One of the phrases used to describe this organization is that it creates Safe, Sacred Space. I have been extremely happy to be affiliated with Oasis Ministries for the past 5 years, as a student, a Board Member and as a regular volunteer. This is the most welcoming bunch of people that I have ever met. I feel that I can truly be myself as I participate. This organization helps me to believe that people who mind the spirit help mend the world.
I like to describe my Oasis experience as the most enriching thing I've done in the second half of life. The gifts of living continue to flow in awareness of God in all things.
Oasis has provided me the opportunity to be with a community of people who are caring and authentic, who really seem to live in the Spirit of God.
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Spiritual direction training with Oasis Ministries opened me to look and listen for God's presence in everyone and everything. It changed the way I relate to people. I found I am not called to be a spiritual director; Teaching and adminstration are my gifts. But Oasis has led me into a more open and a deeper space with those gifts. Oasis invited me to be a board member and I learned how to approach analytical and organizational decision-making in a contemplative way. There is a healthy balance within the organization and within the obard. It is good.
I have been nurtured, developed, and strengthened by the programs and people of Oasis Ministries over 10 years. This community of care for "saving the world" through contemplative practices personally, and sharing this gift with others as a trained spiritual director throug the Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides [SDSG] program has deepend my life both as a spiritual companion and a parish priest. The Rev. Paul W. Gennett, Jr. St. Thomas's Episcopal Church, Newark DE
My experience with Oasis is that it is a space in which I am both deeply received and opened.....a refuge and an oasis. It has truly become a place of 'ahhhh', where I almost immediately experience a sense of peace within myself, a return to who I am, and a sense of well-being and wholeness. I am restored to my center in Love, from which I can go forth into the other places of my life with a heart full and at peace.
I am so happy to be a part of Oasis Ministries for Spiritual Development. As a graduate of Oasis, I fully appreciate the power of prayer and reflection. As I write this review I find myself dealing with a family situation that is totally unexpected and depressing. However, my ability to pray, in the moment and with the full realization that God is present with me,I know that there is always a healing place for me and those whom I love. Oasis Ministries provides a unique and necessary training to all persons of faith. The workshops, conferences, and institute training provided by Oasis should be experienced by everyone. I pray that Oasis Ministries expands into every area of the United States and beyond.
My life has been blessed in many ways but this ministry that invites people to experience God in their daily lives as a way of living. Sharing with others of like mind this 'theology' is what draws me to continue my support of gifts, prayers and participation in Oasis events. Namaste
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This is a real life story of mine a few year ago. Hopefully it will help you understand what Oasis 'is' and why I support it's training of quality spiritual directors. Possilby YOU would like to become a spiritual director and/or support this work as well. Namaste, "Last weekend I faced 'a near death experience'. On Sunday morning I awoke with a large lymph node popping out on the side of my neck! I've had a head cold recently and thought it was from the cold but I have heard of Hodgkin's and such so...I was thinking about it. I went to church and at the coffee hour... A doctor, an ENT, was there. We had other business, and so we got to chatting. When we were chatting it occurred to me that he was an ENT. I asked him, 'What do you make of this?' and showed him my neck. He was about 2 inches from my face saying 'You need to be seen by my associate at the clinic at the Hershey Medical Hospital. STAT!!!' I was knocked for a loop. Now, even though HE thought he was doing the caring thing by pulling all the strings he could, it only sent my fear level through the roof! I had been thinking that Monday morning I'd see my family physician and go from there; however, this ENT had his office call me to set up a STAT appointment. I again was blown away!!! Long story shortened...I set up the appointment in Hershey, I went to my family doctor in the beginning of the week for blood work and to see if other tests were needed. I began taking an antibiotic, and... I received EXCELLENT blood reports!!! I cancelled the appointment at Hershey (which is out of my network anyway). I tell you this because, being single I went through so many thoughts. The helpful ENT said, 'I'm treating you like one of my own.' I thanked him. His concern was kind but his 'chaos' was really not good for me. If this turned out as serious as he was sounding, how would I manage even a 6-9 month treatment time, or news of whether or not I'd even live that long. What happened for me is that I 'dropped into my spiritual direction training.' I went into the emotion with God. I let go to God. I prayed 'Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy' over and over and over until the panic eased. I honored the shadow side and let it be as it was. Later in the week, I met with my spiritual director. WHO ELSE WOULD UNDERSTAND? Where would one go other than their spiritual director? My work with Oasis Ministries has proven invaluable to me during this time of uncertainty. I feel my experiences with spiritual direction allowed me to process the 48 hours of 'near death.' This is why I will work with Oasis Ministries. I wish to do what I can to help promote quality training of spiritual directors so they can offer QUALITY spiritual direction to others. I still have a lymph node that is a little swollen but it's getting smaller daily. Whatever this is, it is... and I am on solid ground now. I am so blessed."