FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
How
did Oasis get started?
Oasis Church
began in the fall of 2002 with four families moving to the central
Arkansas area with a vision and desire: to start a church where
people were genuine and made it a priority to develop close relationships
with God and each other. We adopted the slogan, "Finding God's
Way Together." Together, we have grown from 14 people to an
average attendance of over 190 in just five years. We have gone
from meeting in the pastor's living room to an 8,000-square foot
facility that easily seats up to 225, all seated on seven acres
with direct viewpoint from the Interstate. Even in this much larger
facility, we need two services to meet the needs of our rapidly-growing
children's ministries and worship attendance.
Together, we
are maintaining a stable financial base that enables us to minister
to the families of the church and the people of central Arkansas
and abroad. Together, with a vision from God and a passion for one
another, we have grown closer to God and to one another.
What
does Oasis Church believe?
We believe that
the truth of God is timeless and unchanging. When it comes to the
scriptures we will not change. When it comes to the method of reaching
people, we believe it is essential to adapt to be relevant to our
ever changing world. To learn more about our beliefs click here.
What
is different about Oasis?
At Oasis, we
believe that God has a unique purpose for us all. We want to help
you discover why God created you, and help you achieve His purpose
for your life. A warm, genuine experience can be found here, with
people just like you who are searching for the answers to life's
difficult questions. You will find a simple approach to ministry
that will complement your life, not complicate it.
Where
are you located?
Oasis Church
is located in Maumelle, Arkansas. However, we are an "area"
church, with members living throughout central Arkansas (from Benton,
Bryant, Cabot, Conway, Greenbrier, Little Rock, Maumelle, Mayflower,
North Little Rock, Perryville, and Roland, to name a few).
What
should I wear?
We promote a
"come as you are" environment. People wear everything
from casual dress to sandals and shorts. Real change isn’t
as much about outward appearance as it is about the condition of
your heart.
What
about my children?
We have an active
Children's ministry, as well as a quickly-growing Student ministry.
Why
would you build right next to a nightclub?
Our campus is
located next to a nightclub. We chose our location because we believe
that we should be located in areas in which there is a need. Our
goal is to help improve the community by becoming an influence to
those around us and introducing people to Jesus Christ. We are simply
following the example set by Christ by going directly to those who
are lost and in need of a Savior.
How
can I get involved at Oasis?
There are four
simple steps to getting plugged in at Oasis, and you can make them
each at your own pace.
(1) Attend Sunday
morning service. Our services are described at this link, and attendance
of Sunday service is the main way to connect to any church family.
Each Sunday, you will have a chance to be part of a service with
relevance: the music, the dramas, the videos, and the sermon are
all designed to be practical and useful--our goal is that you can
take each of them home at the end of the day and apply them to your
life. Each time you come, you will feel more and more at home and
begin to connect with our family.
(2) Attend an
Introducing Oasis session. Discover why Oasis exists and how you
can become a part of what is taking place through our growing family.
Learn that “You are a member of God’s very own family
and you belong in God’s Household with every other Christian”
(Ephesians 2:19).
(3) Visit a
Community Group. Community group is a place where you can really
get plugged in to our church. A community group generally consists
of 8-12 people, though the size varies per group. Each person in
the group is encouraged to take part in personal daily devotionals
that have a practical application for your life. Every week, you
will meet with your community group to discuss the devotions and
related topics. It is a non-threatening environment in which each
person can choose whether they want to actively participate or simply
listen to other's comments and experiences. Individuals that have
been selected by our church pastors and equipped to help others
grow closer to Christ and find their purpose in life lead each group.
The groups also serve together on various projects throughout the
year that help us to reach others with the message of Jesus Christ.
(4) Join the
Church. Ultimately, we feel that it is important that you become
a member of a church. The Bible describes the local church by comparing
it to a family; following on that principle, our pastor frequently
says, "A person who does not have a church family is homeless."
One of the most wonderful things in a person's life is to be a member
at a good church. Of course, we believe it is important that you
take whatever time is necessary to get all of the information about
a church and seek God's leadership, but we encourage you to actively
search for a church where you can join the family. If you are interested
in joining Oasis, we encourage you to attend a discovering Oasis
session.
Can
I serve in a ministry at the church?
Yes--we desire
that all of the people who attend Oasis use the abilities God has
given them. We believe that a person can never truly enjoy their
relationship with God unless they are serving Him in some capacity.
We do, however, believe that a person who serves in a ministry at
Oasis should be a faithful member and attendee, and actively involved
in our community groups. As a staff, we recruit people to serve
in ministries based on their faithfulness and loyalty to the vision
of our church, and not simply based upon their ability. We always
encourage people to be patient in the process of finding a place
to serve. It takes time for us to get to know one another, and it
takes time to get you in the place where God can best use you here
at Oasis.
