GuyMelton.com: What Were You Thinking?

"Big News" and more this week in the Pastors Weekly Email.....

 

 

 

Dear Extended Oasis Family;      << Big News >> We are going back to Detroit to do missions with our Love Cities, Love Pastors partners at Victory Fellowship and Pastor Daryl Gaddy.  Spots are limited for this trip so if you are interested - DO NOT put it off.  The dates are Thursday - Sunday, August 13-16th and the cost for airfare, local transportation and lodging is $450.00  - a great price! Most of your meals you will need to be responsible for.  (We only have a few spots left. If you want to do something significant this Summer , skip the Cruise or trip to Disney World and GIVE a Weekend to INNER CITY DETROIT and some fantastic people. It will be cheaper and far more Rewarding.   Summer of Mission is still in full swing! This month, Drop - our young adult ministry - is leading us on mission and partnering with Hope South Florida, Heart Way Church, Christ Community Church and many more on SATURDAY, JULY 25th. Drop will be serving and encouraging hundreds of local homeless people by serving and preparing meals, praying, and folding clothes. The event will cost $5 and will be held at Christ Community Church  -  901 East McNab Road, Pompano Beach. Everyone is encouraged to bring unwanted clothes in bags. If you want to get involved and join our Drop Community, you can follow @dropnight on Instagram for updates in the coming weeks.    ONE Student Ministry is continuing their incredible summer of serving and ministering by having a special mission project this month called, Laundry Love. This month, our students will be going to a laundromat to be the drop and serve other people by paying for their laundry. They are collecting change during the month of July and you can help by bringing change and dropping it in the Laundry Love washing machine in the lobby. On July 25th, our students will meet at our Pembroke Pines campus at 10:00am and take shuttles to a laundromat in North Miami located at: 1568 NE 165th St. North Miami, FL 33162.   I am not sure I have ever in our almost 24 year history at Oasis Church - seen that so many ministries and our own people have been going on mission and living our value of "mission". That is what the church is called to do and we are just being the church. Loving and sharing God's love with others.    Thanks to all our ministries and individuals who have made this such a phenomenal Summer of Mission! You guys bless me so much!        Our NEW series - Life Verse - begins this weekend! This series reminds us that we are God’s handiwork, created for good works. Our stories can result in amazing impact when we let God - the Master Author write them. We will have the opportunity to hear the stories of ordinary men allowing God to do extraordinary things through them and in the communities they serve in as Pastors. Join us this throughout this series as we get to hear their stories and witness God’s Glory. I want to end this weeks email by thanking so many of you that have made a commitment to give this summer during the 90-Day Tithe Challenge and for those who have be faithfully giving for many years. You are the ones that allow us to continue to do "MISSION" in one of the greatest mission fields in all the world - during one of the greatest times in history - to share the Good News with so many who are hurting and are lost. You are making an eternal difference.     By the way, you will hear about our new GIVING Kiosks this weekend! This will allow you to have another way to give the Lord His tithes and offerings. You will also see another new way to give in a few weeks as our team have been redesigning our Connection Card and Giving envelope to open up better and create a more efficient way for you to give. Of course, you can join me and several hundred others who give ONLINE HERE! I just did it this week and it's so quick and secure. I love it. It took me a while to get used to not using the same old envelopes and checks but now, I wouldn't have it any other way. God bless you and thanks again.   Guy Melton Senior Pastor Oasis Church of South Florida   P.S. I want to congratulate our North Miami Campus Pastor Jonathan Jimenez and his wife Lucy on the birth of their beautiful little girl, Naomi Olivia! She was born on July 7, 2015 at 1:11pm EST and weighs 6 pounds 4 ounces!

Summer at the Oasis...... Weekly Pastors Email..........

 

 

Dear Extended Oasis Family and Friends,

I just got off the phone with my five year-old granddaughter as her father picked her up from school in New York City. She is so excited about graduating tomorrow. I was like - what?! You are still going to school? It feels like we have been in Summer for months here in South Florida and yet they are not even out of school yet. This Summer has started out faster than any I can remember.

 

One of the most exciting things about this Summer is the addition of 15 interns! They range from high school to college and young adults who want to serve God this summer through Oasis Church. Lily did a great job last week of giving us a glimpse of the program, so I won’t go into that - but I want to say these are some of the most exciting young adults I have ever met. Some from within Oasis and others from other places. 

 

 

They are bringing the energy and passion for God to our students in One and throughout our church family. When you see them serving, hug them and cheer them on. Yesterday, I had a chance to meet them at the Oasis Beach House Campus and give a talk on "Planting a Church". Someday, some of them will start a new church just like Tonia and I did 23 years ago. Most will do some type of World Changing Ministry - like our own David Brown - who is in Fiji all summer serving with Pioneer Missions. 

 

This world is looking pretty bleak and dark and our next generation is looking GREAT and the Church is in great hands with them. In many ways, they are more passionate and sold out for God than any generation I have seen in my lifetime. I am encouraged and blessed!

On a day where we mourn the demonic killing of 9 innocent men and women while they were in a church bible study by a young 21 year old - it makes our young people even more important for us to love them, encourage them and to give them all the help we can as they enter this dark world. They are the hope of the future in the midst of chaos and pain. Please pray for the members and families of Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC.

 

"Fight for Love" continues this weekend. I am bringing this Father’s Day message in all services this week. I hope you will attend and make sure all of the dads and men in your family are at Oasis for one of our worship experiences. I want to speak to them about "Building their Legacy". Nothing is as important for men and dads as thinking and daily doing whatever it takes to leave a GREAT legacy that will last beyond their lifetime. I can't wait to share. I will also be sharing some of my story and the legacy my dad left.

 

ONE OF THE EXCITING THINGS OUR TEAM HAVE DONE FOR THIS SERIES IS PUT TOGETHER A WHOLE PAGE ON OUR VISITOASIS.ORG SITE JUST FOR FAMILY RESOURCES. IT MORE THAN JUST ABOUT SUNDAY. CHECK OUT THE MANY FAMILY RESOURCES HERE. 

http://www.visitoasis.org/fightforlove

 

 

I want to commend and thank all of you who have not only committed to tithe back to God but have also encouraged those who are doing it for the first time or beginning again. God is going to do great things in your life - if you will just test Him. If you missed the Sunday I gave the "90 Day Tithe Challenge”, you should watch it here. Also, we have a 90 Day Tithe Challenge page - visitoasis.org/90days - you can take the challenge and make your commitment - if you missed that weekend feel free let us know that you filled out the commitment card.

The Takeover - Family Weekend is happening next week! You won't know what hit you as we kick off a weekend of fun, music and interactive teaching for all ages - KidsWorld style! Bring your family and invite a family to join in on the fun! You can get an overview of what The Takeover will be all about at both campuses - right here! 

 

I love serving as your Pastor! Thank you for this high honor. I will never take it for granted.

 

Guy Melton
Pastor
Oasis Church of South Florida

 

P.S.  As always, you can give back to God right now, right here, online! In a few weeks, you will notice we will be adding a GIVING KIOSK in our lobby for those who want to use credit/debit cards. You will also be seeing a new connect card and giving envelope as well as a new way to give on your smartphone. Why all these ways? God has given us the technology today to do so many things so why not make it just as convenient for you to give back to Him and His work like you do with everything else. So you have more avenues to choose from than ever before to give to the Lord’s work. 

 

 

 

Welcome our 15 Summer Interns this weekend..... Pastors Weekly email.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Extended Oasis Family,

I hope you are having a great weekend and looking forward to another life-changing weekend of worship together at Oasis! This week, I asked Lily Garcia, our Executive Director of Leadership and Staff Development, to share with you some exciting news about our NEW Internship Ministry.

 

This has been a vision of mine for many years and I saw great results from youth interns when I was a youth pastor. Lily and her team have put together what I believe is going to be a life-changing program for not only our young adult interns - but also for our Oasis Church family. I’m going to let her share a little about this program:

 

I can remember being 18 and wondering - what’s next for me? How do I find my way? What college track should I take knowing my heartbeats for ministry? We wondered how many students & young adults pondered the very same questions. That was our drive for embarking on a mission to design an Internship Program at Oasis that would “be & make disciples” and help unleash future pastors & ministry leaders for the Kingdom.

 

While we design it with relevant ministry experience in mind, we created a 10-week program to include weekly ministry objectives, staff meeting participation, leadership book studies, mission opportunities, as well as, opportunities to learn about church planting, multi-site operations & strategic planning for all facets. Our interns will additionally be challenged in sermon preparation and give their teaching on stage for open feedback (American Idol Style) - regardless of the track they are in (i.e. KidsWorld, Students, Production).  We have a tour of Miami planned to teach them first hand the challenges of doing ministry in such an unchurched, diverse region. I look forward to seeing them learn from scheduled weekly talks by our ministry leaders in lanes across Oasis.

 

Sure, they will get their hands dirty, but they will be stretched and challenged. As we began our week, their excitement was palpable. We have 15 interns with us from all walks in life - from Arizona to Florida - all with the desire to grow and be challenged. One of our main lessons this week was taking them on stage to teach them that  the sermon begins in the parking lot and that we only have the first 7 minutes to make an impression. Our communications director delivered our first of many leadership modules, proving once again the power of team. 

We are looking forward to a summer filled with discoveries and life change!

It’s just the beginning!

 

Lily Garcia 

_____

Our interns began the summer session this week and you will see the amazing energy all summer from these phenomenal young adults. Thank you Lily and team for the phenomenal job you've done to make this happen!

See you all this weekend! 

Guy Melton
Senior Pastor
Oasis Church 

 

P.S - Remember, we are continuing to collect items for our Food Drive to help A Place In Time. They exist to bring hope to our local West Broward Community and we want to bless them by collecting canned and non-perishable items! You can drop off your items in the lobby of any campus, anytime! 

We are also continuing our series Fight For Love: Championship Round where we will be talking about how we can FIGHT for our children.

Lessons from the Road for Young Pastors and not so young ones.... Part 4 Taking Time Off and Time Away

 

Having reached the halfway mark to New York in our Bike for Haiti it was perfect timing to have Tonia and her mom drive up to meet me for the weekend in Wilmington, North Carolina two weeks into the ride.

I had made a decision early in my preparation to take every Sunday off during my ride which I had planned to take at least 6-8 weeks. I never expected to finish the ride in 27 days and taking 4 days off.

Basically I felt strongly I needed to take a Sabbath each week. This Friday 4 years ago I actually decided to take two days for the Weekend both Saturday and Sunday since I was so far ahead of schedule and it was the weekend Tonia and my Mother in Law , Yvonne would be with me.

I am so glad I made the decision to not try to ride everyday. I think it would have been a mistake. Those days off gave me much needed time to recuperate not only physically but also mentally and spiritually. It was one of the best decisions I made during the preparation process.

If you are young church planter or pastor I would suggest you make the same decision early in your ministry to take a Sabbath EVERY week. BTW, God took a Sabbath. He commands us to. Now we have good reason our Sabbath wont be Sundays.

I planned to take the days during the Ride. I believe if I had not scheduled them and planned to do it, I probably would not have done so. By planning I was able to plan my weekend. Make preparations for the coming weekend. One weekend I had our support car have maintenance issues. I got to speak at our Mission Church we planted two years prior with Jeremy Higdon , at the Oasis Church of North Florida in Jacksonville. Planning to take the day off allowed the mission church to give me a much needed Massage for my aching body and specifically my shoulder and neck area that had become very painful and tight. That was a gift I was so grateful for. The weekend Tonia came to NC also allowed me to get another and my last massage of the continuing lingering Shoulder and Neck pain which totally went away after that and allowed me to have my longest rides of 100 miles the last week of the ride.

Pastors are notorious for feeling so pressured to work, to serve , to take care of their flock that we tend to neglect ourselves and our families.

PASTORS MUST TAKE A DAY OFF A WEEK. IF YOU DO NOT YOU SHOULD LEAVE MINISTRY RIGHT NOW. YOU WILL BURN OUT AND YOU ARE SINNING BY NOT DOING IT SO LEAVE THE MINISTRY NOW BEFORE YOU BURN OUT AND EVEN JEOPARDIZE YOUR HEALTH AND YOUR FAMILY. THAT IS NOT GODS WILL.

 If you are too busy or to needed to take a day off then you need to get out of ministry.

If God took a Sabbath, why do we think we don't need one.

Most churches will allow their pastors to work 7 days a week , take no vacations and always be on call 24/7 if we do it. They aren't going to be trying to get you to slow down. Maybe one or two good souls but most will not. They give us credit enough that we are smart enough to do it. BTW , if you burn out tomorrow or have to quit or drop dead, the church will grieve but then move on to the next pastor and where did it get you?

These are strong words but I think most pastors shorten their tenures in their churches and their own lives by not taking time off.

I don't have the time here to say alot about this, but we also must take vacation time. Our Church Council of lay members in our first year of the church gave our staff a very generous vacation schedule and 9 years ago set up a process for our full time Administrative team to have a paid Sabbatical every five years. I have had two of them and will have my third next year.

Pastors if you will teach your leaders the importance of a weekly sabbatical for themselves and ask them to hold you to it. They will. I believe EVERY pastor needs to also teach their leaders the importance of taking Sabbaticals. I don't have the space or time here to deal with this but I believe this is one of the biggest mistakes Pastors and churches make in not feeling like they can afford their pastor being gone for extended time. If you are teaching your people, training, discipling and building leadership in your church then you can do it. When we say we cant take a vacation or have a sabbatical, we are admitting we are not doing our job of equipping the saints and making disciples. Yes I said it.

Young pastors, please begin this now even if you have just planted a church and only have 50 people. Start it now. Teach it now. Practice it now. Its not just good for you , your family and your church but it is Biblical.

This in itself may not guarantee your church will grow or that you will end well after a lifetime of ministry but it will definitely make you a happier, healthier person and also your church and family.

I NEVER apologize for taking my full 5 weeks of vacation after 37 years of ministry. I never apologize for giving our full time staff a weekend off a quarter since they lead 5 live services a weekend. I never apologize for taking a Sabbatical that next year will be 6 months. I believe it makes our church and my ministry stronger and it will yours too. (I dont suggest you ask for 5 weeks after a year in ministry or your new church. We have a graduated vacation and sabbatical plan for the longer a person is in ministry.)

Note: The Reason I had the time to do the 1,500 mile Bike for Haiti and raise $150,000. for Haiti was because I had a 5 month Sabbatical and I only needed one month of it to do the Ride. I had the margin.

 

 

 

Lessons from the Road for Young Pastors and not so young ones.......Part 3

The last couple days since realizing this is the month 4 years ago I did my Bike for Haiti Ride to NYC has been nostalgic as I have read over some of my blogs of the ride, looked at pictures and thought about the many lessons I learned. During the rest of the month I thought I would tie in some lessons from the road 4 years ago with some lessons as a pastor I have learned over the last 37 years.

As I reflect back on graduating from College and beginning my first full time ministry position at my home church First Baptist of West Hollywood in June of 1978 I wonder how has it been almost 4 decades? How is this possible? How can I still feel so passionate and still have so many dreams and plans for future ministry. I have to admit most people my age in most careers and even ministry are beginning to talk about retirement and set dates. Even tonight at the small group I attend our leader opened his phone and pointed to a number of how many days until he retires.

I think one of the secrets that should not be a secret for pastors to make it over the long haul, to survive the battles and to not burn out is to "celebrate".

Celebrate the Big Victories, but celebrate the daily victories, celebrate the weekly ones. We all like to celebrate the high attendance days, the holidays of Easter and Christmas and special occasions but how about the daily victories.

One of the things I believe helped me stay fresh and focused on the 1,500 mile ride mostly by myself , most days was to stop and celebrate. On our 4th day in the Ormand Beach area, I found an Ice Cream shop and bought a cone. Just to celebrate I had made it 275 miles and almost 4 days. I was already almost a day ahead of schedule. That was reason to celebrate.

Every night that we were close to civilization I would drive for miles to find a great local restaurant to eat where the natives would eat. In North Carolina I had more Calabash Fried Seafood than I have eaten my entire life. Now mind you this is a guy who had a Heart Stent put in a year earlier and "fried" is no longer in my vocabulary. But honestly I decided it was more important to relax and enjoy the few hours each night eating anything I wanted and could not eat normally. I mean come on, I was burning between 6,000-8,000 calories day. I could afford to.

I remember the day I hit the 750 mile mark, 1/2 way to New York City in a little beach town called Carolina, NC about 30 miles south of Wilmington. I immediately stopped and Jeremy Higdon my partner who was shadowing me in the Stag Wagon, (Support Vehicle) pulled out my favorite soft drink when Im in North Carolina, "Cheer Wine". We stood on the side of the beach rode and celebrated with Cheer Wine. I then went to a little shack and bought a hot dog I think with everything they had on it. LOL I celebrated.

Yes, the Big Celebration was planned for New York City and the return back to Oasis Church that June, but it was those daily celebrations that kept me fueled and fresh.

One day I stopped in a little town of Cateract , NC just south of the Outer Banks and just laid down in the middle of  a large field of Wild Flowers. Just to drink in the experience.

Ok, you get the drift. Pastors dont celebrate enough. We stay too focused, stressed and busy to enjoy what God is doing around us everyday.

I want to challenge every young pastor out there that has an abundance of Vision and dreams to not stay so busy trying to achieve your goals to enjoy the "Journey along the way". To love those around you and to "PARTY". Jesus partied, Jesus Celebrated with his disciples. I mean remember He chose to do His first miracle at a Wedding celebration and believe me the Jewish people know how to party and celebrate weddings. I can only imagine why the Wine had run out.

Our staff has always celebrated the Big victories. We have not always done as well celebrating the little victories daily and weekly. I have learned in recent years to stop and celebrate every-time you get a chance. There is nothing I love more than having fun with our team. Partying with them. Two weeks ago they threw a birthday party big time for me but what I enjoyed the most was that they enjoyed making fun of me and seeing who could humiliate me the most. Its hard to humiliate me when I do it so well myself , not by design.

This Next week we say good bye to one of our long time staff and his wife who have served the last 10 years on on our team and attended our church even longer before coming on staff. We will have a BIG party this Tuesday. There are some really great things being planned. We are going to party. I love some of the ideas Ive heard. I cant share them since they are secret to the ones leaving but we are going to have a great time celebrating them and their next season as well as their last 10 years.

I am so blown away at our team and how much they love a party . Some days a party just breaks out in the offices and hallways and I have to go out just to see whats happening. Some churches would poo poo that. Some offices are just filled with staff hanging around with others laughing, singing, and playing loud music. I can hear it all the way across the building. But you know what? I could go out and say shut up, I'm in my office working or you are wasting time, but I love that they are taking time to unwind, party and enjoy each other.(BTW, it doesnt have to cost much to Celebrate. You can do it with a $1. McDonalds Ice Cream Cone or a $2. Dunkin Donut! Yeah, now we are talking.)

Celebrate with each other. One ministry team I came across last week out under our Picnic area was having their weekly lunch together. Just because they want to. I love this because they will be far more happy in their ministry and their long term journey if they stop to party, to rest and to have fun together.

Pastors , if you are not having fun. If your staff is so busy and running so hard they cant have a pool party, a picnic, go to a movie together or just go get ice cream then you need to re-evaluate why your doing ministry.

The reason I have  not said alot about older pastors here is older pastors who have not learned this have either left the ministry, decided to retire out of burn out and frustration or they are in such a rut they wouldn't know how to party and have fun if it hit them in the face.

ONE LAST WORD HERE. ANYONE THAT KNOWS ME OR HAS EVER BEEN ON OUR TEAM OR OBSERVED THEM KNOW WE WORK HARD AND I EXPECT THAT. I HATE LAZINESS AND BELIEVE ITS A SIN. IF YOU ARE LAZY YOU WONT STAY ON THE OASIS STAFF VERY LONG.

We have always for the most part been blessed by hard workers who are passionate. That is great and must be so, but that does not mean we do not need to take time to have Fun and to Celebrate.

If you can't think of anything to celebrate, Invent something and go Party.

"Ministry is a Journey, not a Sprint" If you plan to finish well. Celebrate often and Party hardy.

"I Work Hard, I play Hard" So should you.

Party on Pastor!

"Seasons of Ministry"

 Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven: (NKJV)   

Yesterday I began what I am calling "Lessons from the Road, for young pastors and not so young pastors". Some lessons Ive learned in my 37 years of ministry but were reinforced 4 years ago on my 1,500 Mile "Bike for Haiti" ride to New York City.  (yesterdays post. http://guymelton.typepad.com/my_weblog/2015/05/seasons-of-ministry.html )

May 10, 2011 , my 10th day on the road and just entering South Carolina God showed up in one of the Biggest ways I had ever seen Him prior or since. In Chapter 12 of my book "Lessons from the Road" I tell the story of meeting 4 young guys , literally at a fork in two highways 40 miles south of Charleston. That morning neither I or the group ever expected this meeting. They were ending a 3,100 mile Bike Ride for "Haiti" yes, Haiti from California and I was just 500 miles into my ride going north to New York City.

That day was a special "Season" It was a short season but a powerful one. It is one that marked me for the rest of my life. We road 50 miles that day through Charleston, and to the Atlantic Ocean where they celebrated the ending to a phenomenal trip and accomplishment.

I got to be a fly on the wall that day as I watched the ending of an incredible journey of guys who I did not know but had the same heart for Haiti as I did. It was a short season but a powerful one.

As Pastors we will have "Seasons" with staff that are short and some long but all will mark us.

That short season of one Day I experienced what many of us do in ministry as we have seasons with various staff and ministry leaders.

* We celebrated each others stories and each others journeys.

* They elevated me, encouraged me and challenged me.

*We sweated together, we rested together, we had a brief time of community that only we could understand because of what we were doing.

* They marked me for life.

* We bonded in that short season of only 50 miles. We bonded as if we had known each other for years.

* I learned from them. I learned from their experiences.

* I got to celebrate their Victory and their accomplishments of their journey.

* They included me even though they did not know me.

* They celebrated me and my journey.

* I grieved having to leave. It was a lonely ride the rest of the day. It was hard to say good bye.

All these things happened in a day but it seemed as if we had been being prepared for a lifetime for this day.

As Pastors there are seasons with Staff and leaders just like this.

At Oasis we are just beginning what I have called my "3rd Season". The first 2 seasons, 23 years were incredible and were spent with some of the greatest men and women I could have ever served with. They are the ones who helped bring Oasis Church to where it is today.

But their season is over at Oasis. We have parted ways and now there is a new Team Oasis.

Every pastor must learn to deal with this . If you are young and in a church plant you might think those who are with you now will all be with you in 10 years. Very Unlikely more than a few will if any.

Our first team, in season #1 had members who helped plant Oasis and were with us for 14 years, 2 of them, one for 12 years and another for 10 years. Our second Season had team members with us for 7-10 years. Now as we enter into the transition of our 3rd Season of our Oasis Team I still find myself never getting used to saying good bye to a team member. Its always hard, its always personal and there is always grieving. (Ok some confession here, NOT ALWAYS, there have been a few Ive been glad to see them leave. But you will never know who they were. )

Why did I pick this subject to open with? Well #1 it fit with my Bike Day 10 story where I wanted to begin.

#2, this is one of the hardest things for a pastor and a church to deal with.

Most pastors fight it, get discouraged by it and many leave their church from losing staff and having to begin with new staff so they move on somewhere else where the same pattern will repeat itself.

I say once you grieve, you say good bye, you celebrate what God did with the person who left your team , pivot and EMBRACE a new season. If you are a pastor of one staff member , whether part time or full time or one of a 100 member staff. Embrace the Seasons. Seasons Change.

I would say while we have had incredible staff come through Oasis that cause me to be incredibly humbled and thankful God blessed me with them, I also know people need to move on. Seasons change and each person that leaves one field of service and moves to another takes with them lessons learned as a better person.

Each Season God has led Oasis through has been one that has allowed us to move to another level. What God uses in one season is not what He will use in another season. Don't fight it pastor. Embrace it.

This is hard for all of us as Sr. Pastors, lead pastors , church planters to accept but the average staff person stays 2 1/2 - 4 years. I feel blessed God has allowed Oasis to have our journey with most staff double and even triple  that tenure in some cases. But you show me a church who never has staff change and ill show you a church that is probably in a rut, complacent and is dying.

Don't get me wrong, I preach long term ministry and staying where you are "Planted". But the reality in a world where Social media and the lure of greener pastures is greater than EVER in history for staff members  it is going to happen more than ever and so a Pastor should be prepared that you will only be one Chapter in a Staff persons journey. So what do we do to cope with this Seasonal change?

*Embrace it

*Pray through it.

*Don't panic.

*Celebrate the time they spent with your church family.

*Thank them publicly and privately so your church can celebrate them and grieve over their lose.

* Understand you WILL lose people that love them , but understand the new team member will also bring new people with them in other ways. (Rarely is the impact of those that leave greater than the ones reached by a new team member. New members will bring new energy and passion too. Be patient. Its not personal. Its not about you. )

* Prepare your Church family that staff come and they go. God calls them and God leads them to other kingdom service just as most left somewhere else and came to your church.

* Its OK to grieve. Just dont stay there.

I truly believe as hard as every staff change is for me personally that Oasis would not be the church it is today if we had not been willing to let Go, celebrate and then move on.

Its not a time to change your Vision, Mission or DNA. Do not compromise your Calling just to keep someone or to appease someone.

Too many pastors are afraid to lose someone whether they are a lay person or staff member which is just the normal part of Seasons in all our lives including a churches life. If you aren't able to lose someone you aren't a leader.

So pastor, church planter, young or not so young. Prepare for it. It will happen and I hope for you that you can stay so long that you get to see multiple Seasons of change on your team , which means God is working and you and your church are richer for them being a part of your team.

Ill say more in another Day of the Ride about how to say good bye and why its only biblical, healthy and right to Give up staff and even to Bless their leaving. Healthy for them and your church.

One of the blessings of the 23 years of ministry as Pastor of Oasis is I have learned, Seasons change, its hard but you will survive and God will bring you new team members for just the "Season you are in". I know I have lived it, living it and hope to live it for many years to come.

 Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven: (NKJV) 

 

 

Lessons from the Road for Young Pastors and not so young ones.......

Today one of our newest staff members was in my office doing some work and asked me while looking at the Bike for Haiti memorabilia if I am planning to do another Bike for Haiti next year on my 5 year Anniversary of the ride. I had to say ...... well ill share what Im thinking about that subject at the end of the month, maybe.

When this young 20 something asked me this question and not being around when the ride took place it hit me that this is the very month I was riding and yesterday was one of the most incredible of the Ride. I decided that maybe I should spend sometime celebrating and remember what God did in me that May in 2011, 4 years ago.

It was on Day 18. God led me to consider writing the book of the many lessons He taught me during the ride. But actually there are many lessons from Bike for Haiti that were never written so I thought maybe ill write some down here on the blog for not the regular person but for pastors.

Rarely is there a day that goes by that a pastor does not email me, write, text or call. Because I have now been in ministry 37 years and survived it allows me to share my experiences, good and bad. I am honored to still be in ministry after these many years and to pastor the church I planted 23 years ago. The only church I hope to ever pastor. I was thinking about my ride today and how many lessons I learned on the ride and how they are very similar to the lessons as a pastor I have learned now in almost 4 decades.

I get to share the lessons many times one on one but I cant possibly share with every pastor and church planter that might be encouraged or challenged with the lessons and mistakes those who have gone before have experienced.

Sooooooooo maybe it will be a few or many blogs. I have many things I would love to share that correspond with certain days of the ride. But ill play it by ear how many of these post's ill do.

Tomorrow I want to talk about That day on May 10th, 2011 that was one of the Biggest God Events I have EVER experienced and liken the Short Season I experienced with some special people with the Seasons of Ministry. 

I hope my young and not so young pastor friends that I know will be encouraged and not feel like they are the only ones that deal with these things.

 

 

Seasons Change.......

We are all aware of he Seasons each year and even living in South Florida we celebrate them, but we just have to do it a little different since we do not see them dramatically in the weather. Thank goodness we have the Dollar Tree to buy a new "SEASON" to decorate for. Ha!

Just as the natural changing of the seasons we also have them in all our lives. I know I have had many of them. I remember 24 years ago going through one of the most dramatic Seasons of change from my Home Church I had grown up in and served on staff for 13 years in. God after a year of wrestling with me on a Change of Call led Tonia and I to plant the Oasis Church. It was a painful decision yet one of the best of my life. No Regrets! Our lives will forever here and in Eternity be marked by that Change of Season.

During this now almost 24 years at Oasis we have had to walk through that Season of Change with many staff members. It is painful for them as well as me. I have said no matter how long you pastor , the one thing that is the hardest for me and I never get over, is saying good bye to a beloved staff member or member of the Oasis Church Family.  It never gets easy. But it is the Natural Turning of the Seasons.

Once again as you know if you were at Oasis Church at our Pines Campus last week we have another seasonal change on our staff. It is for me and Tonia personally one of the hardest because this couple is not just staff who we have served with for 10 years but lifelong friends. That makes it even harder.

But we have to give James and Debby Brown the same honor and room to follow Gods call as my Pastor Bud McCord did 24 years ago as I left and started Oasis Church. I look forward to seeing the incredible things God does in the Browns life and ministry as they move to Texas to be closer to his parents who are in their 80's. I am sharing the letter  below that James sent following his resignation in February.

As we say good bye I hope you will take this next month that they are with us and share your appreciation and love for them and let them know you will be praying for them.

James will be speaking several more times this month and he and Debby will be team teaching together the 4th Weekend of May, May 23-24th. We will be having a reception for them following all the services the last weekend of May at our Pines Campus. 

As I said in my formal announcement last Sunday I am not sure there has ever been a couple more loved in our church than JB and Debby. I know you will want to show your love to them.

I promise you this wont be a final good bye they will be back and Oasis will always be their home regardless of where they might find to minister closer to his parents in Texas. Please be praying for them.

Guy

P.S. We will be sharing this same announcement this Sunday for our NOMITES at the North Miami Campus.

February 23, 2015

 

Dear Pastor Guy, Church Counsel and Oasis Church,

 

Let me begin to say that this decision was not taken lightly and has been submerged in prayer, and seeking God’s face.

 

Two years ago while attending a leadership conference in Miami with our Oasis staff; one of the speakers was discussing “How to know When It’s Time to Leave a Church”.  As he concluded his session he furthered said “this could be you and it’s time for you to leave”.  Three or four times in my life I have gotten goose bumps and a chill while God has spoken to me.  At that moment, I knew God was speaking right at me.  This absolutely scared me to death because of the love I have for Oasis Church!

 

Last year on the plane as we returned from Texas for my dad’s 80^th birthday, Debby asked me if I missed living in Texas.  I then mentioned to her that it was really hard to leave my dad as he has Parkinson’s disease.  I felt at that time we needed to contemplate moving back closer to help with my parent’s needs, but that is where the conversation ended.

 

This past February, Debby and I had the opportunity to return to Texas again and hold a Marriage Seminar for my sister’s church.  From that trip, we both agreed and realized that God was moving us.  We feel that GOD is moving us to Texas but we are willing and open to wherever GOD sees fit to place us. 

 

It is with both excitement and sadness that Debby and I will be leaving on the last weekend of May.   This without a doubt has been one of the hardest decisions that we have ever had to come to terms with.  Our prayer is that God continues to bless Oasis Church as HE always has!  With that being said, we want to thank Pastor Guy and Oasis Church for the opportunity we had to serve and work with each one of you.  We will always be grateful for the investment that Oasis made in our lives and the opportunities we gleaned will be what we use to serve the next ministry where God places us.  Thank you again for believing in us.  Debby and I will always love Oasis and will miss you very much!

 

With much love,

 

James and Debra

 

Easter Update, WOW and #DeathtoSelfie

Dear Extended Oasis Church Family:

 

Easter at Oasis is over in some ways but in other ways...has just begun. Our new series #DeathToSelfie is coming up after our Easter Update.

 

I am not sure I can remember an Easter where God has shown up in a bigger way! I am always slow to say this but this year's Easter was one of  the best yet. Every Easter has a very unique and special place, but I have to say this Easter would definitely rank up there with the best ever at Oasis Church!

We emphasized this year on inviting your friends and contacts. It

was amazing to meet so many and hear so many stories of friends and people who attended. Our staff spent almost 2 hours on Tuesday just celebrating the many stories they had encountered during Easter. It was amazing and very moving! 

We do not talk a lot week to week about various attendance numbers.They are important but we prefer to focus on the ONE

Changed life at a time. When God looks down from Heaven, I know He rejoices at seeing so many gathered in one place worshiping Him. As the Bible says, when ONE soul comes to Christ ALL of Heaven rejoices. They party at one sinner coming to Christ in Heaven. This past weekend there was a lot of partying going on.

Here is a short snap shot to give a glimpse of how God used Oasis Church this past Easter:

* With over 100 new believers signed up to be baptized we saw 12 Baptized in North Miami and 12 teenagers among those who were baptized. It was amazing as we witnessed baptisms at all 10 Easter services. There were salvations at all services which means we were the"drop" of God's love to scores of people coming to know Jesus this Easter. Every face has a name, every name has a story and every ONE needs Jesus.

 

*Our North Miami Campus celebrated our 2nd Anniversary in NOMI with 394, a record attendance and 12 baptisms. They fed 415 homeless people on Easter Eve.

 

*Not only did we have a record all time attendance at Easter but even more exciting was that we had 1,000 more attend our Easter Services this year than last year. That was amazing to me!

*Our Facebook page reached over 15,000 people Easter week which was 10,000 more than the week prior. There were 1,214 people engaged on our page compared to 324 the week before. Why is this important? It shows your invites and posts on Social media created buzz, which translated into guests coming to the services and to our social media sites.

*More amazing than almost anything was how 100's of you, Oasis Volunteers gave of yourselves not just once, but many times, serving in multiple services. We could have never seen these results without you being the hands and feet of Jesus. You did not just serve, you served with passion and excitement to ‘be the drop’ to over 4,000 people. I thank you and congratulate you on being a major part of a huge God weekend!

#DeathtoSelfie begins this weekend! This series is especially designed to follow up Easter. I hope you will be back and also bring someone! Also, don’t forget to hashtag #DTSOASIS on social media so we can see your selfies! 

 

By the way, as I reminded our staff this week "Easter is EVERY weekend". Yes, every weekend! The Gospel of Jesus crucified and risen again is preached each weekend. That is the message of the Church. Every weekend the Good News is presented and there are lives changed for eternity. That is the spirit and message of Easter. 

 

God bless you and we look forward to having you and your family with us this weekend!

Guy Melton
Senior. Pastor
Oasis Church of South Florida

 

P.S. We had one of the largest offerings we have ever had last week. $56,000. This was a great blessing and will allow us to make up some of the $250,000. in our ministry budget shortfall. March was also a very good month in our giving of the Lord’s tithes and our offerings which also chipped away at our short fall. Thanks to all of you who have faithfully been giving to the Lord through Oasis Church, and for those of you who have begun to give. I am grateful and humbled that you have allowed us to be the conduit of your giving back to God. If you want to give online for this week, you can go online now and give. It is simple.Just click here.

 

Oasis Church is soooooooo much more........... Weekly email, March 14, 2015

 

 

Dear Extended Oasis Family,

Oasis Church is so much more..So many times we talk about weekend services. We have Christmas, Easter, our teaching series and many other ministries but Oasis Church is sooo much more.

Today, our own Ricky and Lily Garcia - members of our Executive team - led out an extraordinary inaugural launch at our Pembroke Pines campus. Ricky Garcia - Executive Pastor of Worship and day to day Operations; and Lily Garcia - Executive Director of Staff and Leadership Development; held a morning Seminar through their non-profit ministry The Legacy Ministries. Before they became part of our Oasis Team, they consulted with us as a church and because of their unusual and dynamic ministry, passion for God and The Church we invited them to become a full-time part of Oasis Church. 

What most of our church does not know is they have two ministries that God uses them in around South Florida, around the country and even outside the United States. They are Tiaras for Girls - which we have hosted and also Legacy ministries - which is a ministry to serve and encourage pastors and local churches. This is so much a part of my heart and the Oasis 20/20 Vision that it’s a perfect match. This morning, they partnered with Oasis to bring in pastors and church ministry teams to do a 100 minute Leadership Seminar called Activate: Next Level Leadership. It was such a blessing and because of you that have made Love Cities, Love Pastors a reality we were able to bless one of the ministry families who never get away with a 3 night stay at the Oasis Beach House and Pastoral Retreat Center on Hollywood Beach. Thank you Oasis for loving and looking beyond our four walls to bless our community and other pastors and churches that need encouragement and love. You are an Oasis to others outside our normal weekend ministries. Your sacrificial giving is having a ripple effect in so many lives outside our little community of Oasis Church. Oasis Church is so much more... 

By the way, there are 4 families and missionaries staying at our Oasis Beach House this week and next because of you! Oasis, you are so much more than a gathering on the weekend. Love Cities, Love Pastors is becoming a reality because of you! Thank you.

When you give to God through Oasis Church you are also giving to The Church and the Kingdom of God. It’s amazing how much your gifts are being multiplied. I am blown away.  Thank you Oasis for being the drop.

 

I Love The Church teaching series continues this weekend. I won't go into all that will happen this weekend but will just say it is not a weekend to miss. I believe we will have one of the greatest weekends ever this weekend. I promise you, you do not want to miss it. If you missed the first two messages in this series I Love The Church please go back and watch them here! It will prepare you for this weekend. I can't wait to see what God is going to do in "His Church, The Church" this weekend through the local expression of The Church called Oasis. It is going to be EPIC!

I love you guys...

Guy Melton
Senior and Founding Pastor
Oasis Church of South Florida

 

P.S. You can always give to the Lord His tithes and offerings ONLINE like I did today. Anytime | 24 hours a day. It takes just a couple minutes or you can bring His Tithes and offerings this weekend. But however you give back to God, God will bless you for your faithfulness, obedience and your generosity. He is amazing. It is so true that you can’t out-give God. He will show you up every-time when you give to Him and His Church. Thank you Oasis for giving.