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Coming Events
Note: Outreaches are subject to change. Call (510) 282-5629 to confirm outreaches or for more information.
Friday November 1, 8, 15 6 – 9 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods.
Sat. November 2, 9 11 AM – 4 PM Fisherman’s Wharf (Jefferson near Mason St.) SF.
Sat. November 16 12:30-4:30 PM (call for location)Berkeley.
Battle For Berkeley
Dear Christian friends,
When our ministry began in the 1970’s, we mainly witnessed in San Francisco. Occasionally, we would go across the bay to witness in Berkeley. However, from 1986-1988, we witnessed on Telegraph Ave. in Berkeley three times a week— every Wednesday afternoon, Friday night and Saturday afternoon.
Although we always obtained permits from the city to use an amplifier, we still had problems. Often we had hecklers and large unruly crowds. People constantly complained to the police, and sometimes threw things at us. Our microphone cord was cut almost every time we witnessed. Sometimes, the police would shut us down in response to complaints, even though we had a permit. Once, a police officer took away my permit, saying it was no good, and ordered us to shut down.
Twice, we were arrested for “disturbing the peace.” The first time, I was put in jail for 10 hours. The second time, four of us were put in jail. In response, we filed a Federal civil rights lawsuit against the city. After about two years, the city settled with us and gave us about $3000 each, which was a victory. However, afterwards they started charging for permits, moved us out of Sproul Plaza at the entrance to the University, and would not give us permits after 8 PM, eliminating our Friday night outreach.
At that time, we began witnessing at Telegraph and Haste about once a month on Sat. afternoons, and have continued until the present day. In 2007, four people staged a protest against our Christian preaching in Berkeley. The news media were invited, and it resulted in large articles in the San Francisco Chronicle, the Oakland Tribune, the Berkeley Daily Planet, the Valley Times, and the Daily Cal (Berkeley student paper).
Soon after this, I learned from the internet that the city had written two laws for the sole purpose of stopping our outreaches. I spoke with a Christian friend about these new laws. He encouraged me to contact labor unions, letting them know that this law would interfere with their right to picket a business using a bullhorn. So I called and emailed several dozen labor unions and radical protest groups, letting them know about the new law.
I prepared my own message in opposition to the law. People are only allowed two minutes to speak, but if someone else yielded their time to them, they could have four minutes. So I prepared 2 four minute messages, one for me and one for Larry DuBois to give. The other two house members came for the purpose of yielding their time to us.
All four house members attended the meeting. The mayor decided to discuss three laws together – these two laws and a third law regulating street events. Instead of allowing people to yield their time, he gave everyone three minutes. I had to read part of my message, and give it to Dan Losak to finish.
About a dozen people that I contacted came to the City Council meeting to protest the new law. As a result, the City Council decided to table both proposed laws.
Since then, we have had many peaceful outreaches at Telegraph and Haste St. However, my recent permit application for Sept. 21 was denied. I spoke with the special events coordinator, Eric Brenman. He said that a new residence hall holding 400 people had opened up this fall, half a block from the outreach. He said that the traffic from that residence hall would be too great for us to hold an outreach there. He noted that we had recently gotten a permit at BART plaza in downtown Berkeley. He said that he would instead issue us a permit there.
A 1988 article in the Berkeley Daily Planet spoke about a petition signed by Telegraph Ave. businesses to get us off the street. According to the article, “Deputy City Manager Christine Daniel told the Planet that staff is addressing the issue by updating an outdated noise ordinance….
“While the petition touches on the noise level, citing, ‘large and loud rallies,’ it focuses mostly on what the evangelicals are saying and who the messenger is.”
Clearly, these businesses are continuing to pressure him to deny our permits, and he now has found an excuse. On the day our permit was denied, I went to the new residence hall and videotaped people walking in and out. In 15 minutes, only four people walked in or out of the building towards Telegraph Ave! Clearly, this residence hall was not creating a pedestrian traffic problem.
I posted the video on youtube and wrote Mr. Brenman, requesting that he once again grant us permits on Telegraph Ave. Please pray that he will do this.
Larry DuBois preaches to Syria war protesters at UN Plaza.
On the Streets
On Sat. Aug. 24 we witnessed at Fisherman’s Wharf. Dave saw a young homeless man with a guitar. Tim Moon gave him some guitar strings. Dave got him some food at McDonalds and witnessed to him. He called himself Andrew. He doesn’t use his real name because he is a parole violator. He is 19 and was arrested for breaking into a home. If he is caught he will return to prison until he is 25. Dave also witnessed to Roman, 21, who is from France but understands English. He was quite receptive and asked a lot of questions. Dave also ministered to Laura and Sarah, who say they are Christians but are not following Jesus. I witnessed to Josh, a street musician from Australia. He was raised in a Christian home but has turned away from God.
The San Francisco Bay Bridge was closed on August 30-31. We had already scheduled our Sat. outreach in San Francisco, but decided to witness in Berkeley on Friday night. Because the Bay Bridge closure was announced only 2 weeks in advance, I was unable to apply for our Berkeley permit 30 days in advance, as is normally required. Nonetheless, we got our permit. Unfortunately, we later learned that the permit officer was delighted that we had applied for this permit, as it gave him an excuse to deny us future permits on Telegraph Ave.
We witnessed outside the Berkeley BART station from 5-8 PM. We had many good conversations that night. Mike witnessed to a young man who had never heard the gospel. His friends tried to get him to leave, but he stayed and listened. Eddie witnessed to Leslie and Sequine, Samoans who attended church but were unsaved. He also witnessed to a group of 10 high school students. Eddie and Dave witnessed to Sanjeef and Sikram, Nepalese Buddhist college students. They answered many of their questions and gave them Bibles and other literature, which they said they would read. Dave also witnessed to Mickey, an Ethiopian high school student, James and Christian (from Norway), and Yotum, a Catholic man who is half Italian and half Ethiopian.
On Saturday Aug. 31 we witnessed at UN Plaza. The bands “Book” and “No Grey Areas” played music. While Larry DuBois was preaching, about 200 people protesting a war in Syria passed by. Some of them heckled Larry. Later, other protesters said they appreciated what we were doing. Mike spoke with Arnold, a new Christian who had been delivered from a crack addiction. He also witnessed to Frederick, a hitchhiker from Washington, and Martel, whose mother is a Christian. I spoke with George, who lives in a nearby hotel and sometimes attends Bible studies with City Impact in his hotel.
On Fri. Sept. 13 we witnessed at 16th St. and Mission. Mike witnessed to Jorge, who was listening to the preaching. He agreed with the gospel, but was not serving God. Dave witnessed to a Filipino named Hercules. He didn’t understand how Jesus could pay for our sins.
The next day, we witnessed at UN Plaza. Mike witnessed to Anthony for the third time. He knows the gospel, but is not saved. He also witnessed to Kevin, a young man who was with a group of friends. He asked why the blood of Jesus is necessary. Larry D. witnessed to Andrew, a Hindu who did not believe that fear should be part of religion. Dave witnessed to Ned from Herzegovina and Abdul, whose mother is Catholic and father a Muslim. He listened intently to the gospel. He also met Dano and Paul. Both were raised in the church but backslid after their wives left him. Both had since repented and were serving God. Dano said that he used to get drunk and play Russian roulette. God had spared his life.
Ministry Needs
Thank you for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. We printed 60,000 children’s tracts. They should last a while, but we got a much better price by printing a large quantity. They cost us $1120, including shipping, which is an excellent price.
Please pray for those we have witnessed to recently, especially those mentioned in this newsletter. Also, please pray that we would once again be able to get permits on Telegraph Ave. in Berkeley.
I hope many of you will join us for an outreach this next month.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum