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Oasis of NW Arkansas
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Check out the February 4, 2012 blog post below for some exciting news!
WELCOME
NEW MINISTRY PARTNERS!
Network for Good
Reentry Coalition of Northwest
Arkansas
First United Methodist Church of
Bentonville
Oasis of NWA is
short-term supportive, mutually accountable covenant communities of 2-4 families,
sometimes sharing homes or multi-family dwellings subsidized leases on a sliding but disappearing
scale according to need volunteers mentoring family units in everyday life skills a cottage industry to build confidence and
skills for employment
an extended family network which can make the difference in achieving
success
encouragement to maintain safe, sober, healthy environments in which
young children can prosper
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Monday, November 14, 2011
Come Together...
What are the communal values/rules by which you operate in your life and work? In my personal home, consisting of
three adults, we have many shared unspoken values such as mutual respect, honesty, forgiveness, generosity, cooperation, etc.
We have agreements in a few areas (financing, common meals, housekeeping) instead of rules. Fortunately, we trust each
other well enough that this loosely structured community works for us. As OASIS of NWA prepares to take on
women and open houses, we've decided to start out using the community rule developed by clients and staff
at Magdalene/Thistle Farms, our mentor.
The first tenet of that rule is "Come Together". OASIS
homes will have a regular gathering time daily for inspiration and sharing. Growing in ability to work together, to
share, to care, and to trust will be a key to our success. The old adage "Two heads are better than one" comes
to mind. Jesus pointed to the spiritual synergy of community when he said "Whenever two or three are gathered in
my name, I am there." Whether it's in a partnership, a marriage, a family, or a community, "coming together"
is a means by which something new is created that is different than just the sum of the individuals in that relationship.
Mutual accountability will be the process by which the OASIS of NWA community will flourish.
I will ask you, and you can ask me, how it's going for you with life according to our community rule? We will encourage
each other in keeping our covenant agreement. If the rule needs tweaking in our setting, we'll discover that together. We
will develop what I call humble pride, the inner knowledge that by bringing ourselves to the community just as we are
and giving our best effort, we have ownership in what the community becomes.
If you are interested in coming
together with other women and men volunteering and contributing to help the OASIS of NWA transitional
community project for recovering women and their children, call 479-619-6063, and or email oasisofnwa@sbcglobal.net We'd love to hear from you.
in faith, Cathy
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Women's Work
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| Women's Educational Circle in Nepal |
The inspiration for the OASIS project came in response to this picture
of "Abram's and Sarai's oasis sent home by Navy Chaplain Blake Lasater while serving as a military chaplain
in Iraq. OASIS is a non-denominational effort to carry out Jesus' invitation "Come to me and I will give you rest."
As Oasis volunteers be-friend and serve the homeless, we embody the hospitality of Godself in the world. Through OASIS, more
of God's children are able to share in the abundance and living water provided for in the ordering of Creation.
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