Inch by Inch Evangelism

If the disciples learned any two lessons from the feeding of the five thousand, it was this:

LITTLE BECOMES MUCH WHEN IT'S IN THE HANDS OF GOD.
GOD USES ORDINARY PEOPLE TO ACCOMPLISH THE EXTRAORDINARY. Mother

Teresa was said to have told someone that God wanted her to build an orphanage. They asked her, "how much money do you have towards this project?" She answered, "Seven pennies." They responded, "You can't build an orphanage for seven pennies!" She answered, "I know I can't, but I can with seven pennies and God!"

Let me ask you 3 important questions: Why are we so quick to dismiss impossible thoughts concerning evangelism? Why does our flesh automatically try to shoot down any thoughts of really reaching our communities for the Lord? Why do we so easily listen to the negative reports instead of God's promise to be with us?

I will tell you one of the main reasons: FEAR OF FAILURE.

Someone was asked how they accomplished such great things in their lifetime. They responded, "INCH BY INCH IT'S A CINCH. YARD BY YARD IT'S HARD." Let's stop listening to the voice of fear. Let's patiently do the task that God has set before us. If we stay focused and do something daily to reach our goal, we will, by God's grace, reach it!

That's why I like to challenge myself to SHARE MY FAITH EVERYDAY. Some days I miss great opportunities, but most I don't. I have found such joy in taking one day at a time and letting my testimony be heard one person at a time. And with God's help, I have seen happen what I thought impossible. I have had the privilege of praying with 16 people to receive Jesus in the last six months outside of my evangelist role.

How did it happen? Intentionally sharing my faith daily in my world, inch by inch.

Intentional for souls,

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

Over 15,000 decisions for Christ!

I am writing this in India as we are getting ready to board the plane for home. All in all, we had an incredible trip. Our team of 11 was fantastic! Everyone pitched in with the heart of a servant to see these incredible results.

During the course of this wonderful trip we conducted four Gospel and Healing Festivals where we saw God's glory touch many people. Over 15,000 decision cards were signed by the spiritually hungry people of India as they thronged to the front of the stage to accept Jesus as their 'One True God.' Scores of grateful people testified to having received major healings and miracles. Four churches were built and 28 wells were drilled in remote villages that were without a Christian worship facility and nearby fresh water.

One of the most fun and unexpected times I had in India was when we were checking out of one of our hotel. We had already led several bell boys to the Lord, but now some of their friends were gathered around our car. They too wanted to hear the gospel and receive Jesus.

We got in a huddle, joined hands, and they all gave their lives to Christ. The next week I unexpectedly popped into the hotel and brought two of the bell boys to church with us the next morning. They said they were reading their Bibles and praying daily!

Thank you, thank you and thank you for all your prayers and support. Please now pray for this fruit to remain and that these people will be integrated into churches and the families of believers.

Calling All Seniors

"They shall bear fruit in old age. They shall be fresh and flourishing to declare that the Lord is upright" (Psalm 92:14-15).

As people get older, sometimes they think that God is done with them, and can only use the younger generation. But I love the story of Caleb, Moses, Abraham and others who believed God when they were over 80 years old. In fact, Caleb said he still had the same strength of vision at 80 as he did at 40! Others say that my brain is young, it's just my body that is getting creaky.

Today's youth desperately needs MENTORS, people who have run the race and are finishing strong. Your life is not over until it's over! Somehow I think we never retire from serving Jesus or spreading the gospel.

Some of my greatest heroes are still alive, preaching, loving and sharing their faith. This inspires everyone, because the vision for the increase of God's kingdom never quits.

My dad, who passed into heaven this last July, was one of my greatest models. He could hardly pray over dinner without weeping and thanking God for the privilege of being His child. My dad kept fighting the good fight of faith right up until his home going. He loved to tell others about the goodness of God and did so often.

Seniors, we need you! Please ask your pastor for a young person you can mentor. Go sit in the youth group and watch them worship the Lord. It may be louder and different than you grew up with, but their energy and fire is contagious.

And your loving wisdom will be soaked up like a sponge.

Intentional for souls,

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

Oasis prayer and praise report from India

It is Sunday night in India. In two hours we begin our final night of our second Gospel and Healing Festival in Jonnigiri, Andhra Pradesh, India.

We continue to see a wave of God's mercy and grace as literally thousands have come to Christ during our first two weeks in India. In addition to those coming to know Jesus for the first time, God has blessed many with physical healings. One of which was a hysterical woman who came to the altar area. I didn't know if she was demon-possessed or if God had touched her mightily. As she weeped tears of joy, she testified that God had completely removed from her 12 years of constant major headache pain. (See her reaction by clicking on this video.)


Another man testified that he had been stone deaf for 20 years. During prayer on the second night of our festival, he regained his hearing in one ear and then on the fourth night during prayer he regained the hearing in his other ear! We brought both people to the platform the final night to share the amazing miracles Jesus had done for them.

Thanks for your prayers. We are doing double duty this week. While I conduct a Gospel and Healing Festival, Pastor George Bunnell and Craig Moore will be conducting one at another location. And next week Darrell Dobbelmann starts his Gospel and Healing Festival.

For His glory alone,

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

P.S. Please continue praying...we depend on it every day! Our final festival will be held at a town of around 25,000 which has never had a open-air gospel and healing festival before.

The need to be accepted

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

We found that the first mutual need every human has is the need for love. We must both give it and receive it. God lovingly set the benchmark at the cross.

The second common need we all share is the need to be needed. We crave to belong. Jesus invited us to be part of His family... ­ those who are forgiven.

The third greatest need we all have is this: THE NEED TO BE ACCEPTED

I grew up in a Christian home having the loving acceptance of my mom and dad. With them I didn't have to prove anything. I knew I was accepted, so I was at rest. As a result, I have a lot of self-confidence and worth.

Some of us have a black cloud following us wherever we go. Someone important hurt or rejected us years ago, and we allow that memory to stay alive and well. We beat ourselves up for our failures, thinking no one else fails like I do. Some of the world's most successful people are also the most insecure. We can work ourselves silly trying to prove ourselves to people who really don't care about us.

But God said something absolutely amazing, "Whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." He also said, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins, and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness."

He is only waiting for us to call upon Him. He will accept us no matter how bad we've sinned. His grace is enough. His mercies are new every morning. God will never reject us when we humble our hearts before Him.

So why do we look to the world for its acceptance, when we already have acceptance from the King? We are accepted. Congratulations!

Now that we know that God has met our three most common needs to be loved, to belong and to be accepted, why not share this great news with someone who is still searching.

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

The need to be needed

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

Last week, we found that the first mutual need every human has is the need for love. We must both give it and receive it. God lovingly set the benchmark at the cross.

The second common need that we all share is this: the need to be needed.

All of our life is spent with a desire to belong. From trying out for 'the team' in Little League baseball, to applying for our first job, to helping our children 'grow up,' to leaving a legacy that has eternal value. Our need to be needed is intrinsic.

We all want our lives to have significance and purpose. For this Jesus died. He came to give us 'life, and life more abundantly' than the world alone can offer. He came to fulfill our destiny.
God so loved this fallen, broken world, that He NEEDED to do something.

And He did.

Now He needs us to be His voice in our families, and in our world. He needs us NOW. 'Today is the day of salvation.'

People don't need more dead religion. But they DO need hope. Our world is teetering like a drunken sailor. We weave back and forth, hoping against hope that the stock market will recover, that our kids will be loving, that our marriage will make it, that God will hold us.
Because God is love, He HAD TO HELP US. To ignore our plight would not be consistent with His character.

You and I can point people to the only one that can fulfill their need to be needed. God Himself invites us to belong to His family. He picked us for His team. How exciting is that!

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

P.S. Next week I'll conclude this three part series and share the third common need.

Help bring "living water" and the gospel to Haiti

Our hearts are heavy as we see the effects of this horrible and tragic earthquake in Haiti. A week before the earthquake, I had purchased my ticket to visit Haiti from January 23-27 to scope out the possibility of drilling fresh-water wells and holding large gospel crusades in unreached areas of this island.

Now, the need has obviously aggravated tremendously. As I go to Haiti in the coming weeks, will you pray that God will lead me to the right places and connect me with the right people, so we can be a blessing to this country both physically and spiritually?

As tragic as this is, we are praying that God will use this as a catalyst to turn many Haitians away from voodoo and other ungodliness and draw them to the mercy of Jesus!

I hope we can help drill many fresh-water wells and conduct a gospel crusade where thousands will turn from their sin and confess Jesus as their Lord.

Thank you for your prayers.

Intentional for souls,

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

P.S. If you would like to help bring "living water" and the gospel to the people of Haiti, please enter a donation of your choice. Donate>