GuyMelton.com: What Were You Thinking?

Thanks............

Today I can only really think of the word “Thankful”. Following this past week’s Easter at Oasis Church I have gone to bed and woke up with only one thing on my mind, and I have opened my day and closed my day with a prayer of thanksgiving. It’s been a long time since I can remember having such a great Easter! All Easters seem to be special, but some stand out like this one.

 

This year our church made 2,500 phone calls to those on our attendance roll. We sent hundreds of post cards and gave out hundreds of Easter Invites. I am assuming hundreds of us Prayed over this past week. There is no doubt all of these things, and many more, contributed to such a great Easter. Not only did we have 1,000 of our people attend the 3 nights prior to Easter in order to make room for those visiting on Easter Morning, but all 3 Easter Morning services were full. Not just full, but the last two saw not only our Community Café and Auditorium full…but the Lobby filled with chairs and people who did not find a seat inside. I could go on and on about this past Easter but I must say the thing that really put the cherry on top of the day was our Beach Baptism and Concert. We baptized more on Easter Sunday this year than we did the entire year last year. We have a lot to thank God about.

 

BTW, many of you did not attend Sunday morning for Easter but we had at least 20 people come to Christ in our last two services. To see them coming down the aisle, many in tears, was a sight that I can’t get out of my mind. I want to thank all of you who prayed and continue to pray for Oasis Church. I also want to thank God for all of those who served in so many ways. It was just an amazing weekend.

 

In light of this, I want to offer up several passages in the Book of Colossians that speak to the subject of the prayer of thanksgiving. First, the Apostle Paul prays a prayer of Thanksgiving for the Colossian Christians. (Colossians 1:3-12) This is my prayer for you and the many who serve at Oasis Church. He goes on in several other places reminding us to be thankful. He then goes on to say that we should not only be devoted to Prayer, but to Thanksgiving. (Colossians 4:2, Colossians 3:15, Colossians 3:17)

 

Would you join me this week in praying prayers of Thankfulness not only for what God did on Easter, but for what He continues to do in our lives and in our church, as well as what He will do in the future as we continue to: “Be and Make Disciples”?

Man Up Warrior......... Weekly Pastor's Email

Dear Extended Oasis Family;   Easter! Another one has come and gone and how quickly each year seems to go these days. Each Easter is very special, but this year Easter at Oasis Church seemed to take on a much deeper and profound meaning. It will be one of the Easters in the years to come that stands out to me. Let me share some of my thoughts on Easter. I think you will be pretty excited too!    This year our church made 2,500 phone calls to those on our attendance roll. We sent hundreds of post cards and gave out hundreds of Easter Invites. I am assuming hundreds of us Prayed over this past week.  (Check out this excerpt from a note I received this week from Luann Willix and this is just one of the same type of notes and thoughts like this shared with me this week. "I just wanted to let you know that I think the Easter phone blitz was a huge success.  As I was running around Saturday,  I had several people tell me they were there because of the phone call. Then again Sunday almost everyone that came to the welcome center said they were there because of the phone call. I also wanted to tell you what a great idea the beach baptism was. It was a great end to a wonderful weekend I was so excited because one of our community service workers accepted Christ and was baptized. God is Good! ")   Now for those of you who made phone calls, now you know it was worth it. Did you catch her mentioning one of our community service workers becoming a Christian and being baptized? This is a ministry my son started many years ago and it’s amazing how God has used it. For those of you who tithe and give at Oasis, now you see first hand where God is using your gifts. There is no doubt all of these things, and many more, contributed to such a great Easter. Not only did we have 1,000 of our people attend the 3 nights prior to Easter in order to make room for those visiting on Easter Morning, but all 3 Easter Morning services were full. Not just full, but the last two saw not only our Community Café and Auditorium full…but the Lobby filled with chairs and people who did not find a seat inside. (Thanks for moving to another service last week for those who did. You allowed us to seat everyone Sunday.) I could go on and on about this past Easter but I must say the thing that really put the cherry on top of the day was our Beach Baptism and Concert. We baptized more on Easter Sunday this year than we did the entire year last year. We have a lot to thank God about. BTW, many of you did not attend Sunday morning for Easter but we had more than 20 people come to Christ in our last two services. To see them coming down the aisle, many in tears, was a sight that I can’t get out of my mind. I want to thank all of you who prayed and continue to pray for Oasis Church. I also want to thank God for all of those who served in so many ways and continue to GIVE. It was just an amazing weekend.   This weekend begins a new Series, "Man Up”.  This men’s series is the first one we have done in years but it will be memorable. We aren't going to be bashing you guys. Don’t worry. But we are going to challenge us all to be the Warriors, the Leaders that God has created us to be. Women don’t worry there is going to be plenty in this series you will enjoy and be able to use. You will better be able to love your man when you see how God has created him to be unique and fulfill the role he is made for.  Don’t miss this week.    There is just TOO MUCH going on to be able to share it all here, but let me just list these items and you can check them out in the bulletin this weekend or go online and read more.    *Smiles for Haiti:  Sunday morning, April 22 from 9 am – 1:30 pm in the lobby we will be taking family portraits to help raise money for our SURGE mission trip to Haiti.  They are asking a suggested donation of $10 for the portraits.   BTW, Tonia and I will be going on this trip with our teens and medical team. If you want to join us, then mark your connection card "Haiti Mission Trip". We will contact you.   *“Helping Handbags” Mission for Haiti:  The Oasis Women’s Ministry is hosting a “Handbag” sale on Friday, April 27 (7pm-10pm at the Movie Night) and Saturday, April 28 (9am - Noon).  These are gently used designer handbags at affordable prices.  All proceeds go toward our missionary efforts in Haiti.     * Women’s Ministry presents:  “Movie Night with Girlfriends” April 27, Friday 7 pm – 10 pm Tickets are $5 and can be purchased either on-line or at the Information Center at all services.  Childcare is available upon registration.   *Porn and Pancakes Saturday, April 28th, 9 – 11 am, Cost $10.  Tickets are available on-line or at the Information Center.  This will be a morning filled with straight talk about porn and the issues surrounding porn.    *Chick-fil-a Leadercast is a day of inspiration, learning, connection and more.  Oasis Church will be hosting this one-day leadership event.  Friday, May 4th, 8am-4:30pm, the cost is $75 and you can register on-line atwww.visitoasis.org.    Can’t wait to see you guys this weekend, I love Oasis Church and "U" are Oasis!  I love you.   Guy Melton Senior/Founding Pastor   P.S. Thanks to all of you who tithe and give the Lord your offerings each week. Last week was one of the largest offerings in the past year. We continue to meet our new lean , mean ministry budget. If you haven’t given yet this week you can do it now ONLINE! P.S.S.  For those of you who missed Easter Sunday Service, you can go on-line and catch the last sermon series of“Worst Week”.

 

Easter Email Update........

Dear Guy, What do you do in your darkest hour? I know in the last month we have been discussing our "Worst Week". There is no doubt most of us have had some really bad weeks, months, even years. It’s the time when it’s so Dark that you wonder if you will ever see the sun again. It might be bright and blue skies outside, but inside our minds and hearts it’s just plain Dark.  With a capital "D". I don’t mean to start us out today on such a dark side, but the fact of the matter is that in these days we are leading to the greatest "Light " ever to show forth. The SON who lights our darkness and gives hope to our future, who had the darkest of dark weeks. None of us have ever experienced anything like it. It was actually what allowed Him to give us Light when our "Worst Week" comes. It’s dark right now. It’s going to be dark for a few more days. (Continued HERE) (I shared this Easter post yesterday with our Prayer Partners. I hope you will read it.) LOOK UP  IN  THE SKIES OVER WEST PINES THE NEXT 3 DAYS AND YOU JUST MIGHT SEE SOMETHING ABOUT OASIS! If you do, snap a picture and post it on Twitter or FB and Tag me and you will win a FREE STARBUCKS CARD. Best time is between about 2-5 pm.  EASTER BEGINS TONIGHT!  It's Maunday Thursday. Service begins at 7 p.m. I hope if you are a regular at Oasis you will make tonight, Good Friday or Easter Eve your service to attend. We need as many seats, parking spaces and KidsWorld space as possible for the many guests on Easter morning. All services are identical this week with a few twists such as the Lord's Supper on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and a Saturday night Easter Egg Hunt for the kiddies. All the 411 is right here on the Bunny Video. Watch this short video and it will tell you all you need to know for Easter. Can't wait to see you this Easter Week. Have a great Easter. Can't wait to meet your guest you have invited. Guy Sr. Pastor Oasis Church P.S. Don't forget if you have never been Baptized you can do so this Easter at our Beach Baptism at 6 p.m. Info is in the bulletin this weekend. Don't miss this great opportunity. We will have a Concert by our Oasis Band and Worship Teams following Baptism at the Hollywood Boardwalk Bandshell at 7 p.m. There are Parking Garages at A1A and Hollywood Blvd., Johnson Street and Garfield Street. Arrive early in order to get a parking spot. You can give online right now if you have not yet done so this week.

 

Deep "V" T-Shirts & To Cut or Not To Cut!

To all our extended Oasis Family I am sharing our Pastors Weekly Email with you . Have a great weekend.

 

If you missed last week's services you missed some of the most powerful worship services we have ever had at Oasis Church. It was a fantastic start to our new series, "All are Welcome Here". You also missed our discussion of me wearing a Deep "V" neck T-Shirt. Now before you stop reading, if you watch the video of the service online you will hear the whole story. That's all I will say here. Ben also suggested I needed to change my hair style during the message we were teaching together. I almost popped him one right in front of hundreds. But I restrained myself. We had suggestions on the cards that said they agreed that I needed to cut it all off like "Pastor James" - the bald look and someone else said wear it Mohawk style. OK, how in the world could all that happen in the first message of the series? But it did. So I guess I'm taking suggestions of what new hair style I should adopt? What say you? I'm bored with this one anyway?

This week we continue the series "All Are Welcome Here" and I can't wait to finish the Pembroke Strategy. It is going to be another great weekend. Don't miss it. If you haven't tried our Saturday night service, come out at 6 p.m. Same great music and messages. Last Saturday night we had the largest attendance in at least 3 years. It was awesome. I hope to see many of you. Our 10:30 and noon were full and overflowing! It would be great to see some of you at the Saturday night or Sunday morning early service at 9 a.m. BTW, just a reminder: did you know we serve Communion every week at Oasis Church? At 8:45 a.m. prior to the early service, we have a Communion Service led by our pastoral team. We also serve communion the first Saturday night of each month during the Saturday service. This week on Saturday we will be serving Communion, the first of the new year.

Discover Oasis is this Sunday. If you have not registered you can go online now (click on "event sign-up") and do so or put how many in your family will be with us at church this weekend. It's this Sunday at 1:30 following our noon service. There is a FREE complimentary lunch for you and your family. Our pastoral team will share with you not only all there is to know about our ministry but how you can become a member of Oasis Church or get more involved. There is no obligation to join. I promise we have never and will not this weekend hard sale you to join our church. We lay out who we are and if you want to join, "All Are Welcome Here" . We will give the scoop of how to do so. I hope to see you this Sunday. It's about an hour and a half including the meal time. There is child care for nursery through elementary. 

Holy Land Tour 2012 is fast approaching. If you have not picked up a brochure and registered you need to this week. The brochures will be in the Information Center in the lobby. All the details are in the brochure including the toll free number to call to get your questions answered and to register. There are only 30 Airline tickets reserved and enough rooms for 30 so you need to act fast. Once it's full there is no guarantee you will get to go this year with us. It will be trip of a lifetime. Tonia and I invite you to go with us, April 29-May 9th. No trip, cruise or vacation you will ever take will even come close to being as life changing as this as we walk in the steps of Jesus and the great men and women of the Bible. Check out the Live announcement about the trip I made in December right now for more info.

Have a great weekend and I hope to see you at Oasis as we celebrate "All Are Welcome Here" .

Guy Melton

Sr. Pastor/Founding

Oasis Church of South Florida 

P.S. As I do most weeks, I want to remind you that a very importatnt part of our Worship is our giving back to God His tithes and our offerings. The bible says it's the Lord's Tithes, we return them to him. We get to keep 90%. That is awesome. He will bless the 90% you keep more than if you steal the other 10% that is His and try to keep it for your own needs. Try it. I guarantee He will provide. I have lived it for more than 40 yrs. You can give online now, 24/7.

 

 

"Radical" Decison , 2 years in the Making, Video Announcement Part 3

This is the final post on what led up to my "Radical Decision" I announceed to the congregation last week at Oasis Church. If you have not read the other two post, you can catch Part 1 here and Part 2.

Click the link below to see the video of my announcement during my message last Sunday.

http://vimeo.com/20120925

I also shared some very important Prayer request about this decision, if you want to be praying for me. I would greatly appreciate it.  

Weekly Oasis Email for August 22, 2010..........

For our Extended Oasis Church family and friends, I am sharing this weeks Pastoral Email. There is so much happening right now, its mind boggling. But so, so exciting to be in a place that people are so passionate about God and the call He has given us to reach South Florida and then the World. Our vision and our Mission and story is expanding and it will go world wide this fall. More details on our Kick Off Weekend September 12th. Since I paste this from another format , sometimes the link might not work, or a few words are cut off at the end of the line. Thanks for your patience. God bless you and wherever you are this weekned, I hope you will take the time to Worship.

Dear Extended Oasis Family; My adrenaline is pumping so much it's hard to sleep or to think about anything but the incredible things coming in the fall. I am amazed at all that God has positioned us for and the team He has brought together to lead and serve Oasis church. Meetings, meetings, meetings this summer, and especially in the last couple weeks as we finish off our fall and winter plans. I cannot wait to share them with you. On September 12 weekend and the entire week, we will be sharing with you all the things coming this fall. You do not want to miss that weekend and weeknights. If you do, YOU WILL BE SORRY!! I am really not sure we have ever had so many new and innovative things happening at once. God is going to do amazing things. More later on September, 12 and "KICK OFF" Weekend.   The Beach Bash and Baptism is coming next Sunday, August 29, 6 p.m. at Hollywood Beach. We already have 30+ people signed up to be baptized and more signing up each day. If you have never been Baptized like Jesus and you are a follower of Jesus, why haven't you? This is your chance. This year is going to be not just an incredible Baptismal service in the ocean, but also a great concert following at the Beach Band Shell. Our worship teams and bands from all services and campuses are working hard to put on a Concert that will blow you away and also be fun. This year another thing we are doing is encouraging you to invite and bring your family and friends. Friends who might never come to church, will come to the beach with you. We are working to have a short but powerful "talk" on how to Know, and Follow Jesus. It won't be long, but it will challenge your friend who does not know Christ to accept Him into their life. You could come with a lost friend and go home with one on the way to Heaven. Is that not a great thought? Bring your friends. Give them the Invite Card you're getting at the service this weekend and each night. There are extras on the info counters at all campuses. FOR THOSE WHO WILL BE GETTING BAPTIZED, YOU'LL GET A FREE BEACH TOWEL WITH THE OASIS LOGO AND BEACH BAPTISM STITCHED IN IT. THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL AND CAN ONLY BE OBTAINED BY THOSE BEING BAPTIZED AUGUST 29. SIGN UP NOW at your service or on the connection card this week.   "Quench" continues this week. The second message in the series will be brought this weekend. There are some great stories that will be shared by REAL PEOPLE. If you missed last week's  opening message in the series, you can go listen now to the Video or Audio Podcast. Don't forget the Oasis Groups resource center is now open each service in the Community Cafe. For more info on getting involved in a small group go here and find out more or stop by the resource center at the Pines campus, or see your campus pastor at Hollywood or NoMi.   Let me close with sharing some other things that I want to link you up to: Please keep praying for our son Corey and One MORE Drop team in Kenya. They are drilling wells for the villages in order to bring clean water and living water to them. You can check out his website and update here . The first drill did not yield water. Unfortunately the geological reports supplied by the Kenyan government were wrong and the rock was too solid and too deep to get through. So tomorrow they move on to the next village. They are disappointed but not deterred in their mission. Please Pray the Water will gush at this next village!!! There's just a little over a week left if you're planning on going to Israel with Tonia and I in February to register and get the early bird discount. You can still register after September 1 but you won't get the early registration discount our tour company is offering. For the video and how to register go to my blog and check it out. We also have brochures on the info counter at all campuses. I am so excited about taking a group of our Oasis family with us to Israel and the Holy Land. It's been 13 years. It's a trip of a lifetime. New Starter small groups are forming NOW for September as part of our Oasis Groups. For more info on this, check it out the Community page on our web site or stop by the resource center this weekend. We had almost 60 new sign-ups just at the Pines campus Sunday for new groups and this Sunday you will find out how to sign up for existing community groups. If you are a part of Oasis Church you really, really, need to be in a Community Group. If you have not worshipped this week in giving of God's tithes and your offerings you can do so right now online. It's safe, secure and fast. Try it out.  Ok, I'm withholding a lot of things I would love to share, but I have to wait until September 12. See you this Sunday, or at one of our 7 Nights of Worship at 7 p.m. At Oasis Church there is NEVER a reason not to Worship with your fellow believers, since we offer worship every night of the week now for almost 5 years. Amazing, isn't it? God bless you and thank you for allowing me to serve as your pastor. Guy Melton Pastor Oasis Church http://www.guymelton.com http://www.visitoasis.org

18 Years of Oasis church history in "2 Minutes" from 1-10-10

18 Years of Oasis Church History in "2 Minutes".  This was one of the highlights of this past sunday. 1-10-10.

Enjoy, and thanks to Joel and Jenn collins for putting this together! 

http://www.youtube.com/user/oasischurchsofla#p/a/u/0/SwYP-aSngEU

1-10-10 Update #2 with new Pics of the Amazing Day!!!!

After several days of being able to digest what I experienced on Sunday January 10th, it is becoming clear it was far more reaching than I might have ever imagined. The huge crowded Auditorium with great worship, fellowship and the opportunity for many of our folks to meet others they have never met before who are members of their church but go to another service, another day, or another campus was a given. (Thanks to Becca and Kasey , two of our teens for taking pictures for us for the day. You guys are awesome)

What I guess I didn't realize is how deep our Oasis Family cherished the challenge of Joshua and how much they welcomed the challenges of a new day. The invitation at the end of the service which I called the "Covenant Challenge" taken from Joshua 3-4 where it talked about the Chest of the Covenant.  The time of commitment where hundreds came forward to place their tithes and offerings, and commitment card for the "Covenant Challenge" of starting a new Church in Miami in 2010 and launching our new Campus, which will be the largest , farthest reaching Campus ever launched at Oasis. More on that later. What I have heard the most is the most touching, and moving moment, was when hundreds brought a cash offering and laid it on the altar in order to give it away to Oasis family members who were out of a job. The total cash offering to give away last Sunday on the spot was about $4,000. Not only did we give each person $100. in cash on the spot, but our lay pastors and pastors took time to pray with them. So many tears, hugs and emotions. It was sight you just could not capture on tape or picture. That was a large reason why we decided not to post the podcast or video on our website. You just couldn't have caught the power of that sight outside of being there. So far of all the comments, this part of the  service seems to be the part that really stood out.  

Tailgate Lunch was awesome, food from 84 countries. Cold outside but warm inside the gym.
More update to come on the New Church plant in Miami, and the New Campus that will be launched in 2010.................. 

1-10-2010 , Amazing Day...............Part 1

For the last 24 hours I have been wrestling with just how to describe the 1-10-10 Combined Oasis Worship service held at Hollywood Community Church.  Ive struggled. There were so many things I want to say, it paralyzes me. There were so many great things that happened it is just hard to put it all in words. Im glad we decided not to put the whole service on podcast and CD's. It just would not do the day justice. We will probably share a few videos we used in the service. But I doubt we will ever share the entire service and the Corporate "Covenant Chest " Commitment our church made at the end of the service.

I will share pics when some of our Teens who were our official photogs get them up for us.  So many things I want to share. I might just share some random thoughts here and then come back later and share some other things.

• First time in 17 years Oasis Church has all met for Worship under one roof.  All 3 campuses. All 13 services including our Spanish.
• The site was at Hollywood Community Church, the co sponsor of our church when it was started September 15, 1991. The name was First Baptist Church of Westhollywood. (They were the most gracious host you could ever imagine. Thanks to the whole Team of HCC. What a blessing you were.)
• The new Series "Crossing" the study of Joshua was planned almost a year ago, long before this day was planned. yet the message was perfect for the day. Joshua 3:5, Consecrate yourself for Tomorrow , God will do "Amazing Things" .............  Part 2 title "A New Challenge"
• Two days prior to 1-10 as I went over my message and read Joshua 3-4 for like the 30th time in the last 2 months, vs 19 , of chapter 4 jumped out to me. I had studied, and I had focused so much on the last half of the vs and vs 20-24, I missed that vs 19 said the people camped in preparation for the Crossing of the Jordan River on "the 10th day of the 1st month" . How did I miss this.? We had planned this date, without ever knowing or seeing this verse. I don't why but God made it very clear to me to have us meet on this date. Of all the days of 2010 and 17 years since we all met together as a small church and God moves us to meet on the same day , the Children of Israel did before the Amazing things He promised them as they Crossed the Jordan River. I meant to mention this Sunday and Forgot. It was like, God spoke out loud on Friday when I read this verse.
• One of the things I love about Oasis Church is the people who step up and do whatever it takes to make any major event or ministry happen. Its always been that way. I never hear, We have never done that before. We cant do that? It wont work? We wont have enough people, etc etc. . The volunteer's at Oasis are the most amazing Ive ever seen. They always step up . I don't know how many volunteered this past sunday, but it was in the several hundreds at least.  Let me say thanks to some of the areas of ministry that made 1-10 possible. Most are never seen publicly, but made the day what it was, outside the Power and presence of God.   
• Thanks to the Kids World Volunteer's who gave up the Biggest Service in our History to serve our kids. Suzie you and your team are incredible.
• Thanks to our Tech team who worked behind the scenes for a week to make the sound , video, lighting and who knows what else possible on Sunday. Joel , you and your team were great.  
• Thanks to Katia Droira and the Surge /Youth Ministry. There were at least 40 youth, that were involved in all areas of the day. From Worship, tech, usher/greeting, parking, food , Kids World, photography,  and who knows where. These are the most Amazing Teenagers I have ever seen.
• Thanks to our Worship Team and Band. These guys practiced several times this past week at night. They had the best spirit of any worship team ive ever seen. Almost all of them, are in their teens or 20's , it is unbelievable what they did . (I wont give away you 30 somethings that are also in the Team. shhh!!) Thanks Ben for leading this group.
• Thanks to all our ushers /greeters, and parking lot folks who welcomed us all with incredible smiles, and willingness to show us where to take our kids, find the bathrooms and a parking space. I love you guys and your willingness to show up almost two hours early and do it with a great spirit. You definitely represent the Oasis spirit. Thanks Pastor Brown for leading. Mike Chalk , Sat. Host pastor for leading our Parking lots. 
• Ok, I have so many more to thank and thoughts to share, but its too long already so ill post another post later this week. .............. I love you Oasis Church
• To be continued 

1-10-10 @ 1:10 pm Video Announcement

 With some of you traveling over the holiday's you might have missed this BIG Announcement for 1-10-2010, at 1:10 PM. You need to watch this or you WILL be sorry . I promise.

Its only about 5 min and it is very important.

See you on January 10th, 2010, 1:10 PM

Watch it here!