Coming Events

(Contact me at mail@sosmin.com or (510) 282-5629 for outreach locations and times one or two days before outreach.)

Friday August 6, 13, 20, 27 3-6 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods.

Saturday August 7, 14, 21, 28 12-5 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods.

BEGINNING OF WISDOM

A few years ago, I watched a video of the revival that is taking place in China. In the midst of tremendous persecution, millions of people are coming to Christ in that nation. These people pray for hours with great intensity and faith, and are seeing many miracles, including reports of people being raised from the dead. Thousands have been imprisoned for their faith, under conditions that we can hardly imagine, and some are still being martyred.

But the thing that impressed me most about this video was seeing many of these Christians holding church right out in the street, worshiping the Lord openly and witnessing boldly to others. How strange! In China, Christians witness openly and boldly, even though they may go to jail or die. But in America, Christians are afraid to witness.

Dennis Balcombe, the missionary who made this video, gave the reason for their boldness. The Chinese Christians fear the Lord. Jesus said, “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” Matt. 10:28. The Chinese Christians do not fear the police who can imprison or kill them because they fear God. American Christians are uncomfortable with the concept of fearing God. We tend to think of this as an Old Testament concept.

But the concept of fearing God is as much in the New as the Old Testament. The Greek term “phobio/phobos” is as strong as the Hebrew word “yare/yirah.” Three times the word is translated “terror.” “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” 2 Cor. 5:11.  What was Paul talking about here? First, he knew that those who do not know Christ are headed for the torments of Hell, so he persuaded them to avoid that horrible fate. Second, he was concerned about his own fate when he would one day appear before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10). In an earlier letter, Paul had written, “Though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel” 1 Cor. 9:16. And surely he remembered the words of Jesus who said, “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father” Mark 8:38.

It is Paul who said “I am not ashamed of the gospel” Rom. 1:16. He warned Timothy that “God has not given us the spirit of fear…be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of the Lord” (2 Tim. 1:7-8) and “preach the word of God urgently at all times, whenever you get the chance, in season and out, when it is convenient and when it is not” (2 Tim. 4:2,5 LB). Timothy, like many of us, was often fearful of witnessing to others, and Paul had to encourage him to witness boldly and consistently, even when it was not convenient.

A person who is truly saved will show an enduring change in his life that will be demonstrated by good works (Eph. 2:10). The scriptures teach that the truly saved person will consistently confess Christ before men, with his words as well as his life style. “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before the Father…but whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before by my Father” Matt. 10:32. The Greek verbs for confess and deny are aorist and constative, indicating an entire life of confessing or denying, not a single one-time event (such as a sinner’s prayer or baptism). “If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus…you shall be saved…with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture says, Whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed” Rom. 10:9-11.

When we truly fear God, we will walk in holiness and will boldly witness to others. We will not fear persecution, imprisonment, death, loss of reputation, or allow any obstacle to prevent us from reaching as many people as possible with the gospel. “Fear of man is a dangerous trap, but to trust in God means safety” Prov. 29:25. God, forgive us for the many times we have been ashamed of you, and failed to confess you before men. Put your fear in our hearts, that we will obey you and persuade others to turn to you!

On the Streets

On Fri. March 5, we witnessed at 23^rd and 24^th and Mission. Alex again ministered to Jose, a backslidden Christian whose grandfather had been a street preacher. Ryan ministered to Julio. He has been attending Christ Forgiveness Church but seems undecided whether to pursue worldly pleasures or to follow Jesus. He had come out of homosexuality and said he gave up marijuana two weeks ago.

On Fri. March 12, we witnessed at 16^th and Mission and 16^th and Valencia St. Alex and Corey witnessed to Kingsley, who asked them about marijuana. They warned him that this was sorcery, and he agreed with them. Ryan ministered to Oliver, a backslidden Christian who was homeless and dealing with mental issues. Ryan got his contact information and invited him to church. Mary witnessed to Mohammed, 23, a Muslim clerk working at a smoke shop. He saw one of the tracts Mary had. It was a Muslim tract with the Dome of the Rock on it. He asked if he could have one and she gave it to him.

On Fri. March 19, we witnessed at 4^th and Market. Corey met a woman who was listening to our preaching. She said she was Julian’s mom. Julian is a new believer who was recently baptized by Christ Forgiveness Ministries. Her son had led her to Christ.

The next day, we witnessed at Fisherman’s Wharf. Chuck Girard and Paul and Noreen Coca played music. 25 Christians joined us and we preached at four locations on the Wharf. Mike witnessed to five young men in their early 20’s who had come from San Diego to attend a funeral. They were receptive to the gospel. Alex and Corey witnessed to Chris, 25, from Minnesota. Tats and Ryan had previously witnessed to him on Feb. 20. He was raised in a Christian home, but his grandmother assaulted him when he said he was gay. Tats had witnessed to him a few weeks earlier. He said he believed everything in the Bible, but was not sure about its condemnation of homosexuality. He said he was not ready to give it up.

On Fri. March 26, we witnessed at 24^th and Mission and at 16^th and Valencia. Corey ministered to David, who was raised in a Christian home but was backslidden and was addicted to alcohol. Tats and Mike both witnessed to Donovan, another homeless alcoholic. He said he had been attacked by demons and vampires.

The next day, we witnessed at 4 locations on the Wharf. Two of these locations are on Pier 39. Before last year’s anti-police protests, the security guards never allowed us to witness at these locations. They would call the police, who would shut us down. Now, when the security guards call the police, they refuse to get involved.

About 50 animal rights activists passed by as Corey preached on Pier 39. They had been preaching against meat-eating, but stopped to listen to Corey. Ryan spoke with Maria, a Russian Christian, and Adin, a Muslim. They had come from Seattle for the weekend. Ryan explained that the Jesus of the Quran was not the same as the Jesus of the Bible. She was receptive and took a Bible.

While Tats was preaching, Andy spoke with Gus, an atheist. He was well versed on atheist objections to the Bible,  but  Andy did his best to answer his objections. He told him that he needed to humble himself in order to know God. Mike witnessed to Marco, 16, who was clearly stressed out by the Covid lockdown. He said, “I think Heaven will be a place of joy and not anxiety.” Mike shared the gospel with him, and told him that God could give him peace even in these difficult times.

On Sat. April 10, we witnessed at Fisherman’s Wharf. Sonny Lara brought about 30 Christians from Star of David Ministries. Many of them shared their testimonies. Martin Cantu from the band Bueno and Paul and Noreen Coca sang. Corey ministered to Louie, whom he had previously spoken with at 24^th and Mission. He invited him to attend Christ Forgiveness Church and he came the next day. He has an alcohol problem. Ryan witnessed to Angel, who had come to Fisherman’s Wharf to get drunk. She stopped to listen to Ryan’s preaching. He witnessed to her and gave her a New Testament. He invited her to Christ Forgiveness Church and she came to church and the women’s meeting the next day.