EAST COAST OASIS

Oasis is a place of retreat for CNBC ministry couples to find rest and

renewal. The retreat is held in at least two regions each year.

In November of 2016 an eastern Oasis retreat was held at the historic

Briars Resort on Lake Simcoe, Ontario. The venue, a family-owned

manor and hotel since the 1870s, is a beautiful lakeside resort that has

retained its family hospitality and comfort.

Among the nooks and crannies of the hotel, couples found places to

sit and visit, read, relax and encourage one another. Many renewed

friendships and others made new ones.

Oasis brings refreshment to ministry

planting and it was the fastest and craziest six months of our life. The

retreat allowed us to just be, to sit back, reassess and get encouraged

by many who have been in the field of church planting for many years.

We came back to the field where God has called us with more of a

sense of, ‘we can do this because God is so faithful.’ It was a beautiful

place to rejuvenate and focus on God and each other.”

Global Mission Offering 2017

cnbc.ca/articles/gmo

Through support from the Global Mission Offering, gifts from our CNBC

churches along with Cooperative Program, ministry couples in CNBC

churches are able to attend the annual Oasis retreats.

Guest speakers, Gerry and Connie Taillon challenged, comforted and

helped the attendees laugh, as they shared during the main sessions

around the theme of “Uncluttered Soul.”

Breakout sessions were also offered: Jason McGibbon led a session

on practical ways of maintaining self-care amidst our hectic sched-

ules and lives; Jim Danielson led a breakout session on how to create

uncluttered space in our lives through hobbies. The worship times that

Jason and Kimberley McGibbon led were a blessing.

Comments from some of the ministry couples:

“I met people that will be friends for life.”

“The food and accommodation was amazing.”

“The relaxed atmosphere and sessions were just what I needed.”

“God knew my wife and I needed this time together to be encour-

aged.”

WEST COAST OASIS

WestCoast’s annual Oasis is held at Barnabas on Keats Island, British

Columbia. Lydia Nigh, says, “On Keats Island the views are spectacular.

The Barnabas hospitality is amazing, the beds are comfy, the food is

so healthy and delish and it’s so quiet and calm. I would even give up

another day to stay longer and just thank God for His blessings.”

This year’s WestCoast Oasis speaker was Hamish Buntain, who spoke

on the gentle, patient, life-sustaining nature of Jesus. He emphasized,

“The gentleness of Jesus inspires me to surrender my treasures to Him.

The life-sustaining nature of Jesus inspires me to stay close to Him.

The patience of Jesus inspires me to endure with Him.”

Ashley Austin commented, “We have been going hard running camps,

developing leaders, renovating office space, and starting a second

campus. The pastor and wives’ retreat at Barnabas came at a great

time! It was a blessing to spend unhurried time with my Jesus, my wife,

and fellow church planters and pastors!”

Lota Colobong shared, “We were refreshed in the ministry. Our current

circumstances have been challenging so this event proved very bene-

ficial to us in gifting us time to relax together as a couple. We were also

encouraged by other ministry couples whose lives seemed harder than

ours and yet they were joyfully persevering in their work for the Lord.

God is always gracious and merciful to His own.”

Jordan Knorr says, “Oasis couldn’t have come at a better time. My wife

Betsy and I have had our first six-months’ taste of full-time church