September 1997
SOS-San Francisco Outreach Report
For the past 18 years, we have been bringing together Christians for a week-long outreach to the people of San Francisco called SOS-San Francisco. When I learned that Steve Wilson of “Shake the Nations” Ministry was planning to bring over 100 youth to the city, I called him and we scheduled our SOS outreach to coincide with their outreach.
A few months later, some Christians from the San Diego Vineyard did a three day outreach in San Francisco. They wanted to return during the summer. They contacted the San Francisco Vineyard and some Christians from Canada. Together we planned a 30th anniversary commemoration of the “Summer of Love.”
“Thirty years ago,” their flyer read, “San Francisco was host to a revolution of peace and love. People gathered from all over the nation to experience the music and togetherness of a new generation. A counterculture arose, renouncing the materialistic trappings of the age to pursue a utopian dream. Although a dark side emerged, it was also a time when God planted the seeds of the Jesus Movement, that generation’s greatest ingathering of souls for the kingdom in America. In the ’90’s a counterculture is emerging that mirrors that of the ’60’s. Join us as we revisit the Summer of Love and ask God to plant the seeds of a new harvest in San Francisco!”
The outreach that resulted was much larger and more diverse than anything we could have done by ourselves. Pastor Gary Goodell and Mark McCoy from the San Diego Vineyard led us in worship at several outreaches. We danced and worshiped God joyfully in the streets and parks of San Francisco. “Shake the Nations” brought up to 100 youth to some of our outreaches to perform drama skits and witness with us. And the San Francisco Vineyard planned several “servant evangelism” projects: cleaning up graffiti in the Mission District, giving out bags of food at Sharon Meadow, and giving out 1000 Christian music CD’s.
The SF Vineyard planned nightly concerts at the church throughout the week. They also organized a massive concert on Saturday afternoon at Sharon Meadow in Golden Gate Park. The concert featured Barry McGuire, Terry Talbot, the Lower than Angels Band, and Christafari. They rented a stage and a gigantic PA system. This closing rally brought about 1500 people through the afternoon. They enjoyed the music, but they also heard the gospel.
The Vineyard had printed 40,000 four-color “rave cards” advertising these concerts. Because of the connection to the “Summer of Love,” the concerts received free publicity in the San Francisco Examiner Sunday entertainment magazine, the Oakland Tribune and the Bay Guardian.
On July 11, singer Ron Kenoly ministered at our outreach at the Embarcadero. He had ministered with us many times in the early 1980’s and even led worship at SOS one year. It was good having him with us again. The Business Men’s Fellowship was holding their national convention in Oakland and they sent a team of businessmen to witness with us this afternoon.
Meanwhile, Living Hope Church in the Mission got a permit to close down 19th St. and Mission for a block party that night. “Shake the Nations” set up two giant screens and about 200 chairs on 19th St. They performed street dramas, which were projected on the screens with video cameras. We witnessed to the crowd that gathered, and prayed with several gang members. We also prayed with a woman who was suicidal. On Saturday, Living Hope and “Shake the Nations” did a food giveaway in the Mission District, sponsored by Operation Blessing (700 Club). On Sunday, thirty-four new people attended services at Living Hope from the Friday and Saturday outreaches!
When we began planning the outreach, we were not sure we would be able to get any permits. For several months, we had been denied every permit we requested. Amazingly, we got permits every day at Union Square, Embarcadero and Washington Square Parks. A week before the outreach, we also got sidewalk permits at two locations on Market St. in the Financial District!
Only twice during the week did we have problems with the police. On Wednesday night, Christians at Union Street were told they could not preach, play a guitar unamplified, or even give out tracts on that corner. And on Thursday at Washington Square, Officer Gallagher threatened to take Eric and me to jail, even though our music was very quiet. A Jewish woman thought our use of the park was a violation of “separation of church and state” and hated the fact that I am a Jewish believer. She was apparently willing to sign a citizen’s arrest. We ended the outreach early that day and stayed out of jail.
Salvation on the Streets!
On July 4, we went to Fisherman’s Wharf, where we witnessed and gave out thousands of tracts to the multitudes who were there for the fireworks. Paul and Noreen Coca tried to join our team at the Wharf, but couldn’t find parking at any price. Instead, they stopped at a grocery. As they were leaving, a woman approached them and asked why they were so happy. They were able to share with her about Jesus and pray with her.
On Saturday night, Paul was with the team on Polk St. where he met Bobby. Paul took him to the concert at the Vineyard. He prayed with Paul and returned to the Vineyard on Sunday. After wards, he went to the discipleship program at Victory Outreach, San Mateo.
A week before, we had brought Dwight to the same program. We had witnessed to him several times in the Tenderloin District, but he was always drunk and violent. Once he was so violent that we had to call the police. Now, he seems to be genuinely repentant and has been in the program for 3 weeks. He was baptized on July 4.
We also took Richard to the same program. Shanna met him at Fisherman’s Wharf. He had been homeless, and had been in the hospital after attempting suicide. He is still in the program as I write this. Also Melvin, whom we had witnessed to on Polk St., is in their program.
On July 5, six gang members who had received a “rave card” came to the Vineyard concert. Three of them made threats to some of the women so Craig took them outside. He warned them, and then shared the gospel with them. The three prayed with him and one gave his testimony at the concert.
During one of the concerts, Jeff witnessed to David in the church bathroom and prayed with him. At Washington Square, an ex-convict and a Vietnam veteran prayed with us and helped pass out tracts. Derek rededicated his life to Christ and joined us for the outreach most of the week. On July 6, Richard H. from England had been invited to church. He committed his life to Christ and joined us for several of our meetings before returning to England.
Paul S. witnessed to a Filipino couple on Market St. The man prayed with him and said he would witness to his children. His wife didn’t want to pray on the street, but said she would pray to receive Christ that night.
