The Oasis

Celebrating 25 years of the Oasis

“I was a stranger and you welcomed me in”

Over 25 years ago, International Teams workers in Austria saw a great need, and dreamed. They shared their vision and passion with their leaders. The spark ignited into a flame. In 1987, through a chain of events and God’s provision, the Oasis Team was born.

What stirred such passion? Opportunity. Opportunity to reach out to refugees by the hundreds and make God’s great heart of love known to them.

The lives of refugees are difficult at best. They often feel forgotten, isolated and alone. They lose everything in the process of being uprooted. But refugees are people, made in the image of God, and are near to His heart.

The Oasis is located just down the street from Austria’s largest refugee reception center. The Oasis is truly in a strategic place at a critical time in the lives of refugees. There is no other place in town like the Oasis.

When refugees come to the Oasis, it’s the first time for many to learn of God’s specific love for them and the difference His love can make. Over the past 25 years, literally hundreds of thousands of refugees have passed through the Oasis doors.

It hasn’t been without its challenges. Nothing ever is. Sometimes the sheer numbers of refugees that come to our programs can overwhelm us and test our faith. Other things do as well; the limitations of the Oasis building, turnover of Oasis staff, limited finances, obtaining residence visas just to name a few.

One of the greatest tests the Oasis faced was after the fall of the Iron Curtain. The origin of refugees shifted dramatically from the former European Communist countries to ones further east. These refugees, from such a different world-view, seemed much more challenging to reach out to. It came to a watershed moment for the Oasis team: Do we remain here or do we leave? After much deliberation, the Oasis remained open. It has been worth it in so many ways.

As refugees hear of Messiah’s love for them and see it demonstrated at the Oasis, some experience a transformation. Springing out of the Oasis ministry, Polish, Persian and Afghan fellowships developed over the years in different parts of Austria and have grown through refugees coming to faith in Messiah.

The Oasis vision was caught by others and different refugee focused teams were started within International Teams. Some visiting short term team members also took what they learned back to their home countries and began reaching out to refugees there.

What has been our key to success (if you can call it that)? God’s faithfulness and the passion He has given us. Our passion is to demonstrate God’s love in word and deed and to impart dignity and respect to these dear people who have endured so much. By simply being here we have such opportunity.

Over the past twenty- five years the Oasis team has had to adapt, improvise and overcome different obstacles and challenges. 25 years on, the vision that began as a dream continues to be lived out as refugees pass through our doors. Recently one refugee said, “This place should be called the house of friendship and loving-kindness.”

As we celebrate 25 years of ministry, we’re looking forward to what God will do in the next 25 years.

Tom Richards