dennis j adams

Sometimes, I just ask myself what am I doing in Santa Cruz, CA? Doing urban mission ministry in this city, am I nuts or just a bit unstable? (maybe both)

When I go to the streets and gather about 300 of the most incorrigible people around me and they listen to me preach I wonder, am I really doing this?  I have not a building, just a small park in the center of the city! No offerings are taken, we just give of ourselves. Spent by the Lord daily. Cars going by and also stopping at the traffic light, rolling down their windows and listening to me preach the Gospel Christ to a most motley crew. What am I doing?

I remember a great friend of mine told a story about a girl who ran up the street to his mission in San Francisco with blood all over a Bible and she literally began to curse him out. She then proceeded to urinate on his feet. He just stood there and wept for her soul.  Now that is compassion! That friend is, Steve Wright, a true pioneer in urban missions and the founder of Providence Christian Center in San Francisco.  I testified this story at a church in Illinois and the people became angry and actually several left the church because it was to gross to tell in the church setting!

So this made me stop and think recently, when I remembered this incident that happened nearly ten years ago: What am I doing: Well here is the answer why I am in Santa Cruz, CA for these past seven years

1. It is nick named Satan Cruz.
2. It is one of the largest New Age areas in the nation.
3. Smoking marijuana is the lowest crime in the city. Jay walking is a more severe crime.
4. A new mayor is placed in position every year. Revolving off a city council of all liberal men and women.
5. Lesbianism and homosexuality is a welcome lifestyle and embraced in high schools.
6. People actually walk totally naked throughout the city and are not arrested.
7. Poverty is growing in leaps amongst the younger generation.
8. All types of philosophies are embraced and practiced leaving out Jesus as Lord.
9. Recently there is a movement that has started that equates receiving Jesus by snorting Him like cocaine or shooting Him in your arm like heroin.
10. U.C. Santa Cruz is located here with nearly 35,000 students who embrace worldly cultures as “gospel”.
11. There are coed dorms and also a dorm site, that is actually a campsite, which everyone is naked at.
12. It is a training center for the A.C.L.U. and abortions centers.
13. Most all the guru’s that people worship have centers here in Santa Cruz.
14. Witchcraft is practiced openly and in the surrounding mountains.
15. The spiritual power that hovers over the city is powerful and controls most of the political arenas.
16. You can grow marijuana legally and sell it to the three marijuana stores in the city. You just need a permit and that only costs about $100.00.
17. There has never been a dynamic move of the Spirit in this region or city.
18. It has been also labeled as the “true” Gates of Hell.
19. It has been labeled as Satan’s resting place where no one bothers him in Santa Cruz.
20. Most every church service I have someone tells me to stop ministering and servicing the poor. They are not people they are just bums according to the criticizers.
21. Immorality rages throughout the city streets.

Well those are some of the reasons why I stay here and fight for souls. Why did I write this blog tonight? I needed to be reminded that God has called me here and there is real purpose. You see when you tell the “classic” traditional churches the testimonies that really happen, they turn their back and run for comfort.

I am glad Jesus never turns His back! There are no exaggerations in this blog, actually I could have been more descriptive.

Here is a closing story that just happened last Sunday at my street church: This guy walks up and starts screaming at me and telling me to move my church away from his establishment. He said I am ruining his business. I looked at him and told him that he is selling alcohol and killing people. He responded ‘I agree with that but get these bums away from my bar’. He is angry with me because I openly tell my street church to stop drinking and turn to Jesus.  Got to love the logic from this guy!

Best

Dennis

1. Friday: Around the COG blogosphere in 60 seconds « Missional Church of God said...
   12:42 pm - September 5th, 2008

   [...] Dennis Adams talks about Urban Missions in Santa Cruz. [...]

2. 
   Steve Wright said...
   5:58 pm - September 5th, 2008

   Big D,
   Great post. I love reading your stuff. I must say however, it is because of your friendship and belief in my call that I went to San Francisco. I know it was God who called me but you made it just a little be better bro. I miss you everyday and I pray for you always. I believe in you big time. There is no one like you! No one! I hope I’m on the same block as you in heaven.