Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Dear Christian friends,
As a child, I remember thinking that I would probably be alive in
the year 2000. I wondered what the world would be like then. I
wondered what I would be doing. I could never have imagined the
changes that have taken place in the world. The Soviet Union no
longer exists, but the threat of nuclear war is as great as ever.
The changes in technology are vast. I used a slide rule in my
high school math classes.
The social changes have been even greater. Who could have imag
ined the nudity or profanity in today’s movies, or the acceptance
of homosexuality? I never heard of illegal drugs until I was a
junior in college. The next year I was using them.
As a child, I thought I would probably become a doctor like my
Dad. I never imagined becoming a Christian evangelist. I didn’t
know anything about Jesus until high school. Then, I attended
some Youth for Christ meetings, but never learned how to be
saved. My Jewish sunday school group visited a Catholic Church
which appeared as spiritually dead as our own religion.
For some reason, people are fascinated with round numbers like
2000. After all, it’s only once in a thousand years that there
are three zeroes at the end of the year. Most people never live
in a year that ends with three zeroes. Still, it’s just a number.
Most scholars believe that Jesus was born a few years before the
year 0. If they are right, it’s already been over 2000 years
since His birth.
I do believe that Christ’s return is very near. However, I think
we should avoid setting dates. In Acts 1, when the disciples
asked Jesus if He would then restore the kingdom to Israel, He
said, “It is not for you to know the times or dates…But you
will receive power…and you will be my witnesses…to the ends
of the earth.”
This next month we are also faced with a possible “Y2K” crisis.
Again, people disagree as to whether it will be a major crisis or
no big deal. I don’t know. (We’ll find out next month.) I do know
that God will take care of His people. If there is a big crisis,
it will be an opportunity to reach many people with the gospel.
If hungry people come to your door, don’t shoot them. Tell them
about Jesus.
Coming Events
Note: All outreaches are subject to change. Call (510) 531-5325
the day before to confirm outreaches or for more information.
Friday December 3, 10, 17 7:15 PM. Witnessing in various S.F.
neighborhoods. (Call us for meeting location and directions.)
Sat. December 4. San Francisco Worship Rally. 2:30-4:30 PM Union
Square (Powell and Geary St.)
Sat. December 11 Berkeley Outreach. 1:30-5:30 PM. Telegraph and
Haste St.
Sat. December 18. San Francisco Christmas Outreach 12-5 PM United
Nations Plaza (7th St. and Market).
Mario Murillo Outreach
Last summer, evangelist Mario Murillo organized a major evangel
ism outreach in San Francisco, culminating with eight days of
meetings at the Cow Palace on October 10-17. The day before these meetings began, Mario joined us for an outreach at Union Square.
Angelo and Veronica and the Impact choir ministered in music and
Mario preached. About 500 Christians attended the outreach.
As part of his evangelistic effort, Mario conducted two week-long
street outreaches this summer, bringing about 200 Christians into
the city. Two street ministry leaders, Scott Hinkle and Ray
Jablonski, helped with the outreach. Scott organizes the National
Street Ministry Conference each year. Ray is director of Heart-
Fire Ministries in Milwaukee. It was good seeing Scott and Ray
and having them minister in this city.
Also, Pastor Bob Johnson from Redding has brought a team to
minister in this city. Pastor Johnson is planning to start a
Dream Center based upon the model used by Pastors Tommy and
Matthew Barnett in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Dream Center is a
converted hospital which is the base of a church which is totally
centered on inner-city evangelizm. The facility houses over a
hundred different ministries reaching every kind of person. They
have specialized ministries to the homeless, to AIDS patients, to
the elderly, to the deaf, etc. They also are involved in regular
evangelism in their neighborhood. San Francisco really needs this
kind of church and outreach ministry. Please pray for Pastor
Johnson that he would get the right facility.
Ministry Needs
Again, I want to thank you for your prayers and financial support
of this ministry. Many ministries continually beg for money and
manipulate people to give. I do not think this is pleasing to
God. “If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that”
1 Tim. 6:8. God has been faithful to provide our needs, and I am
thankful that many of you continue to support this ministry.
Please pray for those who have written us this past month in
response to tracts, including Benjamin and Timothy (SF), Mauricio
(Hayward) and Jill (Woodside). Please pray that we will have more
workers to help us on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. We
also need one man to live in our ministry house in Oakland. We
are looking for a mature Christian with a calling in evangelism.
Our Tape of the Month is Preparing for Warfare by Mario Murillo.
This is a message he gave at our SOS outreach in 1989. I hope you
all have a wonderful Christmas and New Year. I hope many of you
can join us for our Christmas outreach on Sat. December 18.
Christmas is certainly a time to let people know that God sent
Jesus into the world to be our Savior.
Joy to the world! The Lord is come. Let earth receive her king.
Let every heart prepare Him room….
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum
