"Amazing!" God is so amazing. I want to celebrate what He did through so many of YOU last weekend. If you attended last weekend, you would know that we took a special offering for our KidsWorld Children's Ministry to replace their carpet that is 15 years old and in terrible shape. We are also in need of a security door in a key area of KidsWorld for their protection. These are needs that have not been budgeted. As mentioned, we always talk about our kids and youth being our priority but as I also say when giving, "Our checkbook tells where our priorities are really at." That stands whether you are a family or our church family.
Drumroll please... I want to thank all of those who spoke with your wallet last weekend and gave enough to reach our goal of $15,000 for the carpet and door! Our team is in the process of making that happen. As of Monday, we had $15,212 in hand to spend. As I mentioned, if there was more given, it would go towards two more doors that need more security features. If extra comes in then we will move forward on those. Praise God we met our immediate goals. That is amazing! I want to also commend our Oasis family for not allowing this special one-week offering to affect our regular giving of our tithes since that is key to continuing week-to-week ministry. You didn't. Our regular offerings were actually over budget last weekend. Thank you Oasis for living out your faith with your giving. We are leaving the link on our giving page through Sunday for those who still want to give to the special "Family Ministry/Kidsworld Offering". It will be taken down after Sunday.
More celebration – Over the last 10 years South Florida has dealt with a major recession; the worst in my lifetime. There has been a long curve to recovery. Oasis is not immune to that since we are in South Florida. God has supplied and we have done what it takes to cut back and to trim as needed. For the first time in the last 10 years, I can report to you that after 6 months into our new Ministry Budget Year (September 1 begins our budget year), we are meeting our budget! Congrats to all of you Oasisers who have been tithing and giving to the Lord. You aren't giving to Oasis, we are only honored to be the local church conduit of God's offerings. While our Bike for Haiti and Love Cities, Love Pastors offerings are down, (we will talk more about that in the near future) making it more of a challenge to meet our commitments, I want to celebrate that our "Ministry Budget" of tithes and offerings is 17% higher than last year and over our budget. Praise God and thanks to all of you.
Not only has God blessed our giving, which allows us to do more ministry here in South Florida, but He continues to send us more people to minister to and to share His love with. Our attendance is up approximately 12% over last year too. That's more people coming to Christ, being baptized and having their lives and families changed for eternity. Praise be to God. ONLY GOD!
More praise – Along with our growth at our Pembroke Pines Campus, our Online Campus Worship is up 60% over last year. That is almost 2/3 more people worshiping with us online and hearing the gospel each week. We are excited knowing, in this day and age, the digital world is changing everything we do in our lives. I'm thankful Oasis can "BE A DROP" of love and hope, online each week. We are beginning to develop plans in order to minister better and to connect more personally with those worshiping with us online. Personally, I am working on beginning the FIRST ONLINE COMMUNITY GROUP at Oasis in the next month. This will be for men in their 20-30's. If you are a young adult man and would like to be a part of this first pilot community online please contact [email protected] and they'll give you the information.
That's it for this week. Easter is coming! We have some good news about that this weekend and how you can invite your friends and neighbors. We also continue our series, "Promise Land". The first two messages can be watched HERE!
Guy Melton
Senior and Founding Pastor
Oasis Church of South Florida
P.S. Don't forget our Night of Worship and Prayer on Wednesday, March 20th. We'll be there from 6 pm - Midnight. You can come when you can and stay as long as you want. Our focus will be on prayer leading up to Easter. We want to saturate this Holy Week with prayer.
P.S. You can give online here, 24/7. |
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