Frequently Asked Questions

General

 

 

When and how did Oasis Church get started?

 

Visit this page to read all about the Oasis story. 

 

 

What are your beliefs (Statement of Faith)?

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1. The Word of God
   We believe that the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, are the complete and revealed Word of God, fully inspired, infallible and without error in the original writings and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct (Psalm 19:7-11; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 5:18; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:21).
    

2. The Trinity
   We believe in one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:26; Isaiah 9:6,7; Matthew 28:19, 20; John 1:1, 14, 10, 30).
    

3. God the Father
   We believe in God the Father, an infinite personal spirit, perfect in all His attributes. We believe that He is intimately involved in the affairs of humankind, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ (Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 19; John 14:13, 14; Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:16).
    

4. God the Son
   We believe in Jesus Christ, fully God and fully human, God’s only begotten son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe that He died on a cross as an atoning sacrifice for humankind, that He raised bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, and continues to intercede for His people. We believe that He will return visibly to earth (John 1:1-14; Acts 1:11; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Corinthians 14:3, 4; Hebrews 1:1-10, 4:14).
    

5. God the Holy Spirit
   We believe in the Holy Spirit who came from the Father and the Son. We believe that He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment and regenerates, sanctifies and empowers all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that He indwells every believer at salvation and that He is an abiding Helper, Teacher and Guide (John 3:3-7, 16:8-14; Romans 8:26; Acts 2:38, 39; Ephesians 5:18).
    

6. Salvation
   We believe that all are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, separated from God. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. We believe that salvation is by grace through faith (John 14:6; Romans 3:10- 23; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5).
    

7. The Church
   We believe in the universal church, composed of all people who through faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. We believe in the local church, which consists of an organized assembly of believers who practice the ordinances and are actively working to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:42-47; Ephesians 4:1-15).
    

8. The Ordinances
   We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the church to be observed until the return of Christ: (1) Baptism of believers by immersion (underwater) and (2) Communion. We believe that these two ordinances are not means of salvation, but are acts of obedience to the Lord; they are symbols of our salvation (Matthew 3:13- 17, 26:26-29).
    

9. Practices
   - Dedication of Children.
   - Prayer for the Sick.
   - Christian Burial of the Dead.
   - Christian Marriage. We believe marriage is a provision of God whereby a man and a woman enter into a lifelong covenant (Genesis 2:18; 24; Malachi 2:15; Matthew 19:4-6).
    

10. End Times
    We believe in the personal, visible return of our Lord Jesus Christ to earth for the establishment of His Kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the endless separation of the wicked from God and the eternal life of the believer in the presence of God (Matthew 24:1- 51; John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

 

 

What are your Mission, Vision, and Values?

 

OUR MISSION

 

Our mission is to lead people in a growing relationship with Christ.

 

We accomplish this mission by (i.e. our strategy is) creating relevant environments that equip and encourage attendees to pursue three vital relationships:

 

1. Intimacy with God

2. Community with Insiders

3. Influence with Outsiders

 

OUR VISION

 

Our vision is to be a church that unchurched people love to attend.

 

When Oasis was founded we looked to the Bible and to our community to determine our Vision.  When we looked to our community we found that what Winnipeg needed was a church that unchurched people love to attend.  When looking to the Bible in chapter 2 of The Acts of the Apostles there is a description of a Biblically-functioning community.  Just such a community is what Oasis strives to be and is en route to becoming an even clearer representation of.

 

Within such a church:

 

• the teaching is used by God to transform lives – people find truth and align their lives with it

• the arts are used to lead to moments of transformation and wonder

• the ministries are used by the Holy Spirit to build fully-devoted Christ-followers

• people love each other and participate in authentic relationships

• members discover, develop, and courageously deploy their spiritual gifts

• the congregation lives as responsible stewards who increasingly submit their resources

• people joyfully share the hope and salvation they have found with their friends

 

Imagine the beauty, power, and potential of such a church! The poor are served, the lonely are enfolded into a community, and gender and racial lines melt away. The rich and the poor minister equally to each other, the amazing news of God’s salvation is preached, believers are equipped, and God gets all the glory! Who would not want to be part of a church like that?

 

For this vision to become an even clearer reality – we need your commitment and contribution! Where are you serving to use the unique gifts that God has placed into your life? Are you in a Life Group?

 

We believe that the local church is the hope of the world; it is the vessel God chose to carry the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. The church deserves our best effort and our firmest commitment. Don’t live for a lesser dream.

 

OUR VALUES

 

1. Biblical Authority
   God has spoken to us through the Bible and we recognize it as the final authority for our lives.
   Are your priorities consistent with Scripture?
    

2. Intimacy with God
   God desires an intimate relationship with each of us.
   Is your relationship with God growing?
    

3. Relevant Environments
   Every environment should be designed to effectively connect with its target audience.
   Are your environments appealing, engaging, and helpful?
    

4. Relational Evangelism
   God’s message of forgiveness through Christ is most effectively conveyed within the context of personal relationships.
   In whom are you investing?
    

5. Authentic Community
   Accountability, belonging, care, and spiritual growth happen best with relationally-connected believers.
   Are you in a small group?
    

6. Strategic Service
   Our spiritual gifts have maximum impact when exercised in support of our strategy.
   Where are you serving?
    

7. Intentional Apprenticing
   We are responsible to pass along to others the knowledge, skills, and opportunities that have been entrusted to us.
   Who are you apprenticing?

 

 

Three Environments

 

FOYER

 

foy•er (foi’ er, foi ya’) n. an entry. – It’s the place in your home that serves as the welcome area for guests and new friends. It’s the first step, and it’s often your only chance to make your guests feel comfortable enough to return.

 

That’s exactly how we’ve designed our entry environments at Oasis Community Church. Our Sunday morning services are “foyer” environments. We want our guests to come back, so we do everything with them in mind.

 

Each area of our church also has its own foyer: nursery and pre-school kids have Waumba Land, elementary kids have UpStreet, middle schoolers have Collide, high school students have InsideOut, and colledge aged students have The Living Room. These environments are where most people will experience Oasis for the first time, and they serve as the perfect place to introduce newcomers to the life of Oasis Church.

 

LIVING ROOM

 

liv•ing room (liv’ing room) n. a room in a home, with sofas, chairs, etc., used for social activities, entertaining guests, etc. When guests arrive and are welcomed into your home, you invite them into the living room. Everyone finds a comfortable place to sit, and the interaction begins.

 

At Oasis, this is where you connect with people like yourself. Smaller and more interactive than the foyer environment, these gatherings offer genuine opportunity to begin friendships… just like the living room in your home.

 

Our primary expression of the living room environment is our Serving Teams.

 

KITCHEN

 

kitch•en (kich’en) n. a room or place for the preparation and cooking of food – Webster’s definition doesn’t help us much, does it? But think about it. What is the most popular room in your home? Where do you end up when friends or family come over? The kitchen.

 

This is where lasting friendships are made. And that’s the kind of environment we are striving for in our life groups. Life groups are where people meet regularly for Bible study, and commit to accountability, friendship and support. They are the safe place to open your heart, share your life, and ask the tough questions. It’s also where we pray and care for one another, and where we are missed if we don’t show up.

 

Practically speaking, there will never be a way for the staff or elders to personally minister to everyone who attends our church. That’s why we place such a high premium on group life. It’s how we minister effectively at Oasis. Our success is defined by how effectively our ministries move people from our large environments into life groups.

 

Life groups are the place where ministry happens at Oasis Church – this is the best place for sustained life change to occur. And we want to help you get there.

 

 

What is a nondenominational church?
 

It means that we are not affiliated with a denomination, such as Baptist, Methodist, etc. In organizing this church, our desire was to be an attractive environment for those who do not regularly attend church. We feel that denominational titles mean more to people who already attend church than people who don't. For this reason, we have chosen not to affiliate ourselves with any particular denomination.

 

 

What are your Guiding Principles?

 

Naturally, because we are a collection of diverse individuals, we all have slightly different ways with regard to how we go about serving Christ. Yet certain common principles unify our efforts and define our distinctiveness. We summarize these guiding principles by using the following 10 statements:

 

1. We believe that anointed teaching is the catalyst for transformation in individuals’ lives and in the church. This includes the concept of teaching for life change (Romans 12:7; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; James 1:22–25).
    

2. We believe that lost people matter to God, and therefore, ought to matter to the church. This includes the concepts of relational evangelism and evangelism as a process (Matthew 18:14; Luke 5:30–32; Luke 15).
    

3. We believe that the church should be culturally relevant while remaining doctrinally pure. This includes the concept of sensitively relating the gospel to our culture through our facility, printed materials, and use of the arts (1 Corinthians 9:19–23; 1Timothy 4:16; Titus 2:1).
    

4. We believe that Christ–followers should manifest authenticity and yearn for continuous growth. This includes the concepts of personal authenticity, character, and wholeness (Ephesians 4:25–26, 32; Hebrews 12:1; Philippians 1:6).
    

5. We believe that a church should operate as a unified community of servants with men and women stewarding their spiritual gifts. This includes the concepts of unity, servanthood, spiritual gifts and ministry callings (Psalm 133:1; Romans12; 1 Corinthians 12 and 14; Ephesians 4).
    

6. We believe that loving relationships should permeate every aspect of church life. This includes the concepts of love-driven ministry, ministry accomplished in teams, and relationship building (Nehemiah 3; Luke 10:1; John 13:34–35; 1 Corinthians 13).
    

7. We believe that life-change happens best in small groups. This includes the concepts of discipleship, vulnerability, and accountability (Luke 6:12–13; Acts 2:44–47).
    

8. We believe that excellence honors God and inspires people. This includes the concepts of evaluation, critical review, intensity, and excellence (Proverbs 27:17; Malachi 1:6–14; Colossians 3:17).
    

9. We believe that churches should be led by men and women with leadership gifts. This includes the concepts of empowerment, servant leadership, strategic focus, and intentionality (Nehemiah 1–2; Acts 6:1–7; Romans 12:3-8).
    

10. We believe that the pursuit of full devotion to Christ and His cause is normal for every believer. This includes the concepts of stewardship, servanthood, downward mobility, and the pursuit of Kingdom goals (1 Kings 11:4; 2 Corinthians 8:7; Philippians 2:1–11).

 

 

 

 

Structure

 

What is the leadership structure?

 

Oasis Church is specifically led by three teams of people. 

 

Staff Team

Elder Team

Stewardship Team

 

THE STAFF TEAM

 

The purpose of this group is to determine programming, give vision to the various ministries of the church, and to oversee the day-to-day operations. Staff is hired after undergoing various interviews to determine fit, skills, competency, and character. Our current staff can be found here. 

 

THE ELDER TEAM

 

The purpose of this group is primarily as discerners and shepherds and serve as the guardians of the church. Their role is to evaluate everything going on in the church in light of our mission, our vision, our values, our principles, our beliefs, and our resources. Elder Team members are chosen by the existing Elder Team based on skillset, wisdom, and experience. The current Elder Team members can be found here.

 

THE STEWARDSHIP TEAM

 

The purpose of this group is to oversee all the financial and personnel matters. The Lead Pastor is accountable to the Stewardship Team in all these matters, and along with the Executive Pastor, attends the team meetings. Stewardship Team members are chosen by the existing Stewardship Team based on skillset and experience. The current Stewardship Team members can be found here.

 

 

 

 

Requests

 

If your question has not been answered above, please don't hesitate to contact us.