After a very busy summer full of youth groups we began the fall with our first international group from British Columbia. The week was full delivering socks with love, stocking shelves at the food banks, BBQ for the youth in the neighborhood, sorting clothes and free time for our new friends most of whom had never been to San Francisco before.
In December we hosted our first group of Jr High students, and survived. They were a great group from Calvary Chapel (Petaluma, CA) and we found them to be quite the experts at Street Evangelism. They handed out hundreds of pairs of socks along with their written testimonies followed up by prayer.
North Modesto Church of God came over to spend a weekend helping the Salvation Army sorting clothing as well as bringing Christmas stockings overflowing with gifts for the youth of the neighborhood. Most of the places that give out presents to children do not give them out to youth over 12 years old so this is such a blessing for them. Of course they also get a great meal and a chance to hear about Jesus, the greatest gift given to us.
In January Calvary Chapel Petaluma came back with their high school youth group and joined our youth during praise & worship and Bible study. They also worked at various sites around the city blessing everyone they met.
Over Presidents’ Weekend Genesis Church from Santa Cruz came and blessed the Outpost by building a food pantry and storage area. We felt like Extreme Makeover had come to 6th Street. It is so awesome to be able to find a can of tuna when we want it without unloading boxes.
March began with a group of 6th graders from Deep Valley Christian School (Redwood Valley, CA). This was the first time to host elementary age students but they did a great job and hope to come back again next year for a longer stay. Then came the rush of college students. First Westmont College (Santa Barbara) returned for their 7th year with us. Then Warner Pacific College (Portland, OR) came for the third time followed by Anderson University (Anderson, IN) for the third time. All of them are amazing. It is such a blessing to work along side groups of young people so filled with the desire to serve our Lord.
We hosted the youth from Canby, OR along with their youth pastor, Lisa. Another great group of youth who adjusted well to a very different culture. God is so amazing. If we are just ourselves and let Him use us He does. They found, as most groups do, that the people they met ministered to them in a very profound way.
A new group from Newport-Mesa Church, Costa Mesa, CA who did a project at a daycare center during the Rebuilding Together Weekend joined us. They were troupers during the heat wave as we natives melted away.
We look forward to old friends returning this spring and summer as well as new ones we have yet to meet that will be arriving. Whether you have been here before or this is your first time God is preparing your journey down 6th Street even now.
Ann Moberg, Director SFMO, May 2008
North American Website
Association of N. California congregations
Anderson University
Azusa Pacific University (affiliated)
Mid-America Christian University
Warner Pacific College
Warner Southern College