Our Lord’s Mission
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the SOS House:
Larry Rosenbaum; Eric, Cammie, Christiana, David & Andrew Livingston; Scott Robbins; Michael & Janet Long
Dear Christian friends,
For me, Christmas is a wonderful time to contemplate God’s love in sending His Son Jesus Christ to save us from our sins. Truly, Jesus is the Good Shepherd who leaves the 99 to search for the one lost sheep. “For the Son of man is come to seek out and to save that which was lost.” Jesus Christ came to earth on a mission: to seek out and save the lost. He has given us the same mission. What a privilege it is to follow in His footsteps. Sadly, many professing Christians care little about reaching the lost.
Christmas is a great time to witness. People seem to be most open to the gospel at this time of year. They are looking for the “Christmas spirit.” What they need is the Spirit of God, the true Christmas Spirit.
While New Year’s Eve is a time of drunkenness, New Year’s Day is a time for resolutions and self-examination about where our lives are heading. This can also be a great opportunity to witness. One year I witnessed at a New Year’s Eve party and prayed with a young man to receive Christ as the clock struck twelve.
More Permit Restrictions
For the past 1 1/2 years, we have been conducting five hour outreaches twice a month on Saturday afternoon at the cable car turnaround at Powell and Market Streets. This is the busiest location in the city, and hundreds of people often gather to listen to the Christian worship music.
When we first applied for these permits in July, 1997, the police wanted to limit our permit times. However, in a decision signed by the police legal department and the Chief of Police, the Police Department ruled that “There is no legal basis to deny these permit requests.”
In May, 1998, a woman who sells cable car tickets complained to the police department. The police held a special hearing at which six people, mostly street vendors, complained about us. Meanwhile, we gathered 1600 signatures, including 1000 from San Francisco residents, urging the Chief of Police to continue granting permits to “street musicians” at this location. Last June, after considering the various complaints, the Chief of Police continued granting our permits with the following stipulation: “The sound shall not be audible more than 100 feet away except from 12-1 PM when it shall not be audible more than 250 feet away.”
We continued receiving permits at this location every month until September. But at a permit hearing on September 30, the police again objected to our permits. They wanted to limit us to one hour. They brought up no new complaints or reasons for limiting our permits. As far as we know, nobody has complained about us since last June. However, this time the Chief ruled that we could only have permits from 12-1 PM. “A limited use of amplification can be tolerated for a short period of time….The Applicant and his group may still exercise their free speech during the other hours requested without amplification.”
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that “loud-speakers are today indispensable instruments of effective public speech” (Saia v. New York). The denial of our right to use loudspeakers is a denial of our free speech rights. This decision also contradicts the Chief’s previous ruling in 1997 that “there is no legal basis to deny these permit requests.”
Since 1994, no loudspeaker permits have been denied or restricted because of complaints against non-Christian groups. One secular group, Making Waves, generates so many complaints that the police have a special log for complaints about them. However, these complaints never resulted in any permit denials, restrictions or criminal citations.
In contrast, complaints against us have repeatedly resulted in permit denials, restrictions, citations and prosecutions. In September, Judge Burleigh dismissed the criminal charges against Eric Livingston a second time. He told the District Attorney there was no basis for the charges and she should talk to whoever is in charge and tell them to leave us alone. But the District Attorney has appealed the dismissal a second time. These criminal charges date back to August, 1996, but the matter is still not over.
On October 17, we held an outreach at Powell and Market from noon to 1 PM. After the outreach, we moved a block away and ministered with our 9-watt maximouse, which does not require a permit. While we could legally use the maximouse at Powell and Market, we thought the police would find some excuse to cite us, so we moved to Powell and Ellis St.
On October 31, we held another outreach at Powell and Market. Calvary Chapel, Livermore, ministered in song and drama from noon to 1 PM. At 1 PM, a political protest group held a rally there (demanding the release of a convicted cop killer). After we were told that amplification will not be permitted at this location after 1 PM, this group was granted a loudspeaker permit from 1 to 2:30 PM! Apparently, the police consider the message of this protest group more important than our message, since they gave them more time than they gave us.
In November, we applied for a permit at Washington Square in the North Beach area. In December, we applied for permits at Justin Herman Plaza (Embarcadero and Market) from noon to 2 PM and at United Nations Plaza (7th St. and Market) from 3-5 PM. Justin Herman Plaza normally is not a busy location on Saturdays. But during December, it is the site of an ice skating rink, which will draw people to the area. This will also create some confusion since the skating rink also has a permit for amplification–twelve hours a day, every day for three months! Our permit is limited to two hours, so we must pack up our sound system at 2 PM and move to a new location.
There are few locations where we can still get loudspeaker permits. These locations are not as busy as Powell and Market. We are saddened by these new permit restrictions, as they give us less freedom to bring the gospel message to the people of this city.
We are continuing to work through the court system. We are filing a motion this month to get an injunction to stop these permit denials and arrests. Also, this month we are filing a motion to dismiss the criminal charges against me from last August. A hearing on this matter is scheduled for December 1. Please pray that the criminal charges would be dismissed and we would get our sound system back. Please pray also that Judge Legge would issue an injunction to stop the illegal arrests and permit denials.
Pray for Us
“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course” 2 Thess. 3:1. Paul asked for prayer that God’s word would go forth without restrictions. Of course, Paul was often persecuted for preaching the gospel.
When he was charged with various crimes, Paul defended himself in the court system of his day. In Acts 22, when he appeared before a Roman captain, he asked, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?” (Acts 22:25). In Acts 23, he argued his case before the Jewish Sanhedrin. In Acts 24, he argued his case before Felix, the Roman governor of Judaea. In Acts 25, he took advantage of his right as a Roman citizen to appeal his case to Caesar. In Acts 26, he argued his case before King Agrippa. Despite his best efforts, Paul spent many years in prison and was eventually put to death. But not before he completed the work that God had given him.
We don’t know the outcome of our legal battles. We are making every effort to preserve our freedom, and the freedom of others, to preach the gospel in this nation. Please pray for us, that these legal troubles will end and that we can devote all our energy to reaching the lost. Please pray that we will once again have freedom to hold outdoor rallies for several hours at Powell and Market Street. Please pray that God will grant us wisdom in dealing with these matters.
Coming Events
EVERY FRIDAY 7:15 PM. Witnessing in various S.F. neighborhoods. Meet at Vineyard, 7th St. and Harrison, San Francisco. Call (510) 531-5325 for more information.
Sat. December 5 and 19 San Francisco Outreach. 12-2 PM Embarcadero and Market, 3-5 PM 7th St. and Market. Call (510) 531-5325 to confirm and for more information.
Sat. December 12 Berkeley Outreach. 12-5:30 PM. Call (510) 531- 5325 for more information.
Ministry Needs
Thank you again for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. This past month we purchased a new computer. We got a new computer, monitor, scanner, printer and lots of software for $1000. Our old computer is almost ten years old. Please pray that I can learn the new software quickly and use this new technology for God’s glory.
Our Tape of the Month is “The New Age Movement” by Bob Burrows. Millions of people have been influenced by the New Age Movement, and this tape will help you understand and witness to them.
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year. I hope many of you can join us for a Christmas outreach this month. “I bring to you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10,11). This Christmas season, let’s bring this good news to the people around us who desperately need to know our Lord Jesus Christ.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum
