Circumnavigate Log #3

Palm trees at 50 degrees North of the equator? Blooming Flowers in February? Welcome to Mylor, Cornwall in the United Kingdom.

Here in mid February the physical climate is cool, mild, and wet, yet the spiritual climate is an oasis in the desert. Chris Parker, friend of mine from Winchester, September 2000, leads a small, house church movement called the Oasis. It is indeed a living garden in the midst of a dying economy and church.

Stoic congregations arrive on Sundays to an ornate cathedral. The tithe collected is used to repair the roof of the building. For many, church has offers them comfort and tradition, nothing more. But at the Oasis, they strive for something altogether different.

Twenty-eight-year old, Chris Parker works two jobs in addition to his full-time duties as Pastor of the Oasis. He and his family are not heroes, but they are in love with the Truth of what God's Word has called them to. They are committed to persevering in the midst of hard times to see a rooted, multiplying, body of Christ-followers, obedient to God's word, and active in daily worship.

God is doing a work here in Cornwall. There are those here who are choosing to not follow Christ and they will be left to stand before the throne of judgment on their own. But God has preserved families like the Parkers who will not give up the name of Christ for the ways of this world. Those that choose the path the Parkers have chosen to follow may be few, but they will have chosen what has best. They will thrive like an oasis in the desert.