SAN FRANCISCO (ANS) -- Out to break the commonly-held notion that Christianity is about judging others, a group of San Francisco Christians braved the rain on Saturday to show tangible evidence of God’s love to the city's needy.

In a story by Katherine Phan, the Christian Post reported that the part music-festival, part-outreach “I AM LOVE…360" event mobilized dozens of youth volunteers from local San Francisco Bay Area churches to Civic Center Plaza to show the love of God in a practical way by handing out free meals, blankets and prayers to the homeless and needy.

“God's love is complete and worldwide. Christians should be the first to reach out to whomever, wherever,” Living Grace Fellowship pastor Rodgar McCalmon, who organized the event, told the Christian Post.

“San Francisco is just a starting point. Hopefully, people see what this event is and go into other towns,” he added.

Among believers, the Christian Post reported, the word “love” has become synonymous with Christianity. It is rare to hear a sermon in which the pastor fails to mention the love of Jesus and the love of God.

However, that “love” is not being observed by many outside the church. The Christian Post reported that while many Christians say the most important thing in their faith is a relationship of love with God and their neighbors, non-Christians still hold negative perceptions of present-day Christianity. According to a 2007 Barna study, 80 percent of non-Christians view evangelical Christianity as judgmental and hypocritical.

Christians gathered at the I AM LOVE event on Saturday were out to change that perception, the Christian Post reported. Although the election is just a few days away, no one mentioned politics. Communicating love was their top priority.

Even though it rained, participants’ attitude was still positive, the Christian Post said.

Actor and author Stephen Baldwin, who emceed the music festival, said in his opening remarks that he planned to stay the whole for the entire event - in spite of the weather.

“We are here no matter what. That's what I AM LOVE 360 is all about,” the Christian Post reported Baldwin told the umbrella-covered and poncho-wearing audience.

He added, “We are here to be obedient to the Spirit of the Lord. Even if it rains all day, we are going to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to San Francisco.”

Philip Bardowell, a former band member of The Beach Boys, performed the song “Day After Rain.”

The Christian Post said he added, “All the rain will not quench this thirst today.”

Other Christian groups and musicians that took the stage included Todd Agnew, Seventh Day Slumber, Thankfull, Nathan Justin, Missing Piece, JB Blue and Richard Andrew.

The Christian Post said that as the crowd in front of City Hall swayed to live faith-filled music, volunteer Gloria Huerta was standing by the San Francisco Rescue Mission tent, handing out food vouchers to the needy. The ministry was geared up to hand out 5,000 bagged lunches.

Speaking with the Christian Post, Huerta, a member of Raven Ministries in Santa Rosa, said anyone entering the tent for assistance was first presented with God’s Word and asked if they needed prayer. Those in need were also told how they could receive shelter and food after the event concluded.

Huerta told the Christian Post she believed even a word or prayer spoken out of love can give people the hope they need.

“A lot of people are out here because of things that happen in their life. Some are here by choice. But we still need to love them anyway. And when the Lord is ready to pull them off the streets, He'll do it,” said Huerta, a five year veteran of street ministry.

One of her first experiences was in San Francisco's Tenderloin district, which remains a reminder of how God touched her.

“The Lord broke my heart. He broke me so bad because I could have been one of them. I used to be a druggie,” the Christian Post said she shared.

As Huerta spoke, several people who had just received their blankets, coats and meal went over to the stage to listen to the music.

The Christian Post reported McCalmon said San Francisco is usually not the first choice for Christians to do missionary work.

Christians have the “Sodom and Gomorrah mentality” when it comes to the city, he said, referring to the historical cities that, as recorded in the Bible, were destroyed as a result of sinfulness and sexual deviation.

So “there is not a warm welcoming for Christians in San Francisco,” the Christian Post said he commented, adding that people commonly perceive Christians as being too judgmental and not loving enough.

The Christian Post reported McCalmon hopes the event will encourage more Christians to show their love in a city where the need is so great.

He said, “There are over 8,000 homeless people in San Francisco. There are 3,000 unschooled kids in the Tenderloin.”

The Christian Post said that in addition to Living Grace Fellowship, other local ministries including ByFaith Productions, San Francisco Rescue Mission and Emmausliving.com helped coordinate Saturday's outreach.

Huerta said that unless Christians take part in outreaches such as like Saturday’s, they can't fulfill Jesus' command to be “fishers of men.”

“Instead of sitting in the pews, Jesus wants us to get out there and do something,” the Christian Post reported he said.
 

Jeremy Reynalds is a freelance writer and the founder and CEO of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter, http://www.joyjunction.org He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is "The Face of Homelessness." Additional details are available at http://www.HomelessBook.com. Reynalds' upcoming book is "We All Need a Little Help." It will be released on October 3 2008. He lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds at jeremyreynalds@comcast.net. Tel: (505) 400-7145. Note: A higher resolution JPEG picture of Jeremy Reynalds is available on request from Dan Wooding at danjuma1@aol.com.