the oasis blog

We sent this letter out to all of our students this week. If you have not received a letter please send an email to gjohnson@peopleschurch.org with your students name, and address so we can update our records. Thanks

Dear Parents,

Greetings to you and your family! I hope the start of school has gone well for you and your student. This has been a glad/ sad time for our family as our oldest son Rees started preschool in August; initially really SAD for Rees, but he’s loving it now. It did make us realize, as I’m sure you have, how quickly time flies and our children grow up. Next thing you know I’ll be receiving my own parent letters from Oasis!

I wanted to give you a quick update as to where we’ve been and what this fall holds for us at OASIS. We just finished an eventful summer with three big events: WOW week, which was five days of fun to welcome our new freshman, Summer Discipleship, where over 30 students learned what is means to be a disciple of Christ, and HERO summer camp, where we had a great time competing in ‘Hero training’ and growing spiritually both individually and as a group. This summer was huge in preparing our students for this upcoming school year.

Starting September 27, Oasis will be adopting a new format for our Sunday mornings called the DEEP END. The DEEP END is designed to progress all students into a deeper relationship with Christ. We will divide the year into four segments based on the Oasis four stages of spiritual growth (see-attached sheet). The first phase, THIRST, is a five-week series teaching on why we should believe and follow Jesus. I believe that this will be a time where our students will be challenged to think about their faith in new ways.

Please be aware that service will be concluding at 10:45, followed by a food and fellowship break. After this, we are encouraging everyone to stay for the 11:30 service, as Pastor Ron McManus will be sharing about the new vision of Peoples Church.

OASIS Tuesdays will continue to meet at 7pm for games, worship, and the sharing of the Word. Our small group format will continue, but they will be happening every other week.

Parents, please mark your calendars for NEXT WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23. That morning, at 7am, students are gathering for prayer at their school’s flagpole for See You at the Pole. Remind and encourage your student to attend! That night, at 7pm, youth across our city are gathering in the main sanctuary at Peoples Church for UNITED, an all-city night of prayer and worship. I would strongly encourage your student to attend and invite their friends, as we are expecting a good crowd.

Because of this, NOTE that next TUESDAY, September 22, we will not be having our regular Tuesday night service.

In Christ,
Chad Johnson

///Attached Sheet

An OASIS is a fertile area of refuge and refreshing in a desert, usually having a spring or well. Just as a natural OASIS is a place of refreshing, OASIS is meant to be a safe place in a dry and weary land where students can find spiritual nourishment and refreshing.

WATER.
What brings the fertility to an oasis is the water source. Water is the one substance that sustains life. In the bible, the Lord refers to himself as the the Spring of Living Water (Jer 2:13) and the one who possesses the water of life (John 4). The question we want each student to ask is: What are you going to do with this Living Water?

Thirst.
Students who do not know that Lord but are not content with their present condition. Our goal is to create environments where these students develop a spiritual thirst that will lead them into receiving Christ.

Drink.
Students who have received the living water, Jesus Christ, and are learning to develop their genuine walk with their Lord. Our goal is to teach and provide opportunities for students to grow in an intimate relationship with Christ.

Fill.
Students who are learning to live lifestyles of obedience and surrender to the Lord. As they do this, they are becoming a pure vessel containing the glory of Jesus Christ. Our goal is to train students how to be Spirit-filled disciples of Christ.

Pour.
Students who realize that their life is not their own but is for the Lord’s use to bring the living water of Jesus to others. Our goal is to empower and release students to pour the life of Jesus onto others in their campus and community.