Each summer and fall, many senior adults in the Birmingham area as well as in other states in the Southeast look forward to spending an afternoon full of entertainment and inspiration, courtesy of Frank Jones, president of Frank Jones Ministries and senior adult ministry strategist for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.
Through the years, Jones has been involved with regional and national senior adult Christian conferences with world-class entertainment.
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“I wanted to create an event locally with that same caliber of talent — but just a one-afternoon event for senior adults who maybe can enjoy that level of talent but not have to go out of town [because] a lot of senior adults can’t drive at night,” Jones said.
Originally named “Glory,” the event is now called “Oasis” because an oasis is a place to be refreshed and renewed.
“My goal is for everybody who attends to leave refreshed, renewed and with their spirits revived,” Jones said.
Even the pandemic didn’t stop Oasis.
The Birmingham show that year featured Dennis Swanberg. When it had to be rescheduled due to COVID-19, Jones thought they should livestream the event. Swanberg disagreed.
“He said, ‘Well, consider having people there.’ I said OK and so we did, and we ended up having maybe 500 to 600 there. For some of us, it was really the first time out. We spread people all across the sanctuary, and we had a great day,” Jones said.
This year’s Oasis lineup is impressive. The Birmingham event, held on July 31, featured Mark Lowry and Endless Highway. Some of the past artists for the Birmingham show were Allison Speer, Debbie Childers, Mickey Bell, Guy Penrod and Dennis Swanberg.
‘Not a heavy day’
The Oasis schedule for the rest of 2025 includes:
— Oasis Warner Robins, featuring Dennis Swanberg and Allison Speer on Aug. 28 at Central Baptist Church in Warner Robins, Georgia.
— Oasis Fort Worth, featuring Dennis Swanberg and Allison Speer on Oct. 5 at Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.
— Oasis Olive Branch, featuring Karen Peck & New River and Debbie Childers on Oct. 20 at Longview Heights Baptist Church in Olive Branch, Miss.
The numbers for Oasis are also impressive. The Birmingham show was held at First Baptist Church Trussville and sold out. Though Oasis is promoted mainly through Baptist churches, 150 churches on average are represented from many different denominations, spread by word of mouth through the years.
But the reason behind Oasis is much more personal than creating a show with a large number of attendees.
“For so long senior adults have been put on the back burner, and I want senior adults to feel like they’re important. After serving as a senior adult minister for a few years in Tuscaloosa, I realize there are just so many museums you can go to. There are just so many apple trees you can pick from or botanical gardens to attend,” Jones said.
Even though the afternoon is God-centered, it’s “not a heavy day.” Even the times that Oasis features a singer or musical group, Jones always includes humor. Nationally known comedian Dennis Swanberg and Birmingham-area locals Mickey Bell and Debbie Childers are some of the artists Jones invites to offer the attendees the gift of laughter.
“I wanted to provide an afternoon of first-class entertainment where they could just come and laugh and be with people just like them because so many senior adults live by themselves, and they love to be with people they love,” he said.
Blessing
Not only has Jones given this blessing to many older adults, but he has been blessed by Oasis as well.
One year they were scheduled to do an Oasis event at First Baptist Church Orange Beach. After a fire destroyed that sanctuary just two weeks before the event, Jones called a friend at Romar Beach Baptist Church in Orange Beach and asked if they could hold the event there.
When the day came, it was storming outside. This sanctuary was not only located on the beach, but across the back of the stage was a clear glass window. So while Squire Parsons was performing, a tumultuous but beautiful scene of the ocean in full force heightened the impact of his worship.
“He was singing one of his songs, ‘Master of the Sea.’ As he was singing that song and then seeing the huge waves, hearing the thunder and seeing the lightning, I was moved to tears — for our Lord is truly the Master of the sea. Squire had no idea what was going on behind him. It was truly a special moment,” Jones said.
There have been Oasis events in Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Kansas. Jones wants to expand to even more states. For any church wanting to book an Oasis event for area senior adults, please contact Jones at fjm1117@gmail.com or call 205-393-7020.
For those who can’t attend Oasis, Jones, an accomplished pianist and worship leader, also hosts SINGFEST and Saints Alive events throughout the year. Go to https://alsbom.org/organizer/frank-jones/ for more information on those events.
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