The Haight/Ashbury Experience….
Paul Kaiser July 23rd, 2008
I am truly amazed by the providence of God. 15 yrs ago I was in the Haight “jackin fools” and always had to make a regular stop to Pipe Dreams for a new Bong, but this past Wednesday was different – WE CAME TO PREACH!
Once again we were out with the Nor-Cal Seed Sowers and SOS Ministries. It was great to get out with some old friends and hit some old stomping grounds! We met Loretta Heiden (visit her Blog: “Witnessing Encouragement”) and Jessi Formoe for a great time of fellowship and bringing Glory to the King! It was such a blessing to see these ladies again and get caught up on the latest Glory Stories from our outreaches. The move from the Bay has made it more difficult to fellowship with my old friends from Nor-Cal but when we get together we have a great time in the Lord!
The Day started off with a visit to the corners of Haight and Masonic where we met up with SOS Ministries as they were having their anual week long outreach to all the major hot spots in San Francisco. We greated Larry Rosenbaum and Big Larry Dubois, listened to some Gospel music and then set out to grab a corner for ourselves!
“SOS Ministries Representing The King!”
We decided to start our street meeting with a little one-2-one and tract distribution on the corners of Haight and Ashbury! It was a great spot! Many locals and tourists alike make their pilgrimage to this little slice of San Francisco history and we were more than happy to greet them and smile for the cameras.
Ryan had an opportunity to witness to a hardened youth named Nick on camera. He was a rebel in his heart, unrepentant, and deep in his sin. Here is the first of two videos – You must be warned: He has a foul mouth and It was impossible to edit the video completely. If you are overtly offended by harsh language it’s best you just look at the photos.
“WARNING FOUL LANGUAGE!”
While Ryan was witnessing to Nick, Loretta started a conversation with Greg his friend and in the providence of God that was proffitable. Greg was open to what Loretta had to share and put down hs “Bad Boy Image” to listen intently. Please remember to pray for these youth.
“Loretta Wittness to Nick’s friend Greg…”
Bro. Ryan raised the banner, Jessi set up the MP3 player with the Shai Linne Grassroots CD, Loretta grabbed a stack of tracts and I threw on the sandwich board! For those of you who are a little put off by the sandwich boards let me tell you it didn’t stop many from taking tracts from me – How’s that for “pragmatic”!
I made a quick announcement to get the city’s attention and Bro. Ryan kicked of the Preaching! This young man, by the grace of God, is quickly becoming a seasoned Street Preacher! He preaches with passion, boldness and biblical consistency. Here I am thinking I’m training this guy, but let me tell you, he is teaching me much! He keeps me balanced and makes sure I don’t cross too far over to the “Dark Side Of The Preach”. I thank God often for the blessing of “Reformed Evangelist Ryan Dosier”!
“Bro. Ryan Kicks Off the Preaching!”
After a short break we set up on the adjacent corner and kicked off another round of tracting and preaching. This time we decided to do a short introduction before I got up and preached. This gave me the idea that we will begin a new project and produce a 2 Disc DVD that features starting street and campus meetings. Over the years I have heard many express wondering how we draw crowds and when viewing most video clips you often see large crowds but you rarely see how they get there. Many times you will find it is truly just waiting for the Lord to draw the listeners and we are just to be faithful in preaching His Word to anyone who will listen whether it be 1 or 100.
“Starting a Street Meeting”
Starting out was slow but we kept at it and sure enough as a bus pulled up and dropped of a few riders a few were more than eager to stand around and listen. This guy was relativistic in his worldview and kept saying that we both had truth. When he stated that he believed the words of Jesus I decided to point out some of Christ’s more weightier statements… “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE..” and then we reasoned a bit out of 1 Corintians 6, “BE NOT DECEIVED…” I expounded the Law and preached repentance and faith towards Christ. As we shook hands and parted I exhorted him to cry out to God for mercy. Please pray that God grants him repentance.
“Preaching on Relativism!”
After I had a time of preaching Ryan took over the soap box and he faced great opposition from the Haight/Asbury residents. I’m not sure what it is about him, maybe his youth, but there are always those who quickly gather to oppose him. At one point there was even a guy who yelled from his appartment window and then he set up speakers and played John Lennon songs – “Imagine There’s No Heaven….” Ryan was able to keep his head and continue to boldly preach repentance and faith in Christ!
“WARNING FOUL LANGUAGE!”
Earlier during the week Jessi Formoe had the opportunity to invite a new seed sower, Rebecca Gould, to join us in the Haight. She had just recently attended a Way of The Master Ambassador’s Academy and she was ready to put into practice all that she had learned. What a blessing to have a new evangelist in the ranks. To often we forget that passion and zeal we first had when we were starting out armed with our “Pink and Blue Curved Illusion” tracts and a well rehearsed version of “The Good Test”. She was armed with a camera and mic and jumped right into the swing of things.
“Jessi Formoe Greets New Seed Sower Rebecca Gould”
Rebecca was off and running! “Would you like to do an interview on Spirituality?” “What do you think happens when you die?” She would stop anyone she could and with the passion and zeal she expounded the Law and the Gospel while walking folks through The Good Test. It was a sound reminder for me not to ever forget the basics of Biblical Evangelism and a reminder of where it was that many of us came from. I look forward to being on the street with Rebecca in the future.
“Rebecca Witnesses to a Haight/Ashbury Youth”
Ryan even had an opportunity to get in on the interview action. Rebecca worked the camera as Ryan took this gentleman through The Good Test. Later that week he shared (or should I say confided in me) how now that he Open Airs so much that he has forgotten what it’s like to get into a basic One-2-One encounter. I laughed loudly as I thought to myself, “misery loves company!”
“Ryan Struggles to Remember The Good Test!”
Later that evening we were joined by my to good friends Eric Baxter and Jeff Baran. I love these Brothers! They had just returned from a week long trip to Utah recently witnessing to the LDS at Manti. You can even see Jeff sporting his new “BYU” hat in the photo below. I thank God for their boldness as they travel to various parts of the country witnessing at various events and I can thank the Lord enough for providing through Jeff Baran a plane ticket for me to join them (Lord Willing) all week long next year. Now that will be something, “Elder Andy Bird” I’m coming to Utah!
“Paul, Jeff, and Eric Stop for a Photo!”
As soon as these guys showed up we headed down the block to wrap up the night. Eric grabbed the sandwich board, Jeff and I each raised banners and once again Ryan started the preaching! As the night drew to a close Eric took to the soap box and then I finished off in front of a local bar.
All in all it was a blessing to be out on the streets once again with sold out witnesses for Christ! What a great day of fellowship and bringing glory to our Great God and King in the open air! I prayerfully look forward to the next time the Lord makes a way for us to be together in the Bay!
Soli Deo Gloria!
It was a a great day Paul! Let’s all go out again soon. The fellowship was sweet. I was so blessed hearing your preaching, and also Ryan’s. To God be the glory.
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praise God! thanks for utilizing shai’s music as part of your evangelism…and i chuckled when i saw the Rep the King shirt…Thanks for the support, but most of all for preaching the gospel of Jesus!
your fans at Lamp Mode…