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Rev. Dr. Charles Rasberry
Rev. Dr. Charles Rasberry of Largo, FL is a Certified Pastoral Member of the Sarasota Academy of Christian Counseling and has been an International Representative since March 2, 2004.
He is a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor--Advanced Certified member of the NCCA, and Clinical Supervisor. He also operates Oasis For Life Training Center, an NCCA Certified Academic Institution.
He is a dedicated minister with more than 4 decades of university and church and church experience. His particular interests lie in two major areas – laying down life’s foundational principles and training and equipping professionals and ministers in the field of counseling.
He is passionate about developing the next generation of church leaders and ensuring that the church remains relevant for the years to come.
He has written several books – Applied Apostolic Foundation Principles, Multiplicity of Ministry, Care group Leaders Training Manual, The House that God Built, and the Overview of the Book of Revelation. He has recently finished his new book on Christ-Centered Mindfulness Course.
In 1988, Dr. Rasberry founded Oasis For Life Ministry and Calvary Bible College. He also pioneered four (4) churches on the West Coast. In 2004, he started the first Oasis For Life Wellness Center in Albany, Oregon and in 2015 established Oasis For Life Iloilo, Philippines. He has recently opened Oasis For Life Ministry ad Oasis For Life Wellness Center in Largo, Fl.
At present, Oasis For Life Wellness Center have 4 locations – Albany, OR, Vancouver, WA, Hilo, HI and Largo, FL., which serves as the main office. Whatever God has empowered him to do, he gives all the glory and praise to the Lord Jesus Christ.
THE LIGHT OF HOPE
These days, it seems like everyone is in a rush. Three years after COVID-19 hit us we are still rebuilding our lives after devastated finances, relationships, and mental health. Added to the top of that, we're dealing with ominous shifts in societal norms and beliefs, and a political landscape driven by conflict and greed.
For thousands of families living in Israel, Palestine, the Philippines, other third-world countries, and here in the United States, daily life appears overwhelming.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has resulted in mass civilian casualties from bombing, shelling, and rocket attacks on the Gaza Strip. According to Israeli officials, nearly 20,000 people have been killed in the assault and more than 240 have been taken hostage.
In one of the provinces in the Philippines on Tuesday afternoon, December 5th, 2023, seventeen people died after a bus plunged into a ravine.
In our local Tampa, FL news, on Wednesday the 6th of December 2023, at 10:46 pm, an Uber driver and two passengers were killed in a collision with a fleeing Mustang on the Skyway Bridge.
Families across the world are seeking one thing: HOPE.
But how can they find hope when so much around them seems hopeless? The circumstances in their country and the world seem too chaotic to function as a cohesive whole. What is hope in such a situation?
Hebrews 11:3 says, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” That is the heart of our outreach to poor communities in the Philippines. Each year, we hold a Christmas event named "Love in a Basket" to give hope and show the love of Jesus Christ to the less privileged and poor families in Iloilo City, Philippines. In December 2019, we fed more than a thousand people. The following year, in December 2020, during the height of the pandemic, we distributed food and household items to hundreds of families who were in lockdown. Last year, December 2022, we distributed love kits to three different urban poor areas in Iloilo City, Philippines. For some of us, these may be just simple gift packs but for the children and parents in those areas, those are worth a week of food supply.
God said let there be light. In Matthew 5:14-16, it says, "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a dish. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
We are the ones who shine the light of Jesus in a world gone dark. However, Jesus' point is that we should shine our light so that every area of darkness is either revealed for what it is or brought into the light, not just in our small sphere of influence.
In John 9:5 Jesus said, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.“ Jesus couldn't stay on earth, so He appointed US to be the "light of the world" in His place. In this gloomy world, we are to be God's light. In what way? As moral role models, we should guide them to God, warn them of the dangers that lie ahead, and serve, give, and sacrifice—demonstrating God's love for them.
This year, we want to bring light to the vulnerable communities in Iloilo, Philippines again. We believe that we can change the world we’re living in through one small act of kindness at a time.
At this time of the year, I want to encourage you. Be the LIGHT that your family and friends need. Be the LIGHT that your community is praying for. Be the LIGHT the person beside you needs and let them realize that despite all the darkness we live in today, there is still HOPE.
So, take a pause and shine. BRIGHTLY.