SOS Monthly Newsletter - December 2001

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Dear Christian Friends,

As this world heads toward increased danger and uncertainty, we trust in the One who was born in Bethlehem 2000 years ago. Jesus will soon return to this world as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Until that day, our world will be filled with violence and evil. As Christmas, we think of our Lord's birth and the peaceful manger scene. However, two years later, King Herod ordered every infant boy in Bethlehem murdered. That, too, is part of the Christmas story.

There have always been evil people, but our improved technology now allows them to kill more people. The three greatest mass-murderers of all time lived in the 20th Century. Stalin killed about 42 million people. Mao killed about 35 million. Hitler killed about 16 million, in addition to those who died in World War II. At the time, Communism and Fascism were the greatest dangers in our world.

Since the breakup of the Soviet Union, the greatest threat to world peace has come from militant Muslims. Like the Communists and Fascists, they seek to gain world domination through violence. They are responsible for most of the wars and terrorism on the earth today. The radical Islamic government in Sudan has murdered two million people, although this is rarely reported in our newspapers. Radical Muslims are responsible for over a million deaths in other nations.
Even the so-called "moderate" Muslim nations offer little or no religious freedom for Christians. Churches and Christian gatherings are illegal in Saudi Arabia. Since 1992, at least 360 Christians have been arrested there for taking part in private worship. In Pakistan, it is illegal to "blaspheme Mohammed." Christians have been killed by mobs after being acquitted in courts on this charge.
In almost every Muslim nation, Christians risk death for witnessing to Muslims. Muslims who convert to Christianity also risk death. In most Muslim nations, the police look the other way when Islamic extremists kill Christians. This past month, 15 Christians were murdered in Pakistan during a church worship service.

The persecution of Christians in Islamic nations has increased since the September 11 attacks. One reason for this is that these nations are now our "coalition partners," so the U.S. won't criticize them for persecuting Christians.

However, the U.S. has increased its criticism of Israel since September 11. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that those attacking Israel aren't really terrorists--despite the suicide attacks, bombings and shootings of civilians. When Israeli Prime Minister Sharon accused the U.S. of appeasing the Arab states, the President's press secretary called his comments "unacceptable."
When we learned that Osama bin Laden sent terrorists to attack our country, we went after him and the government that was protecting him. However, when Israel is attacked by terrorists, as has occurred for decades, the U.S. repeatedly tells it not to respond. Because of U.S. pressure, Israel is unable to take the steps necessary to get rid of the terrorists in neighboring states that continue to attack it.

Today, according to one estimate, 15% of Muslims (about 100,000,000 people) are Islamic "extremists" who support the use of violence to spread Islam worldwide. While this is not the majority, it is a lot of people, capable of causing much destruction.
How should we respond?

These are difficult times, and we should respond soberly and wisely. Many Christian leaders are calling for Christians to unite in prayer for revival. (2 Chron. 7:14)
We should not be frightened. "God is our refuge and strength...Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea" Psalm 46. If Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, you can say with Paul: "to live is Christ and to die is gain." Phil. 1.
We need to pray for our nation and its leaders (1 Tim. 2). Pray that our leaders will have the courage to root out terrorists in every nation, even if it means offending Muslim nations. Pray that they will speak out against persecution of Christians in Muslim nations. Pray that they will be granted wisdom to improve our nation's security without sacrificing our freedom.
We need to walk in holiness before our God. "Be careful or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life" Luke 21.

Finally, we need to dedicate ourselves to reaching this world with the gospel. "Because of the increase in wickedness, the love of most will grow cold...and this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come" (Matt. 24:12-14). By proclaiming the gospel throughout the world, we will see many people come to know Jesus Christ before He returns. Evangelizing the Muslim nations is a difficult and dangerous task. But God is able to open doors that no man can shut.

One exciting report comes from Gospel for Asia. According to their web site, 300 million Hindu "untouchables" are on the verge of leaving the caste system and embracing another religion. Some are becoming Buddhists. After September 11, they decided not to consider Islam. Christian leaders are meeting with their leaders, urging them to turn to Christ. Pray that many of these Hindus will be saved.

Those of us who are called to live in the U.S. also have a great harvest field to labor in. In the San Francisco area, we can witness to tourists, students, and immigrants from almost every nation on earth. Immediately after September 11, a few Christians called us, wanting to join our outreaches. Since then, it seems that too many Christians have followed our President's advice to get back to normal. For them, "normal" means not witnessing for Jesus.

On the Streets

On October 5, we witnessed at the SF Giants baseball game at PacBell Park. This was the game in which Barry Bonds broke the home run record. It was also the longest nine-inning game in major league history. We witnessed until 12:30 AM. We were blessed to have Mark Whitehead join us. He, Eric and Brandon preached to tens of thousands of people leaving the park.
That night, Terry spoke with two homeless men, Robert and Paul. Robert's birthday was September 11. He spent the day dazed, trying to connect to God. Two weeks later, he was saved at a church retreat. Paul, a Mormon, was not saved, but Terry prayed for him and gave him a sleeping bag.
On October 20, Paul and Noreen Coca ministered at Powell and Market St. I preached for a few minutes at the end of the outreach. While I was preaching over our PA system, 5000 anti-war protesters marched by. They heard about the Prince of Peace.
Later that afternoon, the band Machaira ministered at Washington Square. A demoniac stood in front of the band, screaming profanities non-stop for two hours. The police came twice but refused to remove the man. Instead, they suggested that we stop our outreach. Please pray that this man will not be allowed to disturb future outreaches in this park.
While I was preaching at the end of the outreach, a woman suddenly ran up to me and kicked my leg. It was sore for a few days. When the Devil gets angry, he sends his servants to harass us. But the persecution we endure is small compared to what our brethren endure in Muslim nations.

Coming Events

Note: All outreaches are subject to change. Call (510) 531-5325 or (510) 244-0277 (pager) to confirm outreaches or for more information.

Friday November 30, December 7 and 14, January 11 7:30-10 PM Witnessing in various S. F. neighborhoods. (Call for meeting location.)
Sat. December 1 and January 12 San Francisco "Church on the Street" worship rallies. 12-1 PM. Powell and Market St. 1:30-5 PM. United Nations Plaza (7th St. and Market)
Sat. December 8 Berkeley Outreach. 12:30
Sat. December 15 San Francisco worship rallies. 12-1 PM Powell and Market St. (Jews for Jesus) 2-5 PM. Washington Square (Columbus & Union St.) (Last Days Harvest Church, Sacramento)

Ministry Needs

Thank you for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. We are printing 40,000 of our new "September 11" tract (in red, white and blue) as well as 100,000 other tracts. The cost is about $2000. Also, a brother from my church, ( New Life Christian Church )Michael Hamilton, is updating and improving our web site.

We have one opening in our Oakland ministry house for a spiritually-mature Christian with a calling in evangelism. Call or write us if you are interested. We also need Christians who can witness with us on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. We especially need musicians to sing and lead worship on the streets on Friday night.

Please pray for those who have responded to the gospel this past month, including Bill, Salina, Ricela and Jasmine (all prostitutes), Bazil, Andy, and Fastro (all homeless teens in Berkeley), Jimmy, Karen, John, Herbert, Paul, Neal, Jeffrey, Justin (homeless, kicked out of his house when he was 13), Shawn, Phil, Violet (homeless with 2 young children), Tim, Lee (backslidden), Marie, John, Tony, Gray, Ishma (Muslim), Kang and Chen (Buddhists), Kelly, Tim, and Michael (an atheist, terminally ill with leukemia).

Our Tape of the Month is Give Me Souls by Nicky Cruz. Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few." I hope you will join one of our outreaches this next month. Christmas is a time when people are more open to the gospel. We expect this to be particularly true this year. I hope that you will have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

Yours in His love,

Larry Rosenbaum