Week 3

In the heart of San Francisco there seems to be a heaviness as people walk past us. Our eyes have been opened as we have noticed that this area is very much different to back home. Yes, we can look around and see that the landscape is different with the golden roller-coaster hills and mountains; yes, some of the buildings and homes look different with their terra cotta roofs; even some men look different as they dress up in their brightly colored froo froo ladies clothes, but more than any of those things there is a darkness hovering over this place.  We have had many encounters with people that are hostile to this message of Gospel. Not that we don't have any hostile people on the east coast, because we do, but this is very different. Everywhere we go it seems as though we are living the Gospel of Luke, where people with unclean spirits cry out "Jesus Christ", throw themselves to the ground in a fetal position, or squirm before we even get to the Gospel part of the presentation.

Praise the Lord that He uses teens to share and reach the lost with the Gospel.  They are going forth, putting on the full armour of God and proclaiming the greatest message ever.  They are going out, blazing the outer circle and seeing what draws in.  Please continue to pray for the poor lost souls in this area, our protection, that doors will be opened, and that the Lord will break open these strong holds.

On Sunday we traveled an hour and a half to San Martin to work with West Hills Community Church to train them in sketch-board evangelism, sharing the Gospel one on one, illusion tricks and puppets. We worked with them for three days and also went out as a church body sharing the Good News of the Gospel.

Then, we got up really early Thursday morning to travel to Vallejo to train and work with Vallejo Bible Church for four days. It is so encouraging to see the that church body has so much enthusiasm to want to reach out to their community and surrounding area, and are so appreciative to us for coming and training them. We have gone from rags to riches, as we are being very much pampered with food and making sure that we well taken care of. We just have to make sure that we keep our minds and hearts in check that we do not become pridefull. To God be the glory! Carmina

On the way to San Martin

For the first half of this week we taught a group of people from outside of San Franciso how to preach the Gospel and how to use the paintboard.  We would meet in the morning and Paul would give some basics on Christianity.  Then we teens would help them with painting up messages and showing them how to paint letters and landscapes.  Today we went to a city, Santa Cruz, and some of the people we taught were able to preach.  Micah

Kids out reach in San Martin

Our God is greater; our God is stronger; He is higher than any other; our God is healer, awesome in power; our God is God. Our powerful God has shown Himself in our lives many times in the past 3 weeks. Before we left home, we were praying the accommodations for us. Our church/house was more than equipped for us with a shower, crock pots, rice cooker, refrigerator, microwave, and sleeping accommodations. We were praying for protection all the time and we're all safe and healthy with no stitches or anything.  We pray that hecklers will either draw crowds, go away, or quiet down and listen - whichever will bring glory to God and we've seen him do great works. God has even blessed us and answered prayers we didn't pray.
The main answer to prayer that I wanted to share is that we've been praying since before we left that if it be God's will, that He raise up an evangelist in the Bay area to join OAC. When we arrived at City View on our first day, we were greeted by Larry, the head of SOS Ministries, and Eddie, a young evangelist from SOS ministries. Eddie became saved 2 years ago as a young adult and hasn't stopped sharing the Gospel since (much like Paul when he was a new Christian). He was very excited at the prospect of learning how to share the Gospel using the sketchboard. Paul recognized his teachable spirit and thought he might be the one we were praying for, so he invited Eddie, pictured above and below, to come with us this week to do training in San Martin. Yesterday at the end of training, Eddie was outside praying that if God wants him to do OAC when his time with SOS is done, that He would give him a sign. He walks back inside and Paul gives him his own sketchboard, paint kit, and paper to have. Paul was planning on giving those to Eddie at the end of the week, but felt led to do it then. Wow! Talk about an answer to prayer! Praise Jesus! Hallelujah! Kelly

Adult out reach in Santa Cruz

Training at Vallejo Bible Church

For devotions this year, we are going through the book of Luke. The way we study the bible has helped me to dig so much deeper into the passages. One of my goals this summer was to take time and understand devotions and try to apply it more in my life. It's so cool to see how much closer we've grown to both God and each other through our discussions. Personally, I've grown to understand my time in the bible a whole lot more than I thought I would.  There have been many times when our conversations with people on the street have tied into our devo's and have helped me better to prove who Jesus Christ really is.  Jianna

Kids out reach in Vallejo