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Coming Events
Note: Outreaches are subject to change. Call (510) 282-5629 to confirm outreaches or for more information.
Friday August 9, 16, 23, 30 6 – 9 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods.
Sat. August 10 Dolores Park 1 – 5 PM 19thSt. and Dolores SF.
Sat. August 17 and 24 11 AM – 4 PM Fisherman’s Wharf Jefferson St. near Mason SF.
Sat. August 31 12 – 5 PM UN Plaza 7th St. and Market SF.
SOS-San Francisco Outreach Report
Dear Christian friends,
Our 34th annual SOS-San Francisco outreach began on Telegraph Ave. in Berkeley. One would think that this city, home of the University of California, would be recession-proof, but this area has suffered greatly from the economic downturn. We set up our PA on a corner where a hotel burned down 20 years ago. It remains a vacant lot. Across the street, another hotel burned down last year. Several stores on the block have closed down. Even the street vendors have moved away.
Nonetheless, there were plenty of people to witness to that afternoon. Several hundred high school students were on campus for a conference on careers in medicine. We gave out tracts to many of them. Dave witnessed to one of the students, Isaiah from New Mexico. He was quite receptive to the gospel. He also witnessed to Farah, a Muslim from Connecticut, and Muyoo, a young woman from Taiwan. She asked Dave, “How can I become a Christian?” Dave shared the gospel with her and gave her a Bible.
Amanda had several good conversations that day. Shuji is a high school student from Chinawho was taking a summer class at the University. Amanda shared the gospel with her and gave her a Bible. She said, “In China, it is hard to learn about Christianity but I’m glad I’m here in theU.S.this summer and I have a Bible too.”
Abby is a UC Berkeley student fromHong Kong. She comes from a Buddhist background but recently started attending church. Amanda shared the gospel with her and encouraged her to read her Bible. Bridgit is a student fromIndia. She was raised Sikh, but was open to learning about Jesus. Some Christians had witnessed to her a few days ago. Amanda shared the gospel with her and tried to answer some of her questions.
On Sunday, Mike had met Raymond inSan Francisco. He is a meth addict. He witnessed to him for two hours and arranged to meet him the next day in Dolores Park. Raymond didn’t show up. However, Mike saw Raymond that Wednesday in Berkeley and ministered to him. Raymond said he was going toSacramentoto get help with his addiction.
On Thursday we witnessed at Fisherman’s Wharf. We had reserved the best spot at the Wharf from 1-4 PM. (We can only get a 3 hour permit there.) This spot is so popular with other street performers that it is very difficult to get, but the monthly port meeting was scheduled this day and almost all of the performers were at the meeting. We arrived at 11 AM and stayed until almost 8 PM. Because no other performer asked to use the spot, we were able to stay there.
I saw three young Chinese men. They didn’t speak much English so I offered them Chinese tracts. Then I found Mai, who is fromChina, and she shared the gospel with them in Chinese. They had never heard the gospel and were quite receptive.
That night, I received an email from Sydney. He wrote, “I am 14 years old and have asked the Lord Jesus Christ to save me. Please send me information on my new life with Jesus.” I sent him some information.
On Friday, we had a four hour permit at First and Market, in the center of the Financial District. I am amazed and blessed that we are able to get a permit at this location, even if it is only once a year. Our permit stated that we would need to shut down if anyone complained. It seems the police can deny or restrict any permit they want to. (Some of you remember that I fought this procedure in Federal Court for 10 years, and ultimately lost at the 9th Circuit.) Fortunately, the day was peaceful, with no complaints and no visits from the police.
Dave witnessed to Joanna, who was cleaning a statue on the corner. She was raised Catholic and is now Buddhist. Dave compared the solvent she uses to clean the statue with the blood of Jesus that cleanses our sins. He also shared the gospel with Annette, a Catholic who was listening intently to our preaching. He also witnessed to Farid, another Catholic who commutes from Sacramento each day, and Caroline, who is fromIrelandand had a problem with the concept of Hell.
On Friday night, we had a two hour permit at Haight St.and Masonic. Previously we had been given a four hour permit there, but last year the police decided to limit us to two hours, in response to complaints. Last year, Paul Coca witnessed to Nate, who is a friend of his son and works at the restaurant across the street. This year, he again had a chance to witness to Nate.
Several street people sat down on the sidewalk to listen to our music, including Sarah and her boyfriend Carl. She grew up in church but resented having religion forced upon her. Several of the street people listened as I shared about my experiences as a hippie onHaight St.in 1967 and gave my testimony.
We concluded our outreach on Saturday with a five hour permit at UN Plaza. The Band “Book” and singer Rachel Barrentine joined us that day. A year ago, Dave had witnessed to Monica, who had just become homeless and had broken up with her boyfriend. At the time, she was receptive to the gospel. Now, Monica seems to be demonized and was trying to steal from us. Please pray for her and her boyfriend Eric.
Dave witnessed to Rosita, about 75 years old, a Filipino who was confused about the gospel. Mike witnessed to Kevin, a professing Christian who smoked marijuana and had been off meth for two months. He also witnessed in Spanish to Ivan and Felix, who are from Mexico. He gave them Spanish Bibles.
Amanda ministered to Georgiana, who said she was a Christian but had not read the Bible for a long time and suffered from depression. She also ministered to Jackie, another professing Christian who did not read her Bible. Afterwards she said, “I need to go and get my Bible out of storage.”
Steve and Debbie witnessed to Khiry, Corey, and Stephen, three young men fromOakland, for two hours. They all professed faith in Christ and prayed with them. They took Khiry home with them. He got touched by God at church Sunday and was weeping at the altar. He stayed with them until Tuesday. Corey went to church with his relatives on Sunday.
Christians joined us from Willits, Santa Rosa, Modesto and Santa Cruz. I especially want to thank Paul and Noreen Coca and Tim Moon, who played music and ministered with us all week. Also it was a blessing to have Scott Crawford with us. We also saw Kylan, who lived in our house for a year before going to Japan as a missionary last year. He got married on July 14.
Ministry News and Needs
Thank you again for your prayers and financial support for the ministry. Your generous contributions made it possible for us to get permits, print tracts, and purchase New Testaments for the outreach. Please pray for those people we have witnessed to this past month and at SOS-San Francisco, especially those I mentioned in this newsletter.
We have given out almost all of our children’s tracts and need to print some more. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Children are much more receptive to the gospel than adults. Most people are saved before the age of 18. Children cannot understand the adult tracts we give out, so we need special tracts that are written in simple language. These tracts are also good for people who don’t have good reading skills, or who don’t know English very well.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum
