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Coming Events
Note: Outreaches are subject to change. Call (510) 282-5629 to confirm outreaches or for more information.
Friday December 13 and 20 6 – 9 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods.
Sat. December 14 12:30-4:30 PM Berkeley outreach. (Shattuck & Center St. at BART)
Sat. December 21 12-4 PM Christmas Outreach 5th St. and Market San Francisco.
Why Jesus is Better than Santa Claus
Dear Christian friends,
Santa lives at the North Pole… JESUS is everywhere.
Santa rides a sleigh… JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.
Santa comes but once a year… JESUS is an ever present help.
Santa fills your stockings with goodies… JESUS supplies all your needs.
Santa comes down your chimney uninvited… JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart.
You have to wait in line to see Santa…JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.
Santa lets you sit on his lap… JESUS lets you rest in His arms.
Santa doesn’t know your name, all he can say is “Hi little boy or girl, what’s your name?”… JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.
Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly… JESUS has a heart full of love.
All Santa can offer is HO HO HO…JESUS offers help and hope.
Santa says, “You better not cry”…JESUS says, “Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.”
Santa’s little helpers make toys…JESUS makes new lives, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.
Santa may make you chuckle but…JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.
While Santa puts gifts under your tree… JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.
It’s obvious there is really no comparison. We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about. We must put Christ back in “Christmas.” Jesus is the “Reason for the Season!”
YES, JESUS IS BETTER THAN SANTA CLAUS!! Merry CHRISTmas!
On the Streets
On Fri. Sept. 20 we witnessed at the Metreon entertainment complex in downtown San Francisco. Eddie and Mike ministered to David, a homeless believer, for about an hour. They gave him a New Testament. Dave witnessed to Daniel, an atheist from China. Eventually, he took a gospel tract and went into Starbucks to read it. He was sitting with a group of eight young friends from China. One of his friends came outside and took a tract, and went back to read it. Dave and I also spoke with two Dutch men. They had just set a world speed record in Nevada on high-tech bikes. They both took gospel tracts.
The next day, we witnessed in downtown Berkeley, outside the BART station. At first, it was raining. We set up a canopy and Tim Moon played music, using a small amplifier. After about an hour, it stopped raining. Allan and Mike witnessed to Diane, a homeless woman who was receptive to the gospel.
I saw Nancy for the first time in about 20 years. She professes faith in Christ, but seems to be preoccupied with worldly things and does not attend church. Dave witnessed to Jason and Melinda, both Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Sanjit, an Indian from Singapore. He also ministered to Chao Feng, who was saved two months ago. His father is a top Communist official in a city of 1 million people, and Chao is returning to China. We all prayed with him, that his faith would remain strong and that he would find Christian fellowship in China.
On Fri. Sept. 27, we witnessed at Powell & Market St. in SF. Dave witnessed to Yasser, a Muslim from Minnesota, who had been talking with some Jehovah’s Witnesses who had set up a display table near us. Dave spoke with Yasser for 45 minutes and gave him a Bible and some gospel tracts.
He also witnessed to Ted, Ziko, Clay and Mike, all of whom were receptive to the gospel. Larry D. witnessed to Lou Ellen, a transvestite man who had genuine questions about how to be saved. I witnessed to Matthew, a homeless man with liver cancer who was concerned about death.
The next day, we held our third and final outreach of the year at Dolores Park. Once again, it was a warm, sunny day with about 1000 people in the park. On Thursday, I learned that Chuck Girard was in town, and would be joining us. Paul and Noreen Coca and James Croci also ministered. This is a very difficult location but we had wonderful witnessing opportunities. Dave told one young man “your grandmother is really praying for you. You need to serve God.” He confirmed that Dave’s word was correct. Dave witnessed to him and told him to tell his grandmother that God heard her prayers and was sending Christians to witness to him.
Dave also witnessed to J.J. who was wearing some occult trinkets but was raised in a Christian home. He was very thankful that Dave had witnessed to him, and they prayed together. He also witnessed to Nick, a professional skateboarder, Anita and Yolanda, both Catholics, and Ebert and Giovanni, high school students from Richmond. He spoke with Alex and Antonio for 40 minutes. They asked lots of questions and were receptive to the gospel.
On Fri. Oct. 4, we witnessed on Haight St. The last few times we came here, there weren’t many people on the streets, but this night was quite busy. There was a large bluegrass festival and a high school football game in the park. Also, there were a lot more homeless people in the area. We bought some cheeseburgers and chicken sandwiches from McDonalds to give out. Many of those we met were quite hungry and appreciated the sandwiches.
Dave ministered to Daniel and Chelle, both backslidden Christians. Daniel was selling drugs and knew he was not right with God. Chelle had once been a zealous, witnessing Christian but had serious questions about Hell. When he prayed for her, she cried. She hated living in the park. Dave also witnessed to Marteza, an agnostic from Iran, and Brandon, a drug addict from Oregon. Larry D. witnessed to Kyle, who was concerned that the Bible had been changed.
The next day, we witnessed at UN Plaza. The band “From the Rising” from Sacramento ministered with Tim Moon. Dave witnessed to Sante, from Guatemala, and Tai. Eddie and Dave witnessed to Lindy for the third time. He goes to the art institute and grew up in a strict religious family. Larry D. ministered to Paul, who is in a wheelchair, and Corbin, both drug addicts who responded to his preaching. I ministered to Lucas, a young backslidden Christian from Palo Alto.
Halloween Outreach
On October 31, Larry DuBois and I joined a Halloween Outreach in Alameda. It took me an hour to drive the 4 miles from our house. Apparently, thousands of Oakland parents take their children to Alameda, where it is much safer. Some friends had set up a Christian puppet show which a lot of people stopped to watch. We gave out candy and gospel tracts to both parents and their children. People were very polite and almost everyone received a tract. We gave out hundreds of special Halloween tracts and other gospel tracts.
Ministry Needs
Thank you for your prayers and financial support for the ministry. We still have one opening in our evangelism house in Oakland for a Christian with a serious interest in evangelism. We are particularly looking for someone in his 20’s or 30’s. We need to reach the younger generation for Jesus.
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.
As we move into the rainy season, our outreach location depends on the weather. The weather is often uncertain, so it is best to call us a few hours before the outreach – 3 PM for Friday night outreaches and 9 AM for Saturday afternoon outreaches.
I hope some of you will join one of our outreaches this next month. Christmas is always a great time to share the gospel. People are busy with their Christmas shopping, but we need to remind them about the real reason for the season.
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum