GuyMelton.com: What Were You Thinking?

Pastors Email week of October 13, 2017 Missions is our Theme this Fall.

 

 

Dear Oasis Family and Friends, This FALL is an exciting time at Oasis Church and it’s also a very draining time for all of us living in South Florida. It seems like the clean up from Irma will never end and for some, it hasn’t even begun. After a month, our neighborhood hasn’t been touched by our city. But in the big scheme of things, we are most fortunate to have been spared. We need to keep reminding ourselves of this when we tend to want to complain about some of the inconveniences.  Because the storms for the most part missed us, we also have the opportunity to serve others who were not so fortunate. By now you know there were many islands slammed and some demolished. Our Keys were damaged heavily and many small cities in South West Florida are hurting with very little attention. Tonia is serving the people of Immokalee, which is just west of Lake Okeechobee, about 90 miles from Broward. It’s a city of about 30,000, with 97 percent being Hispanic or Haitian and only 3 percent Caucasian. Most are immigrants working in the agricultural area. I dare say that most of our church family has never heard of Immokalee and if you have, I bet only a few have ever seen it. I got a chance to visit there this week and it’s sad how little help and attention they have received. But I am thankful for the North American Mission Board (NAMB) who has multiple crews there from around the US and this week alone, 72 volunteers like my wife from churches in TX, TN, DE, MD, SC and NY and those are just the ones I met.     This week our Missions Ministry Team, under the leadership of Pastor Jonathan Jimenez, announced a trip to Puerto Rico on November 11th alongside (NAMB) and also a trip to the Keys to help with clean up on October 28th. It’s an all-day trip, that will leave early in the morning and come back late Saturday night. There is not much space left but while spots remain for both, I encourage you to go to THESE LINKS and sign up.  Tiaras Mission Team returned home safely Tuesday night from an incredible trip to Belize to crown hundreds of girls as the Princesses of the King they are. You will hear more about this trip this coming week from Lily and her team. We are so blessed to be able to partner with the Tiaras and Legacy Ministries that Ricky and Lily lead.  As the Tiaras Team returned from Belize, Keith and Yami left Wednesday to lead a team in Honduras on mission, building houses and serving the little mountain churches there. I am so proud of them.  If you haven’t picked up on it yet, I think God has “proclaimed” FALL 2017 as the fall of Missions with Oasis. We are also working on trips this fall to all the islands hardest hit by this Summer’s hurricanes. More to come on that. If you are interested in a particular island and want to be notified if and when we go, please email [email protected] and let Jonathan and the team know.  "Experiencing God" continues this week. I know God orchestrated this series for this specific season in the life of you and I as well as Oasis Church. This week I’m bringing the message on Reality #6, “Adjusting our lives to where God is working.” I would say adjustment is 100% of what we are having to do right now as a church and ministry as God has opened up so many doors for us to love and “be the drop”. We can’t meet every need but we can be the drop for one!  I look forward to seeing you this weekend. Check out our 6pm Saturday Night Service if you have not yet been to this one. It’s growing and there’re some special family events that the ones on Sunday don’t have. See you then.  Guy Melton Senior and Founding Pastor Oasis Church of South Florida P.S. To continue to give to the Hurricane relief efforts and to give your tithes and offerings, you can bring it this weekend or go online anytime 24/7 and give back to the Lord. We are grateful God allows us to be His conduit from your giving to a hurting community and world. Love you guys. tel 954.433.4838 | fax 954.433.2004 | [email protected] To discontinue receiving these emails send an email to [email protected]. Please indicate whether you want to opt out of all church communication or just these

"Over $1 Million Dollars Pledged" ........ Weekly Pastors Email.. July 1, 2017

Dear Oasis Extended Family and Friends;

Over $1 Million Dollars pledged to Love Cities, Love Pastors Missions Outreach last week. How can you put what happened into words? I’m not sure how I can but I’ll try to just give you some of the highlights. If you missed the Celebration Dinner on Wednesday night, words can’t really do justice. If you missed the weekend services when our pledges kept climbing in each service and “tears were flowing freely" like I’ve never seen before, then I am not sure I can really paint the picture. But here are some highlights.

"Love Cities, Love Pastors Celebration Dinner." Last Wednesday night after almost 600 adults, teens and children signed up for the dinner, most of them showed up to pack our auditorium and cafe. It was an amazing sight. Most were blown away by the beauty of the room and the decorations our staff and volunteers had prepared for such a special occasion (hopefully in the future we can figure out how to accommodate more of our Oasis family since we had to shut down registrations when we filled our building). The night began with a beautiful meal and a "jazz combo" playing as we ate, but that was just the beginning. After an incredible 15-minute video of all that God has done through you, Oasis, over the last 3 years as you have given to LCLP, we could have just gone home. Hundreds, if not thousands, have been touched and changed through your giving. Following the video Pastor Daryl Gaddy, our partner in Detroit, brought an inspiring challenge to us to continue the work that God has started. He also brought us up to date with the new Missions Center we are helping him to complete in Detroit. You can watch the video from last weekend here! It’s incredible.

The highlight of the night was when the pledges came in and they far surpassed the goal for the dinner of $500,000 for Love Cities, Love Pastors outreach over the next 3 years. Because of this we were able to present Pastor Tommy and Kristin Parke a check for $10,000 towards their new church plant, City Church, in Miami. We also presented Pastor Daryl with a $10,000 gift towards completing the Missions Center his church is establishing in inner city Detroit. Those were amazing moments.

The night ended with a reminder to keep praying and giving and a thank you gift "mug" to everyone in attendance. By the way, if you have your mug and you’re using it take a picture and post your “Mug Shot" on social media, hashtag it #lclpmugshot and we will share it. Love seeing them. Keep posting.

The LCLP Weekend was one of the highlights of our almost 26 years on this little corner. Service after service, as we shared the LCLP vision for the next 3 years with those who had not been at the dinner, we continued to add to the pledge totals for local and US missions and church planting over the next 3 years. During the 9am service we went over the $750, 000 pledge mark and we were able to present Lily Garcia, our Executive Director of Community and Leadership Development, another $10,000 check toward the NEW homeless single moms’ home called "Asia's House.” This was probably the most emotional moment of the entire weekend. You will hear more as we continue to give to LCLP and find the home to house homeless moms and their children.

More than $1 Million in pledges was reached at our last service of the day during our 1pm service. ONLY GOD! (The total continues to grow. If you missed last weekend we will have pledge cards available this weekend at all services so you can still be a part of this miraculous Missions outreach that has grown far beyond our original vision.)

"Tommy and Kristin Parke sent out!” The icing on the cake this past weekend was the ending of our LCLP weekend and service when we had an opportunity to pray over and officially send Pastor Tommy and Kristin out as our church planters to begin a new church next year in the heart of downtown Miami. City Church is now a reality. It was so emotional for me since I still remember so vividly how my home church, First Baptist Church of West Hollywood, sent Tonia and I out almost 26 years ago as Pastor Bud McCord spoke the words, "We give you away", the same words I spoke this past weekend. Pray for the Parkes as they spend the next 9 months preparing to birth this new baby church in Miami.

Next week I’ll share more about all that our Love Cities, Love Pastors will be supporting over the next 3 years. Your pledges do NOT have to be given all at once. You have 3 years. If you want to give online you can here, when you give the Lord’s tithes, and if you would like to pledge online you can also do that by just clicking HERE!

Pastor Jeremy Higdon will be speaking this weekend. We’ll be welcoming one of our former staff pastors and church planters back to Oasis this weekend. Don’t miss it. God has used Jeremy and Jeannine in a huge way in Jacksonville since we sent them out 7 years ago, and he will give us an update of all God is and has done there because of your faithfulness and giving to that new church 7 years ago.

Love you guys and see you this weekend.

Guy Melton

Senior and Founding Pastor

Oasis Church of South Florida

 

PS. When you give the Lord His tithes and your Bike for Haiti, Missions and Love Cities, Love Pastors offerings, you can always do it here ONLINE or bring it to the service you attend. Thanks Oasis for being so generous and giving to those who have far greater needs than we do.

 

 

 

"Over $1 Million Dollars Pledged" ........ Weekly Pastors Email.. July 1, 2017

Dear Oasis Extended Family and Friends;

Over $1 Million Dollars pledged to Love Cities, Love Pastors Missions Outreach last week. How can you put what happened into words? I’m not sure how I can but I’ll try to just give you some of the highlights. If you missed the Celebration Dinner on Wednesday night, words can’t really do justice. If you missed the weekend services when our pledges kept climbing in each service and “tears were flowing freely" like I’ve never seen before, then I am not sure I can really paint the picture. But here are some highlights.

"Love Cities, Love Pastors Celebration Dinner." Last Wednesday night after almost 600 adults, teens and children signed up for the dinner, most of them showed up to pack our auditorium and cafe. It was an amazing sight. Most were blown away by the beauty of the room and the decorations our staff and volunteers had prepared for such a special occasion (hopefully in the future we can figure out how to accommodate more of our Oasis family since we had to shut down registrations when we filled our building). The night began with a beautiful meal and a "jazz combo" playing as we ate, but that was just the beginning. After an incredible 15-minute video of all that God has done through you, Oasis, over the last 3 years as you have given to LCLP, we could have just gone home. Hundreds, if not thousands, have been touched and changed through your giving. Following the video Pastor Daryl Gaddy, our partner in Detroit, brought an inspiring challenge to us to continue the work that God has started. He also brought us up to date with the new Missions Center we are helping him to complete in Detroit. You can watch the video from last weekend here! It’s incredible.

The highlight of the night was when the pledges came in and they far surpassed the goal for the dinner of $500,000 for Love Cities, Love Pastors outreach over the next 3 years. Because of this we were able to present Pastor Tommy and Kristin Parke a check for $10,000 towards their new church plant, City Church, in Miami. We also presented Pastor Daryl with a $10,000 gift towards completing the Missions Center his church is establishing in inner city Detroit. Those were amazing moments.

The night ended with a reminder to keep praying and giving and a thank you gift "mug" to everyone in attendance. By the way, if you have your mug and you’re using it take a picture and post your “Mug Shot" on social media, hashtag it #lclpmugshot and we will share it. Love seeing them. Keep posting.

The LCLP Weekend was one of the highlights of our almost 26 years on this little corner. Service after service, as we shared the LCLP vision for the next 3 years with those who had not been at the dinner, we continued to add to the pledge totals for local and US missions and church planting over the next 3 years. During the 9am service we went over the $750, 000 pledge mark and we were able to present Lily Garcia, our Executive Director of Community and Leadership Development, another $10,000 check toward the NEW homeless single moms’ home called "Asia's House.” This was probably the most emotional moment of the entire weekend. You will hear more as we continue to give to LCLP and find the home to house homeless moms and their children.

More than $1 Million in pledges was reached at our last service of the day during our 1pm service. ONLY GOD! (The total continues to grow. If you missed last weekend we will have pledge cards available this weekend at all services so you can still be a part of this miraculous Missions outreach that has grown far beyond our original vision.)

"Tommy and Kristin Parke sent out!” The icing on the cake this past weekend was the ending of our LCLP weekend and service when we had an opportunity to pray over and officially send Pastor Tommy and Kristin out as our church planters to begin a new church next year in the heart of downtown Miami. City Church is now a reality. It was so emotional for me since I still remember so vividly how my home church, First Baptist Church of West Hollywood, sent Tonia and I out almost 26 years ago as Pastor Bud McCord spoke the words, "We give you away", the same words I spoke this past weekend. Pray for the Parkes as they spend the next 9 months preparing to birth this new baby church in Miami.

Next week I’ll share more about all that our Love Cities, Love Pastors will be supporting over the next 3 years. Your pledges do NOT have to be given all at once. You have 3 years. If you want to give online you can here, when you give the Lord’s tithes, and if you would like to pledge online you can also do that by just clicking HERE!

Pastor Jeremy Higdon will be speaking this weekend. We’ll be welcoming one of our former staff pastors and church planters back to Oasis this weekend. Don’t miss it. God has used Jeremy and Jeannine in a huge way in Jacksonville since we sent them out 7 years ago, and he will give us an update of all God is and has done there because of your faithfulness and giving to that new church 7 years ago.

Love you guys and see you this weekend.

Guy Melton

Senior and Founding Pastor

Oasis Church of South Florida

 

PS. When you give the Lord His tithes and your Bike for Haiti, Missions and Love Cities, Love Pastors offerings, you can always do it here ONLINE or bring it to the service you attend. Thanks Oasis for being so generous and giving to those who have far greater needs than we do.

 

 

 

A Supernatural Story........... Pastors Email for March 22, 2016

 

 

Dear Extended Oasis Family and Friends,

 Many times the words "Miracle, Miraculous or Supernatural" are over used in the church. But there are some times when they are truly appropriate and absolutely true. This email will share a few of those instances. I want to share a report I received yesterday while meeting with one of our primary Haitian partners for an update on their ministry that we support and the seminary we underwrite for the training of Pastors in the St. Marc region of Haiti. There is far too much to share here but if you support Bike for Haiti in any way, your heart should be so full and you should get so excited. Just listening to him made me want to leave immediately and go see all the things God has done in this area of Haiti through our partner Pastor Jean Moise. PLEASE READ THE WHOLE EMAIL TODAY AND JUST LET THE FEW PICTURES TELL YOU JUST A SMALL PART OF THE STORY. THESE PICTURES ARE POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF YOU WHO GIVE TO BIKE FOR HAITI. This is a portion of the letter he sent after our meeting yesterday. "Oasis has been there for me since the beginning of my missionary journey to Haiti (following the earthquake) when everybody else had walked away for personal or financial reasons, you and your church family continue to provide for the ministry. My wife, my children and I will be forever grateful. We value your ministry and your support that we have received over the years. I finally realized that our first trip to Haiti was not a coincidence (7 years ago). The Lord knew that I was going to need your support and the support of Oasis Church for such times like this. The ministry in Haiti is at a different level. God has taken it, and multiplied it. We finally have a school to educate the children in Pierre - Payne and the surrounding area. The church is growing. The seminary has more students than I expected. Five more churches have been started in the past two years. Pastor Jean Moise Oasis Church, this is miraculous. Let me illustrate through some numbers and pictures. Guy Melton and Pastor Jean Moise First Kindergarten Class (Above) Bike for Haiti/Oasis Church underwrites the seminary for pastors. They have averaged 50 pastors a year in their training. This year they have 117 in their seminary. WOW. The new church planted during a revival that an Oasis missions group did 2 years ago in Pierre Payne. This church has grown to over 200 and they have baptized over 100 new believers. It is the fastest growing church in the region. The new Church has built a building this year and began a school with 47 Kindergarten children. Pastor Moise, his four children who are in college and recent graduates have funded the construction to begin the school. Dr. and Mrs. Moise give 50% of their income to the ministry and churches they've planted in Haiti. Now, over 50 churches have been planted by Mission Evangelique Baptiste Mosheh, Inc. (MEMB), the ministry Dr. Jean Moise started. The new church in Pierre Payne now plans on building a new facility to launch an Elementary and Middle School this fall in order to continue to educate and reach the community around it with the gospel. OASIS, WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN THIS GROWING MINISTRY AND SCHOOL BECAUSE OF YOUR GIVING TO BIKE FOR HAITI. I INFORMED PASTOR MOISE YESTERDAY WE WILL UNDERWRITE THE FIRST PHASE OF THE NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUILDING BECAUSE OF YOUR BIKE FOR HAITI GIVING. We will immediately send them $10,000 to begin construction this spring before the rainy season begins. Bike for Haiti, because of you, we will also begin supporting the new school by investing in underwriting the teacher’s salary and other expenses for the new elementary school which amounts to $1,000 a month. There is so much more happening there but I just cant go into it all here but you are making a difference beyond anything we could have ever imagined 7 years ago when Pastor Jean and I met for a one day trip to Haiti. God did a miraculous work in my heart in that 24 hour period which led to Bike for Haiti, the New York Ride, and this past year the California-Miami ride. Your giving is fueling miraculous things in Haiti that are supernatural in nature. For sure. Thank you Oasis Church. You are incredible. I know this has been long but I just had to share with you the incredible things happening because of you Oasis. I hope you will continue to give to Bike for Haiti. If you pledged, you know you can give by envelope on weekends with your tithes and offerings or you can go online. If you have not pledged but would like to be a part of something in Haiti making an eternal difference in thousands of lives, you can give by envelope or go online here. You will find the tab for tithes and you will also see Missions and Bike for Haiti. Of course it is important to give the Lord His tithes first. Without the tithe, all the other mission work would not be possible since Oasis Church is able to minister in so many ways by the tithes you give the Lord through Oasis. I am grateful to each of you who give so faithfully. God bless you and I look forward to seeing you again this weekend. We are going to have a great message in our new series, “Death to Religion.” I love you guys and thanks for the honor it is to serve as your Pastor. Guy Melton Senior and Founding Pastor Oasis Church of South Florida tel 954.433.4838 | fax 954.433.2004 | [email protected] To discontinue receiving these emails send an email to [email protected]. Please indicate whether you want to opt out of all church communication or just these emails.

A Must Read......... Pastors Weekly Email for March 9, 2017

 

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Dear Guy, This is a "MUST READ" email today. Oasis Church has found many innovative and creative ways to do ministry and fulfill our mission, "To Be and To Make Disciples,” over the last 25 years. God has been so good to us. We have had much success in reaching people and have been recognized a number of times in publications and books for our unique ministry here in South Florida. We are BLESSED! We have been BLESSED! We will continue to pursue God's calling and His mission over the next 25 years as passionately as the first 25 years.  This announcement ranks up there with one of the greatest opportunities we have ever had. Only because we have been faithful for so many years and because of your continued faithfulness and support of our Oasis Ministries and Missions are we able to announce this exciting opportunity. Drum Rolllllllllll........................................... Oasis Church has been asked to partner with the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) in offering a one year Biblical Ministry Certificate Program that is designed to provide church leaders and laymen with a biblical basis for ministry, as well as provide tools for properly interpreting Scripture.    This is huge. In our never ending pursuit to fulfill the Mission of Jesus, this is another piece to our values of Mission, Community and Worship. As I have said many times, the Christian walk and being a disciple is more than an hour service once a week and even more than just a Community Group experience or a short-term mission trip. They are all part of the larger picture of being a disciple.  Oasis and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, one of the premier seminaries in our country, are now making it possible for you to take your Christian life and knowledge of scripture to another level.  This is not just an opportunity for those already in vocational ministry but also for those of you who are laymen and who want to go deeper in your knowledge of the Bible. This is IT!  Yes, there is a cost since we will be paying professors and going through an accredited seminary. But the cost is 1/2 to a 1/3 of what you would pay to go out of town and even online to take a course. The cost is only $160 per semester course (Oasis is investing in you, this is not a fund raising tool for Oasis Church. We will receive NO income from the fees. All the cost goes toward the institute professors and the seminary administrating this partnership).  There is too much detail to go into here but if you want to go deeper and sharpen your ministry skills as a lay person, this is it. For those who might want to pursue a full degree in ministry these credits can be transferred, but you don't have to take it as a step to a degree but rather a step further in your Christian life.  Ok, enough from me. If you are interested or know someone that might be, go to our website and click on this link NOW. This is not just for Oasisers so if you know someone outside Oasis that wants to grow in their Bible knowledge and Christian walk you can send them the link.  I can't wait to see you this weekend. I'll share more about all this in our services this weekend.  It's such an honor to serve you as Pastor. I am forever humbled.  God bless you and I'll see you this weekend.    Guy Melton Senior and Founding Pastor Oasis Church of South Florida   P.S. As you know, we could never have ministry so broad and far reaching without you and others like you who give to the Lord through Oasis Church. Please go online now and give the Lord's tithes and offerings as I am doing today. I promise we will continue to be good stewards of your giving to the Lord.      PS I want to give a special shout out and thanks to Lily Garcia our Executive Director of Leadership Development and Community for making the partnership for the Oasis Bible Institute possible. I also want to thank our own Marsha Lowe (aka Dr. Lowe) for administrating it for our church. Love you guys. You are awesome. tel 954.433.4838 | fax 954.433.2004 | [email protected] To discontinue receiving these emails send an email to [email protected]. Please indicate whether you want to opt out of all church communication or just these emails.

 

"It's Christmas" Don't miss it......... Pastors Email for December 23, 2016

 

Dear Extended Oasis Family and Friends; "This is IT," It’s here! Christmas starts TONIGHT! Tonight at 6pm we begin our last weekend of Christmas at the Oasis. Don't miss it and don't miss bringing your friends and neighbors. There is so much to see, hear and do. If you haven't been this year, our youth are presenting a live Christmas show called Jingle Jam, in the auditorium and you will love it! There are 200 nativities selected from our Guinness World Record Nativity Display in the auditorium. Our youth are offering food and refreshments in the Cafe, and don't forget to try out our hot chocolate and hot apple cider as you melt your s'mores over the fire in the Snow Village. Oh, and did I say "snow"? The forecast says there'll be snow every night and after the snow storm try out the most popular activity on the property, the “KidsWorld Express”. These are just a few things to do tonight and through the Christmas weekend (Christmas night has only the drive-through light display).  The Christmas Eve Family Experience is different this year. It won't be the traditional one hour service but will be a time of family experience in the auditorium, which includes live music and other things that will all tie into our "Christmas at the Oasis" experience. The times are 7, 8, and 9pm.      "Christmas Day Services." This is the BIG service this year. Instead of the big Christmas Eve traditional Candlelight Service, we get to celebrate Christmas on Sunday this year. It’s not often that we can celebrate the Savior’s birth on a Sunday. We have TWO services Christmas morning, 10:30am and Noon. Don't miss the opportunity for you and your family to celebrate the birth of Christ this year on Sunday.     "Annual Christmas Offering." Never before has it been more important to have a very large Christmas offering. We need to raise $30,000 more for Christmas this year in order to cover all the Christmas at the Oasis costs. Next christmas display depends on our offering this year. Please consider joining so many of us who have already given or pledged at least $25 this year, over and above our regular tithes and offerings. For everyone that gives at least $25 to support our Christmas Display, you will receive a free Oasis 25th Anniversary Ornament. There aren’t a lot of ornaments left so get yours. By the way, many of us can give far more. If you can give $125, $200 or $3,000 you will be able to take up to 5 ornaments this weekend as long as supplies last.       May you and your family have a wonderful Christmas. I pray God's presence will be with you and yours in a very intimate way this year. Thank you for the honor to serve this wonderful church family as your Pastor.    Guy Melton Oasis Church of South Florida   P.S. You can pledge or give until January 1st to our Annual Christmas offering here NOW. You can also give the Lord His tithes and your offerings HERE, 24/7 anytime.      tel 954.433.4838 | fax 954.433.2004 | [email protected] To discontinue receiving these emails send an email to [email protected]. Please indicate whether you want to opt out of all church communication or just these emails.

Woke up Sick to my stomach! My Take on this years election.

 

My Weekly Prayer Partner email. I thought I would share it with you.

I woke up sick to my stomach this morning and have been feeling this way all day. Yes, it has to do with the election last night. Regardless of the outcome, and which candidate I would have woken up to hear was our new President Elect, I would have felt this way. 

 

I am so sad at the tone of our nation. The anger, bitterness, division and lack of civility that this last year has seen. I'm so sad and literally sick to my stomach today because so many people I know are hurting. Their candidate lost, others are gloating and rubbing it in. Both sides making insensitive remarks and painting the whole other-side with a broad-brush as if all voted for some dark, sinister devilish motive. 

 

I know and love Christian believers who were passionate for all the candidates for president. All had their various reasons. Honestly, it sounded like very few liked their man or woman very much. As I have said in many past elections, I have to vote for the lesser of two evils but in this case, I'm not sure there was a lesser. 

 

To hear some talk, it was as if God had anointed a new Pope for America and their candidate was God's pick. I hate to say this but it's the first time in my 38 years in ministry, I could not stand before those I lead and say vote your Christian conscience and your biblical beliefs. I'm personally not sure that was possible for a Christian. Now don't get me wrong, I believe in voting and Christians should be passionate but I'm not sure candidates can always rise to that standard. 

 

Please let me share my heart with you today. I don't believe Christians please God when we let our anger, bitterness, disappointment or victory affect the way we treat others who might differ from us. 

 

It so saddens me when we as Christians actually think a politician is going to save or doom America. When we live out of fear, bitterness, anger or retribution and let it rule us, it says we are putting our hope more in a man or woman than in our God. 

 

Yesterday morning, I posted an Instagram post and tagged it: #GodisinControl.

 

We all say it but do we believe it? 

 

As Christ Followers, we have the greatest weapon God has given us. It's not the ballot box or even a social media post. It's prayer. Do we not think God is not aware of the issues in our country? Do we actually think it's a politician who will change it? 

 

Honestly, I think it's only prayer. Please pray. Pray for each other. Pray for ALL our elected officials from the proverbial local Dog Catcher to the President. Yes, as I remember President Obama saying 8 years ago after being elected, "Elections have consequences," but for Christians, we do not have to fear or try to control the outcome and consequences. God will take care of that. Either we have faith or we don't. We believe He is in control or we don't. 

 

Please let me plead with you to pray and not let anger control us. 

Pray, do not let pride control us. 

Pray, do not let our personal feelings cause us to treat others who differ from us badly. 

Pray, instead of cursing. 

Pray, instead of getting even. 

Pray, instead of gloating. 

Pray, for our leaders.  

 

1 Timothy 2:1: "So, first and foremost, I urge God’s people to pray. They should make their requests, petitions, and thanksgivings on behalf of all humanity. 2 Teach them to pray for kings (or anyone in high places for that matter) so that we can lead quiet, peaceful lives—reverent, godly, and holy—3 all of which is good and acceptable before the eyes of God our Savior 4 who desires for everyone to be saved and know the truth."

 

I learned many years ago that politics divides and it's never been more evident than in this election. But as Christians, we must rise above that and love and pray for those we might even disagree with or as Jesus said, love those who spitefully use you. 

Love UNITES!

Love HEALS!

Love BUILDS UP!

Love WINS! 

 

Politics divides, love conquers. Love one another. (He didn't put qualifiers on it.) 

 

God did not call me to promote or endorse a candidate. I am grieved at the many pastors on both sides who publicly endorse and even campaign for a candidate. When they do, they own that candidate and no candidate is perfect, all will disappoint us. People will identify us with that failure or party. I am so sad to see so many pastors take sides. God loves all sides. Jesus died for ALL! 

 

God has called me to love, pray and care for all of our flock and for us to reach out with the GOSPEL to all people. Not just those we agree with. When we let our politics divide us, we take away the platform to share Jesus. 

 

I have been alone all day, working on the finishing touches of this weekend's message. Ironically it's on Grace and to Go...... in Grace. We need to give each other a lot of grace this week. Give people a hug that are hurting. Be sensitive to those who might disagree and above all give grace and God's love. Begin with praying for one another. 

 

Jesus gave us the Gospel to share. It means Good News. Let's share some Good News with someone this week. People need Jesus and hope, not a politician. For me, I will continue to challenge Oasis to feed the homeless each week, fill food pantries of local ministries, love kids, help the hopeless, go love Haiti and other countries and cities like Detroit and those in our neighborhoods that need help. That is where you will find Jesus. May we continue to be about His Kingdom business and not so focused on a temporary home that will soon pass away. Eternity is at stake. 

 

I love you guys.

Guy Melton

Sr. Pastor

Oasis Church of South Florida

Update on Hurricane Matthew and Sympathies to long term members!

 

Dear Extended Oasis Family and Friends;

I hope you are in a safe place, shuttered and ready to ride out our first hurricane in a long time in Broward and Dade County. By now, you know we have been so fortunate to have just narrowly avoided the brunt of this Category 4 storm.  

While I am thanking God that we are not getting the direct hit, I am also very concerned for friends and family along the Central Coastline around Melbourne, Satellite Beach, Daytona and also our Oasis Church of North Florida in Jacksonville. 

It appears the full brunt of the storm will hit the coastline between Melbourne and Daytona. Our middle son Nathan and his family are in Indian Harbour Beach and have been evacuated inland. We are very concerned for their safety and home as we are for so many others. 

Earlier in the week, Matthew hit the South Western Coast of Haiti. There have been over 100 lives lost so far and as they get to the remote areas, they fear it will rise much more. Our primary partners have all given us an update and for the most part they have been spared. 

We do have some preliminary reports from the Jacmel area where we had our Medical Missions trip last month. The damage there is extensive and we have not even heard from the areas most susceptible. We will give you an update in our Weekend Services.   

We are thanking God that most of our families that have loved ones in the Caribbean Islands like Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti have reported that their families have only had minor damage and not loss of life. We Praise God! This is miraculous knowing the power of this storm. 

OASIS, WE HAVE BEEN SPARED THE WORSE. NOW IT IS OUR TIME TO GIVE AND TO SHARE WHATEVER WE CAN WITH THOSE HIT HARDEST. 

First, please give to our Bike for Haiti Missions. Many already do, but we need more than ever to give as much as ever. We have been funding some big projects, along with our regular Haitian ministries, but we do not have the margin to help with the tremendous needs that will be coming our way. You can give at church this weekend, or you can go online to GIVE NOW  (Please remember these gifts are over and above your regular tithes and offerings you normally give). We are very blessed that we will not be spending thousands on repairs and loss of jobs, so let’s make a sacrifice and help others. It’s the least we can do. I assure you that anything given to our Haiti Missions will go directly there and not a penny will stay within our Oasis Ministry here in South Florida. 

Secondly, be prepared to help our fellow Floridians to the North who will no doubt, need lots of help. As soon as the storm passes, we will be contacting our many friends in the central and northern parts of the coastal communities of Florida to find out how we can help. I’m sure we might be sending truckloads of help to them. Check our website at visitoasis.org and all our social media pages for more information on how we can help. If there are needs as early as this weekend, we will give you a shout out about those needs for our family North of us.

 

How appropriate that we begin our NEW SERMON SERIES this weekend, "RIGHT NOW". 

I will be opening the series on Saturday and Sunday at all the services. It’s no coincidence that the title of my message is, "Serving Others". There is no better time to serve others than now. We will also be having a time of worship and thanksgiving for God’s grace on us here in South Florida. 

There is NO BETTER time to worship and invite someone with you than this weekend. We have so much to be grateful for. Please join me this weekend to Thank God and show our gratitude for how awesome He is! 

Can't wait to see you! Stay in and stay safe tonight. 

I love you Oasis Church. It’s so great to be home. I am honored and humbled to serve you as pastor. 

 

Guy Melton                                                                                                                     Senior Pastor                                                                                                                    Oasis Church of South Florida

P.S. Please GIVE NOW  not only your tithes and offerings but an extra sacrificial gift for those suffering after the hurricane. You will find the Bike for Haiti giving tab when you click on the special Bike for Haiti graphic on our homepage.

P.P.S We also want to take the time now to extend our condolences to three long-time Oasis families who have lost loved ones this week. 

This weekend, on Saturday October 8th, we will be having the Memorial Service for Ms. Anthea Melbourne who passed away last week. The service will begin at 9:30am at our Pembroke Pines Campus. We also extend condolences to the family of Willie Jenkins who suddenly passed away from a massive heart attack. His service information is still pending. Finally, Gaby Estrella-Matos, one of our ONE Students here at Oasis, lost her father suddenly this week. Please be praying for each of these families during their time of grieving. 

 

A Must read on Missions......... Guest Pastors Email.... August 20, 2016

 

This is a MUST READ..... Make sure you finish it. While on Sabbatical various staff members are writing my weekly Pastors Email. This weeks was from a young wife and mom who is on our Financial Office Team but before she came on staff she caught my attention not just because her and her husband sit on the front row each weekend, but served in our Kids World even before they got married as laymen. When we had an opening on our financial team I knew I wanted Yami to be a part of our staff because she not only loved Oasis Church but had a huge heart for Missions and had been on several missions trips on her on. Read more below. What an inspiring heart felt challenge on Missions.

Dear Extended Oasis Family and Friends,

I pray this finds you well!

 

My name is Yami McLaughlin, coming to you from the Oasis Business & Finance Ministry Team. Some of you might already be thinking this e-mail is about to take a turn towards numbers, however, this week I’m truly privileged to be sharing my heart with you regarding something so much more stirring, which happens to be one of our core values, Missions!  

 

Sometimes when we hear the word “missions” we get paralyzed. We have this colossal picture inside our minds about all we must be and do to rightfully take on the task. Today, I’d like to share with you that it is not as frightening at it seems, it is actually pretty simple. To practice missions just means, to go out and share your faith by serving others. 

 

One of my personal favorite passages in scripture is found in Matthew 28:18-20

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

 

Many of us, I’m sure, have read these lines before. They are known as the Great Commission, but I can assure you they take on a whole new meaning when you actually live them out! About seven years ago, I was sitting at a service in my home church at the time, where a sweet friend got to share with us about a recent missions experience she had been on. She had finished the task for that trip but there was so much more work to be done. For a while, the Lord had been placing a burden for missions in my heart, and I just knew I had to take the step and jump in! 

 

I’m not going to make-believe and say it is an easy road, but I will say this, it has been so worth it! To follow your heart on missions requires commitment, resources and courage! I have shared with many, even those right here on our staff, about my anxious heart just before serving. From the load of leaving family behind, to personal and team safety, to making ends meet, however I always feel an overwhelming peace that only comes from being right in the center of God’s will. You see, God often does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called!

 

This year, my friend and I celebrated seven years since we launched a small non-profit that supports local and international missions and it has been nothing but God-ordained! We have learned that the best way to share the gospel with people, both far and near, is to be a vessel of God’s love and comfort in their lives by serving them and showing them true compassion. We have witnessed hundreds improve their quality of life and many lives changed for eternity, and we strongly believe many more will still hear and receive because of the seeds that have been planted. The greatest reward is the smile of those we have served, but even more importantly it is knowing that in His timing our Father will show His mercy and grace to those who are willing to receive Him! 

 

Here at Oasis, we believe in the value of missions wholeheartedly! We hold tight to the words of Jesus, and believe that all authority has been given to us to go and make disciples! We believe in being called to reach others and in doing so, we must first offer of ourselves and live by example about these very things. Jesus never changes and, therefore, the spirit of our ministry should never change. After all, Jesus said, “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,” (Matthew 20:26). Last but not least, we believe, He is with us to the very end, and with this promise we are able to move to where the Lord calls us. 

 

If you have been praying about participating in missions, I invite you to take the step TODAY! Remarkable things happen when we step in obedience to perform the work the Lord has set for us to do! We are all together in this journey even though our seasons of life will vary from one another. Some of you might be in a term where working globally is not suitable. I’m here to encourage you about the endless possibilities we have every day, right in our own backyard! To put it in perspective, I will share from our own family experience. My husband Keith and I are both working parents raising 3 children. I have, in the past two years, been blessed enough to serve alongside our two oldest. My husband, on the other hand, has reliably stayed behind watching over our toddler and caring for his needs while we have served away. He has not physically come on any of our trips, but serving us has become “his mission” for the time being. Have you ever wondered what that would be like, if we were as intentional at home as we are on a mission trip? Why not have the same mindset and commitment when we are at home?

 

If you are looking for a way to serve here at Oasis, we have many opportunities for you! Supporting the local church and its different ministries is one of them. This link will walk you through some of the different ways you can help here at Oasis! 

 

Don’t lose sight of the impact you can make when you serve at the capacity you are in! We, the local church, are the Hope of World! God is going to draw people to Him. And He is going to use us, the whole church, to do it!

 

God bless you all!

 

Yami McLaughlin

Business and Finance Ministry Team

Oasis Church of South Florida

 

 

 

We are celebrating 25 Years of Ministry here at Oasis Church and we want YOU to be a part of this memorable time in our history! Mark your calendars for September 17th & 18th as we prepare to take a look at all that we have to be thankful for as a church. You can get more information on our website here.

 

OUR DARE SERIES CONTINUES THIS WEEKEND

We continue our series "Dare" this weekend as we look at how to experience the best life that God intends for us. The answer lies in understanding that the Christian life is an adventure, and that we only have to follow the greatest guide who ever walked the path of life, Jesus. In this series we will explore the way to live fully, love completely, and lead boldly: the hallmarks of Jesus' time on earth.

Christmas work nights are under way! Join this team of dedicated Elves every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm - 9:00pm at our Pembroke Pines Campus as they get us ready for Christmas at the Oasis 2016!

If you would like more information on how you could be a part of this team, email us at: [email protected]

 

As always, the only way Oasis can fulfill the mission God has given us, and to continue to see lives changed, is by your giving back to God His tithes and your offerings. Just a reminder, you can give your Bike for Haiti offerings and your Love Cities, Love Pastors offerings online or by clicking on the link below.

 

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Sabbatical Update......... Pastors Weekly Email.

Dear Extended Oasis Family and Friends, 

I want to spend my weekly Pastor’s Email sharing in a different way than normal. I want to give an update on my Summer Sabbatical. For many in our church, you have experienced this, but for others who are new, you might think it strange for a Pastor to be gone all summer. Sadly, it is ‘unique’ for a church to give a Pastor a sabbatical. 

Let me give a little background on the ‘why’ of a sabbatical. For those in the education field, healthcare and hospitality professions its not that uncommon in some way or another to have sabbaticals for those serving long term in their roles. Sabbaticals are very biblical and can have a duration of only one day to an extended period of time. God even implores us all to take a sabbatical once a week on the sabbath; the 7th day. Unfortunately, a lot of the burn out, moral scandals and other issues in the church stem from a Pastor and church that do not make the investment in a sabbatical. Most every major local church in our area has had Pastors with moral failings in the last 20 years. That is a sad commentary. Most Pastors stay at a church for less than 5 years. Just this past Sunday a mega church Pastor was removed from his position and it made national news because of alcohol abuse. I could go on and on. It’s worth pointing out that while a sabbatical does not guarantee the prevention of any of these failings, it can certainly be a hedge against them. Most long tenured Pastors who serve beyond 5 years, only stay for long periods because of having extended times away. 

After much research on the subject, and realizing that many of the Pastoral issues come from never taking a break or even a vacation, our Church Council set up a Sabbatical Policy for our Pastoral/Executive Team in 2006. This was to ensure that we had time to refresh, refuel and renew our emotional and spiritual selfs. This will be my third and many of you have been here through all of them.   

I could spend pages on what a sabbatical means and how they are lived out but most of you would be bored. It can be done in many ways. Our Council has put very clear guidelines into writing for myself and other Pastors who stay 5 years and longer and we are required to abide by and follow those guidelines. I believe that having served Oasis for 15 years before my first one, and now celebrating my 25th year this year, these sabbaticals have assured me the opportunity for a longer ministry to you, and for you to have a more healthy leader of our dear Oasis Church family. 

Most Pastors do not feel their church can do without them and most churches are too selfish to let their Pastor go away. Both are un-healthy and will lead to burn out and failings in all kinds. I like to tell Pastors, "You will get a sabbatical one way or the other.” Meaning it will either be forced through mental breakdown, physical burn out or you have to leave in order to have a break between churches you serve. I prefer the healthy and biblical way. We are blessed as a church to have a Church Council who saw the value in this back in 2006 and I thank them for loving our church and myself enough to offer this every 5 years. 

If a church is healthy, it does not rest on one man even though we want to believe it does. The only person the church should depend on is Jesus. If we are dependent on ONE man, then we are dysfunctional and the church is not being the biblical church. 

Our church has a teaching team, an incredible staff and several hundred committed lay leaders who are Oasis Church. Guy Melton or any one Pastor is only one piece. We are all important pieces to the body of Christ we call Oasis. But, no ONE piece is too important that we can’t do without them. 

I am proud to Pastor a church that understands this and is healthy enough to allow their Senior Leadership to have extended periods away. 

Each time I’ve gone, including this time, there are always those who want to think something is going on behind the scenes or I’m getting ready to leave. Just as at other times, several months ago someone said there was a rumor I was going on sabbatical and not returning. I just laughed out loud! Some always want to think there is more to it. I like to say, as I have for years when I hear rumors that aren’t true, "Time will tell.” If God allows me to, I hope to never Pastor anywhere else but Oasis Church. You are my calling and my love. 

Pastor Ricky, our Executive Pastor, has been doing a great job of leading us while I have been on our Bike for Haiti Ride. He will continue to lead our church and staff during the remainder of the summer. You have an awesome staff and I hope you will pray for them and support them in every way while I’m gone. They deserve your total support. 

I will be spending a few weeks with my Grandsons on a trip out west that I have been planning for them for several years. I can't wait. After we return, you will not hear from me very often until the end of the summer, and until our 25th Anniversary. Do not worry. In order to receive the maximum benefit of these days away, it’s good to go off the radar for a while. You need a break from me anyway. Our team will be doing my weekly emails and I will do little to no social media posting some weeks but I assure you I am resting, renewing and dreaming about our next 25 years. I have lots of books to read and will be visiting some unique ministries around the country that I will be able to learn from that will enrich our ministry in the years to come. 

I love you guys and I’ve missed you since I began our Bike for Haiti Ride. The love and support you have given me during that has been one of the highlights of my life. I can never tell you enough how much it’s blessed me and been appreciated. Please continue to support Bike for Haiti and if you haven’t pledged, please do it right now and right HERE online.

 

 

This weekend once again, we are sharing our own Jeremy Higdon who will teach another great Love Cities, Love Pastors message. Then, the next 2 weeks, we have our Partner Pastor from Detroit, Darryl Gaddy sharing with us. Both will be a tremendous blessing. 

Haiti Medical Missions Trip is coming up during the Labor Day weekend, September 1st - September 5th. I hope some of you who have never been to Haiti will join myself and other Oasisers for this life transforming trip. You can get more info from our Trip Organizer, Amina Dubbison via email at: [email protected]. Time is of the essence if you would like to join us so sign up now!

God bless you Oasis. I love you guys, miss you and see you in September. I’ll be praying for you everyday and missing you like crazy. 

 

Guy Melton

Founding and Senior Pastor

Oasis Church of South Florida

 

P.S. Don’t forget that Oasis Church only exists because of your giving to the Lord His tithes and your offerings. The worldwide and local ministries we do are only because of those of you who obediently and faithfully give to the Lord through Oasis Church. You can do it this weekend or like I’m doing today, giving online right HERE.