Thanks so much for praying for Pastor George Bunnell and I while we led a crusade and pastor's seminar in Nigeria, Africa. We are thankful for the fruit we saw in so many areas. Africans truly know how to celebrate!
Even though our crusade was intentionally in one of the poorest neighborhoods of Ibidan, the people willingly worshipped the Lord through dynamic praise, dance and whole-hearted expressions of thanksgiving! Watch>
When we prayed for the fire of the Holy Spirit to fall on the pastor's seminar, I witnessed a mighty and lengthy outpouring of praise and worship from people who were hungry to receive from the Lord! One of the highlights was when we trained with the ONE-MINUTE WITNESS faith-sharing tool. The pastors who attended the seminar were so excited to learn how to share their faith with this evangelism tool. Then we all went out into the Muslim-dominated streets of Ibidan two-by-two. They returned rejoicing and happy that they had learned a new way to share their own testimony with anyone. Watch>
Many people testified of healings and deliverance. We successfully planted much seed in this neighborhood that had never hosted a Christian crusade of this size. Strangely enough, I appreciate your prayers more now that I am home. Having just returned from our mission to Nigeria, West Africa, I realize again why Jesus OFTEN got alone to pray. Nigeria is filled with many expressions of RELIGION, but fewer know what it is to have a RELATIONSHIP with Christ. Corruption is common and many have lost hope of ever earning more than a couple bucks per day.
In the area we were working was comprised mostly Muslim, animists (tree and rock worshippers), and white robe Christians (those who believe in polygamy and incense), with a smaller group of born-again Christians who are truly in love with Jesus. If Jesus 'felt' all our feelings, I understand how He thought it necessary to OFTEN withdraw to be alone to pray.
If you and I are going to be "in the world but not of it," we NEED to get alone with our God OFTEN and let Him pour His culture of love, acceptance and security into our lives. Without His refreshing, we will surely burn out. But in His presence, we will learn how to dance in every circumstance!
Photo Gallery>
Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org
Monday, April 11, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Dead Men Walking
I know many Christians are tired of being tired...trying to measure up to God's perfection...trying to please him a little more...and wondering if he is ever pleased.
GOOD NEWS! God does not desire that we try hard in our own strength to be holy in order to please Him. INSTEAD, God invites us to die to ourselves--to our agendas, our carnal affections, to our fleshly ambitions, and our sinful nature--so that Christ can live in us. It's when we stop trying to live for Him, that He can live through us.
And herein lies the problem: we can't deliver ourselves from our flesh and sinful nature. WHILE Only the blood of Jesus can cleanse us from sin, ONLY the cross sets us free from our sinful habits when we die to them.
Paul said, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ who lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son or God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). Jesus died so that we can live. We can live when we die to ourselves and let Him live through us.
This 'death thing' is not a one-time decision. Jesus says, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me" (Luke 9:23). When I die to myself, Christ's life can enter me. Then I become a slave of righteousness (Romans 6) instead of a slave of sin.
So let's stop trying to be super-spiritual and striving to be perfect. We simply cannot. But let's embrace the cross five times a day if necessary. Then the overcoming life can be ours, and we can boldly share our faith without fear and love others with the true heart of God.
Are you ready to live? Then let's lose our lives and embrace the cross to make room for Christ to live through us!
Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
GOOD NEWS! God does not desire that we try hard in our own strength to be holy in order to please Him. INSTEAD, God invites us to die to ourselves--to our agendas, our carnal affections, to our fleshly ambitions, and our sinful nature--so that Christ can live in us. It's when we stop trying to live for Him, that He can live through us.
And herein lies the problem: we can't deliver ourselves from our flesh and sinful nature. WHILE Only the blood of Jesus can cleanse us from sin, ONLY the cross sets us free from our sinful habits when we die to them.
Paul said, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ who lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son or God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). Jesus died so that we can live. We can live when we die to ourselves and let Him live through us.
This 'death thing' is not a one-time decision. Jesus says, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me" (Luke 9:23). When I die to myself, Christ's life can enter me. Then I become a slave of righteousness (Romans 6) instead of a slave of sin.
So let's stop trying to be super-spiritual and striving to be perfect. We simply cannot. But let's embrace the cross five times a day if necessary. Then the overcoming life can be ours, and we can boldly share our faith without fear and love others with the true heart of God.
Are you ready to live? Then let's lose our lives and embrace the cross to make room for Christ to live through us!
Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
Friday, March 11, 2011
977 prayers for salvation in one night!
I recently returned from my 41st trip to the great harvest field of India! THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS! Without prayer, we have no favor. What comes from heaven is first loosed on earth by prayer.
This trip was marked with opportunities to sow into the next generation of evangelists and reap a harvest of heaven-bound souls.
Highlights
ONE-MINUTE WITNESS TRAINING AT COLLEGES
I trained the One-Minute Witness faith-sharing tool at four colleges. Around 1,000 students are now equipped to share their personal testimony. After training, we took them out to apply their new tool, and they came back with fresh excitement.
THOUSANDS CONFESS JESUS AS LORD
In two open-air 5-day festivals, thousands came to the altar to indicate their desire to follow Jesus as their one true God. These festivals were held in areas that have never hosted a gospel festival before. During the final night alone, we saw 977 people expressing their desire to follow Jesus. Photo gallery>
MANY MIRACLES OF PHYSICAL HEALING
By God's grace, we verified the opening of blind eyes and deaf ears, heard many testimonies of vanishing body pain, and two miracles I had never witnessed before.
The first was that of a boy who was born with a paralyzed fist. After prayer he was able to opened his hand for the first time. Watch>
The other miracle was that of a 12-year-old girl who was born mute and spoke for the first time. Watch>
WELLS AND CHURCHES DEDICATED
Twenty Hindu neighborhoods now have fresh water provided by our Christian donors. At each fresh-water well dedication, the gospel message was delivered and dozens have prayed for the gift of salvation.
In addition, three villages now have their first Christian church building to declare the love of Jesus. Photo gallery>
NEXT, we leave on our first trip to the country of Nigeria, West Africa, and a return trip to Liberia. Please continue to pray for us March 22- April 7. We are asking God for 20,000+ people to pray to receive Jesus. Prayer requests>
AGAIN, THANKS also for your financial support. We still have a need of $20,000 for this large Nigeria crusade and pastor's seminar. They are expecting 2,000 pastors and leaders for the seminar alone. Donate>
Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
P.S. Also, let's continue to pray for the people of Japan, that their hearts will be turned to Jesus in this great crisis.
This trip was marked with opportunities to sow into the next generation of evangelists and reap a harvest of heaven-bound souls.
Highlights
ONE-MINUTE WITNESS TRAINING AT COLLEGES
I trained the One-Minute Witness faith-sharing tool at four colleges. Around 1,000 students are now equipped to share their personal testimony. After training, we took them out to apply their new tool, and they came back with fresh excitement.
THOUSANDS CONFESS JESUS AS LORD
In two open-air 5-day festivals, thousands came to the altar to indicate their desire to follow Jesus as their one true God. These festivals were held in areas that have never hosted a gospel festival before. During the final night alone, we saw 977 people expressing their desire to follow Jesus. Photo gallery>
MANY MIRACLES OF PHYSICAL HEALING
By God's grace, we verified the opening of blind eyes and deaf ears, heard many testimonies of vanishing body pain, and two miracles I had never witnessed before.
The first was that of a boy who was born with a paralyzed fist. After prayer he was able to opened his hand for the first time. Watch>
The other miracle was that of a 12-year-old girl who was born mute and spoke for the first time. Watch>
WELLS AND CHURCHES DEDICATED
Twenty Hindu neighborhoods now have fresh water provided by our Christian donors. At each fresh-water well dedication, the gospel message was delivered and dozens have prayed for the gift of salvation.
In addition, three villages now have their first Christian church building to declare the love of Jesus. Photo gallery>
NEXT, we leave on our first trip to the country of Nigeria, West Africa, and a return trip to Liberia. Please continue to pray for us March 22- April 7. We are asking God for 20,000+ people to pray to receive Jesus. Prayer requests>
AGAIN, THANKS also for your financial support. We still have a need of $20,000 for this large Nigeria crusade and pastor's seminar. They are expecting 2,000 pastors and leaders for the seminar alone. Donate>
Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
P.S. Also, let's continue to pray for the people of Japan, that their hearts will be turned to Jesus in this great crisis.
Friday, February 18, 2011
The 1,000-percent Advantage
"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them" (Matthew 18:20).
In God's kingdom, a culture of individuality is over. God said, "It is not good for man to live alone. I will make a helper suitable for him" (Genesis 2:18). So He gave man a woman. Jesus sent the disciples two by two to proclaim His gospel (Mark 6:7). Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto. And Batman had Robin.
There's an old African proverb that says... "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."
God has called us to be a part of the body. No part can survive on its own. The church is His body; not the church building, but the people. When I made a decision to share my faith everyday, a fellow pastor said, "I will do it with you." I told a couple more pastors, and they said, "We will do it with you." And so, I was suddenly empowered and accountable.
So, who are you partnering with? To whom do you joyfully submit? Is it just you and Jesus? If so, your effectiveness will be short and sweet.
When the authorities threatened the disciples to stop talking about Jesus, their response was, "WE cannot help speaking about what WE have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20). When we move as a team, we encourage each other, we have more credibility when two witnesses share their story instead of one, and we protect each other's back through praying through the spiritual barriers that surely come.
Yes, there can be disappointments and risks when you trust others. But, there is power when we walk together. The Bible says that one shall put one thousand to flight, and two shall put ten thousand to flight (Deuteronomy 32:30). That's a 1,000% advantage!
Here's another illustration: An owner of Clydesdale horses performed a test. Alone, the big, muscle-bound horse could pull 1,200 pounds. So the owner thought two horses could pull 2,400 pounds. But to his surprise, he found that two Clydesdales pulling together could pull 5,000 pounds!
That's some good horse sense if you ask me!
Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org
In God's kingdom, a culture of individuality is over. God said, "It is not good for man to live alone. I will make a helper suitable for him" (Genesis 2:18). So He gave man a woman. Jesus sent the disciples two by two to proclaim His gospel (Mark 6:7). Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto. And Batman had Robin.
There's an old African proverb that says... "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."
God has called us to be a part of the body. No part can survive on its own. The church is His body; not the church building, but the people. When I made a decision to share my faith everyday, a fellow pastor said, "I will do it with you." I told a couple more pastors, and they said, "We will do it with you." And so, I was suddenly empowered and accountable.
So, who are you partnering with? To whom do you joyfully submit? Is it just you and Jesus? If so, your effectiveness will be short and sweet.
When the authorities threatened the disciples to stop talking about Jesus, their response was, "WE cannot help speaking about what WE have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20). When we move as a team, we encourage each other, we have more credibility when two witnesses share their story instead of one, and we protect each other's back through praying through the spiritual barriers that surely come.
Yes, there can be disappointments and risks when you trust others. But, there is power when we walk together. The Bible says that one shall put one thousand to flight, and two shall put ten thousand to flight (Deuteronomy 32:30). That's a 1,000% advantage!
Here's another illustration: An owner of Clydesdale horses performed a test. Alone, the big, muscle-bound horse could pull 1,200 pounds. So the owner thought two horses could pull 2,400 pounds. But to his surprise, he found that two Clydesdales pulling together could pull 5,000 pounds!
That's some good horse sense if you ask me!
Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org
Friday, January 28, 2011
Forward Praying
"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word" (John 17:20).
When I see someone wearing a cross, I often ask, "I noticed the cross you're wearing. May I ask what it means to you?"
I've found that 95% of the people I've asked wear a cross as a keepsake. It was a gift from somebody special, like a mother or grandmother. So when I share my faith with them, I know I that I am answering the gift-giver's prayers!
Did you know that God is working on future results based on today's prayers?
When you pray, heaven's wheels start turning! The process of answering your prayers has already begun. God is always putting the people-puzzle together to bring the greatest glory to His name in answer to your prayers.
So who are you praying for and believing that the answer is coming? Let's keep praying for those who WILL BELIEVE through someone's witness. And best of all, you can be an answer to someone's prayers. You may never know how you fit into God's puzzle until you get to heaven.
That's when we'll experience a great celebration when we see the effects of our prayers and our witness! Let's be an answer to someone's prayers.
Let's pray forward!
Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org
When I see someone wearing a cross, I often ask, "I noticed the cross you're wearing. May I ask what it means to you?"
I've found that 95% of the people I've asked wear a cross as a keepsake. It was a gift from somebody special, like a mother or grandmother. So when I share my faith with them, I know I that I am answering the gift-giver's prayers!
Did you know that God is working on future results based on today's prayers?
When you pray, heaven's wheels start turning! The process of answering your prayers has already begun. God is always putting the people-puzzle together to bring the greatest glory to His name in answer to your prayers.
So who are you praying for and believing that the answer is coming? Let's keep praying for those who WILL BELIEVE through someone's witness. And best of all, you can be an answer to someone's prayers. You may never know how you fit into God's puzzle until you get to heaven.
That's when we'll experience a great celebration when we see the effects of our prayers and our witness! Let's be an answer to someone's prayers.
Let's pray forward!
Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Jesus at Macy's
"Therefore, Paul...reasoned in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there" (Acts 17:17).
Christmas really came to Macy's. Shoppers were pleasantly surprised when plain-clothed opera singers unexpectedly broke out singing "The Hallelujah Chorus.
It brought tears to my eyes watching people's reactions to this "random act of culture," and I was delighted to see the overwhelming approval at the end of the song.
Immediately I thought of how this kind of celebration is normal in heaven. All the angels rejoice when one sinner turns to Jesus.
And I thought, our lives ARE a concert of praise whenever we share our faith. Whether it's at the shopping mall, the auto body repair shop, or the grocery store. We can bring HIGH PRAISE to our Lord when we choose to share His love with others.
So here's the bottom line. Why let opera singers be the only ones bringing praise to Jesus? You and I have the great privilege of sharing Jesus in the marketplace daily with those who happen to be there.
Merry Christmas!
Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org
Christmas really came to Macy's. Shoppers were pleasantly surprised when plain-clothed opera singers unexpectedly broke out singing "The Hallelujah Chorus.
It brought tears to my eyes watching people's reactions to this "random act of culture," and I was delighted to see the overwhelming approval at the end of the song.
Immediately I thought of how this kind of celebration is normal in heaven. All the angels rejoice when one sinner turns to Jesus.
And I thought, our lives ARE a concert of praise whenever we share our faith. Whether it's at the shopping mall, the auto body repair shop, or the grocery store. We can bring HIGH PRAISE to our Lord when we choose to share His love with others.
So here's the bottom line. Why let opera singers be the only ones bringing praise to Jesus? You and I have the great privilege of sharing Jesus in the marketplace daily with those who happen to be there.
Merry Christmas!
Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Happy Thinksgiving
I just arrived home from India yesterday, and as a result of our three gospel and healing festivals, we saw over 10,000 people sign decision cards to receive or recommit their lives to Jesus Christ. How exciting is that?
At the gospel festivals, many people testified of miraculous healings: blind eyes and deaf ears opened, and people who had suffered from chronic pain were restored. We also had the privilege of dedicating four churches and six fresh-water wells, and conducting three pastor’s seminars and a women's conference.
While flying home from this very successful trip to India, and I was grateful for my 30-hour journey home, including the 15-hour non-stop flight from Mumbai to Newark. My father went to the Phillipine Islands during WWll, and it took them three weeks by ship, with men enjoying the pleasures of seasickness most of the way. So my trip looks rather easy! It all depends how you look at life.
Sir Moses Montetfiore, the Hebrew philanthropist, had as his family motto: “Think and Thank.’ The Old English language gives us the root for our word ‘thankfulness,’ and it means ‘thinkfulness.’ When we ‘think’ of all God’s goodness toward us, it fosters an attitude of thankfulness.
The late president of Wheaton College, V. Rayond Edman, wrote, “Paganism has no note of thanksgiving in its worship. Its people may have prayer wheels and make pilgrimages, but they have no song of praise. They have fetishes erected for fear of evil spirits, but they know nothing of a feast of gratitude for God’s goodness.”
Having just returned from India, we see the many holy days they honor in fear of not pleasing their millions of gods. The Hindus draw elaborate chalk designs in front of their houses, hoping the spirits will see their devotion and bring blessing instead of a curse. The Muslims must bow and pray five times per day, or they risk incurring the displeasure of Allah.
But Christianity is different. God is faithful even when we are not. His mercies are new every morning. He sends the rain on the just and the unjust. We are not those who live in constant fear of not measuring up to some unknown standard of holiness.
Rather, we praise and thank God for what He has done for us, and for Who He is...the Almighty God of love who reigns over all the world. And we try to live in such a way that would bring Him honor.
“To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything he has given us, and He has given us everything” (Thomas Merton).
So today, I want to thank God for the good memories of friends and supporters of Oasis like you...people who faithfully pray for and support the mission to take the gospel of Jesus to unreached and under-reached areas of the world. I also choose to think about and thank God for the trials I have been allowed to face, knowing He grows me to new levels of trust and faith.
Whatever you and your loved ones are facing this Thanksgiving season, I hope you will both THINK AND THANK GOD, recognizing that He is always with us, teaching us to trust Him more deeply....day by day.
HAPPY THINKSGIVING AND THANKSGIVING!
Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org
At the gospel festivals, many people testified of miraculous healings: blind eyes and deaf ears opened, and people who had suffered from chronic pain were restored. We also had the privilege of dedicating four churches and six fresh-water wells, and conducting three pastor’s seminars and a women's conference.
While flying home from this very successful trip to India, and I was grateful for my 30-hour journey home, including the 15-hour non-stop flight from Mumbai to Newark. My father went to the Phillipine Islands during WWll, and it took them three weeks by ship, with men enjoying the pleasures of seasickness most of the way. So my trip looks rather easy! It all depends how you look at life.
Sir Moses Montetfiore, the Hebrew philanthropist, had as his family motto: “Think and Thank.’ The Old English language gives us the root for our word ‘thankfulness,’ and it means ‘thinkfulness.’ When we ‘think’ of all God’s goodness toward us, it fosters an attitude of thankfulness.
The late president of Wheaton College, V. Rayond Edman, wrote, “Paganism has no note of thanksgiving in its worship. Its people may have prayer wheels and make pilgrimages, but they have no song of praise. They have fetishes erected for fear of evil spirits, but they know nothing of a feast of gratitude for God’s goodness.”
Having just returned from India, we see the many holy days they honor in fear of not pleasing their millions of gods. The Hindus draw elaborate chalk designs in front of their houses, hoping the spirits will see their devotion and bring blessing instead of a curse. The Muslims must bow and pray five times per day, or they risk incurring the displeasure of Allah.
But Christianity is different. God is faithful even when we are not. His mercies are new every morning. He sends the rain on the just and the unjust. We are not those who live in constant fear of not measuring up to some unknown standard of holiness.
Rather, we praise and thank God for what He has done for us, and for Who He is...the Almighty God of love who reigns over all the world. And we try to live in such a way that would bring Him honor.
“To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything he has given us, and He has given us everything” (Thomas Merton).
So today, I want to thank God for the good memories of friends and supporters of Oasis like you...people who faithfully pray for and support the mission to take the gospel of Jesus to unreached and under-reached areas of the world. I also choose to think about and thank God for the trials I have been allowed to face, knowing He grows me to new levels of trust and faith.
Whatever you and your loved ones are facing this Thanksgiving season, I hope you will both THINK AND THANK GOD, recognizing that He is always with us, teaching us to trust Him more deeply....day by day.
HAPPY THINKSGIVING AND THANKSGIVING!
Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org
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