Click Here to View This Month’s Slideshow
Coming Events
Note: Outreaches are subject to change. Call (510) 282-5629 to confirm outreaches or for more information. We may change the outreach location when rain is likely.
Friday March 7, 14, 21 6 – 9 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods.
Sat. March 1, 15 11 AM – 4 PM Fisherman’s Wharf outreach, Jefferson St. near Powell, San Francisco.
Sat. March 8 12 – 4 PM 5th St. and Market, San Francisco.
Sat. March 22 12:30 – 4:30 PM Berkeley outreach. Telegraph and Haste St.
Witnessing in the Rain
Dear Christian friends,
Right now we are in the midst of a drought. We have not seen significant rain during one of our outreaches for a long time. However, that could change by the time you receive this newsletter. We do need the rain, but would prefer that it not rain during our outreaches. We witness throughout the year – rain or shine — but it is hard to get people to stop and talk with us during the rain and a lot of Christians will not witness on rainy days. (Sadly, not many more will witness on sunny days.)
I was saved in a Christian house ministry in Portland, Oregon in 1970. We worked on a berry farm for one month, then witnessed full-time for two months. It was winter, and it rained almost every day. It was impossible to stay dry, or to keep our gospel tracts dry. So, I spent my days in downtown Portland offering wet tracts to people. Amazingly, many people took them, and some even got saved.
San Francisco has one the best climates in the world for street witnessing. We average 3 inches or more of rain only three months a year. New York City averages 3 inches or more of rain every month! Most of our rain comes between December and February. It rarely rains here from May through September.
We almost never cancel an outreach because of rain. On rainy nights, we usually witness at Powell and O’Farrell Streets, one block from Union Square. This location has a store awning that extends over the entire sidewalk, and lots of people walk by. On rainy afternoons, we set up canopies, either in Berkeley or at Powell and O’Farrell. Both are busy locations, even on rainy days. The canopies keep our musicians, preachers, and sound system dry. We can pass out tracts and witness under nearby store awnings.
Sometimes, Christians say they are afraid they will get sick if they witness on cold or rainy days. As far as I know, nobody ever got sick from witnessing in the rain with us. People seem to have a different attitude about going out in the rain when it involves a secular pursuit. At least 200,000 people didn’t allow their fear of getting sick to keep them from attending the Chinese New Year Parade. Many, undoubtedly, had colds or the flu. Football players often play on cold, rainy days with the flu. Some even play with broken bones! “They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” 1 Cor. 9:26.
When I find witnessing in the rain uncomfortable, I think of the sacrifices made by Christians who endured tremendous suffering, torture, and death to spread the gospel. I think of the sacrifice Jesus made that saved me from my sins. In comparison, the sacrifice I am making, witnessing in the rain, seems small – even insignificant.
On the Streets
After a two week break for Christmas and New Years, we began our outreach year at Fisherman’s Wharf, where we witnessed on January 10 and 11. On Friday night, Dave witnessed to Jay and Gabriel, both of whom grew up in the church but were not Christians. Both were receptive to the gospel. He witnessed to Zareb, a businessman from India who was raised Hindu. He was also interested in the gospel. Finally, he prayed with Pebbles, who was upset that her son had left her on the street while he went to a restaurant with his wife.
On January 17, we witnessed at 16th St. and Valencia. Dave spoke with Richard, a Vietnam veteran who has had a very hard life and now has cancer. Two police officers approached us while we were preaching. They wanted to talk with us about Jesus. One, Brandon, was a Christian but the other, Brent, is Catholic and has a lot of objections to the gospel. Dave and Eddie both witnessed to him, trying to help him see his need for a savior. They talked with us for about 30 minutes. It is very unusual for police officers to want to talk with us about the gospel message.
The next day, we witnessed at Fisherman’s Wharf. Dave witnessed to John David, who works at a new ice cream shop that has opened across the street from us. His father is a worship leader in a church. John David knew the gospel, but was not saved. He said he would think about what they had been talking about.
On January 25, we witnessed at Powell & Market. Mary witnessed to Walid and Majit, both Muslims who were receptive to the gospel. Eddie witnessed to Seth for about an hour. He had been raised in a Christian home, but was running from God. Dave witnessed to Anthony, who is about 20 and had a lot of questions about God. They prayed together. He also witnessed to Jason, a Catholic, and Lynn, a Jehovah’s Witness. Lynn got quite nervous as he shared the gospel with her. I witnessed to Chris and Adrian, who attend a Catholic high school in Concord.
The next day, we witnessed at Telegraph and Haste St. in Berkeley. We had not been there since last July. The permit officer had been denying our permits there, claiming that a new residence hall made the location too crowded. I persuaded him to give us a permit in front of a closed bookstore across the street. This is an excellent location, but unfortunately, once this store is rented, we will most likely not be able to get permits anywhere on Telegraph Avenue.
Paul Coca sang and played guitar while his grandson Paul and John Land played drums. Eddie witnessed to Michael, who had a lot of guilt and didn’t feel that God would forgive him. Dave witnessed to Mack, who works at a nearby pizza place. His mother is a Buddhist and father a nominal Christian. He listened to the gospel and took a gospel tract. Mike spoke with Fred, a young Christian youth pastor who had recently fallen into fornication with his unsaved girl friend. They prayed together.
On Fri. January 31, we witnessed on Haight Street. We bought about 20 cheeseburgers and brought some clothes to give out to the young homeless people in the area. This made them more receptive to talking with us about Jesus. I spoke with Larry, whom I have been ministering to for over 30 years. He believes in Jesus, but is an alcoholic. Each time I see him he is worse than before. Please pray for him. I also witnessed to Roger, who was interested in the last days. Dave spoke with Joe and Dwayne, who were raised Catholic. He also spoke with Mason, whose father is a minister in Minnesota, and Craig, who was raised in a state orphanage.
Ministry Needs
Thank you for your prayers and financial support for the ministry. We need a musician to minister with us on Friday nights. Eric Martinez has helped us for several years, but he has family responsibilities he needs to take care of. We still have openings in our evangelism house in Oakland for Christians with a serious interest in evangelism. We are particularly looking for Christians in their 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.
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.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum