The Oasis - An Unconventional Church

I recently talked about my kind of church.  A few folks thought I was describing Oasis Church.  To a degree I was.  I moved back to S. Florida from Texas to be a part of Oasis so there is a lot I love about it.  However, let me share specifically about Oasis Church.  Like I do about my own physique, I have a sense of humor about Oasis Church.  I don't mind if it offends you a little, but I hope not a lot.

Oasis is...

1. Evangelical - Really, we tell people the Gospel (gasp).
2. Multi-Ethnic - 70+ countries of origin and yet we don't preach racial reconciliation weekly!
3. Team Teaching - Real, different perspectives shaped into a single message delivered 12 times by at least 4 dedicated students of the Bible in 2 languages weekly.
4. Flawed, horribly flawed - We aren't doing everything even we think we should be doing, but we're working on it.  We're doing the things Christ inspires us to do.
5. Part of the Souther Baptist Convention, but ironically not so many actual Baptists in our church.
6. We use the NIV and even dable a bit with The Message, but we still won't call ladies pastor.
7. We are down the street from MyNakedPastor.com, yet we are fully clothed!
8. Obsessed with the Christmas Season.  Not having snow seems to exacerbate this.
9. Over 20% suburban apartment dwellers.  Urban apartment dwellers are being hip.  Suburban apartment dwellers are surviving.
10. Starting campuses where God leads us even if it isn't on the list of fastest growing neighborhoods.
11. Willing to turn a sex club into a church.  We couldn't keep ANY of the furniture.
12. Willing to love a dying church and fold it into our fellowship.  We didn't keep any of the furniture there either.  For different reasons though.
13. Mega Church with worship services starting at 30 people!  Really, everyone who says big churches are intimidating or not intimate enough has got to come to ours on a Monday or Tuesday night.

Is it wrong to stop a list at 13?  Probably, but it seems appropriate for this list.  I love how real we are and how in love with Christ the people in our church are.  You should definitely visit the next time you are in S. Florida.

Comments

[Jimmy]

This post is awesome

#5,#6,and #7 are amazing.... especially #7. But hey, last week we had a verse from the ESV.... so who knows, we may be going for an "essentially literal" translation style instead of those "thought for thought" styles!

[kevin]

Jimmy,

What are you doing up at 4:00 am!

"Essentially Literal" is almost as good as "Normally Always". I like love that kind of thinking ;-).

[Mike Smith]

#13 - Agreed! My wife and I visited on a Monday night during a trip to FL last April. We walked in @7P and were warmly greeted. Totally enjoyed the worship, the sermon, the snacks, the free devotional they gave away that night, the atmosphere, etc.
Wish I could go to church like that all the time.
This is an awesome church.

[kevin]

Thanks Mike! We've made some changes on Monday night! It is now in the Community Cafe (seatting for 50) and people can hang on leather couches and drink cool coffee beverages. What a way to enjoy worship!

[jenn]

#12 isn't exactly accurate. i recycled 3 pieces of furniture that were already there for the lobby! everything else i'm pretty sure we didn't keep.

[guy]

I have to admit. We are pretty silly arent we. You gave me some good laughs here. I was at the Sex Club tonight for a funeral , so I needed some levity when I got home. Uh!! Let me clarify, I was at the Church that used to be the sex club. And BTW, (my new words) i have one of the pews from the NoMi church. Shhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!
Thanks kevin for your post and a chance to laugh at ourselves. Guy