Many of you know Joey and I are part of Oasis, a new church plant in Waverly, just outside of Lincoln Nebraska. What you may not know is why this means so much to us.
Every week I meet someone who’s perspective on life, Christ, or His Church, has been stunted by bad experiences; some horrible, some not, but all of them leaving the person with a bad taste in her mouth. When I look at the world around me, I can see why. There is a lot of crazy stuff going on.
At Oasis we are trying to be a part of the solution to this problem. We are trying, (and sometimes failing) to create space for dialog, space for exploration; a community that reflects Christ’s values of lifting up the poor, releasing the captive, and creating sight, so that all of us can see the world as it really is, the good and the bad. (Luke 4:18)
Since beginning preview services almost a year ago, and weekly services in September, we have seen our committed members double, from ten to over twenty people, with attendance near forty each week. But the real success is found in the stories.
Later this month we will be baptizing three people who a year ago wanted nothing to do with Jesus Christ, and earlier this month our community had the opportunity to clean up the yard of a foreclosed home. God is doing great things and people are moving closer to him, but we need resources to spread the message and create space for authentic relationships. Will you consider investing the resources God has given you in the Oasis community? If so, you can click here to visit our sister church, the Northern Lighthouse's web site where you can donate specifically to Oasis (just shoot me an e-mail designating your funds for Oasis, or you can always send a check to the address below.)
One last story. A few weeks ago I was at HOOT our after school program, getting to know some of the kids, including Calvin, a bright young 8th grader. A few days later while I was working at the local hardware store. He and his mother Denise came in to pick up a few things, and we ended up chatting for a while. It turns out she has her own way of making the world a better place. Denise is the owner of Legends, a sports bar & grill up the road, a place which facilitates a sense of community in a world becoming increasingly polarized. Because of these God encounters, they too are now a part of our community. Why? Because people like you are helping us to create a community guided by the Spirit, and engaged with the world around us. If you would like to learn more about Oasis, check out our web site, or find us on Facebook here.
God Bless.
Oasis
Mailing Address:
6141 N 14th St.
Lincoln NE 68521
402.580.0261
bestdavidp@yahoo.com
waverlyoasis.com
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