. in front of dragon mural.

Photo 3 Kylan Simon IMG_0403

Kylan gives New Testament to Simon in Berkeley.

Photo 4 Amanda Miles IMG_0397

Amanda witnesses to Miles in Berkeley.

Photo 5 IMG_0566

First Baptist Stockton boy prays for homeless man at UN Plaza.