Our Vision

Oasis concentrates on those areas that have the greatest need. Our purpose is to serve areas of the English-speaking world where people cannot afford the literature and Bibles that they need to grow. These are countries where annual incomes are often measured in hundreds, not thousands, of dollars. Most of these markets have a shortage of affordable Bibles and Christian books and many of them have a church that is experiencing significant growth.

Oasis considers Nigeria to be the strategic nation for accomplishing its objectives. Nigeria, where Oasis manages wholesale book operations accounts for over 60% of all English-speaking Africans and perhaps as much as 50% of the people who speak English in the target countries (excluding India). With a total population of well over 100 million, it is the third largest Protestant and 13th largest Catholic country in the world. If India and Nigeria are considered together, they may account for well over 70% of all people who speak English in the target countries. By using the purchasing power of Nigeria as a cornerstone, smaller nations can share the lower cost generated by the quantities needed by Nigeria's huge market for Christian literature.

What does this mean for book prices? Publishing costs are based on the page count and the binding of the title that is published and the quantity that is printed. Whereas hardback and most larger paperback editions in any quantity are too expensive for the majority of people to afford, with the cornerstone of the Nigerian market firmly in place, Oasis can generate print run quantities of inexpensive editions that make books affordable.

It may seem extraordinary, but Oasis is one of a very few organizations that are specifically working on distributing affordable English literature on a multinational level for English-speaking Africa. If a book is translated into Romanian or Chinese it will be printed in a format and at a price that is accessible to its target audience. We have a wealth of relevant English literature that has been translated into other languages but is still not accessible in English-speaking countries where the majority of the population lives in great poverty. To try to sell a $12 English book to a pastor in Kenya who makes $50 a month is practically no better than trying to sell him a book in Romanian. Oasis is working on an international level to address this issue.

We are bringing together key partners around the world who produce and distribute Bibles, reference books, and biblically based resources to serve the poor with affordable books.

Oasis' primary distinctive is its strong relationships. For over thirty years alliances have developed with publishers and distributors in the U.S., the U.K., and throughout the English-speaking developing world. These relationships have been a major factor in Oasis' quest to accomplish its purpose.

A second distinctive of our strategy is its emphasis on self-sustaining indigenous book distribution. We have observed that book distribution that relies on a subsidy is often short lived. Oasis concentrates on developing projects that are commercially viable. This provides jobs, develops businesses, and encourages longevity. A supply of product that is targeted at the needs of their population fuels the growth of these businesses.

Oasis is also unique in the way it is solving the problems of regionalism within Africa. African nations often have great differences in availability of literature within their own borders. Poor roads, threats of violence and robbery, and poor communication keep books from getting to those who need them. Often only the commercial center of the nation is well served. Oasis is working within nations and on a continent wide basis to solve Africa's distribution problems.

Finally, Oasis has developed an approach to production, warehousing, and distribution that is low cost. It uses different production and printing strategies for different types of products in order to decrease costs.

Oasis is serving as a catalyst to bring many diverse booksellers, ministries, publishers, and skilled people together in many different nations. This has the potential of making great positive strides in increasing literature distribution to tens of thousands of growing churches. The world is becoming globalized. We must all come together to take advantage of this trend to supply Christian resources readily available to the western church to the international church. A church that is exploding in many non-western nations must be equipped to meet the challenges ahead. It is only by moving together in partnership that this can be accomplished.