GuyMelton.com: What Were You Thinking?

Pastors Planning Retreat 09

It's been a very intense week as we have planned for 2010 and also evaluated our 2 years of 7 Nights of Worship. You'll hear much more about our plans in the coming weeks. But after a long 3 days, I wanted to share a few pics of some of our Pastors and wives who attended. We don't often get to bring the wives, but since we had free lodging in one cottage and $19.00 airfare, we wanted to include them. They played, shopped, and ate while we worked worked and worked some more.  It was a great week. We stayed in Gatlinburg, and had a little fun this afternoon by driving to Cades Cove and through Smokey Mountain National Park. Saw some deer and a few bear. Headed back Friday morning.

Guess what!  James brown can actually fix pancakes! He did our Breakfast one day.

Yep, Pat Roberts can cook too! French toast and a yummy breakfast one day.

No, I did not cook. I did not want to poison them.

The wives at a Tea Room. The Wild Plum.

After a long day of meetings, we went to town Weds. night and caught some Bear!!!!

Bear at Cades Cove

Ben and Mallika Windle overlooking Gatlinburg. (Ben is our Hollywood Campus Pastor)

Hailllllsssss Angels, Houseboatin, Gathering, and Best BBQ around

Tonia and I have been away this weekend for our quarterly Weekend off. For those who don't know, our Pastors all get one weekend away each quarter to rest and relax. Because of  7NOW, 13 services, 3 campuses, I feel it's best to give those who carry much of the Corporate/Public Worship weight time to get away. We actually started this about 6 years ago, and it was when we had 4 services and had just started the Hollywood Campus. The 3rd campus and 7NOW, along with another service or two, have only convinced me more that in order to run the race He has called us to, we must rejuvenate. This weekend has been mine, and it's been very eventful but restful.

I'll share  some pics of our short trip, with a comment or two. If you're my FaceBook Friend, you have seen pics and heard about this. I know there are several hundred who read my blog, who have missed out on a lot of my crazy posts. It's so much easier to do a short post on FaceBook.  HINT, HINT, if you are not on FB, come join, it's up to you how much time or interaction you have with folks. It's one of the best ways for me to keep in touch with Oasis Family members I might not see for weeks because of our multiple services.

Maurice's BBQ in Columbia, S.C. has some of the best BBQ ever.  But let me warn you, it's the mustard base. Not all like it. I never go to the mountains without stopping at Maurice's, either going or coming or both!!! Signs  are all up and down I-26 -- can't miss it. But they still think they are fighting the Civil War, so make sure you don't tell them, it was over 175 years ago!!!  We stopped, got a Little Piggie Meal and took it over to my brother's (Tracy) Houseboat just outside Columbia, in Irmo. It was good to spend the afternoon with him and Debbie, his wife. They live on the boat on Lake Murray, which is 41 miles long. Looks like an ocean.

 

Had a mis-communication with our reservations in Gatlinburg and couldn't get in until Saturday, so we stopped in Ashville, Friday night and stayed at Ridgecrest Conference Center. We've gone there for years. It is a phenomenal place, and they give pastors a discount so the room was like new and cheap!! My kind of place!!! When we checked in, there were 100's of Bikers there. I asked the young little Southern Baptist Girl at the registration desk, if the Hailll's Angels (That is Hell's Angels in Deep South talk) had a rally going on? She smiled and decided not to answer the old man. They were having a big Bikers Conference. So I decided to pick out one of the Harleys, pic. left, and went out got Tonia her Bandana, (Joan Chalk corrected me on FB and said its a do-rag!!!) Gettin' me some leather chaps, and going to join those Hail's Angels!!! NOT!!

Today we went to church at the Gathering Church in Seiverville/Gatlinburg. I found the church 3 years ago while on Sabbatical staying in Gatlinburg. They bought 40+ acres a mile or two from Dollywood and just moved into this state of the art building. What a great church. We always visit the church when we visit the area. If you're in the Gatlinburg area you need to check them out. Now it has the southern drawwwwwl, but excellence, in worship.  Great Pastor, Gene Wolfenberger. You'll be blessed if you go. I was thrilled to see their new building they have waited so long on.

They had a guest speaker today, Jamie Ragle, who used to speak for me at youth camps and conferences in Hollywood (the church I served at prior to starting Oasis).  He had a moral failure a few years ago, and is just beginning to talk about it. The weekend theme was on Brokenness!! Psalm 32:1-5. Powerful morning. Read Ps. 32:2, it ought to be the desire of every one of us. Look it up on Biblegateway if you don't have the NLT version. It best describes the meaning in that version.

OK, some random photos:

Someone put this on FACE BOOK of Tonia and me our Sr. Year in High school!! 1974. Downside of FB, never know what will show up from your past!! LOL

Wasn't my Bride beautiful in that long black flowing hair? Looked like what Solomon described his wife when he said, her hair looked like a flock of goats!! That meant she was hot!!

I was a pretty serious dude back then!!!

Caleb my youngest grandson, 4, not wanting to eat and his dad, being mean dad he is, wouldn't let him up. Poor kid. I think he should let him do anything he wants!!! That's from a grandfather's perspective of course. This kid has an expression for every occasion.

Staff Appreciation lunch last month at the Village Tavern, at Pembroke Gardens. Most of our staff were there and it was a great time of just saying thanks to the ones who work behind the scenes each week at Oasis with not a word of recognition publicly. I love our staff. I wish you could all know each one of them. They all play such a critical role in making Oasis the refreshing Church it is.

Most all of these pics are on my IPHONE. It's amazing.

You and I are Bathing in someones Drinking Water/Oasis Newsletter

This week our weekly Oasis Email is very differnt. For our Extended Oasis Family, I would love you to read and then weigh in. God bless and have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend. Please dont forget to pray for the families of the Soliders who have given their lives for our country. (The format my blog uses does not fit the format of my email. Some of you might have sev. words cut off on a line.  

Pastor's Email

Dear Extended Oasis Family Member: This letter is unusual this week.  I am only sharing a little, and then sharing someone's letter who is very special to me.  Almost every week I highlight different Oasis ministries.  I love highlighting the ministries that are missions oriented...like local missions, overseas, children's homes, homeless in Broward, and on and on.  For 30 years I have given to and encouraged teens and adults alike to give to and to go on MISSION!!  Last week my youngest son, Corey, who grew up here in Oasis Church, and now serves in a church in New York City, shared what God has been doing in his and his wife's hearts for some time.  My heart pounds heavy anyway when I see the passion that is expressed below, but for it to be coming from your son, it is doubly special.  Please read his letter, and please pray for him...and if you feel led to give along the way, do that.  At the very least read the letter, and shoot a note of encouragement to him and Sabrina...the links are below.  That is all from me this week.  Now, read how our bath water is something a young child would drink if he could...and yet, 1000's are dying because they have no water.       Guy Melton Pastor Oasis Church http://www.guymelton.com http://www.visitoasis.org   Hello friends and family,   As much as I would like to write you all a dissertation on everything that is happening in my life right now, I will refrain and keep this short and to the point.  I am currently in the beginning stages of starting an organization called One More Drop, which will bring clean water to locations all over the world where people are dying by the thousands every day from thirst and illness associated by tainted and infected water.  However, our primary goal will not be to satisfy their physical thirst, but to quench their spirit with the eternal hope of Christ’s gospel.  God has laid this burden on my heart for 2 years now, and I am tired of pushing it to the side, putting it on the back burner or waiting until I have the proper funding.  Change starts with one person, and God has finally brought me to a place where I am willing and able to make the necessary sacrifices to be His Hands and Feet to a world that is desperate for Life.   Currently, my plan is to get the training and education that I need to equip me for the task of drilling wells and sanitizing water in harsh and difficult climates.  Also, I need to network as far and wide as I can, not just to raise the funds needed to get One More Drop off the ground, but to also grow a team that is of the same heart and mind.  I know that I have a long road ahead of me, which is why I am going to take this one step at a time.   Step 1: Complete www.OneMoreDrop.org which now has a temporary site in its place – This step has been completed Step 2: Attend training in Oklahoma City through the Water4Foundation (www.water4.org) in August, 2009  Step 3: Begin to train and develop our missions team Step 4: Enroll in a Hydro-Ecology course offering water purification methods (college yet to be decided) Step 5: One More Drop will travel with E3 Partners (www.E3partners.org) to Zambia in 2010 to assist in the drilling of wells and water purification overseas Step 6: Begin the legal process of becoming a tax-exempt, non-profit organization   As you can see, there are quite a few things to be done in the next year before we can finally bring Life to those who so desperately need it.  By the end of July, I must raise $2,000 to travel to Oklahoma City to train with the Water4 Foundation.  I know that the economy is upside down right now and that many of you are hurting financially.  Please know that EVERY donation is greatly appreciated and very helpful, whether it’s $20 or $200.  Take a second to understand that we bathe in drinking water, wash our cars in drinking water, we pee into drinking water and we pay nothing for a glass of water at restaurants.  Every day 10,000 people die, mostly children, from not having clean water.  Please help us do our part in bringing One More Drop to those who need it.   Thank you from the bottom of my heart,   Corey Melton     Please send donations to: Corey Melton 123 West 57th St. New York, NY 10019 www.OneMoreDrop.org

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Oasis Weekly Email Update May 15, 2009

For our extended Oasis Family I am posting our weekly update I send out .  This weekend was great. The youth Car Show they hosted raised 550. towards camp, and their Teen Auction Sat. After the service netted another approximately 300.  Katia and the kids were awesome. In two weeks, they will host a Car Wash during Worship. This ought to be different!!! Cant wait. You'll hear more in the next two weeks. Camp is fast approaching. Make sure your kids are signed up. They are going to my fav place in the world outside of South Florida, Gatlinburg TN. Tonia and I have been going there since we Honeymooned there almost 34 years ago.

Pastor's Email

Dear Extended Oasis Family This week I want to share some new things you haven't heard about yet. The first is our Pines Campus Children's Summer Spectacular coming up in June.

 

Our KidsWorldis signing up and the spaces are limited. You better get in early. There is also a real need for faithful Oasis members who can volunteer during the week of June 7 – 12.  If you can help out, just mark your name this weekend or next week on your Connection Card, or shoot Suzie McCord an email at suziem@visitoasis.org     There will be a Vacation Bible School in NoMi later in the summer.

 

Our Youth Ministry, SURGE is gearing up for an exciting Camp this summer. Because of the expense of camps now days, Katia Droira and her team are working to help keep the cost down by doing some fundraising:

  

May 16, and 23, "Auction-A-Teen"  -- during Saturday Night service there will be an opportunity to bid on one of our young people. They will go to the highest bidder, who would want them to do manual labor, such as cutting grass, cleaning your garage, painting, etc. Base rate: $6.50/teen/hour. There will be an explanation of it at the Saturday Service. (Pines Campus)

May 30, 31, "Wash-While-You-Worship" Car Wash -- Free Car Wash, with encouraged donations to all members and attenders during all services, starting Saturday night and all first 3 morning services Sunday.  (Pines Campus)

 

This weekend, begins our second week of Deja Vu, a Reflection in Phillipians. If you missed last week’s message, you can check out the podcast or video HERE  

 

 

Suicide Video on my Blog. If you missed this, you’ll want to see it or share it with someone who might need the information.  Just click here or go to www.guymelton.com

 

That’s it for this week. Wanted to keep it short and to the point about some really important Oasis Events coming up with our KidsWorld and Teens!!!

 

God bless you, and I look forward to seeing you at worship this weekend or at one of our 7 Nights of Worship next week at 7 p.m.

 

  

Guy Melton
Pastor
Oasis Church
http://www.guymelton.com
http://www.visitoasis.org  

Suicide Video / "Oasis Live" Series

Recently one of our leaders at Oasis Church asked if we could address the issue of Suicide. His reasoning was because of the stress in our society right now and all the stories he had heard and even families he personally knew who had experienced this sad and tragic event. 

I remembered that we actually addressed the issue Suicide during our recent series "Oasis Live''. This was the series where we answered many questions you had asked as a church. Maybe we will publish more of the questions and answers from that series in the future. This one is a video, since our Missions Pastor of Oasis Church North Florida,Jeremy Higdon gives an answer on not only Suicide and its implications but also Eternal Security.

It is definitely not meant to be comprehensive in nature. There are Christian ministries like Sheridan House Family Ministries and others where families and individuals are able to get counsel and help. I highly recommend anyone who is contemplating Suicide or hears a family or friend mentioning it, to get help.

Click Here to see the video on Suicide

Oasis Weekly Email News, May 7, 2007

Today I devoted most of my weekly Email newsletter to our Local Oasis Family to the National Day of Prayer. There are some other links below with happenings around Oasis Church. If you cant read a few words or get a link, it is because the format I use does not fit the typepad blog I use. 

 

Pastor's Email

Dear Guy, With so many things going on this week in our world and at Oasis Church, it is impossible to share it all with you. It frustrates me because I want to share so much with you, and yet, I know you will only read so much and I’m already too wordy!! Sorry and thanks for your patience.   Now, the Subject line mentions Stolen Ribs and Twin Fawns. One of them you know we've been discussing as part of our Song of Solomon series and the other, if you’re on FaceBook and you’re my friend, you know it’s been an on-going issue. I will try to link it to my blog today. And the Twin Fawn discussion is already on my blog at www.guymelton.com along with some other things. But I am not going to spend anymore time with this or with our Oasis Church ministries and all that is happening, other than to list a few Huge ones you need to check out at the end of this letter.   The most important thing I feel I can share with you today, is the importance of this day in the life of our Country, and in the life of all Believers. Even though I shared with you last week about our Prayer Partner Ministry, this morning not only was I reminded...but I was CONVICTED THAT I MUST SHARE WITH YOU THE SAME INFORMATION I SHARED WITH THEM EARLIER.  There is really no other thing that is more important than Prayer, and how it relates to our nation’s present, past and especially our future. Please read my letter below which was sent to our Prayer Partners, and join them and me in Prayer today, and every day. This is most appropriate that my regular Prayer email letter to you, the Pastor’s Prayer Partners and part of Oasis Inner Circle, is being sent this week on the 58th Annual National Day of Prayer. Each year now for 58 years our country has officially recognized our need for God to guide, protect and lead us. There is a Task Force that leads this effort each year and this is the explanation of what it is, and the link to many more articles and thoughts on prayer. For you as Inner Circle Prayer Team members, this is an excellent site to turn to 365 days a year to be inspired by prayer and how to pray. It’s not just about one day. Below is a link and also a paragraph explaining what the National Day of Prayer observance is all about:   "The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. Our Task Force is a privately funded organization whose purpose is to encourage participation on the National Day of Prayer. It exists to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, to create appropriate materials, and to mobilize the Christian community to intercede for America's leaders and its families. The Task Force represents a Judeo Christian expression of the national observance, based on our understanding that this country was birthed in prayer and in reverence for the God of the Bible."   What a beautiful thing that our country still recognizes our roots and foundations on which we were born and grown into the greatest country in the history of mankind. I believe it is because our founding fathers, and many who came behind them, sought to Honor God and seek religious freedom for all. Unfortunately we have slowly drifted as a ship with no anchor from this foundation. You and I, as one person, can make a difference, as I share each and every week or time I write about our own responsibility in prayer.   As with anything our Politicians normally find a way to gum up processes and make things controversial. Since this was proclaimed by a president 58 yeas ago…President Harry Truman, I’m thankful that in all that time every President, regardless of their political agenda or religious affiliation, have proclaimed this day as the National Day of Prayer and have supported it in their own way. This year again, President Obama has proclaimed this day a National Day of Prayer. He has chosen not to have a public White House ceremony which is his right as President. CNN reports on this and other historical ways presidents have celebrated the National Day of Prayer Here, if you want to check out the story article.

 

Folks, prayer begins with you and me. We cannot expect government to lead the way. It's good that it still recognizes our country as a country based on the 10 Commandments and the Christian/Judeo ethics, but only as we Believers pray and act to protect this religious history and freedom will it continue to exist. Even as we celebrate this Day of Prayer there is a Judge who has been nominated and is in the process of being confirmed by our US Senate for the 7th Judicial Circuit in Indiana (one of the highest courts in the land, just below the supreme court) who is very anti-Christian and is very biased against our Christian faith. This is not made up but check it out in his own words:  Judge Hamilton wrote: "The injunction orders the Speaker...that the prayers should not use Christ's name or title or any other denominational appeal...If those offering prayers in the Indiana House of Representatives choose to use the Arabic 'Allah'...the court sees little risk that the choice of language would advance a particular religion or disparage others."

In other words in Indiana, as a Judge he said to pray in Jesus’ name is ILLEGAL but to pray in the name of ALLAH is OK!!! Folks, if Christians do not wake up and begin to pray and to stand up against this type of biased intolerance and prejudice against Christianity, the very foundation of our government and society, we are going to lose it and find ourselves in decades to come living in essentially a Godless society, much like many of our European countries. Even worse, I see persecution following that.  WE NEED TO PRAY TODAY, BUT EVERY DAY FOR OUR COUNTRY AND FOR OUR LEADERS. 

This is the reason I am forgoing my normal Prayer Letter format and ideas I wanted to share to just simply ask you to take this day to PRAY, and to specifically pray for our national leaders. Below is a list of them, which is supplied on the website of the National Day of Prayer 

 Prayer Guide

Through this prayer guide, you will have an opportunity to petition God on behalf of our leaders and those who are in authority over us, as we are instructed to do in 1 Timothy 2:1-2.  As you humbly come before the Lord and seek His face, please pray that these men and women will be granted divine wisdom, guidance and strength to fulfill their important roles:

Pray for Federal Leaders

President: Barack Obama
Vice President: Joe Biden
Secretary of State: Hillary Clinton
Secretary of Defense: Robert Gates
Secretary of the Treasury: Timothy Geithner
Attorney General: Eric Holder
National Security Advisor: Gen. James Jones
Director of National Intelligence: Dennis Blair 
Secretary of the Interior: Ken Salazar
Secretary of Agriculture: Tom Vilsack
Secretary of Commerce: Gary Locke
Secretary of Labor: Hilda L. Solis
Secretary of Transportation: Ray LaHood
Secretary of Energy: Steven Chu
Secretary of Education: Arne Duncan
Secretary of Veterans Affairs: Eric K. Shinseki
Secretary of Health & Human Services: Kathleen Sebelius
Secretary of Housing & Urban Development: Shaun Donovan
Secretary of Homeland Security: Janet Napolitano
All Branches of the Armed Forces
U.S. Supreme Court

 

In closing, please go check out these very important Oasis ministry happenings. I won’t comment just please go there and see them:

• Summer Spectacular in KidsWorld -- Sign up early or you’ll get left out!!!! Space is limited, I promise!!!!
• Deju Vu  Sermon Series in Philippians begins this week at Oasis Church  --  "Joy" even in tough times is the theme, very appropriate!!!
• Hollywood Campus and Expo Alfesco Video!!!!
• Friday Night at the Movies following 7 Nights of Worship, next week
• Give your Tithes and Offerings online!!!  
• So much more next week about our Surge and Youth Summer!!!
• "Ignite" your love life, and Song of Solomon is finished but on our website in video and podcast audio.

God bless you and I look forward to seeing you this weekend at any of the 3 campuses. I’ll be at them all this week!!! Can’t wait to start the new series!!!! 

Guy Melton
Pastor
Oasis Church
http://www.guymelton.com
http://www.visitoasis.org

 

RIB THIEVES

We have thieves @ Oasis Church! Who stole my B-B-Que ribs John left me! Ur fired!

THIS IS HOW IT STARTED -- MUCH MORE ABOUT THIS LATER. IF YOU'RE NOT ON FACEBOOK, YOU'VE MISSED THE ENTIRE DIALOGUE. IT'S NASTY!!!

Guy Melton Announces the Case of the Stolen BBQue Ribs at Oasis Church has been solved. Our Rib Police found this Couple in the Picture below, with their Masks still on, following the Robbery. (There is still one more suspect on the run, and we will announce the capture soon)

Got this Alibi from our final Thief today!!! Would you believe this masked woman???  "Your ribs were not stolen! They were sitting out on the counter exposed, with nothing to put them in. I asked Wallie to bring them home so we could wrap them up in something and protect them. Then this morning I forgot to bring them back." Forgot to bring them back!!! That is what Bank Robbers say. I borrowed the $$$$!!

 

 

 

Twin Fawns in Song of Solomon and my Birthday Card

Obviously one of our Oasis Family misunderstood something about our Series "Ignite your love life", we just finished in Song of Solomon. I received this Birthday card the same week we finished speaking on Song of Solomon Chapter 3-4.  

 4:5 I think they had it a little out of Context. But I did appreciate the thought!!!! I love Fried Chicken!!!

If you missed any of our Messages, you can click here and see the video or listen to or download the podcast.

Song of Solomon / Ignite your Love Life / Recommended Books

This past month we have taken a look at the Book, Song of Songs or Song of Solomon.  It has been one of the most talked about Sermon Series in a long time. If you missed a message, you can click here and watch the video or listen to the podcast or download it.

Our Teaching Team had a great time with this series. A little too much fun, our wives think!!! Anyway, based on the many comments and communications we have received, it definitely was a big help for many marriages. We got incredible input from men and women. This past week we closed out the series, at the Pines Campus with husband and wife team, Pastor James and Debby Brown. North Miami had for the first time ever one of our Laymen, Richard Todd teach on our team. I'm looking forward to having Richard speak at Pines soon. 

At the end of the series we shared some books our Pastoral Team is recommending to couples and also a seminar on marriage many of us have attended that is coming up next month locally. It is maybe the best marriage seminar I have ever attended or heard of. Listed below are the recommendations. I'll give a line or two about the books. Some have very unique readers that might benefit from them.

   Fireproof/DVD and Book. A great book and DVD to do together as a couple. It will strengthen your marriage and communication. Book is interactive and will take you through 40 days of activities. Most book stores have them, Walmart has them.

A look at how to maneuver through the different phases of marriage and life.

This is an older book by our local friend and author Bob and Rosemary Barnes, of Sheridan House. You can purchase this through Sheridan House Family Ministries and their website.

Another older book on the physical side of Marriage from a Christian View. One of the Classics on Sex in this past century, from a Christian perspective.

 This is a recent book on Christian Marriage and sex. It is highly recommended by some of our young couples who have read and studied it.

Sex begins in the Kitchen, is a great look at how romance plays into the bedroom, and also into the rest of the Marriage relationship.

Family Life Marriage Conference. Check it out on their website.

Recap of the first "100" Days of this Administration, My Take!!

This past week the news was wall to wall for days covering President Barack Obama's First 100 days. Depending on your world view, political persuasion or personal feelings, you gave him an A for a great 100 days, or an F for Failure!!!!

Now, being the Pastor of Oasis Church with 70 countries represented and every imaginable Political affiliation possible, you are ready to attack if my Score Card of the First "100" days since January 20th isn't what you think it should be.

Well, I hate to disappoint you but there have already been hundreds of talking heads give their opinions. You don't need another one. So I thought I would give a report card and Recap of His first "100" days, at Oasis Church.  God has done some great things during this transition time in our country. At Oasis God continued to work, regardless of what happened in the political world, good or bad. Let me share a few bench marks.

• January initiated our first Sermon Series of our new year and the theme, of Books of the Bible This year we are taking an overview of a number of Books. The year began with Ecclesiastes. We Titled it "Thrill Ride" That is what life is and we have certainly been on a Thrill ride as a country, church and families, this past year.
• 7NOW/Seven Nights of Worship, Celebrated its second year anniversary the week of the President's Innauguration...meeting two full years, 365 nights a year, without a break. Word is spreading in our community about this new innovative and biblical way to do church. Church when you need it.
• February brought the birth of a new Oasis Church in North Florida. Long-time staff Pastor, Jeremy Higdon and his family, led the birth of this new church, with 130 attending. Many of our folks had gone up to help from NoMi and Pines during the preparation.
• Our Surge Youth Ministry sponsored a Valentine's Dinner for our couples as a fund raiser for this summer's camp and missions trip. The reviews were all thumbs up!!
• Indescribable, was the message one week as Louie Gigilio brought one of the most moving sermons ever heard, or seen. Kevin Cross was here to speak to our Pines Campus about finances in this challenging time, with his Margin and Meaning message. 
• KidsWorld held a community-wide, free car wash, and had many come onto our property to allow our kids and parents to minister to them. 
• Hundreds of adults and teens have gathered weekly for Community in small groups. Our Community Group ministry, under the direction of Pastor Pat Roberts, has had two training events in order to continue to expand our Community Group ministry, which is nurturing Community one person, one group at a time. If you are not in a Community Group, you aren't experiencing the Refreshing Oasis Experience at its best. I get asked every week by new folks about how to join a group. (Go to our www.visitoasis.org)  Find a group, time, and day you can join.
• Oasis Live kicked off in March, as a different way to share a biblical message. For five weeks we answered the hot potato issues you asked us to address. Issues such as abortion, stem cell research using unborn embryos, killing/war, right or wrong, on and on.
• Offerings really took off in March and have continued to grow back to where they were a couple years ago, before the recession hit South Florida. Many new attenders and members decided to faithfully give to God His tithe (10%) whether tough times or not. The trend is continuing. We have not had to cut any deeper into the ministry mission and not had to make any more layoffs as we did early in the year.
• March brought the Surge Youth Ministry yet another highlight as 70 teens and adults spent the entire weekend in North Miami, in a Discipleship weekend. Staying at homes of members with many adults ministering to our teens, this might have been one of the best things our teens have ever been part of. Great warm up for this summer's Camp.
•  April brought another year of "Easter at the Oasis". This year Easter took on new meaning as the North Miami Campus celebrated their first anniversary since merging last year. With over 230 in attendance and packed, there was an Easter egg hunt for the kids following the service and lots of family fun. Kevin McCord, our Interim Pastor has done a great job leading this new campus in the transition period as we prepare for a new Campus Pastor soon. 
• Easter at the Oasis was also introduced in Jacksonville, as Jeremy and the team in North Florida, added a second service at the theater and had a great day with over 150 in attendance. 
• April brought about another surge in attendance at North Miami, with over 230 in attendance the last week of April, and then again last week saw 205 in attendance. 79 children attended last week. They are bursting at the seams in the KidsWorld.
• April ended with a letter received from one of the Southern Baptist Seminaries sharing with us that Oasis was one of the top 100 churches in Baptisms last year, with 207 being baptized in 2007. The avg. church baptized 6 people. There are 47,000 churches in America in our denomination. I was amazed to find we were in the top 100. Last year we baptized another 179, and each week this year there are more new believers being baptized. 
• April also wrapped up with the Song of Solomon series. I have to admit our teaching team enjoyed this series, "Ignite" maybe a little too much!!!!  
• There have been 4 Discover Oasis Classes for new members since January, one at Hollywood, one at NoMi and two at Pines. It's always exciting to hear the new folks talk about why they came to Oasis Church.
• This week we celebrate our Moms and begin the study in Philippians, we have themed, Deja Vu 
• The end of April once again meant our Hollywood Campus joined with all the business community in downtown Hollywood for the big event, Alfresco Expo.  Hollywood continues to prayerfully ask God to sell our present building in order to move closer downtown and to allow us to offer a 7 day a week ministry we have envisioned since first coming to downtown. Pray with us that this is the year!!!
•  Just a little Picture into the First "100" Days of our new administration. There were hundreds more stories but I just wanted to take you back for a little glimpse of what's happened at Oasis in the last three months,100 days. BTW, countless people have found Jesus Christ as their Savior and experienced His "Refreshing" love and life that is abundant. Worship, Community, Mission, all with the focus on "Being and Making Disciples".