"Being at Oasis has changed my life"

149 days ago by Guest Author

Written by Guy Melton

Last Tuesday Night I had the privilege of Hosting our Tuesday night Worship Service. Johnny our Host Pastor had to work late and so I filled in. Every time I have done this, I always hear incredible testimonies from folks who are active in our New 7NOW, 7 Nights of Worship. Johane shared this testimony last Tuesday and it blessed me so much I asked her to share it with you. She sent this testimony to me yesterday. She attends our 7 P.M., Tuesday Night Service. The Pastors she spoke of in this testimony are Johnny Guimaraes, Host Pastor and Armando Lopez, our Lay Pastor/Deacon for Tuesday Night. You will enjoy this I am sure. If you have not tried out one of our Nights of Worship, you need to. Any night at 7 p.m.

Greetings Pastor Guy, being a part of the Oasis family has changed my life. I have been regularly attending the Pembroke Pines worship services for almost a year (it will be in April) when I first moved to the Miami Lakes area. I had received an invitation in the mail inviting me to see what the experience was all about so I went. After my very first visit I was reluctant to return. I had a wonderful experience but I was uncomfortable because I had been raised Catholic and always attended services in a “church” so based on my own perceptions of what church should be I was not sure.

I asked myself where was the cross or a crucifix? How could people be eating and drinking during prayer and worship time etc. All of these being fruitless concerns. Despite these feelings I returned anyway and I have not stop coming since! I am sharing this with you because I want to testify about how the experiences of love, acceptance, prayer and fellowship has touched me from the people at Oasis.

When I first came I was at a very low point in my life and many of your co-pastors prayed with me and offered reassurance time and time again until I got to where I am now. I am happy. I would like to just wrap up by telling you that when I was listening to the message last week on Tuesday I was just blown away because the message was on framing and coincidently this is also a mediation model that I am learning about in my Doctoral program.

When it was first introduced I rejected it because I perceived it as being a “politically correct” method of addressing problems that arise and I though it best that one should just deal with issues head on as they come. Hearing the process of reframing being explained at church broadened my perception of its meaning and how this method can be used to constructively address issues without offending those involved.

It is so awesome to experience God working in all aspects of my life! Anyway, thank you and your team for all that is done every day and every week to provide so many opportunities for us to grow. I am indeed grateful.

Peace, JM (Johane Metellus)