our vision
We are a group of ordinary people from all walks of life who have found real and lasting life in Jesus. We didn’t earn it and we don’t deserve it, but we have freely received it as a gift of God’s grace. And the best news is that you can too!
OUR PURPOSE
To help more people find life in Jesus
OUR PRIORITIES
Life in Jesus
Life in Jesus is life lived in relationship with God, both now and forever. This gift of life is received through faith in Jesus and leads to a life lived for the glory of God.
Life together
Life together is life lived in community with the people of God. When we come to faith in Jesus we become an active part of God’s people and our new family, the church.
Life for others
Life for others is a life devoted to helping others come to know Jesus. We follow the example of Jesus by loving others as we obey his command to go as his witnesses into the world.
our values
Biblically grounded
We are committed to clear teaching from the Bible because it reveals who God is and what He has done for us, and contains all that we need to know God and to live for Him. We seek to grow in our understanding of the Bible and to apply its truth to every area of life. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Timothy 3:16; 4:1-2; Hebrews 4:12)
Gospel focused
We are centred on the gospel because it is the overarching message of the Bible, the power of God for salvation, and the fuel for Christian living. The gospel is the announcement that Jesus is Lord and in him there is forgiveness of sins, adoption into God’s family, and life with God forever (Luke 24:44-47; Romans 1:16–17; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
Servant hearted
We are servants because Jesus served us and called us to go and do likewise. We seek to serve others by adopting an attitude of humility that reflects the heart and example of Christ. (Matthew 23:11; Luke 10:25-37; Galatians 5:13)
Better together
We are graciously adopted into God’s family through the finished work of Jesus and the unifying presence of God’s Spirit. We seek to live out our new identity as brothers and sisters by gathering together regularly to love, serve, support, and encourage one another. (1 Corinthians 12:15-27; Ephesians 4:1-16; Hebrews 10:25)
Outward looking
We are sent into the world as witnesses to the good news about Jesus and God’s coming kingdom. We want to be a welcoming, authentic and accessible community to new followers of Jesus and to those who are searching for the hope and life that can be found only in him. (Psalm 96:3 Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; 1 Peter 3:15-16)
If you would like to know more about our vision and strategy please read the booklet, “Vision: Our Prayerful Plan for the Future”
our beliefs
God: The Trinity
There is only one true God, who eternally exists as Trinity—three equally divine yet distinct Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All things, including humankind, exist for the glory of God. The Father is the Creator and Ruler of heaven and earth who gave his beloved Son to vindicate his forgiveness of undeserving rebels and their adoption into his family.
Genesis 1:1, 26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 148; Proverbs 16:4; Isaiah 45:5–6; 46:9–10; John 17:3; Romans 5:8; 8:15-16, 31-34; 11:33–36; Ephesians 1:3–14; 1 Corinthians 8:4–6; 10:31; 2 Corinthians 5:15; 1 Timothy 2:5; Revelation 4:8–11
The Bible: God’s Written Word
God has revealed Himself to us through the Bible and it contains all that we need to know God and live for Him. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments comprise the totality of Scripture and were penned without error by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. We believe that all of Scripture ultimately points to and climaxes in Jesus Christ, who is the Word become flesh. Because it is God’s word, it has His authority, and we desire to submit our lives to it, obey its commands, treasure its wisdom, and test everything we do and teach by its standards. This is why we place a strong emphasis on preaching, teaching, and studying the Bible.
Psalm 19:7–11; 119; Matthew 4:4; John 10:34-35; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20–21; 3:15
Humanity: God’s Marred Masterpiece
The Bible reveals that all people have been created to bear God’s image as male and female with inherent dignity, value, and worth. We have been created to live in loving harmony with God and one another. However, having chosen to rebel against God, humanity now worships creation instead of the Creator. The Bible calls this rebellious attitude and action ‘sin’, which has fractured our relationship with God, one another, and ourselves. We are sinners by nature and choice and as a result we are alienated from God and under His just and holy judgement. We are, consequently, incapable of regaining a right relationship with God through our own efforts, and thus, our greatest need is the undeserved love of God, who alone can reconcile us to Himself and restore us to our intended glory.
Genesis 1:26; 6:5; 9:6; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 1:18-32; 3:23; 5:8, 12-21; 7:18; Ephesians 2:1–3
Jesus: Our Saviour
Jesus Christ is the eternally existent Son of God, co-equal with the Father and the Spirit, both truly human and truly divine. Jesus was begotten, not made, taking on a sinless human nature in order to save us from Satan, sin and judgement. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless human life and died a substitutionary death, offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of humanity by dying on a cross. He rose from the grave three days later to demonstrate His power over Satan, sin and death, to vindicate His claim to be the only way of salvation and to the Father, and to launch the New Creation. He ascended to heaven where He exercises all authority and from where He will one day return to right every wrong and rule forevermore.
Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:20–23; 28:1–20; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 2:52; 24:1–53; John 1:1–5, 29; 3:18; 10:1–18; 14:10–30; Acts 1:11; 4:12; Romans 3:21–26; 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:1–4, 12–34; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4; Colossians 1:15–20; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Timothy 2:5–6; Hebrews 1:1–3; 9:28; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 1:7
Holy Spirit: Our Helper
The Holy Spirit is fully God, not a force but a Person, co-equal with both the Father and the Son. The Father and the Son send the Spirit to open our spiritual eyes and enable us to see the beauty of Jesus and the sufficiency of his work on the Cross. The Spirit applies the work of Jesus to our lives by spiritually uniting us with him when we respond to the gospel with faith. The Spirit sanctifies us, producing Christ-likeness in us. He gives understanding of God’s Word, comfort in the midst of trials, reassurance in times of doubt, power to obey God’s commands, and gifts for the upbuilding of the church.
John 16:7–13, 14:16–17, 26; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:9-17; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 3:16; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18; Galatians 5:22–25; Ephesians 1:13; Titus 3:5
The Gospel: God’s Good News
Although we have rebelled against God and deserve only judgement, God has lovingly pursued us and unfolded a plan to save us through Jesus Christ. This unfolding plan of salvation is revealed in the Bible. The Old Testament tells us what God will do to save His people from their sins (promises made) and the New Testament shows us how this plan is fulfilled perfectly in Jesus Christ, who lived a perfect life of obedience, died in our place for our sins on the cross, and was raised from the dead on the third day (promises kept). This is the gospel, or good news. The gospel is the power of God for salvation. It redeems us from sin, satisfies God’s justice, re-orders our worship, and gives peace to our restless hearts by bringing us into a restored relationship with God. Salvation cannot be earned or achieved through our good works, only received as a gift of grace by trusting in Christ alone.
Isaiah 53:1–11; Romans 1:16; 8:18–23; 10:13; Ephesians 1:4–5; 2:4–9; Philippians 2:4–11; Colossians 2:13–15; 1 Corinthians 15:1–11; 2 Corinthians 5:21, 2 Timothy 2:25; Titus 3:5–6; Hebrews 2:9, 4:15
The Church: God’s Redeemed People
When we come to faith in Christ, we do not remain on our own but are brought into God’s global family, the church. God places us in a local church for our good, for the good of others, and for His glory. We believe that we are to gather together in large and small settings to worship God, proclaim the gospel, and share our lives together for God’s glory and our good. Because we belong to the family, we also strive to contribute by giving, serving, and practically loving and caring for one another. We believe that Jesus Christ instituted two sacraments — Lord’s Supper and baptism — as symbols of His saving work, and that those who belong to the people of God should participate in these sacraments.
Matthew 26:26–29; Mark 14:22–25; Luke 22:14–23; Acts 2:38–39; Romans 6:3–4; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34; 12:13; Colossians 2:11–12; 1 Peter 3:21
The Future: New Heavens and New Earth
We believe that Jesus Christ will return personally, gloriously, bodily, and imminently to usher in His kingdom and to do justice. We trust in God’s promise that a day is coming when He will banish sin, sickness, death, and Satan, and that those who have rejected God will be eternally separated from him in hell, while those who have received the incomprehensible and undeserved gift of His forgiveness will receive eternal life with Him in heaven. When Jesus returns, he will usher in the New Heavens and New Earth where we will live peacefully and joyfully in harmony with God and one another forever.
Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:28-29; Acts 3:20-21; 24:15; Revelation 19:11-16; 21:1-5
For a more extensive summary of our beliefs refer to:
staff
Benjamin Fien Community Pastor
Emma Sunderland Creative and Women’s Ministry Leader
Natalie Van Egmond Creative Ministry Assistant
Caroline Brandon Children’s Ministry Leader
Joanna Smith Administrative Assistant
Juanita Struwig BookKeeper
history
Our story as a church began over 70 years ago in the Brisbane YMCA building as the First Reformed Church of Brisbane. Following a series of big decisions, bold moves, and devastating setbacks, a group of passionate European migrants and local Queenslanders sensed God’s leading to move to Bray Park, emboldened by the vision to start a Christian school and to reach more people with the good news of Jesus.
In 1991, our current block of land on Youngs Crossing Road was purchased and the current building was constructed, creating a new home for both Bray Park Reformed Church (as we were then known) and the newly formed Genesis Christian College. The sacrifices made by many to see this vision come to reality are numerous and inspiring. There were countless meetings, working bees, cake and plant stalls, and many other acts of service. We are here today because of God’s unwavering faithfulness and the sacrificial devotion of those who have gone before us.
Of course, some things have changed in more recent years. There is now a formal separation between church and school, though there continues to be a warm ongoing relationship and a shared commitment to the mission of Christ. There have been name changes (to Bray Park Community Church and then to Oasis Church), as well as updates and extensions to our building. But other, more important things haven’t changed. We still proclaim the same Bible, we still seek to show the same love, and we still cherish the same resolve as those who have gone before us; to advance the mission of God and to share the message of Christ in our community.
