SOS Monthly Newsletter - August 2003

2003 SOS-SAN FRANCISCO OUTREACH REPORT

Dear Christian friends,

For the past 24 years, Christians have come from all over the U.S. to help us reach the people of San Francisco and Berkeley for Jesus. About 200 Christians ministered with us throughout the week, with about 75 participating each day. For the first time in 10 years, SOS co-founder Scott Crawford flew here from Kansas to teach evangelism and preach at our outreaches. Calvary Chapel, Reno, brought a team of 17 teens (age 13-16) and 13 adults. Berean Bible School in Oregon brought 16 students. The Prodigal Project brought 6 students from their discipleship school.

On Saturday, Chuck Girard, Yielded Vessels, and Calvary Chapel's youth worship band ministered at Powell and Market and Union Square. Hundreds of people gathered at Powell and Market as Yielded Vessels ministered through dance. Most stayed when Scott Crawford preached.

On Monday, we ministered at 24th and Mission. A team of youth from Action Ministry ministered through drama. Rev. Victor Bianco, who pastors a nearby church, preached in Spanish in this largely Hispanic neighborhood. That afternoon, Janet witnessed to an Iranian Moslem, Amir, for several hours and prayed with him to receive Christ. On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, we witnessed on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley. On Tuesday, Matt (from Reno) witnessed to Anna Marie. She was homeless after her husband of 30 years divorced her. She prayed to receive Jesus and took a New Testament. Also, I witnessed to Mike, a Livermore teen. His girlfriend is a Christian. He listened to the gospel and took a New Testament. On Thursday, Jason from the Prodigal Project witnessed to Jonah, a young man who was struggling with depression. He prayed with Jonah and told him about their discipleship school in Leggett, CA.

On four nights, we sent teams to the Giants baseball game at PacBell Park. Twice we sent our entire team, about 60 Christians, to witness to about 20,000 people as they left the stadium. We preached at two locations and gave out thousands of tracts.

A 13-year-old boy heckled our preaching at this location for three nights. On Friday night, Craig told him "God has called you into full-time ministry." The boy agreed. Next he said, "You have been resisting His call." Again the boy agreed. Craig asked if he could pray for him. The boy let him, but said he was not ready to become a Christian. A few minutes later, John from Reno was praying with this boy and four of his friends (all about 13) to receive Christ! They all apologized for their behavior. Later, Craig spoke with the first boy. He told him he had in fact committed his life to Christ.

On Thursday night, Jason witnessed to three people on Haight Street who wanted to follow Jesus and be discipled at the Prodigal Project school: Kelly, Hazel, and Kyd. Hazel had been Jason's girlfriend nine months ago when he joined Prodigal Project. That night, she prayed to receive Christ. Kyd had been addicted to heroin since he was nine. He was saved in 1996. He lived at the LA Dream Center for several months, but started using heroin a few months later. Two years ago, he stopped taking drugs. On Thursday, he rededicated his life to Christ. He joined our outreach team the rest of the week. (As of July 8, Kelly and Kyd were still at the school and doing well. Hazel was visiting relatives but planned to return to the school.)

That night, Ray spoke with Mike on Haight St. At last year's SOS outreach, Mike was strung out on drugs. He gave his needles to Ray a year ago and entered a discipleship program. Today, he attends Calvary Chapel in San Francisco and has been witnessing to people in the Haight!

On Friday afternoon, "Common Ground," a team of sixty teens from the Yorba Linda Friends Church, ministered through music and drama at Justin Herman Plaza, in the Financial District.

On Saturday, King's Way Church (San Mateo) led worship at Powell and Market. We took our signs and marched through Chinatown. Mai preached in Chinese and we gave out hundreds of Chinese tracts. The outreach concluded with a rally at Washington Square, led by the New Hope Christian Fellowship (Sacramento) worship team.

That afternoon, Steve took a streetcar to the outreach. He was carrying a sign that read "He loves you so much it hurts." A man asked him what the sign meant. At that moment, the streetcar broke down for 30 minutes, so Steve was able to explain to him, and many others around him, about Jesus' love.

Thank you for your prayers for this outreach. God is truly doing a great work in San Francisco and Berkeley. We hope many of you will plan to join some of our outreaches this next year. Also, we hope you will encourage your church's youth group to get involved in SOS-San Francisco next summer, and that you will plan to join us for next year’s SOS outreach.

Action Ministries drama at 24th St. and Mission.
Action Ministries drama at 24th St. and Mission.
Jason talks with Jonah about Prodigal
Jason (left) talks with Jonah about Prodigal

Project discipleship program.

Common Ground ministers at Justin Herman Plaza on Friday.
Common Ground” ministers at Justin Herman Plaza on Friday.
 Derek from Prodigal Project ministers to Brian_right_ who wants to attend their discipleship program
. Derek from Prodigal Project ministers to Brian (right), who wants to attend their discipleship program
March through Chinatown on Saturday.
March through Chinatown on Saturday.

Coming Events

Note: Outreaches are subject to change. Call (510) 531-5325 or 541-9903 (cell phone) to confirm outreaches or for more information.

Friday August 8, 15, 22 7:30-10 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods. (Call for location).

Sat. August 9 12-1 PM Powell and Market St. 2:00-5:00 PM UN Plaza (7th St. and Market)

Sat. August 16 12:30-4:30 PM Berkeley Outreach. Telegraph and Haste St.

Sat. August 23 12-1 PM Powell and Market St. 2:30-4:30 PM Union Square, Powell and Geary St.

Ministry News and Needs

Thank you for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. God has been speaking to us about the need for more prayer support for this ministry. We minister in two of the spiritually darkest places in the world -- San Francisco and Berkeley. These cities have been on the forefront of a "Satanic revival" that has impacted our world -- the drug movement, topless bars, homosexual activism, Eastern and New Age religions, etc.

Please pray for those who heard the gospel during this year's SOS-San Francisco outreach that God would continue to work in their lives and send other Christians to witness to them until they are saved. Please pray for everyone who was mentioned in the newsletter. Also, pray for our workers. Satan often attacks the Christians who witness with us -- before, during and after the SOS outreach. Please pray that God will send more laborers to help us reach the people of San Francisco and Berkeley for Jesus. We need more Christians to witness with us on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons. Also, we still need a spiritually mature Christian with a burden to reach the lost for our ministry house in Oakland. Call or write us if you are interested. Our Tape of the Month is Organizing a City-Wide Outreach by Ricky Del Rio. Ricky pastors Abounding Grace Ministries in New York and organizes the annual "Jesus Loves You - New York" outreach.

Yours in His love,

 

Larry Rosenbaum


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