25 Years
Twenty-five years ago, in the spring of 1975, God called me to come to San Francisco and witness on the streets. I had lived in San Francisco before I was saved as a “hippie” and I always had a special burden for this city. My only plans were to get a part‑time job and spend the rest of my time witnessing. I never expected to start a street ministry. For the first year, I lived in a $55 a month room on Mission St.
My main desire was to find a few Christians to witness with me‑‑a difficult task. In the process God led me to some pastors and evangelists with a desire to reach San Francisco for Jesus. Together we started SOS Ministries. During the past 25 years, thousands of Christians have participated in an ongoing outreach to the people of San Francisco. We have organized hundreds of outdoor worship rallies, given out several million gospel tracts, witnessed personally to tens of thousands of people, and seen hundreds of people saved. A team of Christians has been witnessing on the streets of San Francisco and Berkeley on Friday night and Saturday on most weekends for the past 23 years!
Sometimes Christians are amazed that I am still in San Francisco, witnessing on the streets, after so many years. Street ministries tend to be short‑lived, and San Francisco is a very difficult city to witness in. What I know is that God has called me here. He has established SOS Ministries and He has sustained us over the years. I am willing by God’s grace to continue the work here as long as He wants me to.
SOS ‑ San Francisco
Every person on this planet will spend eternity either in the eternal bliss of Heaven or in the eternal torments of Hell. We have the Words of Life that can change their eternal destiny. We need to use every hour we have left to reach as many as possible for Jesus. Will we keep silent or will we open our mouths?
SOS ‑ San Francisco is an opportunity to get training and practical experience in evangelism. The hardest part is overcoming apathy and fear. Once you actually come to SOS, God will give you divine appointments to witness to people. He will give you the right words to speak to each person. The experience you get during SOS week will help you become a bolder and more effective witness for Jesus in your everyday life. Satan does not want Christians to witness for Jesus and he will do everything he can to keep you from coming to SOS.
Please don’t miss this year’s SOS‑San Francisco outreach. If you can’t join us the entire week, come on Saturdays, and as many other days or evenings as possible. The outreach begins Friday July 7 at 6 PM with worship, orientation and evangelism training at 7 PM. On Saturday July 8 we will have a worship rally at Powell and Market St. from noon to 1 PM and at Union Square from 2 to 4 PM. Meetings are held daily except Sunday at 9 AM and 6 PM at Park Presidio Bible Church, 10th Ave. and Cabrillo, in San Francisco. Free housing is available during the outreach. Bring a sleeping bag and foam pad. If you prefer, we can send you names of hotels in the area.
Contemporary Christian music pioneer Chuck Girard will be with us from July 10-12. Chuck ministers at street outreaches and churches around the world. He has long been a friend of this ministry.
Enclosed with this newsletter is a flier with more information about the outreach. If you can’t afford the registration fee, come anyway. While we appreciate advanced registration, it is not required. This outreach is guaranteed to change your life‑‑and the lives of those you will reach for Jesus.
On the Streets
On Saturday March 18, Paul and Noreen Coca ministered at Powell and Market St. Dennis met an old friend of his, Frederick, and witnessed to him (see photo). He is Catholic and his parents had died two weeks ago. We also prayed with Justus, who is in the Coast Guard.
On Saturday April 8, the Shelter House band from Alamo Christian Fellowship played at Union Square. A team from Father’s House church in Vacaville joined us that day. A large crowd gathered to listen to the music. We prayed with several people that afternoon, including Tony from New York (see photo) and Jenny from San Francisco. Jenny was crying as she left the Bank of America at Powell and Market. She said she had been backslidden and needed to get right with the Lord.
On Good Friday (April 21) we witnessed on Union Street. Eric Livingston and Mike Mills sang and I preached. The next day, we witnessed on Telegraph Ave. in Berkeley. Mark Whitehead, Mike Mills, and Paul and Noreen Coca preached and ministered through music. Thousands of people heard the gospel that afternoon.
On Tuesday afternoon, I teach a Bible study at the Prodigal Project house on Haight Street. Many street kids come to the Bible study. Please pray for Ryan, J.T., Tommy, Aaron, George, Josh and the others we have witnessed to at this house.
Coming Events
Note: All outreaches are subject to change. Call (510) 531-5325 the day before to confirm outreaches or for more information.
Friday June 9, 16, 23 7:30-10 PM. Witnessing in various S.F. neighborhoods. (Call us for meeting location and directions.)
Sat. June 10. Berkeley Outreach. 1:30-5:30 PM. Telegraph and Haste St.
Sat. June 17. San Francisco Worship Rally. 1-5 PM United Nations Plaza, 7th St. and Market.
Sat. June 24. San Francisco Worship Rally 1-5 PM Washington Square, Stockton and Columbus St.
June 23-30 SOS-Hollywood. Contact the Oasis (323) 469-3027.
July 7-15 SOS-San Francisco. Set aside this week to attend this important outreach to the people of San Francisco.
Ministry Needs
As always, I want to thank you for your prayers and your financial support for this ministry. This past month we were able to purchase a digital camera. Most of the photos in this newsletter were taken with it. This outreach involves a lot of expenses, and we appreciate whatever you can do to help us. We still need to print 200,000 tracts and purchase 500 New Testaments for the outreach. Also, consider supporting a worker for SOS. Many Christians would like to participate in the SOS outreach, but cannot afford the registration and meal costs.
Please pray for those who have written us or prayed with us on the streets, including Robert (prayed on Polk St.), Marco and Tomas (gay teens on Castro St.), C. R., Angela, Pam, John, Carey, Tyrone, Patricia, Eric, Rita, Pedro and Bob (SF), Blythe (Daly City), Angela (Albany), Abenaide (Miami FL), Aristotle (Merced, CA jail), and Richard and Norris (Folsom, CA prison). Also pray for Juanita (Hayward) who wrote “I’m 27 years old. I’m currently going through a drug addiction and I want help, and deep down I believe help starts with the Lord Jesus and prayer.”
Our Tape of the Month is Worship, Warfare and Witnessing by Chuck Girard. Please continue to pray for us as we prepare for SOS‑San Francisco. Pray that God will guide us in every area of planning. Above all, set aside the week of July 7-15 to come to SOS‑San Francisco‑‑and bring a friend. God bless you all. I look forward to seeing many of you during SOS week.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum
