Our Philosophy
[ The Way We Do Church ]

1 - Christianity is a Lifestyle
 
It’s not just a Sunday thing, it’s our whole life. We as Christians
are the image of God to those around us. People decide what God is like by seeing how we live our lives and conduct ourselves.

We need to be setting a good example. This is reflected in the way
we talk, act and think, seven days a week, twenty four hours a day,
three hundred and sixty five days a year. We should be the same
people at church, as we are when we’re at work, school, home,
or with non-christian friends and family.

2 - All Christians Are Ministers In The Church

It takes a team effort to be able to get everything done that needs doing in church life.

None of us should be just sitting back and doing nothing. We should all be involved and doing our part to help this church function well, whether it’s in leadership of some sort, fixing things, cleaning, giving, singing, playing an instrument, taking up the offering, doing communion, ringing people, administration, visiting, praying, spending time with people who don’t yet know Jesus etc.

None of us are gifted at everything. We all need each other. If we all get on with doing the things we’re good at, we will be fulfilled, happy and growing as a family. The bible uses the analogy of a body. Every part of the body needs to do their bit, for the whole body to function well.

3 - All Christians Are Ministers In The Community
 
This church is not a ‘ bless me ‘ club, that is isolated from the world and just doing our own thing. It’s equally as important that we are significantly impacting this community.

This church is here to positively show our community Jesus Christ, by leaving people with a good impression of Christianity.

We should all be involved in reaching our community whether it’s being on a school board of trustees, in a sports club, running boy scouts, giving free advice for budgeting, free dentist or doctors consultations, legal advice, running a food bank, visiting old folks homes, hospitals, being a good neighbour etc., building relationships with people who don’t yet know Jesus, so that we earn the right to be able to speak with them about Jesus, when the time is right.

If you are a friend you will naturally learn about each other. We should be interested in their lives too, so that they will want to listen to us too.

4 - Church Should Be Relevant For Today

The message of Christianity never changes, but the way we package it must always be changing  to meet the needs of new generations. This doesn’t mean that any particular style of music or service is right or wrong, but simply that society changes.

The constant challenge we all have, is to adjust and move with the times without compromising the Gospel message.

5 - The Senior Leaders Role

• Leadership, regarding the vision and implementation of the vision.

• Preaching / Teaching.

• Training leaders.

• Help to equip and release people into ministry, in the church and community.

• A facilitator of people.

• Helps to fulfill others dreams, while they’re fulfilling " The Oasis " Dream at the same time.

• Priority pastoral care and counseling for leaders.

• Then for others in “ The Oasis “ church family, as time permits.

• Primary pastoral care for the rest of “ The Oasis “ church family is
  done in and through Life Groups, unless needs come up that are beyond the experience of the Life Group Leaders.
  

6. Pastoral Care

Wherever we are in the world, as soon as we commit ourselves to God He becomes our Father and we become part of His world-wide family, as brothers and sisters in Christ. Every local Christian church is a smaller family within that huge world-wide family, which means every person who is committed to “ The Oasis “ becomes part of God’s family here. Having a happy and healthy church family, is a very important priority to us.
But at the same time, we want to significantly impact the city of Napier,
 by growing and establishing a strong city church
 
None of us can build close relationships with more than about ten or twenty people, so the  way for us to be able to care and grow at the same time, is to have smaller families within “ The Oasis “ church family, meeting regularly together as well.
 
We call these smaller families in “ The Oasis “ - Life Groups!

People so easily get lost or even hide in a large group of people, so to ensure that you are a happy and healthy member of “ The Oasis “ family and that you are being pastorally cared for/familied/looked after well/in this church and that as many of your needs as possible [practical, physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, other] are being met, it’s very important for you to not only get involved in, but to be committed to a Life Group, which also involves you helping to meet some of the needs of others in your group too.

This is what will make you feel like you belong in “ The Oasis “ family. This is where you will really be able to cultivate and build close, quality, genuine, deep and lasting relationships with other people in “ The Oasis “