Ministry Report – January 16th through February 1st, 2017

Hello all!  Our latest outreach update is below, along with upcoming outreaches.  It’s been a good year so far, and I’m excited about upcoming events.  I’m particularly happy to be planning for another VBS this summer, talking to our new church Family pastor about working with our youth/young adult groups, starting ministry on the Stanford University campus, and planning for sketch board training this summer.  Please pray that God continues to work, and that we are following His desires and not our own in each of these things.  Thanks!

1/19 – Berkeley Downtown Outreach – We recently starting regular outreaches in Berkeley, right near the university campus, and it has gone very well.  This month I was joined by several men who work with SOS Ministries, including Dave, who has joined us both in Berkeley and in Oakland before.  He introduced me to Cal and Steve, and it was a joy to minister with them.  Steve in particular seemed very interested in the sketch board, and we’re talking about putting together some messages for ministry at Mormon events (he has a heart for Mormons, and knows their beliefs very well).  I’m looking forward to future ministry with him.

1/20 – Mountain View Outreach – This Friday night was pretty rainy, so I brought the small sketch board and set up our tract table under the awning of a business that was closed.  The weather probably would have been OK for the board, but God had other plans anyway.  Before we even finished with the table we were in a conversation with Hamid, a young Muslim man.  During that conversation Joel, an atheist, came up and joined in.  I later discovered that he had heard of us from other atheists, and had come down specifically to engage us.  He stayed long after Hamid left (for over three hours in fact), and despite radically different world views it was a very good conversation.  At the end we discussed getting together to talk more, and found out we live three blocks away from each other!  God is God.  Pray we can talk again soon. Also, pray for a young group of Chinese girls who talked to Alphonso and were very encouraged by the ministry (which is much more difficult in China).

1/21 – Palo Alto Outreach – This was another rainy night, but it went pretty well.  We were able to hand out a lot of tracts, and spend time reading the scriptures aloud, since foot traffic was too light for sketch board presentations.  Please pray for Moshe, a Jew (ethnic, not religious) who talked to quite a while.  He was convinced he was right with God, but clearly knew little about scripture and nothing of salvation, although he was very friendly and amicable.

1/25 – San Jose State Outreach – This outreach was slower than we expected, since not all classes has started yet, but it was still a good time.  It was also a good time for Alphonso and Tim to work on their open-air scripture reading, and both did a great job.  We had one man who loitered in the area almost the whole time.  He is a security guard that works in the downtown area where we have preached often in the past, and we have spoken to him in the past.  However, he seems to have some mental or spiritual issues, and this came out very clearly, as his behavior was very odd.  Please pray for him.

1/27 – Stanford University Recon/Outreach – This was a solo recon mission.  I’m working on partnering with a group on campus, but I wanted to check out the free speech area and get a feel for the campus.  It went pretty well!  I handed out quite a few tracts, and had a great conversation with Richard, a believer who was walking around campus with a friend.  I think it will be even better when I can get permission for my small amp, and when I’m able to set up my sketch board.

1/28 – San Francisco Waterfront Outreach – The day started out a bit slow, and ended up great!  I set up the tract table (the first time I had used it at that location), and spent time reading scripture aloud and doing presentations with the small sketch board.  It was also the first time I’d used my small amplifier there (I prefer to use my natural voice), and it was a blessing.  With the traffic noise, wind, and other street performers it helped a lot.  Near the end of the day, when I was starting to take the table down, Paul came up.  He was visiting from out of country on business (although he was born in the States), and we had a very good talk.  He was clearly struggling with some things (which I won’t detail here), and was very open to the Gospel.  Before he left he prayed to receive Christ!  What a joy!!  I’m hoping and praying we can stay in touch.  Please pray God continues to work in his life, and that he is able to find a good, Bible-believing church when in arrives home (South Korea).

2/1 – Gavalin Community College Recon/Outreach – This was another recon mission.  Alphonso, one of my regular ministry partners, attends here and invited Tim and I to check it out.  The foot traffic was a bit spread out, largely due to the cafeteria undergoing renovation, but once that work is done it could be a good spot, since the designated free speech area is right near it.  We also ran into a Christian group giving out Bibles, and have a very intense conversation with a couple of Jehovah’s Witness ladies who were out with their literature carts.  Though it went pretty well, it reminded me that I have to review my cult theology notes regularly.  There were a few verses that I think would have made an impact that I didn’t bring up.  Also, while talking with them a student named Neil came up to listen, and we spent time talking to him as well.  He is into some odd New Age practices, but was very interested in talking and listened carefully.  Please pray we can talk to him again.

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For our ministry information sheet, go HERE

You can subscribe to our email newsletter, send me an email at dan@yoursoulmatters.org

Our updated outreach schedule is HERE

Please consider supporting us, and pass this information to anyone who might be interested or encouraged.  Thanks!!

Dan B.

 

THIS WEEK
Campbell First Fridays – Friday, February 3^rd, 6PM to 9PM

Santa Cruz Downtown Outreach – Saturday, February 4^th, 6:30PM to 9:30PM

 

COMING UP
Berkeley Downtown Outreach – Wednesday, February 8^th, 11AM to 2PM

Mountain View Outreach – Friday, February 10^th, 6:30PM to 9:30PM

Campbell Second Saturdays – Saturday, February 11^th 1PM to 5PM

San Jose State Outreach – Wednesday, February 15^th, 11AM to 2PM

San Jose Downtown Outreach (Jazz Festival) – Friday, February 17^th, 6:30PM to 9:30PM

San Francisco Waterfront Outreach – Saturday, February 18^th, 11AM to 3PM

San Francisco Downtown Outreach – Wednesday, February 22^nd, 11AM to 2PM

Palo Alto Outreach – Friday, February 24^th, 6:30PM to 9:30PM

Santa Cruz Waterfront Outreach (Clam Chowder Cookoff and Festival) – Saturday, February 25^th, 11AM to 3PM

Local University Outreach (details TBD) – Wednesday, March 1^st, 11AM to 2PM

Campbell First Fridays – Friday, March 3^rd, 6PM to 9PM

Santa Cruz Downtown Outreach – Saturday, March 4^th, 6PM to 9PM       

Berkeley Outreach – Wednesday, March 8^th, 11AM to 2PM

Redwood City Outreach – Friday, March 10^th, 6PM to PM

Campbell Second Saturdays Outreach – Saturday, March 11^th, 1PM to 5PM

San Jose Comic Con – Friday, April 21^st, 6PM to 9PM and Saturday, April 22^nd, 1PM to 5PM

Monterey Outreach (Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival) – April 23^nd, 1PM to 4PM

Fanime Con 2017 – Friday, May 26^th, 6PM to 9PM and May 27^th, 1PM to 5PM

 

Long Term Events (Tentative)
San Francisco Chinese New Years Festival – Saturday, February 11^th

San Jose Comic Con – Friday, April 21^st, 6PM to 9PM and Saturday, April 22^nd, 1PM to 5PM

Monterey Outreach (Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival) – April 23^nd, 1PM to 4PM

Campbell Boogie on the Avenue – Saturday, May 21^st, 10AM to 6PM and Sunday, May 22^nd, 10AM to 5PM

Sacramento Gold Rush Days – September 1^st through 4^th

Almaden Valley Art and Wine Festival – Saturday, September 16^th 10AM to 6PM and Sunday, September 17^th, 10AM to 5PM

Campbell OktoberFest – Saturday, October 21^st, 10AM to 6PM and October 22^nd, 10AM to 5PM

 

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