YWAMSF
August 2010
Exploring Your City
By Tim Svoboda
Have you ever noticed the unique
make up of different cities? Chicago is
not San Francisco and Kolkata
(Calcutta) is not Mumbai. Every city has
a unique personality that expresses itself
in the daily routine of life. That
personality is made from the history,
culture, events and people that have
lived in that place over a long period of
time that make each city uniquely
different.
Antioch had a different flavor from
Corinth and Philippi was uniquely
different from Rome itself. Paul
preached the same message wherever he
went but the way in which he preached
the message kept on changing. Our
delivery changes as we understand the
context in which we are living.
So how does one go about
understanding their local context? First,
take the big picture view. Start with
some background and history. Read
books about the origins of your city.
Learn about key historical people, how
the city started, why it started and the
purpose that was behind it, if any. Get
up on some high places and pray over
your city not just once but several times.
In San Francisco we have 44 hills and
this gives us the opportunity to see the
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city and how it is laid out from many
different vantage points. Buy yourself a
good map of your city and get to know
the neighborhoods, highways and the
way the city has been planned. What are
some of the repeating patterns
throughout history? San Francisco is a
birth place for movements and ideas. We
have had the gold rush, silver rush, ship
building rush and most recently the tech
rush. We have given birth to the beatnik,
gay and hippie movements. It’s a small
city with a big voice that goes around
the world.
Once you study the big picture then
start looking at the parts of the city. Are
there unique neighborhoods? What are
the demographics of your city? How
many different ethnic groups are there
and where are they living?
There are 5 P’s that I use to
understand the smaller parts of my city
when I read the newspaper, listen to the
news, attend my police station meetings
or talk to people on the street.
They are:
The PAINS of the City. These are
the things that manifest in society due to
rejection. It could be addictions,
domestic violence, divorce, suicide or
many other social ills.
The PROBLEMS of the city. These
are the things that are created due to a
lack of infrastructure or attention from
the government. It can be homelessness,
corruption, traffic, lack of water,
housing, unemployment etc.
The PEOPLE of the city. What
kind of ethnic, linguistic, religious
groups are there? Where are the
immigrants? Is it a blue collar or white
collar city? Information technology or
industrial?
The POWERS of the city. Who is
the Mayor, Police Chief and key judges?
What are their political persuasions and
view on the city? Who are the business
people and what businesses are
dominant? What is the spirit of the city?
The POTENTIAL of the city. How
many churches are in your city? What
percentage of the population goes to
church on Sunday morning and how
does that relate with the national
average? What is the redemptive gift of
your city?
The more you understand your city,
the more you will love it. The more you
love it, the more God can begin to give
you strategies for sharing His gospel with
those around you.
YWAMSF August 2010
Unexpected Guests
Hearts for the misunderstood & downtrodden
Story from Mission Adventures

What would you do if you were a homeless alcoholic
responsible for taking another person’s life? What if you
believed your sins were impossible to forgive? Would you
cry out to anyone who would hear? Jose did just that. In
fact, he shared his story with a young lady who was
working with Mission Adventures here at YWAM San
Francisco.
Maria approached Jose on a beautiful sunny day in
Dolores Park of San Francisco. She was looking for
someone to share lunch with. Little did she know, he was
about to share a powerful story. One that has caused him a
tremendous amount of pain and sorrow.
“ I have taken a man’s life and feel as though my sins
can never be forgiven,” Jose said in a somber voice. He
continued to unfold the details of the darkness that
consumed his life.
Maria listened and waited patiently for Jose to
conclude his confession.
“Jesus does forgive murderers, Jose. There is always
hope,” explained Maria. “Can I pray with you for a little
while?” “Yes,” Jose quietly responded, with tears welling up
in his eyes again. Maria gently placed her hand on his
shoulder and prayed the best she could.

“Hello, would you like to have some lunch with me?”

Maria asked the stranger. This alone was enough to cause a
flood of hot tears to begin streaming down Jose’s face.
Maria knew in her heart that this was not going to be a
light conversation. “Why would someone like you want to
sit and eat with me?” Jose mumbled through his cracked
lips. “I am here with a small group of fellow Christians
who are pursuing relationships with the people on the
streets of this city,” came her reply. “And I was hoping to
get to know you better by just sitting and listening to your
story over a sandwich and some chips.”
As Jose began to unfold the details of his life, Maria
could feel her heart pounding in her chest because of
nervousness. She prayed quietly under her breath and
asked God for courage. After all, she was only fifteen years
old. What could she possibly have to say to this older man
who was living on the streets and living the life of a
criminal and an alcoholic?
“Why would
someone like you
want to sit and eat
with me?”
Maria walked away from that encounter not knowing
what impact she had made on this man’s life, or if he
would ever receive Christ as his Savior. But this was her
first time witnessing to anyone about God and His
compassion for all of us. As Maria returned to the YWAM
base, she realized had she never come to Mission
Adventures, she might have missed the opportunity to
share the Hope that lives in her for all mankind…. That all
might come to know God, and make him known.

Are you interested in discipling

the poor and marginalized in our
new 360 program? We need
staff and volunteers. For more
info check out:

ywamsanfrancisco.org/360

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YWAMSF August 2010
Healing Hands
Answering the voice; Healing the hurt
By Trey Lumley

We had just finished a week of teaching on The Ministry of

the Holy Spirit followed by a time of application. We went out to
minister to our neighbors in the Tenderloin and were to practice
praying for the sick. It didn’t turn out the way I had hoped our
night would be though. Later that night, as I was reading, I
sensed the Lord impressing me to go on a fast. I was completely
caught off guard by how clear I sensed this, so I obeyed. I started
my fast on Friday and had a day of prayer and fasting on
Saturday for about ten hours. I was so overwhelmed by the
presence of the Holy Spirit that I continued to read in Matthew
Photo credit: Dorien Scheltens
to find out more of Jesus’ heart. As I continued to read through
this book, I got another clear impression, but this time it was to “He had a big smile on his face
fast until somebody was healed through my praying for them. I because his pain was gone and we
was so excited by this point, because I knew that it would happen
and I wasn’t thinking, “I won’t be able to eat until someone gets
could feel warmth flowing from my
healed but someone is going to get healed and I can then hand each time I touched him.”
celebrate by eating.” that he said he was paralyzed in his left foot, with something
  called hammer toe. I asked him if I could pray for healing in his
The next night I went out to Fisherman’s wharf with some foot. He was much obliged. I prayed three times for healing, as I
friends and had a feeling I needed to actively start looking for gently touched his foot. After we were done, he had a big smile
someone rather than wait around for God to bring someone to on his face because his pain was gone and he could feel warmth
me. Right when I was about to give up, I met a homeless man in flowing from my hand each time I touched him. He commented
need of food. As my friend Erwin went to get him a burger, I on the great faith I had and how happy he was to be dancing
proceeded to talk with him. He said nothing physically was around pain free. I was excited and blessed and broke my fast
wrong with him, but as he was talking, I couldn’t help but hear with a wonderful dinner!

Dancing Feet
Kelly had a small frame, white hair and a bruise on her face. She told
me that recently she got beat up in the Tenderloin and she was living in a
shelter. She sat clutching a pair of brand new shoes that she had received
as part of our women’s outreach event and next to her was her friend who
had just moved to the the city. They were sitting together on one of our
YWAM sofas, enjoying ice cream, chatting like any couple of women.
They, like many in our neighborhood, have been victims of violence and
exploitation, but today they were our special guests. Every three months
Because Justice Matters, a ministry of YWAM SF, hosts events to reach
women who are trapped in prostitution, homelessness and other
vulnerable situations. Today each lady had one on one attention from our
volunteers, and was guided through a fantastic selection of new shoes
where they 'shopped' for a pair at their own pace! One lady kept calling
out "I'm so blessed!" and others literally danced out the door.
  PRAYER NEEDS:
The following is a testimony from one of our volunteers; “My name is We need an Accountant. Qualifications are as follows:
Cristal and I am from Atascadero, CA. On Saturday morning I was · Bachelors degree in Accounting
walking around the Tenderloin, handing out fliers for our event. I looked · At least 2 years full-charge General Ledger experience
over my shoulder and saw a woman running across the street in black · QuickBooks proficiency
socks - no shoes. As I was yelling to her the information about our shoe · Excel proficiency
giveaway, her pimp was cursing at her to get across the street. I prayed · Strong verbal and written communication skills
that she heard me. Several hours later as our event was coming to a close · Part-time availability
I looked over my shoulder and there she was. She came at the very end
and God blessed her with two pairs of shoes! Despite her pimp, she had
heard me. Thank you Jesus. I stepped away for a moment and cried tears
of joy as everything came full circle for me. Praise God.”

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