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Coming Events
(Outreaches subject to change. Call (510) 282-5629 on day before outreach to confirm.)
Friday July 13, 20 5 – 8 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods.
Sat. July 14 Fisherman’s Wharf outreach, Jefferson St. near Mason 11 AM – 4 PM
Sat. July 21 Union Square, Powell and Geary St. 12-2 PM Machaira 5th and Market 3 – 5 PM
July 21-28 Love-San Francisco lovesf247.com
SOS Outreach Schedule
Wed July 25 11 AM – 4 PM Fisherman’s Wharf (Powell and Jefferson St.)
Thurs July 26 2 – 6 PM 1st and Market
Fri. July 27 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM 5th and Market
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Haight and Masonic
Sat. July 28 12 – 5 PM UN Plaza, 7th St. and Market
SOS – SAN FRANCISCO
JULY 25 – 28
Our 39th annual SOS-San Francisco outreach is scheduled for July 25-28. This year we will be working together with Love – San Francisco, July 21-28. This outreach features 24 hour a day prayer, worship and evangelism and will be meeting at Dolores Park Church 455 Dolores St. SF(lovesf247.com). (See schedule above.)
Render Unto God
In the book of Acts, the early Christians were repeatedly beaten, imprisoned, and put to death for preaching the gospel. Paul defended his right to preach the gospel in the Roman legal system, using his Roman citizenship and appealing to Caesar (Acts 25). While in jail, Paul’s greatest sorrow was hearing of other Christians who criticized him. They said he wasn’t really an apostle and was probably in jail for some wrongdoing. Actually, the opposite is true. God’s Word promises that “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” While our persecution is minor compared to theirs, God’s Word is true today as it was 2000 years ago.
There is much confusion in the church today concerning the Christian’s relationship to the government. In Romans 13, we are told to be “subject to the higher powers.” In this passage, Paul is commenting on Jesus’ teaching to “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s (Luke 20).” Three chapters later, Jesus appears before Herod and “he answered him nothing.” He also refused to submit to Herod’s desire that he perform a miracle.
In Acts 5, when the Jewish high priest commanded the apostles to stop preaching Jesus, “Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” Most laws are morally correct or morally neutral, and we should obey them. When the governmental authorities tell us to disobey God’s commands, we must obey God rather than men. In many nations, it is illegal to preach the gospel. Yet, God has called Christians in these nations to risk jail and even death to obey Him.
In the U.S., we still have great freedom to preach the gospel. While freedom of religion has been greatly compromised by court rulings, freedom of speech and assembly are still very strong. But as our nation becomes increasingly wicked and public opinion turns against “fundamental” Christians, the rights of Christians have increasingly come under attack. I believe that we should use the legal system, as Paul did, to preserve our freedom to preach the gospel as long as possible.
I think the day will come when public outcry against Christian preaching will become so great that courts will ignore their own rulings and take special actions against Christian preachers, as they have against abortion protesters. When the two witnesses are killed in Rev. 11, “they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another, because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.” Ungodly people will not forever tolerate uncompromised Christian preaching.
On the Streets
On Sat. March 10, we witnessed in downtown Berkeley. Matt witnessed to Leo, who is Japanese. After he heard the gospel, Leo said “That’s something I need, to have my sins forgiven.” Mike witnessed to Rocky, whom he had known 5 years ago when he attended City Impact and was involved in their youth group. Rocky had never been saved and was now quite skeptical about Christianity, with a strong belief in evolution.
On Sat. March 24, we witnessed at 5th and Market. At 3 PM, about 10,000 people marched right by us, part of a rally for gun control. In addition to the usual demonstrators, there were many families with children. Cal preached to them as they walked by. Two other Christians also preached farther down the street. Dave witnessed to Dino and Alex, both about 15. Dino believed there were no absolutes. Dave asked him, “Is that statement absolutely true?” Then he said that there is nothing we can know for sure. Dave asked, “Do you know that for sure?” Mike witnessed to Joe, an Asian man who lived in the Tenderloin. After Mike shared the gospel with him, he said he wanted to receive Jesus, so they prayed together. Mike invited him to attend City Impact with him.
On Fri. March 30, we witnessed at Powell and Market. Cal, Matt, and Kathy all ministered to Javier. He is a Christian but was not walking right with God. Dave witnessed to Saleem, a Muslim from Afghanistan. He also witnessed to Angel, whom he had first met 7 years ago. She is an artist from Iran, who is entering the US military. I witnessed to Sammy, a homosexual from France. I shared my testimony with him. He had a hard time understanding why anyone would think homosexual behavior is wrong.
The next day, we witnessed at Fisherman’s Wharf. Dave witnessed to two Jehovah’s Witnesses, Don and Rita. He asked them some basic questions, such as how someone is forgiven for their sins. They had a hard time answering these questions.
On Sat. April 7, we witnessed in downtown Berkeley. Dave witnessed to Ton, a UC Berkeley student from China. He gave him a Chinese/English Gospel of John. He also witnessed to another student, Benin, from Africa. He was raised Catholic but was not sure he was headed for heaven. Dave and I witnessed to Arcelito, a young man who was studying with the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Dave told him about problems with that cult, and I referred him to a church in Berkeley.
On Fri. April 20, we witnessed at 16th St. and Valencia. I ministered to Brian, 20, a Christian who was struggling with temptation and not in fellowship. Kathy witnessed to Rajah, who works at a nearby Indian restaurant. Dave ministered to Kyle, 25, who claims to be a Christian but attends a pro-homosexual church and defended their views. At about 6:30 PM, the police shut us down and we moved a block away to 16th St. and Mission. There, Matt witnessed to Gretchen, a lesbian. Cal ministered to a group of five teenagers, including Josephine, who thanked him for sharing his testimony.
The next day, we witnessed at 5th St. and Market. Matt saw a woman, Jade, crying and he ministered to her. She had broken her wrist so he and Cal bought her a sling. They shared the gospel with her and prayed with her. She is pregnant, homeless and very depressed. They referred her to some churches that could help her. Mike prayed for Tony, whose legs were swollen, and invited him to City Impact. Dave spoke with a man named Rue, from Uzbekistan. Rue remembered that Dave had witnessed to him three years before. At the time, he was addicted to drugs. Now he is a Christian and is free from drugs. He recently completed the “God Will Provide” discipleship program. It is wonderful when God allows us to see some of the fruit of our labor.
Ministry Needs
Thank you for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. We were blessed to have evangelist Bill Henderson with us for a week from June 7-14. Bill was one of the original members of John Jacob’s Power Team and has been doing evangelism for almost 40 years. I hadn’t seen him for 24 years.
Bill preached at UN Plaza on June 9. He shared how he had been miraculously healed 10 years ago after a serious motorcycle accident. The doctors told him he would face years of surgery, but he walked out of the hospital less than 24 hours after he entered, and needed no further medical treatment. Scott posted a video of Bill’s preaching on his Facebook page. It was shared by several others and seen by over 2000 people. Several people prayed to commit their lives to Jesus that afternoon.
We are happy to have Matt Dumanovsky’s younger brother, James, staying in our ministry house for the summer. James loves to witness and is also an excellent musician.
I hope many of you will join us for the Love-San Francisco and SOS-San Francisco outreaches. Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” We need more laborers to reach the people of San Francisco with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum
O
n Fri. April 27, we witnessed at the Metreon entertainment complex, 4th St. and Mission. Matt witnessed to Victor, a Buddhist who had never heard the gospel. Cal withessed to Steven, who hears voices that gives him direction. Cal told him he needed to judge things by the Bible.
The next day, we witnessed at 5th St. and Market. Matt prayed for Paul, who hurt his leg when he tried to kill himself. Since then, he has been saved. Cal witnessed to Cios, who professed to be a Christian but used a lot of drugs. He also witnessed to Joshua, who had studied the Bible in prison, but was a drug dealer and was using drugs.
On Fri. May 4, we witnessed at Powell and Market. Matt witnessed to Huni, a Muslim woman from Yemen. He also prayed with Arthur, 20, from Hungary, who said he needed an experience with God. Dave witnessed to Fred, who said “I need this. I know I’m not right with God.” He witnessed to Alejandrina, from Mexico, a Catholic who did not know how to receive forgiveness. Dave and Matt witnessed to Alex, 25, a computer student from Hong Kong. She originally said “I don’t believe in God” but eventually admitted she was very lonely. Bernie and I ministered to C.J., a Christian who was struggling with drugs. Tom and Kathy prayed with Lauren, a young homeless woman, who said she wanted to be saved.
The next day, we witnessed at Fisherman’s Wharf. Dave witnessed to Amar, a Sikh from India. Dave went through the plan of salvation with him and he took a gospel of John. He also witnessed to Avery, 16, who said she was not a Christian “yet.” Her grandparents are Christians and she was quite receptive. Mike and Matt witnessed to Josiah, 22, who said he didn’t believe in God. Mike shared his testimony with him. He is an army vet with PTSD and said he came to San Francisco to smoke pot freely. Cal witnessed to Miguel, who only spoke Spanish. Cal used a Spanish Bible to share scriptures with him. He also witnessed to Achuto and Havarti, who were giving out Buddhist literature. He told them that the doctrine of reincarnation means that anyone who is poor or suffering deserves what they get, because they did bad in a previous life. This made them angry, but they ended up taking gospels of John. I witnessed to Aaron, 25, who is Jewish. I told him about messianic prophecies. I also ministered to Ricky, who is homeless. He said he knows Jesus but smokes pot. Finally, I witnessed to Randy, an atheist. We had a good discussion for about 20 minutes. Then he asked me about a scripture in the Old Testament saying that rebellious children should be stoned. As I tried explaining it to him, he suddenly went beserk and started screaming.
On Fri. May 11, we witnessed at 24th St. and Mission. Dave spoke with Jimmy, who grew up in a Christian home attending an evangelical church in San Francisco. He said he several girl friends he “hooked up with” each weekend. He knew fornication is wrong, but said he didn’t want to give it up. Cal witnessed to several Jehovah’s Witnesses in the BART Station downstairs. They were Hispanic, and more receptive than most JW’s. He asked them a number of questions they couldn’t answer.
The next day, we held our first park outreach of the year at UN Plaza. “Tim Moon and the Stars” played music. Scott prayed with Margaret to rededicate herlife to Christ. She was tormented by demons. Matt witnessed to Damian, from France, who said he believed in science and human progress. He also witnessed to Melany, who was recently kicked out of her house by her boyfriend and is now homeless. She was mad at God. Dave ministered to Brian, 26, who grew up in a Christian family. He was under a lot of stress because he is taking care of his dad, who has Parkinson’s. He started crying as Dave prayed for him.
Cal witnessed to Dave, a homosexual who grew up in a pseudo-Christian family where he was molested at the age of 5. “I yelled at you when you were preaching here last fall, and you showed me love and kindness.” He started crying. “I know God doesn’t like me being homosexual and I’m trying to repent.” He was angry at God because of the molestation. Cal ministered to him about forgiveness.
On Fri. May 18, we witnessed at 16th St. and Valencia. Matt witnessed to Neptune. He bought him some pizza and prayed for him. Kathy ministered to Jerry, a homeless Christian. She encouraged him to get into the Salvation Army program. Dave witnessed to Myles, 22, who agreed with the gospel message. Dave and I witnessed to Daniel, a Jew who believed in Hinduism. We spoke with him about Abraham sacrificing his son, the Levitical sacrifices, and the Passover, but he rejected the message. Cal witnessed to Tony, a Jew who had been quite hostile towards us in the past. After he bought him some food, he became less hardened. The next day, we witnessed at Fisherman’s Wharf. Mike witnessed to six Catholic high school students. He shared his testimony and the gospel, and encouraged them to read the gospel of John.
Coming Events
Friday July 13, 20 5 – 8 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods.
Sat. July 14 Fisherman’s Wharf outreach, Jefferson St. near Mason 11 AM – 4 PM
Sat. July 21 Union Square, Powell and Geary St. 12-2 PM Machaira 5th and Market 3 – 5 PM
July 21-28 Love-San Francisco lovesf247.com
Sat. July 25-28 SOS-San Francisco (schedule above)
Ministry Needs
Thank you for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. We were blessed to have evangelist Bill Henderson with us for a week from June 7-14. Bill was one of the original members of John Jacob’s Power Team and has been doing evangelism ministry for almost 40 years. I hadn’t seen him for 24 years. Bill preached at UN Plaza on June 9. He shared how he had been miraculously healed 10 years ago after a serious motorcycle accident. The doctors told him he would face years of surgery, but he left the hospital less than 24 hours after he entered, and needed no further medical treatment. Scott posted a video of Bill’s preaching on his Facebook page. It was shared by several others and seen by over 2000 people. Several people prayed to commit their lives to Jesus that afternoon.
I hope many of you will join us for the Love-San Francisco and SOS-San Francisco outreaches. Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” We need more laborers to reach the people of San Francisco with the gospel of Jesus Christ.