Introducing Oasis

Our ministry is the distribution of books that change lives.

Oasis International's mission is to provide affordable books and Bibles on a sustainable basis to regions of the English-speaking world where poverty is pervasive.

Oasis concentrates on those areas that have the greatest shortage of Christian literature and Bibles that people and churches need to grow and mature in their faith. Currently, we are working in the 16 nations of Africa where English is the national language or a major trade language.

...

Recently, my family and I had the privilege of standing on the edge of the crater of Kilauea Caldera in Volcanoes National Park on the big island of Hawaii. The black lava flowed hundreds of feet beneath us with the crater stretching over a mile--complete with active steam vents that are still spewing noxious sulphur fumes. The lava is still adding acres of land to the island. Our volcano-loving seven year old Evan was in awe. He did not know if he should jump up and down with excitement or run for cover.

Soon after, I got to thinking... That crater is a lot like Africa's need for Bibles and Christian books: two hundred million or more Christians without a Bible; tens of millions of people ministering in churches with no books to equip them; millions of pastors without any study helps to prepare their sermons.

I was recently approached by a missionary, "I have 120,000 new converts in the area where we work without a Bible. Can you help?" I felt helpless.

The way we have been trying to help for the last generation is like throwing pebbles into that enormous black crater from the top of the ridge. Two hundred million Christians without a Bible--we cannot comprehend. If every Christian in America could stand around that crater and throw a few pebbles, it would still be only dust at the bottom of the expanse. Even though our efforts have been valiant to meet Africa's need, we cannot keep up with the growth of the church.

The solution is not just to give books and Bibles to Africa. We must build a system that can meet the needs. We must help Africans build a network that distributes books and Bibles in the most efficient way possible, using the power of sound economics. Just as we can get our Bibles and faith-growing books through our local bookstore or Amazon, Africa must have the infrastructure that meets its unique needs and challenges. This is the only solution that has any hope of filling the crater.

The job will not be simple. Many of our African brothers and sisters live on one dollar a day, transportation and roads are often poor, and sound business principles must be taught. The system we now have in the United States simply will not work in Africa. Oasis' vision may give us a roadmap for success. Our unique strategies will cut costs, we will vision cast with our African partners and network to learn as much as we can about the most efficent ways to meet needs and we will work to equip Africans in building a network to supply Bibles and Christian books to their own people. This is a system that, with time, might have a chance to fill the crater.

Do you want to join us? We need your help!

Dr. Matthew Elliott, President