Oasis International

Let the Lion Loose

Our board chairman, Edward Elliott, wrote this a couple years ago after returning from Africa. He's had these same thoughts several times since. He recently found the piece he wrote and shared it with us to share with you.

Let the Lion Loose
Edward Elliott
October 5, 2008

 Some years ago – perhaps 35 – the young student sat in his West African seminary chapel.  Some days ago – perhaps 35 – that seminarian, after a lifetime in the pulpit, recounted to me words spoken in that chapel. “Let the Lion Loose.”  Those words roared into his spirit and provided inspiration and guidance over years of service to his God.

 Those weren’t the only words spoken by Kenneth Taylor, author of The Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes, translator of The Living Bible, mentor, friend, associate, publisher, writer of books whose words almost certainly impacted you as they have me.

 I picture in my mind an oasis on the plains of East Africa. The animals are alert as they drink.  For the lion is loose.

 Oasis International looses the lion of words.  Words about God, even the very Word of God.  The seminarian, the village elder, the young man struggling to find his way in the crowded, unfamiliar urban jungle, the school child, all listen to the words. Perhaps the words are quiet, gentle as a resting lion, perhaps they roar into his spirit, perhaps they sleep in his soul to wake years later as a call to follow the Christ.

All of them are let loose in Africa by Oasis with the prayer that men and women, young people and children, will find in the words the way to Christ, the inspiration to follow him, the motivation to serve him with all their heart.

 

McKinsey Report Reinforces Oasis' Work in Africa

Africa’s economic climate has grown more in the last decade than we had ever previously seen. Africa GDP rose 4.9 percent a year in the past decade, twice the pace of the 1980’s and 1990’s. A team from McKinsey Quarterly explains this in a recent article: Click Here. According to the report, Africa’s recent economic growth can be attributed to more than just increased sales in resources. The improvements seen through governmental and social efforts also play a part to impact Africa’s economy. For example, they cite government’s action to end armed conflict, improvements on macroeconomic conditions and microeconomic reforms to create a better business climate all helped this growth surge. From these economic conditions, Africa has seen more urbanization, a growing middle class and a larger work force. These characteristics are pushing this economic growth to become a long-term reality.

 The biggest challenge Africa now faces is educating the next generation in order to continue the growth. Experts believe “if Africa can provide its young people with the education and skills they need, this large workforce could become a significant source of rising global consumption and production.” The continent now experiences higher literacy rates than in previous decades, but it still needs to make substantial improvements within its educational systems.

 With Africa’s promising economic situation, the best time to create sustainable industry is now. We contribute to industry growth by publishing and distributing affordable Christian books and Bibles in Africa. Oasis’ vision is to create a healthy Christian book-selling industry in English-speaking Africa. By providing more literature to areas where education is growing, Oasis comes alongside an optimistic future in Africa’s educational system. Oasis is transforming lives by supplying Christian books and Bibles, but also transforming communities by encouraging literacy and education.