Newsletter and Coming Events – September 2017

Click Here to View This Month’s Slideshow

Coming Events

Friday September 1, 8, and 15 5 – 8 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods.

Sat September 2 Union Square (Powell and Geary) SF 12 – 2 PM  New Life Christian Church, Hayward 5th and Market St. 3 – 5 PM

Sat. September 9 Dolores Park (19th St. and Dolores) 1 – 5 PM

Sat. September 16 UN Plaza (7th St. and Market) SF 12 – 5 PM Isaiah Band

SOS-San Francisco Outreach Report

Some of our outreach workers on Haight St. (left to right): May, Loi, Norman, Tim, Larry, Chuck, Noreen, Paul
Some of our outreach workers on Haight St.
(left to right): May, Loi, Norman, Tim, Larry, Chuck, Noreen, Paul

Dear Christian friends, 

We held our 38th annual SOS-San Francisco outreach July 12-15. Chuck Girard, Paul and Noreen Coca and Tim Moon were with us for the entire outreach, playing music on the streets. On Wed. July 12, we witnessed at 5th St. and Market. While Paul was singing “Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord,” Ian approached him and said he really needed God. Paul shared the gospel with him and prayed with him to get his life right with God. Later that afternoon, Alex approached Dave and asked, “Do you remember me?” Dave said, “Yes.” Six months ago, Manuel had prayed for Alex at 4th and Mission St. Alex, a Christian, had suffered with extreme sciatic nerve pain. After they prayed, Alex said the pain was totally gone for the first time in many years. Six months later, Alex is still pain-free. Dave also witnessed to Ho and Chu, Mormon elders from Hong Kong and Taiwan, for 45 minutes.

On Thursday, we witnessed at First and Market St., in the heart of San Francisco’s Financial District. Dave witnessed to Mohammed, a Muslim from Yemen, who took a gospel of John. He also witnessed to Ahn, a Vietnamese Catholic, and Chris, a pantheist who asked lots of questions.

On Friday, we returned to 5th St. and Market. DeAnna witnessed to Salim, a Muslim. He didn’t want to talk with a woman, so Dave spoke to him. He took a Muslim tract. Dave ministered to Haley, 16, who knew the gospel but was not serving God. She cried as he prayed with her. He also ministered to Elliot, a new believer who was confused about doctrines. He witnessed to Francisco, a Mexican skateboarder. Mike witnessed to Arnie, an atheist who was troubled that God would have forgiven Hitler if he had repented. Mike lost his wallet at the mall across the street, but remarkably, a security guard picked it up and he got it back.

That evening, we witnessed on Haight St. We set up next to a large mural commemorating the 50th anniversary of the “Summer of Love” in 1967. Cal and Dave witnessed to Shekina, a former Pentecostal. Her mother is Jewish and she is now Jewish. They explained that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. Cal spoke with Kyle, 20, who ran away from home. Someone gave him a Bible and he started reading it. He knew God is real. Jacob witnessed to Umesh, who was raised a Hindu and lives in the Haight district. He believes all truth is relative. Jacob encouraged him to read the New Testament. Dave witnessed to Jesse, a Filipino Catholic, and George, who is in his 70’s and was listening intently to our music. Mike spoke with John, who said he had been in a severe car accident, but miraculously was not hurt and walked away.

On Saturday, the worship group from Bridgepoint Community Church in Pacifica played music at Union Square, along with Paul, Noreen and Chuck. Cal witnessed to Steve, an Italian who had lived a life of crime. He realized he should repent before he dies. Cal reminded him that could happen at any time. Jacob witnessed to Clarence, who was happy to receive a tract. He believes all religions are true, and when Jacob said Jesus was the only way to God, he got very angry and walked away. DeAnna witnessed to Joshua, who came to San Francisco to see his girl friend, but she left him. She prayed with him. Dave witnessed to Alan, 18, who is from Taiwan, and Kemian, from France, who is attending graduate school here.

Later that afternoon, we witnessed at 5th and Market. Dave ministered to Donnie, who has been homeless for 10 years. He attends Bible studies at City Impact. Dave gave him some food and prayed with him. Dave met two Christians from China, Sidney and Crystal. While they were talking, Vincent, 16, came by. He is from Taiwan and doesn’t speak English well, so Crystal translated for Dave as both of them witnessed to him. Dave, Jacob and Cal all witnessed to Joshua, who has two small children and whose wife recently left him. They prayed with him, and right afterwards, his wife called him. Jacob and I both witnessed to Warren, 16, who attends an evangelical Chinese church with his parents. He did not understand salvation and said he was being tempted to do bad things by his friends who are atheists. He said he felt a pull towards darkness. Jacob witnessed to him for an hour.

Child of the Sixties

(part 3)

As a hippie, I had a few contacts with “Jesus freaks.” I once visited the Christian House of Acts in Novato. Several times Christians visited a hippie commune I was staying at (Morning Star Ranch in Occidental, CA) and witnessed to us. They told me I needed to believe in Jesus and I would be saved. I told them I believed. On two occasions they prayed with me, baptized me, and got me speaking in “tongues.” When they left, I continued my sinful ways unchanged, although I carried a New Testament and often read it. I do not believe I was saved then, and I totally misunderstood the gospel message. I interpreted the Bible through my New Age (then known as “Christ consciousness”) beliefs. I reasoned that because Jesus had died for the world’s sins, sin no longer existed and everything was permissible.

I also listened to various “gurus” who claimed to know God. In the summer of 1970, I went to Seattle to live in the “Love Family.” The Love Family began in 1968 and grew to 350 members in 1983. When I was there, they had three houses and about 60 members. It was a cult whose leader Love Israel (Paul Erdmann) claimed to be the way to Jesus, as Jesus was the way to God. We lived communally and read the New Testament daily. Citing Ananias and Sapphira, members were expected to give all their personal money to the group. Most people had little money, but a few had over a million dollars in inheritance money, which was given to the cult and sustained it. While I was there, I was told that the Love Family did not use drugs or engage in extramarital sex. Later, I learned that there was extensive drug use and sexual activity by Erdmann and others. At the end of the summer, I was kicked out of the cult (a common practice) and found myself at a park with a group of hippies, looking for a place to start a commune. A Christian preacher invited me to stay at a Jesus people commune. Penniless and homeless, I accepted the offer.

He took me to a Shiloh ministry house outside Portland, Oregon. About 40 long-haired ex-hippies lived in this house. Two of them immediately began witnessing to me. They told me that Love Israel, leader of the cult I had been involved with, was a false prophet. They showed me 1 Tim. 2:5, which says that Jesus is the only mediator between God and men. They told me to pray and ask God to show me the truth about what they were saying. Over the next few days, God made it very clear to me that they were telling me the truth. I committed my life to Jesus Christ and joined the Shiloh ministry commune.

Shiloh was the largest of the Jesus people communes. The ministry existed from 1968 to 1978. At one time, perhaps 1500 Christians lived in a network of about 50 homes, most in large cities around the U.S.

(to be continued)

Ministry News and Needs

Thank you again for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. Cal is working on artwork for our tracts, and we hope to get them printed soon.

We first started SOS Ministries in the late 1970’s. It was near the end of the Jesus Movement, and many Christians still wanted to do evangelism. Since that time, far fewer Christians are interested in evangelism, and the world has become a lot more wicked. Please pray that God would revive His church, and give us a greater zeal to reach the lost before it is too late.

I hope many of you will join us for an outreach this next month.

Yours in His love,

Larry Rosenbaum

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email