The Oasis Ministries, based in Fort Collins, CO, is an outreach ministry that strives to connect people to Jesus, both locally and internationally.
The ministry launched in April 2017, with non-profit status coming just a few months later in July. Our focus is on three spheres: 1) previous established relationships, 2) neighborhood, and 3) public spaces.
Our joy is to give people the time they need to talk, process, and discover how God has been at work in their life. We emphasize loving those that God brings across our path, being representatives and conduits of Jesus.
People encounter Jesus through us because Jesus is at work in us. We have many ways we connect with people within our community, drawing them into friendly conversation and discovering how we can be the loving presence of Jesus in their lives.
Connection … And All That Jazz
One way we connect with neighbors, friends, and the general public is through our Oasis Jazz Ensemble concerts.
Our first outdoor concert happened in April 2020 on our neighbor’s front lawn, drawing the neighborhood together during COVID. It was received so well that we decided to keep doing outdoor concerts for the public for free.
Currently, for our concerts at our neighborhood park, we place signs in our yard and send out emails and texts, letting neighbors and friends know the event is coming. We have top Fort Collins jazz musicians offering up a fantastic musical experience.
As we play, Lenore Frable and other helpers walk among the audience to welcome them and pay attention to what God’s invitation might be for them. Quite a few people walking and biking on the park trail stop to listen. Some people come up to the band after the concert to engage in conversation.
Through these concerts, we have connected with hundreds of people, gaining many friendships, and have been able to minister to them through friendship, an invitation to Bible studies, additional conversations, and a musical point of connection and interest.
A few of these connections have turned into discipleship opportunities. All the songs performed are composed by me, Brian Frable, with an emphasis of telling the story of Jesus both Biblically and personally. From time-to-time, I will speak about my faith in Jesus when I introduce a song and its meaning.
Part of the ministry of The Oasis is to come alongside and encourage musicians toward Jesus as well. Not all who are a part of the band would call themselves Christian.
There is a very good story we’d love to share from a recent event, but for the sake of respecting privacy, we’ll simply say, one of our board members came to help load equipment in. As we were setting up, that board member noticed someone nearby alone. He went to that person and engaged them in conversation, just as Jesus did with the woman at the well. Another person connected to the band saw what our board member was doing and how they interacted with that person. After the event was over, this non-Christian decided to change something in their own life because of this encounter. Transformation because of the Living Word.
There was something striking for this person to see someone else embodying Jesus’ love for a stranger. Another Oasis moment. We see this happen a lot.
Supporting The Oasis
It’s a powerful witness to our community when we tell them we can do what we do because of our donors who love Jesus and love what we’re doing in Jesus’ name. We are eternally grateful for our faithful donors. If anyone wants to jump on our prayer and support team, or even give a one-time donation, just click on TheOasisFortCollins.com/donate/ and follow the instructions.
Thank you for your prayers even at this moment.
Brian Frable, Executive Director and President of The Oasis
Our Postcards from the Midwest Conference are short and encouraging looks at what God is doing in churches across the Midwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church – Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, western Missouri, Nebraska and Wyoming. We’re celebrating faithfulness, fresh vision, and the beauty of ministry in all shapes and sizes.
