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.
Church: Oasis de Salvación ECC
Location: 6757 Simms St., Arvada, Co. 80004
Services: Sundays at 12:45 p.m. (Celebration and worship); Thursdays at 6 p.m. (Prayer and Bible study)
Pastors: Oscar and Carla Cortez
Website: https://oasisdesalvacion.church/
A Christmas Story: Families, Faith, and God’s Faithfulness
In a season often marked by scarcity and stress, Oasis de Salvación ECC chooses to embody the nearness and generosity of Christ.
Oasis is a Christ-centered, Spanish-speaking Latino congregation serving immigrant and local families with compassion and hope, while also participating in God’s mission through church planting efforts in El Salvador and Mexico.
Each year, Oasis hosts a Christmas event that brings families together for gifts for children, raffles for adults, a shared meal, and time for fellowship. Pastors Oscar and Carla Cortez say the heart behind the event is simple and profound: to create a joyful, welcoming space where families can experience God’s love in practical ways.
The journey hasn’t always been easy. One of their earliest Christmas events, in 2018, took place outdoors in freezing weather – just six months after the Cortez family moved to Colorado to plant the church. The team was small and still learning, yet God showed up. Families came. Volunteers arrived. Partners from Christ Community Covenant Church joined in to serve. One family who attended that very first event is still part of the church today.
In the years since, the fruit has been remarkable – last year alone, 137 people received Christ through this outreach. It’s a beautiful example of the body of Christ working together despite challenges.
God’s provision has also been a recurring theme. There have been moments of uncertainty – especially when it came to securing toys. But each year, God has faithfully made a way, reminding the church that this ministry belongs to Him.
What keeps the team going is the joy on children’s faces, the gratitude of parents, and the holy moments that emerge when families are invited to pause, celebrate, and receive hope.
One father who attended the event two years ago after recently arriving from Venezuela with his wife and two daughters, shared: “I was able to step away from my worries and hear a reflection on God’s love – it was a pleasant moment.”
Since 2018, Oasis de Salvación has served hundreds of families through this outreach. Last year, they reached 320 children and 120 families across two locations. This year, they are returning to one location and prayerfully preparing to welcome around 165 children, 70 families, and nearly 300 people in total.
Their Christmas event will take place on Sunday, December 21, and once again, Oasis de Salvación is opening its doors – trusting God to meet families with joy, peace, and His abiding presence.
