"Love Howick Short Story - Amazing Midlands, by Andrew de la Hunt-James"

“Amazing Midlands!”

It is easy to become disenchanted with our town – that's if you are in the habit of looking “down”. You will see (and hit) the numerous potholes or get hotheaded and bothered by the litter, because what you aim at, you hit! I've made a choice – to “look up”, to see and embrace the unique beauty and diversity we have. You see, I've travelled the world – North, South, East and West. I've seen some remarkable places, each with an appeal and attraction of their own. Yet everywhere you go, there is always the grim realities of our world. Here, they juxtapose and catalyze the goodness we have.

To love is a choice, yet the reasons are many. I encounter constant reminders through the multi facets of what constitutes us as a flourishing community. The wonderful, diverse people made up of loyal, hardworking domestic helpers; generous, friendly business owners; caring, committed teachers; dedicated public servants and colourful characters from all races.

We have everything a small, country town should have, from a choice of amenities to amazing scenery. The cry of the fish eagle reminds me where I am, on the doorstep of breathtaking beauty, if I make the effort to “go”. The sunrises and sunsets create crimson masterpieces on the canvass of our skies. As a family we take great pleasure in being able to walk or ride our bikes at the dam or through the neighborhood; and go mountain biking in the surrounding forests. Innumerable farm dams sparkle amidst rolling, lush Midlands Meander hills. Steep crags overlook awe-inspiring valleys, spectacular vistas from “koppies” and hills. I relish the numerous and assorted coffee shops and arty retail outlets throughout our Meander.

Maybe it's because I feel safe here, accepted and empowered to be who I am. It's a haven in which to bring up our children, yet not too far from the “buzz” of larger, cosmopolitan cities. Because of our size, I still have the choice of how to “get around” - car, bus, taxi, bicycle, scooter or by foot. Could it be because (if I try hard enough) I could find a job here, or start my own (small) business as there are so many opportunities for the creative, entrepreneurial mind?

Could it be the weather, despite the irritation of too much rain, or too much mist, or too much heat – it's generally temperate – cold enough in winter to have lovely log fires while it snows outside, hot enough in summer to laze around the pool or engage in some water activity at the dam.

It's a developing town, with improvements in healthcare facilities, city services and entertainment. People come and go, yet for those who have chosen this as their home, they will not be disappointed to find there's never a dull moment, often some challenging encounter, and always a new face in town. So “look up” and soon you will realize there are many reasons to “Love Howick”.

Oasis Creativity & Media Centre, The Oasis Church, Howick, South Africa

Center Overview:
Oasis Media’s mission is to get the message of the Gospel and anointed music out to the people of the world. 

Oasis Media Fun Facts: 

• we love having fun while doing what we do 
• laughter is part of everyday work-life 
• our office has amazing views our 
• office is located in walking distance of a green belt with marked walkways 
• we recycle 
• some of us ride to work, others work to ride 
• we often have brainstorming sessions on massive pieces of paper 
• coffee = creativity 
• we can never decide which is better: centre or center 
• some of us are Google fanatics 
• longest maintenance session on scaffolding = 8hrs 
• nearly 300 meters network cable installed 

Who We Are 

It’s all about people - God created and loves them. People are God’s workmanship - we are a bunch of workmen & woman on a ship called the OCMC on a voyage of a lifetime! We are a small, full & part-time team of dedicated, creative, fun-loving, multi-skilled, God-worshipping, Revival-loving messengers. Our mission is to capture, create, collaborate, connect in the sphere of our local church’s multimedia forms - print, digital, audio, music. 

• Our Culture

We are characterised by our creativity, joy, hard work, problem solving, support. We value Kingdom principles, Godliness, Purity, Radicalness, Passion, forcefully advancing the Kingdom, representing Jesus and His message, Truth; passionate, fresh and vibrant music & worship; capturing prophetic, live, spontaneous worship; capturing and releasing prophetic words across the globe; supporting those who also want to spread the gospel through their specific giftings. 

Our goal is to reach as far and wide across the planet as God enables us to - through distribution, dissemination, miraculous intervention, technology, print media, audio media, art...an endless display of creativity through whatever means God enables. Our heart is to see people transformed by God’s power and love through the resources produced at The Oasis Church, through prophetic words from this House, through testimonies, through healings, through miracles. The Centre is the tool and the means to achieve this, through technology, skillful live recording, audio production, collaboration, networking, prayer, prophetic declarations spoken over the Centre and relentlessly pursuing any art form to capture and declare the message God speaks. 

• Our Location 

We are based at :

The Oasis Church

72 Main Street 

Howick 

Kwa-Zulu/Natal 

SOUTH AFRICA. 

You can find and/or follow us at:

www.theoasischurch.co.za

Facebook

Google

YouTube

We overlap with the following ministries of our local church:

 Oasis Christian Academy

Oasis School of the Arts

Oasis Resource Corner

Soaking Sessions

Church conferences and training times

• Our Team 

Our team is made up of fulltime, parttime, and voluntary staff, all who are based out of the local church. We’re team of dedicated, creative, adventurous, multi talented, fun loving people who desire to see God's Kingdom advance, the church built up and people set free through the different forms of media from The Oasis Church, for example teaching manuals, soaking music & sermons. Our Team includes operators in the following areas: audio visual, sound & stage, audio recording and production, graphic design, website, computer network, resource centre and general media centre management.The team is involved in running the Media Centre, as well as operating the sound for off-site, trans-local meetings. As our scope is constantly increasing, we are always on the lookout for fresh input from like-minded people. 

What We Believe 

We believe that media plays a vital role in spreading the Gospel and Teachings today. “Media is an all-encompassing term that refers to a collective of communicatory mediums used to store or transmit information or data. Media is usually intended to inform or influence a wide range of audiences.” (http://mashable.com/category/media/). The Truth found in God’s word, whether conveyed through a sermon, prophetic word, song or sound, artwork, poem, teaching manual, is the message. The Media Centre is the vehicle to spread that message to wherever it’s needed, in the clearest, affordable, intelligible way possible. The intention and purpose is to aid in the transformation process God has initiated in each one of us, and to build up the Bride of Christ - the church, to the uttermost parts of the earth, and to release the Fragrance of Christ through creativity and music. 

What We Do 

Over the last four years there has been the transition to digital media in increasing measure. We record all sermons and conferences at The Oasis Church, as well as Soaking Sessions twice a week. These are made available on our church Website, either as free downloads or for a nominal fee. Audio production occurs in our developing studio on site, as well as graphic design and photography. Our garage mixes are released on order, on average two per month. These are totally home grown using the skills and creativity of the local church. Our teaching manuals and courses are also published and distributed at The Oasis Church. We also seek to connect and collaborate with like minded, creative people through various social networks (Blog, Facebook, Google +, Google Groups), as well as during training times at The Oasis Church, (Creative Weekends and Prophetic Training Times). We are involved with all things sound related. Or current unfolding dream is establishing a recording studio onsite to facilitate the recording of the many worship songs written and produced by our local musicians and worshipers. 

We have outsourced some tasks and enjoy collaborating with those more skilled in specific areas. A recent exciting development is the Oasis School of Arts where we run a course on Live Sound & Engineering. We also have a heart to raise up the next generation of “creatives” and enjoy helping out other local churches with their media/audio challenges, as well as conducting creative and prophetic art workshops. 

Our Creativity Centre includes online resources such as a Blog, Discussion Group and Facebook and Google page. Create For Life! is a blog (http://cre84life.blogspot.com) that covers a variety of topics around creativity amongst believers. It has grown out of the need in the Church for equipping, sharing, encouraging, collaborating and "revolutionizing" creativity in and through the Church. We aim to flow in God-inspired, adventurous creativity; to release prophetic creativity in and through the church; to adorn the Bride of Christ with a fresh palette of colour! It's edited by Andrew de la Hunt-James from The Oasis Church, and welcomes contributions and questions regarding creativity from anyone. The Discussion group (https://groups.google.com/group/creativity-centre/) which you can join, aims at collaboration and sharing in a discussion forum - The group is part of our vision to release creativity in and through the church; to enable a flow of anointed creativity in a multidisciplinary approach. We value collaboration and communication - sharing with one another to keep inspired & envisioned as we each pursue our creative dreams.

Update

Well it's been a while since our last post!!!!  We've been so busy with the 'doing'  that we haven't managed to do the writing.  This year has seen the development of the School of the Arts at The Oasis Church in Howick SA.  Please find out about it on www.theoasis church.co.za. Watch this space as there are exciting developments in this area of our creativity.

Creativity Centres

The Creativity Centre | University of Brighton

PCAP - ART IN PRISONS

What We Do

Your MOTHER - Your LIFE, By Kathleen De La Hunt

Your mother once was - a woman- just like you Who did not really know what she should to do She found herself grown, with troubles & cares Then, just had to cope, as she wiped away tears. She tried her best, in all that she did Made many mistakes in her trying bid Would she do things differently, if she had the chance? I’m sure she would- if she’d known in advance- But all she had, was that day - for a choice And today in your ears – you hear her voice Some choices were right and others- well no! But there’s no second chance, yet though them you’d grow. Then by the time, she was strong and wise Her children knew more- in their own eyes! Where did life go – you heard her say It all passed so quick – it was just yesterday... Now it is your chance- your life lays ahead Draw from the strength of what Mom did & said Many choices you’ll make, on this journey so short But whatever you do – do not abort- The plans and purposes God has for you On this journey – called life – that He’s leading you through Each day is unique- live it to the full Let love, joy and laughter fill every hole Don’t miss the moments, as they pass through Treasure the precious ones, God’s given you For before you know, you will be one Wondering what happened – when they’re all grown and gone. Kathleen De La Hunt 30th August 2012

LOVE HOWICK, LESLEY HELFER

Sing a song of Howick, Howick in the hills. Above a bustling 'Maritzburg, Beneath the 'Berg so high, Soft rolling hills surround us Open to the sky. The blue of heaven stretches far, As breezes come & go; Then like pearl, a mist is weaving Gently to & fro. Sing a song of Howick, Howick in the hills. Sing a song of Howick, happy in the hills. Creation's bounty thrills our hearts, For none on earth's so sweet; Here cliff & river, forest, hills, With farm & townsland meet. Through steep kloof gash our river flows, Where buck & zebra bide, And wildebeest run circular Across the broad hillside. The tallest cauldron in our cliffs White water rushes down. This site of beauty, God created His blessing on our town. Sing a song of Howick, Howick in the hills. Sing a song of Howick, happy in the hills. With flower on flower the springtime comes To clothe grey winter branches; An awakening so beautiful That every heart – it dances! Summer storms with rainbows bright; Picnics at the lake; Midmar swimmers in the mile, Or boys with fish to take. When autumn gold spreads through the trees, A wealth of treasure found. Golden leaves have stored the sun, To shed it on the ground. Winter frosts & stark,bare branches, Grass as white as snow; Black along the break-burn edges, Red where aloes grow. Sometimes there is snow that falls On hills where we may go. O what fun & shouts of joy, To shy with balls of snow! Sing a song of Howick, Howick in the hills. Sing a song of Howick, happy in the hills. And Howick's crowning pride & joy? Its people are; I say! A gentle folk of varied groups, Some colourful, some staid. In garage, bank & supermarket, In the town around, Or meet us in the tourist stalls, Where plane trees shade the ground. In shops & cafes all are kind, All pass the time of day. No job can be too difficult, For there will be a way. See, hands are reaching out to help, To lift up those in need. And teachers train our children well, For they're a precious seed. Patient the younger generation, Accepting all who are here. From many 'Ambers' we would say, “Well done, you're very dear!” This is a town where friendship grows, With roots of love & care. Howick blooms are cheerfulness, With many smiles to share. For Jesus is the anchor here, His heart is open wide. He walks right close amongst us all, To draw us to His side. So that is why I sing this song, And that is why I love Our Howick, happy in the hills, And blessed by God above.