WHY WE ASK FOR OFFERINGS

If you will take the time to actually read the shared words within this message, you may come to understand something in a different light and find promised blessings come upon your life.

What is it that people like about the Oasis? It’s that the Holy Spirit within. You’ve felt it. It’s why you keep coming back. It is within every study, program, forum and within the Oasis Chat Rooms. You can FEEL the TRUTH within the words. As a result, it has brought forth the TRUTH that Christianity Oasis ... Is God's Ministry.

The Oasis is VERY popular. An average of 52,000 unique visitors come to Christianity Oasis community monthly and over 90% of them save us to their Favorites. We have several hundred of those that have chosen to become members of Christianity Oasis and enjoy many extra Christian features.

We have many teachers and pastors that write and request if they can use our material in their preaching and teaching. We have a plethora of testimonies that claim renewed understanding, enhanced Faith, and lives having been changed due to the Oasis being used as a tool of God. As a matter of fact, we have received literally thousands of such testimonies by E-mail.           

Though we thought it was a noble thing to share this ministry without any financial support from others, we’ve found that it’s impossible to continue without help. As Christians, we know that paying attention to the tiny details of one virtue, can’t make up for the complete neglect of another duty, so as shepherds, teachers, and disciples of Jesus Christ and the Gospel, we have invited and encouraged you to make an offering so that our ministry can continue to flourish and reach more souls.

Sooooooo, here we are promoting offerings, as we are commanded to do as for you to receive your blessings and for us to be able to perform our task. One of the things that we believe in at the Oasis is taking a leap of Faith. I’m not talking about doing something that’s a little risky; with hopes that it will benefit us in the end … I’m talking about doing things that are so seemingly impossible that it’s guaranteed to fail without the hand of God.

We took a leap of Faith to create Christianity Oasis for our Father and His children and by the Grace of God ... It is flourishing Spiritually. But financially, it lacks and this is where God has called on those who are being served by way of this Ministry as He does EVERY other Ministry.

A few members have asked how much we need each month and what the money goes for.

The answer is ... The Christianity Oasis web site itself costs about $5,000.00 a year (Average over the last eight years) to maintain at this time, but we would like to do more advertising and purchase our own server as to reduce freezing and make it faster and easier for our members, as we are growing at an unbelievable rate and our current server has suggested we do so.

However, we also have to consider the cost of the servants that keep the Oasis going and growing for you. See, we have chosen to give our lives to this Ministry, where we provide others with a safe environment to learn of JESUS. This requires that we spend 16-18 hours a day maintaining this Christian community. This is our full time ... Job.

Our administration is very time consuming. From dealing with keeping out various types of predators from the chat rooms and forums that you see at other web sites, making it unbearable to hang out there, to answering hundreds of letters that we receive each day from lost or troubled souls that are led here by GOD and seek answers to serious issues.

As we all know there is no quick fix, but rather a long term foundation of TRUST must be established as we slowly lead these lost and troubled souls back to the Lord, from some of the horrible places the world has taken them, leaving them lost and feeling unworthy of Love and Grace.

In addition we create new books, games, studies and programs for our members as to provide them with educational and spiritual means by which to continue along the Christian path. We upgrade to new systems as needed to keep up with the necessary technical changes that are required as this Ministry grows. This is just a few of our daily tasks.

I could quote Scripture upon Scripture revealing that such servants are to be provided for by those who partake of their works for the Lord ... But that is not my intent. I am only answering a question that was put to us and may be on some of the minds and hearts of others that hang out here, as to WHY we ask for monthly Love Offerings.

If we do not receive those funds by way of Love Offerings, we have to work away from the Oasis as we oft times do and the lost and troubled souls suffer as they do not get responded to in a timely manner and they fall away. The Chat and forums becomes a playground for predators. The studies and programs cease. No new features are created. And, if one will ever WATCH ... The Spirit of the Oasis slowly changes.

HOW MUCH IS NEEDED

In answer to the question of HOW MUCH? ...

How much does any household need? How much do you spend each month on bills? We need to be able to spend every waking hour working on the Oasis and still be able to pay the bills and eat ...

We do NOT have a high dollar lifestyle. In fact, most would say we live below poverty level. So, we need only enough to pay bills and eat. Now ... We are VERY content, and LOVE serving the Lord, so do not get me wrong and think we are complaining about our lifestyle and administration. My point is that we are not seeking to live comfortably. Just to LIVE, while we serve the Lord. The basics are all that we require.

It costs about about $1,700.00 per month for the five of us to survive. Add to that the $400.00 per month for Oasis bills and that is about $2,100.00 a month. That is to EXIST but we would like to receive a lil more as to be able to help the Oasis GROW. So we have set our Monthly goal at $3,000.00 per month.

That may sound like a lot of money, that we must come up with each month, but in reality ... We have hundreds of long term members and if each would give but $10.00 a month ... We would surpass our goals.

Believe me ... We KNOW what a drag it is to talk about money. You should try being the ones having to ask those that they serve for their pay. That sounds weird doesn't it? How I would have the audacity to suggest that we serve YOU. Well, God says that is what is up and also says a servant truly is worthy of pay for the work that he or she does for Him. You can learn more about this on the Tithes page.


For those who STILL cannot HEAR ...

Here is Wisdom ... People go to a Restaurant and someone does no more than take your order and bring food to your table and most decent people know it is righteous to give them a TIP.

WHY? Cuz they SERVED you.

Is this not a Spiritual Restaurant for the Soul? Does your Soul not feed here? Are we not worthy of a small tip for serving you in the place that you find Spiritual encouragement, education and fellowship?

If one would just give what they give a waitperson to feed the flesh, to the Lord who feeds your SOUL. We would not have to be begging for it. Like the waiters and waitresses that work hard for their tips, we work hard too ... It is not mandatory for you to give in most places nor is it mandatory here. But it is righteous.

[b]WE DO NOT ASK THAT A FEW MEMBERS GIVE A LOT OF DOLLARS … BUT, THAT A LOT OF MEMBERS GIVE A FEW DOLLARS. ANY AMOUNT WILL HELP KEEP THE OASIS HERE FOR YOU AND OTHERS. [/b]

That is the true intent of our asking for monthly Love Offerings you know ... To keep the Oasis available for you.


One more thing ...

We were once asked by a member that read the Love Offerings page ... Why don't you get a job?

tsk tsk ... Silly wabbit

We have a job. We work for the LORD ...

And SERVE YOU.

If you are new to the Oasis we certainly do not expect anything from you as you have yet to discover just what God has led you to. But if you are a regular member here and have felt His Spirit within the Oasis ...

GOD CHALLENGES HIS PEOPLE …

Malachi 3:10 … Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and PROVE ME NOW herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of Heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

OUR LOVING FATHER SAID ... PROVE ME NOW !!! GIVE TITHES AND OFFERINGS TO HIS PURPOSE AND HE WILL BRING SO MANY BLESSINGS UPON YOU THAT THERE WILL BE NO ROOM TO RECEIVE THEM. I GUESS IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHETHER YOU BELIEVE CHRISTIANITY OASIS IS A MINISTRY OF GOD IN YOUR HEART AND IF GOD KNOWS THAT.      

WE CAN NOT CARRY THIS BURDEN ALONE.
WE NEED HELP FROM THOSE WITHIN THE BODY OF CHRIST.
WE NEED THOSE WHO KNOW THE OASIS IS REAL TO REPRESENT.

If sharing this is STILL deemed by you as unacceptable or wrong in your mind and heart … Contact my Boss. You will like this part ... It is a Toll FREE call. His number is 1-777-P R A Y E R. Ask Him to reveal TRUTH to you.

For those who feel led to help support this Ministry … Expect the promised blessings as we both KNOW that Christianity Oasis IS His Ministry and I KNOW when God says something … You can take it to the bank.

Ponder and pray on this and ask if this is HIS Ministry or just some web site.

For those who have given to this very worthy cause in the past, we say THANK YOU for giving to THE LORD and we hope you will choose to do so in the future.

And though you may not hear them ... Many lost and/or troubled souls also thank you too.

Luv all of ya more than you will ever know.

TO MAKE YOUR TITHE OR OFFERING BY CASH, CHECK OR MONEY ORDER: MAKE PAYABLE TO: CHRISTIANITY OASIS PO BOX 142 SMITHVILLE, TEXAS 78957   IF YOU PREFER, YOU CAN DONATE SECURELY VIA PAY PAL OR CREDIT CARD BY CLICKING ON THE BUTTON BELOW