About Oasis Ministries


Vision Drawing from the well of Christ Contemplatively Actively Mission WHO IS OASIS MINISTRIES? Oasis Ministries is a contemplative community that invites people to experience God in their daily lives. We do this by … · Providing training in spiritual direction, · practicing the prayerful life · offering retreat opportunities.	The term "logo" comes from the Greek word Logos, meaning word or speech. Our logo is a pictorial word about Oasis Ministries.
	The Oasis Logo At its base is the water being stirred by the Spirit, from which we draw strength, direction, and inspiration. The palm tree growing in the desert is a depiction of an oasis, which by definition is "a fertile tract in a desert (where the water table approaches the surface)" or "a shelter serving as a place of safety or sanctuary." The palm leaves stretch out to provide shelter and shade, as does the Spirit and community. The orb conveys the world. The ministries of Oasis are to reach out to provide a refuge to a hurting world.
We draw from past and present tradition, we draw from many expressions of Christian faith, we draw from many geographical areas, we draw creatively "from the right side of the brain"—and we withdraw in retreat to draw near to God. And, the image to me is one of women all through the centuries, even today, gathering at wells to labor, to converse, to support, each other's spirits—then returning to the villages to take the life-giving water back to their communities. This is what Oasis is about—a gathering place, to withdraw, to reflect on our labors—and above al to equip participants to take the life-giving water of Christ back to enrich their communities. (Written by Kent Ira Groff)
The hands pictured above are of Oasis Ministries' Founding Mentor, Rev. Dr. Kent Ira Groff. They are the hands of the Spirit at work, as are yours. For over 15 years, Kent has held and nurtured this organization, praying the entire way to be open to the moving of the Spirit in our midst. We invite you to do the same, pray for Oasis...pray and wait for the invitation of the Spirit in your own life. The hands pictured represent the contemplative part of the life and ministry of Oasis. However, these hands are active as well, drawing from the well of Christ.	Design Entrance into Spiritual Practices • Contemplative Life (2008!) • Day Retreats • Retreats, Workshops, Consultations Intermediate Opportunities • Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides Advanced Opportunities for Spiritual Directors • Returning to the Well • Deepening Year for Direction Ministries

At the November 2006 meeting of the Board of Directors for Oasis Ministries, Board members were given the task of stating the essence of Oasis in a couple of sentences. This is what they shared: “Oasis is a community of dear souls who have been wooed into a deep contemplative understanding of God as Love, and through the incarnate experience of that inner knowing choose to work together to invite others to drink deeply of that Love, made accessible, through transformative, down-to-earth opportunities that will open them to a more fruitful walking upon where the path of Love leads.” “Oasis is a community and space where the practice of listening to the Spirit takes place, the education in contemplative prayer and practices happens, and, training in spiritual direction occurs. This occurs through specific year-long programs, day-long workshops, and retreat leadership.” “Oasis is an ecumenical community that gives people time and space to be apart from the craziness for a while to explore their spiritual journey. There are workshops and retreats, and there’s also a program to train people to be spiritual directors, which is sort of a listener and companion to somebody while they’re exploring their journey.” “Oasis Ministries is an ecumenical organization based in Camp Hill, Pa, offering workshops, retreats and other spiritual development activities.” “Oasis Ministries provides a setting where perspective of our spirituality can be recognized and developed – through spiritual direction training programs and day events.” “Oasis is a WELL, a WELL that extends not only in DEPTH but WIDTH that allows a seeker to drink or quench one’s thirst as often as desired.” “Oasis Ministries is an organized ministry of Jesus Christ that provides leadership, training, and support through programs and service to organizations and individuals striving for contemplative and active discipleship.” “Oasis is a community that welcomes people to experience God’s loving presence in their lives and invites them to journey deeper to seek a place of wholeness for themselves and in turn be partners in the healing of the world.” “Oasis is an open heart in which broken open, breaking open, and fledgling hearts can find nurture and embrace while growing wings to fly. Oasis is a nesting place of God’s Spirit.” “Oasis is a God-loving community without walls whose mission is to mentor those seeking to love God more deeply.” “Oasis fosters an attitude toward life that permits us to live the goodness of God, to encourage and support the journey of the Spirit and to equip others to be companions on that journey.” WHICH WAS BOILED DOWN TO: “We create and foster a contemplative way for a person to look at God thru… and we do that by…” Resting in God Create & foster spiritual formation Helping persons and groups of persons to discern and deepen life in the Spirit Grounded is contemplative practice Spiritual direction & retreat leadership Oasis Ministries (Camp Hill, PA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation which offers ecumenical training programs in spiritual direction and contemplative prayer practices: deepening growth through spiritual companioning, day workshops, and retreat leadership. Call 717 737 8222 or email oasismin@oasismin.org for more information. [return to top]