I’m excited to share another story in a series I’ve entitled Unsung Heroes. In Western society it’s difficult to do life together, but it does happen, it can be sustained and it can be life-changing. I pray these stories encourage you to keep meeting, keep searching and start gathering. This story is told by Martin Spratt.
Hello, I’m Martin Spratt. My wife Cher and I have four adult children and one grandchild. I grew up in Sydney and studied Computer Science. I was radically saved in Melbourne, Australia at the age of 30 when I heard the gospel for the first time. I journeyed through institutional church for about fifteen years until I noticed a disconnect in the institutional church when compared to the New Testament way of doing life together.
While searching for something more genuine, we connected with some Taiwanese believers who were involved in House Church. We joined them for about a year, we would eat, pray and fellowship together. Over time the New Testament completely made sense to me. As my wife and I began slowly transitioning to House Church, we had to overcome the stigma and the intimidation, but we successfully planted Oasis in 2021 with sixteen excited adults.
Oasis began at The Lime Box Cafe on the southeastern outskirts of metro Melbourne, as an idea to gather like-minded people in a really relaxed, friendly format to experience a type of fellowship where all contribute, all are important, and each person has significance. The group started with customers from the cafe who liked the idea of this type of gathering. The group has grown organically by guests inviting others. Initially we began meeting at the cafe, but soon we started moving from “house to house” as reflected in the pages of the Book of Acts.
Currently, the group has grown to eight different houses, and invitations are four generations deep. The group is still very humble as we focus each meeting on enjoying each other’s company and gathering to honor Jesus. Our Oasis gatherings include people with a wide variety of faith backgrounds including Baptists, Anglicans, Catholics, Uniting Church, Pentecostals, Un-Churched, Ex-Churched and many more. Everyone gets along, it’s lovely. I believe that all humans have a longing to touch eternity and experience a deeper spiritual faith-walk. Oasis plays a simple role in that experience.
Oasis is based on friendships and relationships, not membership or attendance. We don’t “measure” or judge people. We love our Oasis friends who have become very special and dear to each of us, and to each other. Our love of Jesus is the one simple thing that unites us all.
My wife and I have grown in hospitality, kindness, patience, teaching and leadership. We also see the depth of growth in the adults we share life with in our Oasis group. We resolve to keep starting new groups where we can, and we enjoy when new people attend. We try to encourage other like-minded people and groups we come in contact with, we understand the transition to a relational group can be difficult.
When the spirit of religion tries to intimidate, mock and discourage us, we remember where that spirit comes from. We look to Jesus to help us continue to launch and grow. It actually becomes easy, simple and a lot of fun.
My last thoughts, don’t quit! Keep trying and keep learning. Lead House Church with patience, kindness and gentleness and you will succeed.
You can learn more about Martin and Cher Spratt and Oasis by checking out their website oasis.org.au.
I would love to hear from those who have been doing organic church for an extended time. Contact me (Jonathan Rovetto) at 414.217.2189 or at jirovetto@yahoo.com. Don’t miss the next Unsung Heroes, subscribe below.