God's Miraculous Healings in Liberia

"...they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well" (Mark 16:18b).

The Oasis team is doing well and the Liberian people are very friendly and open to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Hot and humid describes the climate here, and we are melting like popsicles. The Liberian people are true survivors and very adaptable. Everything is run by generators, so there are few places to escape the heat and humidity.

We just completed the first of two three-day pastor's schools. Over 400 pastors attended and were encouraged, equipped and empowered by the Holy Spirit. The teaching included hands-on application of Mark 16:18 where disciples of Jesus are instructed to lay hands on the sick. As a result God healed 18 people who struggled with chronic body pain!

Currently, we are in the midst of our first five-day crusade in Tagmaberg, Bomi County. In the first two nights, 950 people made decisions to follow Jesus! Over 2,500 people have attended with the largest crowds to come.

The native pastors have marveled at the size of the crowds and have exclaimed, "We have never seen this many healings!"

Tonight at the crusade,a former rebel soldier will share his story about how Jesus has turned his life around. During the civil war, the people knew him as a ruthless killer. His remarkable transformation after receiving Jesus Christ reminds me of Saul's story before he became Paul.

In addition, four fresh-water wells are being drilled at remote villages that currently do not have running water. The goal is to have them completed before we return home for dedication ceremonies. Just ahead the Oasis team will travel to Bummi Hills for the second pastor's school and crusade.

Please continue to pray that a spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation will help heal this war-torn country, and that those who are thirsting for "Living Water" will accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Thank you for holding us up in prayer.

Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org

Oasis team now in Liberia

The Oasis team is now in the war-torn country of Liberia, Africa. This country has seen two civil wars in 14 years and has lost its entire infrastructure; the water system and electrical grid. Unemployment has reached 80%!

The Oasis team will be traveling to remote villages near Monrovia and bringing the good news of God's forgiveness, reconciliation and healing. Among those with me is a native-born Liberian pastor who understands first-hand these people's hurts and ministers the healing touch of Jesus.

While in Liberia, we will be conducting two 5-day, open-air crusades and two 3-day pastor's schools. In addition, we will be drilling four fresh-water wells that will be installed with hand pumps.

Please pray that a spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation will help heal this war-torn country, and that those who are thirsting for "Living Water" will accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Thanks for your continued partnership in prayers and support.

Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
oasisworldministries.org

A Continuous Feast

"A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance...he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast." Proverbs 15:13,15

Now that another Thanksgiving holiday is past, may I ask you a question?

What is it about the Thanksgiving feast we love so much? The hot turkey, buttery potatoes, grandma's cream corn and the pumpkin pie piled high with whipped cream are obvious. And of course, the family and friends are priceless.

But perhaps it's the celebration of 'being thankful' that we really love. Being thankful is free... contagious... and healthy. And it's FUN!

Someone once said, 'my worst day with the Lord is better than my best day without the Lord!' In other words, as Christians we have reason to celebrate all the time. Why? Because we know the end of the story. We're going to heaven...we're forgiven.... we're loved!

Just stop and think about 'heaven' for 5 seconds. Don't you have an immediate smile on your heart? Don't you feel your stress starting to melt? So how can I keep this 'feast' going?

Here's the #1 key... my feelings don't have to rule me. I CAN have a merry heart and a continual thanksgiving feast when I take control of my thoughts and feelings through gratitude. The Bible says, 'as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.' Radio host Chuck Swindoll said it best when he said that 'life is 90% attitude, and 10% circumstances'.

When things don't go the way you and I expect (which is a lot of the time), remember the end of the story.... WE WIN! Everything else on earth is temporary. Only heaven is eternal. It's enough to make a grown-up shout "HAPPY THANKSGIVING" all year 'round!

Grateful to know Jesus personally,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org

Over 26,344 receive Christ!

First of all, thank you to so many people who dedicated themselves to pray for us during this last trip. God supernaturally watched over us, and gave us tremendous results! Your prayers covered us in some potentially difficult situations.

As you have no doubt watched on the news, the radical Muslims have terrorized India again. This seems to happen every year or two in some fashion, but this is certainly the boldest they have been in at least 15 years.

In addition to what you saw, there are anti-Christian radical Hindus who also are killing in the name of their religion. Scores of churches have been closed, and scores of Christians have been killed for their faith. Please continue to pray for your brothers and sisters who are persecuted.

By God's grace, during this India trip we will have seen over 26,344 people pray to receive Jesus as their 'one true God'. The incredible healings abounded, and demonized people were set free. One demon-possessed woman interrupted my preaching three times as she came to the front area screaming, while scratching and clawing at herself. But on the final night, she came to the platform with the biggest and most joyous smile as she testified how she had been completely freed by Jesus!

The Oasis team conducted six open-air gospel and healing festivals, and six pastor's schools. We also dedicated six new church buildings, and drilled 16 fresh water wells... all for the glory of God! Photos from our trip>

PLEASE also pray for us as we leave after Christmas for Liberia, Africa. We will conduct two open-air crusades and two pastor's schools, all in a country that has 80% unemployment. Pray that a spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation will help heal this war-torn country. Thanks for your continued partnership in prayers and support. Please continue to help us as God leads you. Whether your gift is large or small, we appreciate your help so very much.

Intentional for souls,

Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org

In five days: 6,479 decisions for Jesus

We just completed an absolutely awesome second week sharing the Gospel with the people in the town of Huzurabad, India.

There was great unity, great crowds and great results. The pastors of 12 neighboring churches made a real difference, as they prayed and fasted before we arrived.

On opening night of our second Gospel & Healing Festival of this trip, we sensed a great hunger for God as a thousand people flocked to the altar and invited Jesus to be their "One True God"! Eight thousand people attended the final night of the festival, and in all, 6,479 people signed decision cards to make Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior during this five-day festival.

One of the local pastors told me that this was truly a historic event, since this town has never hosted anything like this before.

Among the healings was a woman who testified of having a painful tumor the size of her fist. When she received prayer, God shrunk the tumor and the pain left. Many others also testified of pain leaving their body in the name of Jesus. Another woman testified of being completely blind in one eye, and that God reclaimed her sight.

Jesus Christ was truly exalted in the town of Huzurabad. We pray they will never be the same again.

Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org

A holy and reverent respect for God

November 3, 2008

God has visited us in a great way! We've just finished our first week of meetings in Bheemgal, Andhra Pradesh.

During our first five-day festival, we saw a holy and reverent respect for God. People came forward to give testimonies of God's healings and thousands streamed forward to accept Jesus as their "one true God". Even when I preached about the persecution that is now happening in India, people still wanted to follow Jesus.

Thousands gathered on the final night of our first five-day "Gospel and Healing" Festival. It was electric! The first three testimonies took my breath away! First, a woman who had been totally blind in her left eye for one year, testified that she can now see with both eyes. Next, a man with one totally deaf ear for 20 years testified that he can now hear out of it. Finally, a demon-possessed woman, who had disrupted my preaching three times during the previous evening, came with a joyful smile and testified that she has been completely set free.

Praise God! This town will always remember the way God met them and touched their lives!

Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org

The Third-World Christian

Here's a glimpse into third-world evangelism. Please take three minutes to read about evangelism by the persecuted church in China. It is a transcript of a captivating interview by Denny Kenaston with two unidentified house church leaders.

Bro Denny: That leads me to my next question. What about missions and methods of evangelism? How do our Chinese brothers live out the Great Commission?

Bro Paul: Their theology and methods are really quite simple. They believe there is only one reason why God has left them here on earth: that is to evangelize the lost. Anyone who is not actively pursuing this holy purpose is missing the mark. The Great Commission cannot be compromised.

Their methods are anointed preaching with signs following. The leaders instruct the evangelism teams to go to a new village and inquire about the worst problem in the village. Then they are to go and minister to that problem and show that Jesus is the all-powerful Savior. With this success, they turn to the people and preach Jesus to them.

Bro Ren: I will give you a beautiful example of how this worked for two young ladies who were sent to a village to share the gospel:

These two sisters, eighteen years old and very tiny, came to a village of about three hundred people. There was one big problem. There was a man who was possessed by demons. Somehow, the Communists were able to count that this man had twelve demons in him. He was learned in five different languages. He was so powerful that twelve heavy farmers could not hold him back. They tried with chains and wires, but he had the power to break free.

This man happened to live at the entrance of that village. The whole village of three hundred people could not walk on the road, but had to walk in the forest, because the man decided that nobody was going to pass through his property. Whenever anyone stepped through the property line, which was invisible, the man would come out with a jungle knife in his hand, shouting, "I'm going to kill you!"

Everybody was afraid. It was like this for many, many years.

Now, these two young ladies came asking, "What is the biggest problem in this village?" Everybody pointed to the crazy, demon-possessed man's house. The sisters turned around and started to move towards that house. They were walking and praying. The whole village came out from their houses. Everybody wanted to see what would happen. They knew where the invisible line was, and if they step over that line and enter into his property, they knew what would happen. He would fly out with a jungle knife, half-naked, with a crazy look in his eye, and all the demons would drive him forward to them.

Sister Lee, one of the young girls, was leading. The two of them entered onto his property. The man ran out through the door with a knife in his hand. This sister lifted up her hand and said, "In the name of Jesus, stop." This man became frozen. He stopped in mid-air, like a statue. He couldn't move back, and he couldn't move forward. This man was as a stone. He couldn't do anything. He could not stand. His eyes were totally frozen.

This happens quite often in China. We know by experience that the body is frozen by the Holy Ghost, but the person can hear with his ears. You can share any message you want to with this kind of person. He can understand every word that you speak. Sister Lee went next to this "statue" and started to proclaim the Gospel. She then, through the name of Jesus, cast all twelve demons out of this man. He was instantly delivered. He melted in that spot, like butter in sunshine. He fell down onto the ground and was completely restored. The first words he said were "This Jesus is Lord." He was wonderfully saved and restored.

There was a very special group of people who stood together in the village that day. There they stood, the two girls on each side, and the man who used to be possessed in the middle of them. He was talking to these sisters, and together they entered into the village. As they passed the doors of the first house, the families one by one confessed that Jesus was the Son of God.

The whole village with three hundred people surrendered to the Lord that evening. These are very simple Gospel methods: problem-solution- salvation.

You may read the whole article at www.house2house.net

Intentional for souls,

Tom Elie

Evangelist/President

Oasis World Ministries

www.oasisworldministries.org

POWER EVANGELISM

“And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city.” Acts 8:6-8

In India this year a woman came to our stage to testify that she could previously only walk with the help of a cane, but now she could walk and run freely without pain. I asked her, “Who did this for you?” She replied, “you did.” I said, “Oh no, JESUS is the one who healed you!” She said, “this is my first night at your festival. Who is Jesus?”

An Indian college student and I were talking, and I asked him if he was a Hindu. He said that he used to be, until last night at our gospel festival where he saw the town blind man healed by Jesus. He said, “that’s the kind of God I want to serve!”

Jesus often drew a crowd through His healings.
He then kept a crowd through His love.

Jesus told his disciples to “preach the gospel, and heal the sick.” Luke 9:2 In the next chapter He sent out the 70 with the same directive: “Heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘the kingdom of God has come near to you.” Luke 10:9 The two go together like peanut butter and jelly.

Heal the sick... preach the gospel!

This was NT Christianity in it’s embryo stage. It continued with the apostles as the church grew throughout the world. It was ‘normal Christianity’. I LOVE IT, DON’T YOU?

This was to be a sign of NT believers: ‘they shall lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:18 And what happened? “the Lord worked with them, confirming the word through the accompanying signs.” Mk 16:20 People came to Christ through His kind miracles!

A young woman with MS came to our “Praise and Healing Celebration” in southern Minnesota. God healed her on the spot. She left her cane at the altar, and THEN she got saved!

Today Jesus sends you and I out with the same authority. You and I have the goods! Let’s pray for the sick. Our job is to pray in faith...God’s job is to heal... and save!

Intentional for souls,

Tom Elie

Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries

God is a Serious Golfer!

“May the Lord make you a thousand times more numerous than you are and bless you as He has promised you!” Deuteronomy 1:11

Any golfers out there? I heard a pastor friend of mine, Jerry Strandquist, say that 98% of the putts that are short don’t go in the hole. That’s food for serious thought!

So why do most of MY missed putts end up short? I’m not a serious golfer, but I would say it’s because I don’t want to hit it too long. I don’t want to overshoot the cup. Why, you may ask? I don’t know. What difference is it if I am 2 feet short of the cup or 2 feet long?

I am told the only people that fail in life are those who fail to try. No golfer hits par every hole. No golfer avoids the water hazards forever. I saw Tiger Woods hit into the sand trap recently, and I thought, “even I can do that!”

So why do we live life like we play golf? Why are we afraid of big goals? Because we’re afraid of missing the mark. So we dumb-down our goals, our life, and even our faith. I hate to have my head in the clouds without also having my feet on the ground. I want to be God’s dreamer, but I don’t want to overshoot.

God already had made Abraham’s seed more than the number of stars he could count. And now Moses is getting inspired… “may God make you a THOUSAND TIMES MORE numerous than you are.” WOW!

What’s God saying to you? Little goals or big goals…. it doesn’t matter. They both take faith. God smiles on us whenever we listen to His voice telling us to get out of the boat and out of our comfort zone. I dare say that God has some big plans for us that are far, far beyond our imagination…. a thousand times bigger than we thought.

So when you are setting spiritual goals, or thinking about how God could use you,… shoot long!

We at Oasis are shooting for 1,000,000 souls to find Christ before the end of 2010… talk about a long-shot! Yet at this fall’s annual banquet, we will celebrate our 1/2 way point.

By God’s grace, we will reach the hole!

Intentional for souls,

Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries

What Kind of a Person am I?

Since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God...? (II Peter 3:11-12).

Gas prices at $4/gallon? Who would've thought?

Millions of homes in foreclosure?...Get real.

Real nuclear danger from Iran? You've got to be kidding.

The rapture of the church? We've got a lot of time left!

This isn't Kansas anymore, Toto! Things are a changing faster than we think. Morals are declining or disappearing, church growth is stunted or reversing, crime is increasing, and our nation is becoming more and more godless.

The Bible has been telling us forever that we should lay up treasures in heaven... that none of our stuff is going to last. Yet we are in debt past our eyeballs with stuff that we can't take with us.

What kind of person am I anyway? That's a great question to ponder. Maybe the best one to answer it is the Holy Spirit. After all, He lives inside us. He knows us inside out and upside down. There's nothing hidden from Him.

Holy Spirit, what kind of person am I: religious or righteous?

What consumes me: stuff or souls?

For what am I looking: earthly promotion, or heavenly?

We say we believe in the imminent return of the Lord...He could come at any time.

But if you are like me, a lot of times I believe with my head more than my heart. Sometimes, I'd rather He wait a while. But now, we can all see that our world is changing fast. It's time to believe with our heart... all of it.

Signs of the time? Could be! Perhaps Jesus is returning soon... I mean real soon. What if we don't have decades left, but only years? Does this change what kind of person I am?

It should.

It can!

Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries

Oasis Prayer & Praise Report

We have just returned from a whirl-wind trip to India and are so grateful for your prayers. We praise God for the harvest! In the two weeks we were ministering, over 13,627 decisions were made for Jesus Christ! And several people received God's miraculous healing: deaf ears opened and severe pain relieved!

It was a very full schedule between myself, Troy Elie, Oasis Director of Development, Larry Frick, a seasoned Bible teacher and missionary from Norway, and our hard working team of staff and volunteers in India.

Our trip included two 5-day Gospel & Healing Festivals in Sirisilla and Brahmanakotkur. Over 5,000 people made decisions for Jesus at the Sirisilla festival. We led two "Ignite the Fire" Training Seminars and had one of the largest gatherings with over 700 pastors and Christian leaders attending the Brahmanakotkur seminar. We handed out new Bibles that were translated into the Telugu language to the participants.

In addition, we dedicated two churches and six fresh-water wells in villages that previously were without a place to worship Jesus and were without clean drinking water.

Troy led the dedications of three Adopt-A-Village projects. Each project is strategically selected to reach remote villages and provide the people with a fresh water well, a 3-day mini-festival and provide support for a local pastor to minister to each area for three years. Here are some photos from this trip.

By God's grace and with the help of your prayers and support, we are now at 484,471 decisions made for Jesus Christ toward our goal of reaching one million decisions for Christ by the end of 2010.

Thank you again for your prayers and support! Together we are changing lives and making a difference by bringing living water to thirsty people!

Intentional for souls,

Tom Elie

Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries

www.oasisworldministries.org

Oasis Prayer & Praise

By God's grace we arrived safely to India and will carry out a full schedule through May 20. This marks my 30th trip to India. Traveling with me is Troy Elie, the Director of Development for Oasis World Ministries, and Larry Frick, a missionary. We will join Thimothi Rao, the National Director of Oasis World Ministries and the India staff.

On this two-week trip we will be conducting:

Two five-day open-air Gospel and Healing Festivals in Sirisilla and Brahmanakotkur, Andhra Pradesh

Two "Ignite The Fire" Training Seminars for up to 400 pastors and Christian leaders

The dedication of nine fresh-water wells in villages that currently do not have clean, running water

Three Adopt-A-Village projects that include: a fresh-water well in each area that will bring clean water for up to 5,000 people; a three-day mini-festival at each site; and the sponsoring of three pastors that will lead and encourage the Christians in each region

Will you kindly remember us in your prayers every day for the next two weeks?

There is a definite spiritual battle each time we go to India. Please pray for a great harvest, health and protection for our team and unity and wisdom for every situation. Also pray for me and Troy for the nights we preach. We covet the Holy Spirit's strong anointing and blessing so the people may hear what the One True God is saying to them and those who need healing with receive it in the powerful name of Jesus Christ.

Thank you for your partnership. It means a lot to me and the people of India.

Intentional for souls,

Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries

Daily Marketplace Evangelism

“Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there” (Acts 17:17).

DAILY? Did you get that? Paul had some time to kill, waiting for Timothy and Silas to reach him. So while he was waiting…while he had nothing to do…while he could have done anything he wanted…he looked for an opportunity to share Jesus. And he didn’t just do it once…but DAILY! That’s right…everyday he looked for an opportunity to share about Jesus.

Where? In the MARKETPLACE. Did you get that? Paul didn’t share the gospel only in church. He took it outside the church…into the marketplace!

DAILY you and I are in the MARKETPLACE. We buy groceries and stand behind someone in waiting in line. We take a walk on a nice day and cross paths with others doing the same. We’re at the gas station pumping gas next to others filling up.

We live in the marketplace; a place for the gospel to be demonstrated and talked about!

Yesterday, I was the only customer in line dropping off my rental car. I had a flight to catch, but I felt a desire to share Jesus with the employee who was checking in my car. “I’m working on a personal survey,” I said, “and wonder if I could ask you a question?”

She agreed, so I asked, “What’s the greatest thing that has ever happened to you?” She answered that it was her loving family. Great answer! Then I asked if I could share the best thing that has ever happened to me. She nodded. I went on to say, “I have a great wife and four wonderful sons, but there was a time in my life when... and I briefly shared about how I came to know Jesus Christ. A car drove up in the middle of my story, but she kept listening. My answer only took two minutes, but who knows what will happen in her life for eternity?

Recently, God has been encouraging me to pray for healing in the marketplace. Another example of marketplace evangelism was when my wife, Vicki, and I were walking to the car from a hotel. I noticed a housekeeping employee painfully limping with each footstep. So I asked her, “Is your hip causing you a lot of pain?” She replied, “I’ve experienced level-8 pain for the last seven years.” I told her my wife and I were Christians and that God continues to heal many people today. Then I asked if we could pray over her. She agreed. So while standing in the hotel parking lot, we prayed for her and God healed her on the spot. She lifted her hands in the air and testified that her pain was completely gone!

Praise the Lord for MARKETPLACE EVANGELISM.

Now I have a choice to make… will I make myself available for ‘daily… marketplace… evangelism’? If so, I think I better get ready for a big learning curve and lots of excitement!

Intentional for souls,

Tom Elie

Evangelist/President

Oasis World Ministries

Spontaneous Evangelism

"And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, 'Look at us" ... Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you; In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand" (Acts 3:3,5; Acts 4:4).

When you least expect it... "SMILE, you're on Candid Camera!"

Remember the old TV series that caught people in the funniest capers? Yes, it was a 'set-up', but it was hilarious to watch their spontaneous reactions.

We did a gas buy-down outreach at a gas station, and someone prayed for a Buddhist man to receive Jesus! We didn't plan for that man to be there, but God did. Spontaneous? YES!

While flying home, the stewardess asked where I had been. She asked to see the photos of my journey. We stood in the back of the plane looking over the photos and another stewardess joined us. I explained the plan of salvation, and we joined hands in prayer while they confessed their sins to Jesus. All this took place while standing in the airplane aisle. Spontaneous? YES!

God often works in the spur of the moment stuff, yet most of our lives are so cram-packed with things to do that we leave little to no room for the Holy Spirit to interrupt our schedule.

Peter and John were on their way to the temple to pray, as was their daily custom. They passed the same group of beggars they encountered every day. Instead of tuning out the pleas for money, this time was different!

This time the Holy Spirit spoke faith into Peter's heart. His eyes were drawn to this man. The beggar thought he was going to get some money, but he got much more. He was healed! Spontaneous? YES!

What looks impromptu to us, God has been planning for some time. "Man makes his plans, BUT God directs his steps" (Proverbs 16:9). Are we keeping our lives open to divine appointments?

Smile...and make room for daily encounters of the heavenly kind.

Intentional for souls,

Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org

One Month to Live

“Who knows the power of Your anger.... so, teach us to number our day” (Psalm 90:11-12).

D.L. Moody, the great evangelist of the 19^th century, was asked over dinner how he would react if he knew the Lord was returning in one month. D.L. put his fork down, paused for a moment, and then responded, “I would finish eating my steak.”

He was already making every day count for the kingdom of God!

A friend of mine was going through cancer treatment. He said God was impressing on him the brevity of his time here on earth. Isn’t it interesting how short our life looks when facing cancer?

We tend to live life like we have lots of time on our hands. In the Old Testament, people would live hundreds of years before death. But now the Bible suggests we only can count on 70 or 80 years, and that only with good health.

Man’s sinful and fallen nature is the reason for life’s brevity...“the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). God is most definitely angry at sin, so according to Psalm 90, our earthly lives are shorter than He originally planned. ‘This isn’t the garden of Eden anymore, Eve.’

So... what should I do, Lord?

“Teach us to number our day” (Psalm 90:12).

“Redeem the time, for the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16).

‘Redeem’ means to ‘buy back’. No, I cannot fix my past. But I can maximize my future.

When I focus on giving rather than taking, sowing more than reaping, speaking faith instead of doubt, I begin to birth life in others.

Here’s four great questions:

‘Am I treasuring this gift called life by lavishly investing it in others?’

‘Am I generously helping people find eternal life through Jesus?’

‘Will I wish I had lived differently when I stand before God?’

‘What would I do if I knew I had one month to live?’

The pressing question for the church is not, ‘when will the Lord return?’ But it’s, ‘when will I be called home? And did I make my days count for the Lord?’ The songwriter wrote, ‘only one life will soon be past... only what’s done for Christ will last.’ Let’s make today count for eternity!

Intentional for souls,

Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries

www.oasisworldministries.org

Easter power or Easter hour?

"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him" (II Chronicles 16:9).

Last Easter Sunday I visited a Catholic church with some relatives. The priest was obviously very happy to have police directing the huge flow of cars that inundated his church that Sunday. But he jokingly asked the congregation, "Where have you all been?"

Both America's Catholic and Protestant churches are often full on holidays, but half full the rest of the year. Are we raising a nominal church, to believe in a powerless cross? Are we, yes, you and I, part of an American religious melt-down that only gives religious genuflects to God on Easter and Christmas and 9/11's, but whose heart is pre-occupied with other pursuits? Are our hearts loyal to dead religious traditions or are we loyal to a living God?

Are we celebrating the 'power' of Easter or the 'hour' of Easter?

The Bible is replete with stories of people's failings to follow God loyally. Oh yes, many started well, but finished poorly. King Asa was one of them. God told Asa, "The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you" (II Chronicles 15:2).

At first Asa listened to the prophet, and God blessed the people. Asa tore down the altars to the idols. He commanded Judah to seek the Lord. They entered a covenant to seek the Lord with ALL their heart and soul. Life was good. But Asa slipped a little. Instead of relying on the Lord for His protection, he relied on others. He lost his power. His heart was not loyal to the Lord. He was fickle.

What about us? Will you pray with me...

Dear Heavenly Father,
Would you forgive me of any nominal Christianity that hides in my heart? Would you remind me again why I am really here on this earth? Would you give me courage to tear down any idols in my own life? Would you help me to have a loyal heart to You, and to Your mission of reaching the lost? Would you infuse me afresh with Your resurrection power this Easter? In the mighty Name of Jesus Christ I pray and ask. Amen.

My friend, America needs the church right now. Our country's answers are not in the White House, but in the church house. They are not found on Wall Street, but on the Way of the Cross. Nominal Christianity will compromise loyal hearts. We NEED the power of the resurrection to keep our hearts loyal to His mission...to seek and save the lost!

We MUST be both passionate and compassionate! Let's come out of the church house, and be the salt and light God has called us to be. Let's shine the Way, the Truth and the Life to those who have not heard. Let's shine His love, joy, peace, and hope to those who are searching for it. God knows this is what our world needs.

Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries

The Ripple Effect

“...as Peter went.... he found a certain paralyzed man named Aeneas... who was healed...so all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord” (Acts 10:32-35).

Have you ever seen a fish jump out of the water? His movement causes a ripple throughout the whole pond. When you and I step out of the boat and start walking on water, our footprint causes a ‘ripple effect’ that reaches far beyond anything we can imagine.

Because Peter went...

...Peter found a paralyzed man...

...whom he healed in Jesus’ name...

...whom the town saw, and turned to the Lord.

Why did two whole towns turn to the Lord? Because Peter ‘went’.

Jesus says to us today, ‘Go into all the world”... and if you go, ‘lo I am with you always”. The ‘ripple-effect’ starts by us simply choosing to ‘GO’.

We say, “I sure would like it if God used me to heal the sick like Peter was used.” Well, Peter did not know what his day would look like... he just went out... and God used him mightily.

One pastor said, “We never used to pray for the sick in our church services, and we never saw people healed. But now we pray for the sick regularly, and we regularly see people healed.”

We can’t catch fish if we never GO fishing. When I GO, Jesus GOES with me! And when Jesus GOES with me, the supernatural starts to happen.

This isn’t the end of the ripple. In Acts 10:36-43, the Bible tells us that a lady named Dorcas died suddenly. Peter was in the town of Lydda, which was near Dorcas’ town. So they called him over to pray for her to be raised from the dead. He came... she was raised from the dead... and many believed on the Lord!

Why was this woman raised from the dead, and many came to Christ? Because Peter ‘went’ to Lydda... which was near the town of Dorcas. Thus, the ‘ripple-effect’.

Let’s step out of the boat today and start making ‘ripples’ for God’s glory!

Intentional for souls,

Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries

"Out and Into" Christianity

"The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest" (Matthew 9:37-38).

The great evangelist T.L. Osborne wrote a book called, . He states that many of us in the church have gotten things backwards. We are praying for God to send the souls INTO our churches, and God is praying to send the believer's OUT into the harvest.

In other words, our prayers aren't even scriptural!

The late great evangelist, Dr. Bill Bright felt that 50% of Americans would turn their lives to Christ if the gospel had been lovingly presented to them by someone they trusted. Just think - 50%!

But it won't happen!

Not unless the church (you and I) change our strategy. Believers need to be intentional and GO OUT so that new believers COME IN. It's as simple as that! We've been doing evangelism backwards. We want them to come in, but we won't go out.

The harvest is not the problem - Jesus said the harvest is plentiful. And it is! Everywhere I go I try to share in 60 seconds what Christ means to me, and I've found that people are VERY open to hear my story!

The message is not the problem. 'JESUS SAVES' still works; especially when you tell them what Jesus did for you.

A good E-Free pastor friend of mine told me that he went to Bill Hybel's conference a couple years ago. He said that they admitted to have made a lot of good decisions, but they fell short in one specific area - they should have made evangelism their top priority.

My friend, if you want to experience that first love all over again, let's teach and equip each other to share our faith in the marketplace and in our neighborhoods. When I conduct training and outreach seminars, the people that complete it are so happy they did. They finally feel equipped to share their faith with their friends, and share it joyfully, confidently and intelligently!

Ready to fall in love with Jesus all over again? Let's go out!

Intentional for Souls,

Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries

Prayer & Praise Report

It was another amazing trip to India.

I'm thrilled to report that 29,495 decisions for Jesus were made in the last month!

God's favor led us into five elementary and high schools to share the Good News of Christ to 8,000 students. When the youth were given the opportunity to receive Jesus as their Savior, nearly every hand went up!

In addition, we selected our 2008 team of National Evangelists. Rev. Simon Peter and Rev. Jeremiah will be leading two months of training with the eight new evangelists. Two of the evangelists are from Nagaland in the Northern portion of India. Once trained, each National Evangelist will lead mini-festivals in some of the most remote areas of India; places where most people have never heard about Jesus. We anticipate that each National Evangelist will lead 5,000 to 10,000 people to Christ each year.

I praise God for the dozens of miraculous healings on this trip. One of the most remarkable healings was at the Armur Festival. A woman named Shanthamna was deaf in both ears for 20 years and she experienced great pain in her abdomen and knee. When Shanthamna received prayer she said, 'It felt like a hand touched me on my cheek and then 'pop' I could hear!'. Not only can she hear in both ears, but the pain is completely gone!

Another healing took place just before the first night of the Maripeda Festival. I saw a crippled woman slowly make her way around the festival grounds with a cane, and I invited her run around the stage with me. She dropped her cane and began to run. I asked her, 'Did Jesus heal you?' She replied, 'Who is Jesus?' It was amazing that God's mercy drew this woman to the festival and He healed her even before she heard the Good News about Jesus Christ!

Thank you for your prayers and support. We are nearly half way to reaching our goal of one million decisions for Jesus by the end of 2010. Our next trip to India will be in May. God bless you!

Intentional for souls,

Tom Elie Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries

Prayer & Praise Report

Thank you for your prayers!

We just finished our fifth night of our fourth and final festival in Armur, Telangana which is 180 kilometers from Hyderabad. It was an amazing conclusion to this very fruitful trip. A record number of 360 vehicles transported 10,000 people the final night with 1,900 decisions made for Christ. In all, 5,400 decision cards for Christ were signed during this final five-day festival.

God continues to bless these beautiful people with many miraculous healings. Some of the testimonies include a mother who brought her son. He regained his hearing after four years of being deaf in one ear. Another story was that of a grown daughter who came with her mother. She had been paralyzed in her left arm and unable to raise her hand above her head or open her fingers, but God restored her. For the first time in years, she was able to lift her arms above her head and praise the God who healed her!

After four weeks filled with four five-day festivals, four "Ignite the Fire" Seminars for Pastors and Leaders, four church dedications, eight well dedications, plus speaking engagements in elementary and high schools, I'll be back in Minnesota on Thursday.

I will bring back beautiful photos and more stories about how God's favor led us into five elementary and high schools to share the Good News of Christ, introduce you to our ten National Evangelists that will work on behalf of Oasis World Ministries this year, and report the latest soul count. Until then, God bless you!

Intentional for Souls,

Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries

Prayer & Praise Report

A Record Harvest!

God has blessed this trip to India "far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think!" (Eph. 3:20 NAS).

We wrapped up our second Gospel & Healing Festival in Maripeda Banglow, Telangana. This was by far the largest turnout we've ever had in the history of Oasis. On the final night, over 320 truckloads of people, and auto rickshaws that were packed beyond capacity, transported ten thousand thirsty souls to the Living Water of Jesus Christ. At most festivals, we average 3,000 decision cards for Christ; and we praise God for this. During this festival, we received more than double this average with 7,120 signed decision cards for Christ!

Praise God for the harvest is ripe!

In addition, God continues to pour out His mercy to these beautiful people with miraculous healings. For a couple of people who were blind, God restored their vision, and He opened the ears of several others who were deaf. Praise God!

Along with the festival, we led two well-attended "Ignite the Fire" Seminars which provided training for over 850 regional pastors, evangelists and leaders. This training will help disciple the new believers that have come to Christ at these festivals.

Today we are in Challapalli, a coastal district of Krishana, 340 kilometers from Hyderabad. Dave Neiman and Pastor Steven Gartland from Minnesota have joined me for the remainder of this trip. We are in the third day of our third Gospel & Healing Festival during this trip. Although this festival is being held in a more restricted area, 4,000 people attended tonight's festival.

Please continue to pray. The biggest two days of this festival are just ahead and another five-day Gospel & Healing Festival and two "Ignite the Fire" Seminars are yet to come on this journey.

In addition, we will dedicate four churches and eight fresh-water wells in villages that were previously without. Now God's people will have a place to worship Jesus and several villages will have clean running water for the very first time. Thank you for your support and prayers!

Intentional for souls,

Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries

Prayer and Praise Report

We're in our second week in India: conducting open-air Gospel and Healing Festivals, leading "Ignite the Fire" Training Seminars for pastors and leaders, dedicating churches and fresh-water wells. The weather has been wonderful and the response to Jesus has been amazing!

I'm thrilled to be ministering with Clarence and his son, Ernest. Clarence is a pastor in India who introduced me to this harvest field ten years ago. This trip marks my 26th time to India, and by the grace of God, we have reached 420,735 decisions for Christ! We are well on our way to reaching one million decisions for Jesus by the end of 2010.

Currently we're at Maripeda Banglow, Telangana which is 190 kilometers from Hyderabad. This photo that I've included is of a young girl who could not hear in one ear. Her mother testified to her saying earlier that day, "Maybe if we go to the festival God will heal my ear." She came to the altar to receive prayer and God miraculously restored her hearing.

Praise God for the faith of a child!

The other picture is of the outpouring at the alter on the second night of the festival. We set a record: 1,800 decision cards for Christ were received! Praise God for the harvest!

Thank you for your prayers and support... together we are reaping a great harvest!

Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries

We're in this together

Before I left for India, I came across an incredible Bible passage that I knew was for our Oasis partners... I Samuel 30.

You're gonna love this...

David and his men returned home to Ziklag and found their town had been ransacked, their wives and children kidnapped and their homes burned. He and his men were so overwhelmed in sorrow that Unbelievable sorrow filled their soul!

When they regained their composure, they sought the Lord, and He said to pursue the invading army. So they did. 600 warriors continued their journey to find their families, but 200 of them were so weary from the journey that they stayed behind at a brook and guarded the army supplies while the other 400 continued on. Along the way, they found one of the men who had burned their town. He had been left to die of a sickness. But David gave him food, and found out from him where the enemy was hiding.

Long story short, David and his men recovered all their family members and spoil. Everyone was happy. ALL had been recovered.

But the 400 men who participated in their rescue did not want to share the spoils with the 200 that had stayed behind with the supplies. They reasoned that the spoils should only go to those who risked their lives. But David saw it differently. Listen...

I Samuel 30:24

David was saying that everyone is part of our team. We ALL participate together to bring glory to God.

Sometimes we think that only those that 'GO' to the mission field are blessed. But God's word tells us that those who 'SEND' or "STAY BY THE SUPPLIES" are also included in the rewards to follow. Your prayers and support are noticed in heaven! THANKS for letting us be on your team... together we will reap a great harvest!

Please pray for us as we represent you in India!

We're in this together,

Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries