I am thankful that the Oasis Church has been a presence in this community for nearly 32 years. Because of the wonderful members of this church, we have been able to serve in many ways. The biggest outreach we have is our food pantry, which feeds more than 10,000 people per year and has provided more than 4 million meals to date.
Another way we serve is by collecting and donating supplies for those affected by disaster. Our most recent experience was for the victims of the tornados in the south.
The Oasis has graciously opened its doors several times over the years and allowed other ministers and their congregations to get their start here in Middletown by using our facilities. In addition, many area high schools use our sanctuary for their graduation services, and the Community Pregnancy Center holds some of their fundraisers here.
We also host conferences several times a year that fills the place up, as well as the area hotels and restaurants during these events. We have supported the Hope House, the Dream Center, Habitat for Humanity and other local ministries. In the past we have provided a day care and an elementary school. This fall we will open a Montessori preschool and kindergarten.
I list a few of these things because I think they help to define who we are. My intent is not to toot our own horn, but to give those who may not know us a different perspective than Mr. Gordon’s article did.
All this being said, there is a calling that we believe is from God on our church. We have focused the past several years on prayer, and reclaiming the culture of America. We believe America has been going the wrong way and that someone needs to be a voice crying out. As our culture grows increasingly passive and even succumbs to the pressure of being politically correct, we are resolved to be hearers and doers of the word of God. Because of this, we have traveled across Ohio for several years, holding prayer assemblies in all 88 counties, signing up churches to take a week of “24/7 Prayer” for our state and nation, and enlisting as many as we can to become involved in their local and state governments.
In addition, we have recently begun a new ministry under the covering of the Oasis, called TRYBE. This is a regional ministry under the direction of Mark and Jana Mitten, and is for youth. Contrary to what Mr. Gordon wrote, we love our young people and have a heart to see them set free from so many things that they have to face that our generation never did — from drugs to alcohol to cutting to suicide to depression, fatherless homes, and yes, even homosexuality.
The Oasis believes the entire word of God and preaches it. We don’t pick and choose whatever Scripture we want to reinforce a position. The same God who said, “This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you,” also said: “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.” (Leviticus 18:22)
I really wish that it could be understood that it is possible to love the sinner and hate the sin. We are able to minister love without condemnation. That is what we strive to do at the Oasis. We’re not perfect, but we try hard.
Damon Thompson, the speaker coming for the Ephesians4 Network Conference in July, isn’t perfect, but he tries hard to minister to a coming generation that requires bluntness, openness and the whole truth. He does a great job of reaching kids. Anyone who really bothers to completely check him out will find him to be real and genuine with a heart beating for kids.
A different generation requires a different way of communicating, and Damon does this very well. Not everyone will like it. That’s what makes America so great. You don’t have to like it. But many do, and many kids respond to it, and indeed, “they know the truth, and the truth sets them free.” (John 8:32) Knowing the word and accepting it as truth is freeing. Delivering that word is who we are.
Carol Sheets is the wife of the Rev. Tim Sheets. They have been pastors of the Oasis for nearly 32 years. They also serve as apostolic leaders for Ohio Reformation Prayer Network and have a TV program that airs on several cable stations, as well as Trinity Broadcasting.