We were honored when Don Meador, C-T Staff Writer, of The Citizen-Times newspaper visited us on the hill of Oasis to write an article about our facilities. Below is the article in its entirety:
Title: Oasis Christian Center Welcomes Those Thirsty for God
By definition, an oasis is a place of renewal and restoration in arid lands. Nestled in the rolling farmland of western Allen County is an oasis – one offering spiritual renewal and restoration.
Situated on 75 acres off Stony Point Road is the Oasis Christian Center and Retreat. It welcomes worshipers to weekly church services and includes a retreat center.
Robert and Janet McClung serve as co-pastors of the 108-bed retreat center. It all began, they say, as they followed God’s call.
“About eight years ago, God spoke into our spirits to build something for Him,” Robert said. “That’s when we started this.”
The McClungs had lived in Hendersonville, TN for 26 years. Successful in business, the McClungs were also very active in church.
“I have a Pentecostal heritage,” Janet said. “My granddaddy was a pastor and founded a Pentecostal church in Crossville, TN. My parents were teachers and served in a church all their lives.”
Since his teen years Robert’s life also revolved around church.
“When I was 17 years old I was saved in the church her grandfather was pastoring,” Robert said. “At 19, we got married.”
The McClungs settled into living daily for the Lord. Eventually, God opened doors for them to work in a church setting. Both are now ordained ministers.
“Before coming here, for the last 14 and a half years we served in a church in Hendersonville as assistants and financial administrators,” said Robert.
After feeling called by God to “build,” the couple sought a place to start a church and open something that would bring people together.
“Every church is called for something, like feeding the homeless or giving to missions,” Robert said. “Our calling is to provide a place for Christian retreats.”
Janet shared her husband’s vision for a retreat.
“I grew up going to retreats,” she recalls. “Camps and retreats have been a big part of my life. I know how important fellowship is.”
The couple believes God led them to the location in western Allen county. They were out driving one day, seeking a property for sale in Portland, TN.
“We got lost and ended up on Highway 100,” Janet recalls. “We saw a sign of property for sale, called about it, and found it was way too much property for us. The realtor we spoke to (Wendell Garmon of what was then Pitchford & Dryer) gave us directions to his office, and we told him we were going to build a church and retreat center.”
After looking through the listed properties, the McClungs discovered that each had some form of limitation. However, Garmon told the couple that he knew someone who might sell them some land. A meeting was arranged to look at the site.
“I met the owner on a Friday afternoon,” Robert said. “We did a handshake deal by an old barn. We bought the property Monday.”
The couple’s strong faith in God was a real deal closer, he said.
“When we first set foot on this property we knew it was the will of God,” Robert said. “When we stood here Janet started crying. She said, we would sell everything we have because we are moving here. This is the place.”
They had been looking at a Centerville, TN, property, but this was much better.
“It was a God thing that we got lost out here,” Janet said.
The deal closed July 26, 2006, and the McClungs began preparing to build. They wanted to build debt-free.
“We owned two business; we sold them,” Robert said. “We owned a nice home in Hendersonville; we sold it. We sold all and donated the money to the Oasis Christian Center Inc. We don’t own this personally. We have set it up to go on after we are gone. This is what God spoke to us to do in our lifetime.”
By early 2008, the plans had been finalized. Construction began on January 8, 2008. Robert said teacher Delorse Rice’s Allen County Technical Center drafting students actually helped with the planning.
“We owe them special thanks,” Robert said.
The church opened October 26, 2008 with a simple service. A small group if people attened, invited after working on the site.
“Our concrete man and his family were here the first Sunday,” Janet McClung said, referring to the George Sullivan family. “They have been with us ever since.”
The church’s worship section blends old and new. The pulpit was donated from another church and is over 100 years old. Traditional pews adorn the 125-seat sanctuary, facing a musical stage area. Since the church offers a mixed worship style, a video projection system is provided to help worshipers with more modern songs.
On the other end of the church is the fellowship/banquet hall for the retreat center. The dinning area features a commercial-grade kitchen capable of producing large number of meals. The room can accommodate groups of up to 125. The church itself currently hosts a congregation of about 25; Janet describes it as “a non-denominational church with a Pentecostal flavor.”
One atypical aspect is the 5 pm Sunday afternoon services, rather than traditional Sunday morning worship.
“Sunday is a day of rest the Lord provided for us,” Robert said. “We encourage our people to sleep in, spend time with their families and come to church in the afternoon. After church we have a meal prepared for them. My wife and I cook it every Sunday and love doing that. We have people stay till 11 pm, and we stay as long as the people are here. For us, it’s peaceful having church this way.
Plus, the late service allows the McClungs to remain connected with their church in Hendersonville.
“We wanted to be connected,” Janet said.
The McClungs say the small congregation seems pleased with the schedule. The church also has 7 pm Wednesday prayer meetings. The couple likes co-pastoring to the small, family-like atmosphere – but they don’t intend to stay small.
“Our focus here at the Oasis Christian Center is to build strong relationships with God, our family and each other and to spread the Gospel to the unbeliever by ministering the Word of God, the Bible,” Janet said. “We also wanted to experience the genuine love and presence of God and to laugh often, lived fulfilled successful lives, love our family and neighbors and experience the peace of our Heavenly Father. We want to make a positive impact on surrounding cities by providing an Oasis where individuals and families can grow, flourish in faith and enrich the lives of their family.”
Robert said the ministry’s physical growth is also planned.
“We envision a bigger sanctuary strictly for the church,” he said. “As you come in to the property I put in a water line. It reminds me every day that we are not through growing. The building is ready to be built when it’s God’s timing.”
The Oasis retreat portion is equal impressive.
“We can sleep 108,” Janet said. “We have a bunkhouse and 12 lodge-type rooms. The lodge rooms are equipped with queen-sized beds and their own baths. It’s just like what you will find in a hotel room.
The site has two-six room lodge buildings. Footings are poured for identical facilities across the yard. Each room has bathroom facilities, storage areas and queen-sized beds.
The 48-bed bunkhouse is just as nice. Beds are provided with all linens except a pillow. On one end is an enhanced bathroom with nine sinks and mirrors, as well as four private showers and changing areas with counter space and mirrors.
Underneath the bunkhouse is a very large multipurpose room, featuring private restrooms and a kitchenette. The room is now serving as an activity room, featuring foosball, ping-pong, air hockey and shuffleboard tables.
The site also includes an open-air pavilion with 20 white rocking chairs. The pavilion has an open fire pit. The pavilion overlooks a pond – complete with a fountain in the middle – and faces the setting sun.
“It’s just beautiful to sit out here and watch the sun set,” Robert said. “It’s the most gorgeous view on the property, so we built the pavilion here. I call it the front porch.
Lighted concrete sidewalks connect the buildings. The site also has several small cabins – including where the McClungs live – and storage areas. Near the rear of the property is a prayer garden, complete with a wooden cross.
Since hosting its first event about a year ago – a women’s retreat for about 60 of Janet’s friends – the retreat center has welcomed several groups.
“The retreat facilities are designed for Christian organizations to get away from the day-to-day routine and enjoy being with God and each other,” Janet said. “We can accommodate a variety of spiritual, corporate, educational and social events.”
The McClungs said the retreat center is also open for business and other groups. It can host banquets, special meetings, receptions, leadership meetings, seminars or other events.
“We’ve had weddings, and several church retreats from different denominations,” Janet said. “We have a choir coming the third week in November to practice for their Christmas cantata.”
Robert said other plans are in the works.
“We want to add Frisbee golf,” he said. “We are looking at other things as well, perhaps a ball field. Also, we will be building another lodge building as funs become available.”
For the McClungs, Oasis is home and a place to do God’s work.
“We have been working hard in construction,” Janet said. “Now it’s time to start reaching out.”
Robert adds that he hopes people coming to Oasis will experience one thing about all else.
“I want people to feel God when they walk on the grounds,” he said.
Complete information can be found by visiting the Oasis Christian Center and Retreat website at www.OasisChristianCenter.com. Those interested can also call (270) 266-1662 or (270) 622-2324.
