SOS Monthly Newsletter - September 2007

SOS - San Francisco and Summer of Love - Outreach Report

Dear Christian friends,

This year was the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love that brought thousands of “hippies” searching for love, peace, and spirituality to San Francisco. I was one of those hippies. Many of these hippies, myself included, were saved through the “Jesus Movement,” which also began in San Francisco in 1967. Several San Francisco area churches and ministries joined together for a major three-week evangelism outreach, from July 27-August 18. We planned outdoor outreaches on July 28 and 29 and every day from August 4-18. We were able to get a lot of permits to set up a sound system at various parks and street corners in San Francisco and Berkeley during these three weeks. We had two outreaches at Dolores Park, three at UN Plaza, three at Union Square, two at Justin Herman Plaza in the financial district, two at Fisherman’s Wharf, one at Washington Square, one at Haight and Masonic St., and three in Berkeley. During these 57 hours of outreach, we set up a PA system to play music and preach about Jesus in San Francisco and Berkeley.

On August 8-10, we organized outdoor concerts with The Cause USA, a team of 300 young people who came here from Nashville. On Sat. August 11, Arthur Blessitt led a march to Golden Gate Park with several hundred Christians. That afternoon, about 1500 Christians participated in an outdoor prayer rally near “hippie hill” in Golden Gate Park. That night, a team witnessed at Fisherman’s Wharf. They met Lydia Duncan, who had been saved through the SOS outreach in the 1980’s. She witnessed with SOS for several years, and currently witnesses in Hayward.

On Sunday August 12, we ministered at UN Plaza. Sonny prayed for Jeff, a homeless man who had been mugged. The bones in his arm had been crushed. As he prayed, Sonny felt his bones being totally healed! Jeff acknowledged that his arm was healed. He was not saved but is staying at the Santa Rosa Rescue Mission and came to the park with a Christian friend. Later that week, Sonny had a word of knowledge for a man. The man was convicted of his sins and prayed with several Christians. Sonny also had a word of knowledge for a homeless woman whom they had taken to dinner. She was amazed and asked, “how did you know that?” Also, Sonny and his daughter Michaela led Kevin to the Lord.

On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, we witnessed in Berkeley. Craig witnessed to Mark, known as the “Hate Man.” He is well-known for heckling Christians. He told Craig he no longer heckles us because he has no problem with our message. He allowed Craig to pray for his health problems.

Also in Berkeley, a lady who was given a tract filled out the information on the back and gave it to us. She said she wanted to know more about Jesus. On Tuesday, several police officers and city officials were present all afternoon. On Thursday, there were no police and we were able to minister freely.

On Monday and Wednesday afternoons, we witnessed at Fisherman’s Wharf. These were the first outreaches we had held there since the police shut us down last year. Before this happened, we ministered there for five hours a day. Now we are limited to two hours and we do not always receive the permits we apply for. We applied for several permits this spring, but never got them. This is the height of the tourist season, and we witnessed to thousands of people there.

Jeff and Alina Parrot ministered through dance at the Wharf, Union Square, Justin Herman Plaza and Berkeley. Each time, large crowds gathered to watch. A team of 13 youth joined us from Utah. They performed some “human videos” at various locations throughout the week. Many people gathered to watch. After one skit at Powell and Market, several people came up, asking for prayer. One man’s feet were healed after they prayed for him.

On Friday afternoon, we witnessed at Haight St. and Masonic. A team of 9 youth from Kent, Washington joined us that day. Unlike past years, we had no complaints and no problems with the police. Paul Coca’s first cousin, Bradley, lives in the Haight and came to the outreach. He listened to the music and spoke with several Christians. For the first time, he was receptive to the gospel.

On Saturday, we held our final outreach at UN Plaza. We prayed with many people that afternoon. As the outreach ended, Danielle prayed with a young heroin addict named Daniel. We knew that he would need to get into a live-in program immediately to have any chance of getting free from his drug habit. He threw away all his drugs (as well as his other possessions) and we took him to the Victory Outreach men’s home.

We were blessed to have Chuck Girard with us for the whole week, ministering at every outreach. His daughter Alisa (from ZoeGirl) also ministered in Berkeley. Paul and Noreen Coca, Tim Moon, Mark Whitehead, Jeff Mayo, Brett Loomis and Lee Wilson ministered through music. We were also blessed to meet at Voice of Pentecost church. It is a great facility and the church staff were extremely helpful.

On the Streets

SOS Evangelism Outreach
Arthur Blessitt (carrying cross) leads march to Golden Gate Park
(that’s me in center)
SOS Evangelism Outreach
1500 Christians gather for prayer rally at Golden Gate Park
SOS Evangelism Outreach
Pastor Michael Brodeur preaches outside Prayer Tent at Justin Herman Plaza on Aug. 4
SOS Evangelism Outreach
Jeff prays with Muldavia at Justin Herman Plaza.
SOS Evangelism Outreach
Utah youth perform “human video” at Wharf
SOS Evangelism Outreach
Aerial view of Fisherman’s Wharf outreach
SOS Evangelism Outreach
Danielle prays with Daniel, a heroin addict. We took him to the Victory Outreach men’s home

Coming Events

Note: Outreaches are subject to change. Call (510) 531-5325 or (510) 213-3502 (cell phone) to confirm outreaches or for more information.

Friday Aug. 31, Sept. 7, Sept. 14 7:30 - 10 PM Witnessing in San Francisco neighborhoods.

Sat. Sept. 1 San Francisco Evangelism Outreach. 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM Union Square (Powell & Geary St.) 3:30 -5:30 PM Washington Square (Columbus & Union St.)

Sat. Sept. 8 Berkeley Outreach. 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM Telegraph and Haste St.

Sat. Sept. 15 San Francisco Evangelism Outreach. 1-5 PM Dolores Park (19th St. and Dolores)

Ministry News and Needs

Thank you again for your prayers and financial support that made it possible for us to bring the gospel to so many people during the Summer of Love and SOS-San Francisco outreaches. We printed 90,000 tracts for the outreach. We have used up our supply of children’s tracts and need to print 30,000 of them. It will cost about $600.

On Tuesday Aug. 14, in the middle of our SOS outreach, I had serious pain in my left leg and was unable to attend the outreach that day. My leg was better the next day, but I was unable to attend the morning meetings the rest of the week. Larry DuBois took over for me and did a great job. Please pray that my doctor will find the cause of this pain and that God will heal me.

We still have openings in our evangelism house in Oakland for Christians with a serious interest in evangelism. We are particularly looking for Christians in their 20’s or 30’s as all of us are over 40. We need to reach the younger generation for Jesus.

Please pray for those who made commitments to Christ during SOS and those who were ministered to during the Summer of Love and SOS outreaches.

Our Tape of the Month is a teaching of mine called Starting a Street Witnessing Team. Every city and town should have an ongoing street outreach.

Yours in His love,

 

Larry Rosenbaum

 

<<< Back To Newsletter Page
Home
Back To Top