Click Here to View This Month’s Slideshow
Coming Events
Note: Outreaches are subject to change. Call (510) 282-5629 to confirm outreaches or for more information.
Friday October 3, 10, 17, 24 6 – 9 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods.
Sat. October 4 12:30-4:30 PM Berkeley outreach. Telegraph & Haste St.
Sat. October 11, 18 11 AM – 4 PM Fisherman’s Wharf outreach (Jefferson St. near Powell).
Sat. Oct 25 Berkeley outreach. Shattuck & Center St. (outside downtown Berkeley BART station).
Fri. Oct. 31 Halloween Outreach. Alameda (call 510-479-5386 for details).
SOS San Francisco Outreach Report 2014
Dear Christian friends,
It is hard to believe that we have completed our 35th annual SOS-San Francisco Outreach. Back in 1980, a group of pastors and evangelists, concerned about the spiritual condition of San Francisco, sent out an SOS – a call for Christians to come help us bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of San Francisco. Sadly, the spiritual condition of San Francisco, as with the rest of our nation and much of the world, is much worse than it was in 1980. People need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ as much as ever.
God brought a small but dedicated team of believers to witness each day. Eric Holzhauer had attended our first SOS outreach in 1980, and came from Los Angeles to join us. Several other Christians had participated in SOS outreaches since the early 1980’s. Chuck Girard, who first sang at our 1984 outreach, was with us on the first two days. Paul and Noreen Coca and Tim Moon played music throughout the week. Frank Baldus, who works with Open Air Campaigners in the Los Angeles area, did sketch board evangelism on the street every day.
On Wednesday we witnessed in downtown Berkeley, outside the BART station. This was the first time we had been here on a weekday afternoon. There were a lot of people here. Eddie and Noreen witnessed to John, an elderly man who believed that all religions teach the same thing. They spoke with him for 1 ½ hours after which he admitted that he could be wrong, and the Bible could be true. Dave witnessed to Christina, who was selling cell phones across the street, and Darrell, who was an Ambassador (who provides information for tourists). He also prayed with Julius, a Christian who had gotten into legal trouble while he was backslidden. He also witnessed to Nawuf, a Saudi student who was listening to our preaching. Dave asked him, “How do you get forgiven by Allah?” He can only hope that his good works outweigh the bad ones and that Allah is merciful. He took a New Testament and said he would read it.
On Thursday we witnessed at Fisherman’s Wharf. Even though our permit was only from 1-4 PM, we were able to minister from 11 AM until 4:30 PM, since nobody else was at the spot when we arrived. Paul and Noreen, Eddie and Larry DuBois all ministered to Linda, who lives in her car with another woman and two small children. She claimed to be a Christian, but had a lot of problems. She and her children spent most of the afternoon listening to our music and preaching. Paul also prayed with a Filipino couple. The man was unsaved and the woman was backslidden.
On Friday we witnessed at First St. and Market in the Financial District. When we arrived, most of the space was closed off because of construction. However, there was just enough space to set up our equipment. Paul Coca prayed with Alice, a Christian who was under spiritual attack and hadn’t been in church for a month. She had been walking down the street praying, and said that we were an answer to her prayer. She said, “Please tell them that God sent them here for me. I know now that God really loves me.” Paul and Noreen also ministered to Alexander and Chelsea, who were raised in church but weren’t following God. Paul shared his testimony with them and prayed with them.
That evening we witnessed on Haight St. and Masonic. Brandon ministered to Alex, a young man who works across the street. He said he believes in Jesus but didn’t understand why he needed to repent. “Why can’t I just believe in Jesus?” While Tim Moon was singing, a group of street people came over and sat down to listen to the music. Frank prayed with Patrick, who was one of them.
On Saturday we witnessed at UN Plaza. About 50 Christians from Calvary Assembly of God in Merced joined us that day. Their worship group and youth worship group ministered. They also did some dance skits. Amos witnessed to Dwight, a homeless man who has a Christian background and is addicted to drugs. He told him that we don’t have to clean up ourselves before coming to God, but if we repent and trust in Jesus, He will change us. Dwight said, “I need to go away and think about what you said.” Dave witnessed to Anthony, the manager of a Vietnamese Restaurant he has been eating at. He also witnessed to Daniel, an agnostic who listened as Dave shared the gospel with him. He took a gospel tract. He also ministered to Sergio, a Christian who had recently gotten out of prison. He prayed with him and encouraged him.
Several times while we were preaching, demoniacs tried to interrupt us. It is good to know we were being effective enough that Satan tries to interfere with our outreach. As Jesus promised, the gates of Hell will not prevail against His church, and His word went forth powerfully throughout the city of San Francisco and in downtown Berkeley during our 35th annual SOS-San Francisco outreach. Thank you all for your prayers and financial support for this ministry that made this outreach possible.
The Foolishness of Preaching
“It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe” (1 Corin. 1:21). Throughout the Bible, God called His servants to proclaim His word in the public places. People were warned to repent of their sins and get their lives right with God. In some cases, many repented and were spared God’s judgment. The entire city of Nineveh, for example, repented at the preaching of Jonah. In other cases, few or no people repented. Noah was called a preacher of righteousness. As he built the ark, he warned of God’s judgment, yet only his family was saved.
God told the prophet Ezekiel, “Go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them…whether they listen or not” (Ezek. 3:4,11). Some will claim that preaching the gospel is not effective, or that you will only “turn people off.” It is very important that we preach with love, gentleness and sensitivity. Even when we do this, however, some will be offended at the gospel.
Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, said, “Effective witnessing is simply taking the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, leaving the results to God.” God has called us to walk by faith. We must obey God and continue to preach the Gospel, whether or not we see results.
The apostle Paul had a powerful ministry and saw much fruit amid much opposition. But the thing that disturbed him most was not the persecution by unbelievers but the criticism and lack of support by other believers. Even those who were saved in churches he had started, criticized him and forsook him. They said he was not a true apostle. They said he had no right to receive financial support. “If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?” (1 Corin. 9:11) They criticized his speaking ability. “His bodily presence is weak and his speech contemptible” (2 Corin. 10:10). At the end of his life, as he was awaiting death in a Roman prison, he wrote Timothy, “Take your diligence to come to me. For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world….Only Luke is with me….At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me” (2 Tim. 4:9-16). Truly, the life of God’s servant is difficult, but God is faithful to comfort and strengthen us. “Nevertheless, the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, that by me the preaching might be fully known and that all the Gentiles might hear” (2 Tim. 4:17).
Ministry Needs
Thank you again for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. We are happy to have Phil Clucos in our ministry house. He lives near Liverpool, England, and is staying with us for two months to learn about street evangelism. Our house is now full, at least for two months.
We need some new banners and stands, as the ones we have are getting old. It will cost about $550 for everything.
Larry DuBois has been doing a lot of work on our web site. We now have a lot of our newsletters online going back to 1988 – including some from Bay Area Outreach Ministries and the International Street and Evangelism Ministries Assn. (ISEMA). We also have a lot of evangelism teachings and legal resources on the web site. Check it out: www.sosmin.com.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum
