About Us
We are an international church based in SW London filled with people from different nations and backgrounds. We are ordinary people whose lives have been changed by meeting with an extraordinary God. Jesus said those who committed their lives to Him would be “born again” – a new life, free of the past, would begin centred on a personal relationship with Him as Lord.
As with all members of a family, we have a clear identity. We relate as a church to the Baptist Union of Great Britain. Oasis Church began in 1990, meeting in a local school and has gone from strength to strength. We moved into our present building in February 1998 and have recently redeveloped and significantly extended the size of our building as we have already outgrown it.
Our passion is to have a life-releasing relationship with Jesus and our commitment is to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit through whom we know Him. We are one of the new breed of churches that fully embrace the authority of Scripture for all Christians alongside the presence and work of the Spirit.
In that sense we are a Word and Spirit Church. We experience the grace of our Lord Jesus bringing us into the Love of the Father and maintaining our Fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
Our vision
“KNOWING JESUS AND MAKING HIM KNOWN”
‘Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.’ – John 17.3
Knowing Jesus
Allowing him to fill our lives through intimate worship, prayer and his word.
Making him known
Allowing his love that fills us to overflow through us to those around us and beyond. To love each one he puts in front of us and thereby reach all those he places around us.
What we believe
WE BELIEVE there is one God who lives forever in three persons; the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Matt. 28:19)
WE BELIEVE that the Bible is God’s Word to the world, speaking to us with authority and without error. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
WE BELIEVE in the divinity of Jesus Christ the Son, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His death for us on the cross, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the Father, and His personal, physical return to rule the earth in power and love. (Jn. 1:14-18; 1 Thess. 4:16-18)
WE BELIEVE that the primary purpose for Jesus Christ’s life on earth was to fully reveal the love of God the Father for the people of this world through His ministry, life, death on the cross and resurrection. (Jn. 3:16; Jn. 5:19-20)
WE BELIEVE that all mankind is lost in sin and needs to turn from it and trust personally in the Saviour, Jesus Christ; all need to be born anew by the Holy Spirit’s power into God’s family. (Eph. 2:1-10; Jn. 3:5-7)
WE BELIEVE the Holy Spirit lives in us as believers and brings love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control into our lives. He works in and through us with His charismatic gifts. (Gal. 5:22-23; 1Cor. 12:7-11)
WE BELIEVE in the resurrection of every person; to eternal life for the believer and eternal punishment for the unbeliever. (Matt. 25:31-46; Rev.20:10-15; Matt 7:21-23)
WE BELIEVE in unity for all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ and seek community together. We want to become more like Him in every way, who is the head of His body, the Church. We are called to love Him and one another and are enabled to do this only as His life flows in and through us. (1 Cor. 12:12-13; Matt. 22:37-40)
WE BELIEVE that marriage is the basic human relationship between one biological man and one biological woman, and as such is intended to reflect the relationship between Jesus Christ the Bridegroom and His bride the church. (Gen. 2:18-25, Eph. 5:25-32)
WE BELIEVE that God created human beings, distinctly male and female, in his own image and likeness. (Gen. 1:27)
Our values
‘FIRE’ VALUES
FATHER – Knowing God as our heavenly Father
Experiencing God as our true Father just like Jesus did will change our lives. We believe that every person needs to feel, know and experience the unconditional, extravagant love of our heavenly father.
John 14:6-13, Luke 15:11-32, Romans 8:35-38
INTIMACY – Growing closer to God
We value the pursuit of intimacy with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit through worship, prayer, soaking in His presence and loving His Word.
Philippians 3.10
RESTORATION – Healing from life’s hurts
Before we can truly love others, we must love ourselves and that means allowing the Spirit of God to heal us from inside out. Our Father is able to reveal to us issues & hurts that need healing. The Holy Spirit knows how to make us whole.
2 Corinthians 7:1, 2 Corinthians 3:18, John 16:14, John 15:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:23
EMPOWERMENT for Evangelism
Allowing the holy spirit to empower us to carry the Good News of God’s Kingdom to those he places around us, our communities, nations and the ends of the earth. As a church ‘from the nations’, we desire to take the gospel ‘to the nations’ as doors and opportunities open up to us.
Luke 4:16-21, Luke 9:1-6, Luke 10:1-9
meet THE TEAM
Sam and Grace Onyenuforo
Pastor
Sam and Grace joined Oasis in 1997 and led a cell group for a period of time, before being invited to be part of the eldership team. In July 2002, Sam was appointed as the interim pastor whilst continuing to head the Science Department of a senior school in London. In April 2003 he accepted the call to be the full time pastor.
Sam is an anointed pastor/teacher who cherishes the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit. As well as sharing in Sam’s ministry in the church, Grace works as a Procurement Manager at a London University. They have 5 grown up children and both have a passion to see God’s precious people increase in intimacy with God and the whole church raised up to operate under an open heaven and carry His presence wherever they go.
Matthew and Deborah Afolabi
Elders
Matthew and Deborah have been members of Oasis Church for over 10 years. They both work in the IT industry and are blessed with 3 daughters: Damilola, Esther and Anna. They have true servant hearts,
Deborah serves as part of the worship team and Matthew has responsibility for overseas missions and helps with pastoring the church plant in Epsom.
Ian and Judy Berle
Elders
Ian and Judy are founder members of Oasis. They have a grown-up son. Judy is a retired Community Nurse, and Ian is a retired NHS manager. Ian was, until it was disbanded, a member of the London Baptist’s Preachers Association.
Both Ian and Judy have a heart of compassion and are committed to seeing the Gospel touch peoples’ lives, transforming them, and bringing hope into hopeless situations.
Duncan & Jilly Moass
Elders
Duncan and Jilly are founder members of Oasis. Duncan is a lawyer and senior manager at the Crown Prosecution Service and has served on the Eldership team for over 20 years. Jilly is a music therapist and systemic practitioner in the NHS. Together they have oversight of the church’s worship team ministry, as well as marriage and parenting support and resources. They love to see others released into their calling and enjoy passing leadership on. They have two married children.
Tim and Kathy Clements
Elders
Tim and Kathy Joined Oasis Church in 1999. Tim is the Director of a local engineering company, while Kathy, initially a teacher is currently a staff member at the church. Together they have five adult children and a fast growing brood of grandchildren!
Tim has a heart for worship and supports the church plants regularly through leading worship. He also oversees the team who produce the audio visual aspects of the services including the Livestream broadcasts and has a key role in the implementation of Churchsuite at Oasis.
Kathy oversees the youth leadership team and leads the children’s work. She also supervises the team of interns and other work experience placements. She has a desire for all people, from the youngest to the oldest, to not only know about, but to truly encounter the love of Father God, to experience the saving power of the Lord Jesus, and to know the reality of the power of the Holy Spirit equipping them on a daily basis.
Both Tim and Kathy love to be, and to lead others into the presence of God.
CLIVE AND SHORMA GOVENDER
Elders
Clive and Shorma joined Oasis in 2003. They lead a cell group in Colliers Wood. Both have a heart for all people, most especially caring for, supporting and encouraging widows. Their desire is to see God’s people submit to the Father’s will and experience the full release of his power and goodness.
Clive is a Manager in the retail industry and Shorma is an NHS Nurse. They are blessed with a lovely son, Seth.
UKA AND SOPHIE OGUH
Elders
Uka and Sophie have a love for family, youth and worship. They have been a part of the Oasis family for over 10 years, and have 2 sons, Ebenezer and Elijah.
Uka works as a Chemical Engineer and Sophie as a Doctor specializing in Oncology
PYNEE AND KETTY SHUNMOGUN
Elders
Pynee and Ketty have a real heart for serving God’s people. They provide pastoral support together by leading a cell group and by visiting and following people up. Pynee also is a Director of the Healing Rooms and heads up the church intercessory ministry. Ketty plays a significant role in the hospitality team.
Pynee and Ketty have twin grown up daughters. Pynee is a carer for vulnerable adults and Ketty is an administrator.
ANDY AND GRACE LIM
Elders
Andy and Grace have been church members since 2011, serving the Oasis Epsom plant. They have one son, Leo, and Andy has a daughter, Christina.
Andy and Grace enjoy serving the Father through weekly prayer and worship meetings, street evangelism and ministry to the homeless