Backstory And Mission
To view our Youtube video "Why am I So Passionate About Reaching LDS?" go to https://youtu.be/pe4LMDwpTR0?list=PLuk6rG9a178VyxTqj9pPTgD_zO_V2_6y9
My name is Jason Oakes. About 16 years ago, the Lord used me to help my best friend come out of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and into a relationship with the true Jesus. After my friend left the church, the Lord gave me an ever increasing heart for those in the LDS church. As I followed his calling on my life through seminary and roles as Youth Pastor, College Pastor, Associate Pastor and Senior Pastor, this passion only grew stronger. I continued meeting with Mormon missionaries and reaching out to LDS friends and neighbors as the Lord gave me opportunity. Three years ago, I felt God leading my family toward a more direct ministry to LDS people. As we have followed His day-by-day leading, He lead me to step down from my position as Senior Pastor in 2012, start a ministry called “People of the Free Gift” and relocate my family to Utah. Since we launched this ministry, God has allowed us to connect with Pastors and Missionaries throughout the state of Utah, California and Arizona. After living in Utah for a year-and-a-half, it became obvious that in order for a missionary to be successful in Utah, they have to have a financial plan that is independent from funds received from their church plant and donations to their ministry. This has lead my family back to California in order for me to obtain a Business Administration degree with an Accounting Certification. While we are here, we will continue to teach seminars, write and record curriculum and post on both this website, our Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Google +, and Pinterest pages. It is our sincere prayer that the Lord will allow me to utilize my Accounting degree to plant ourselves in a highly LDS populated area, or an area highly populated with those caught up in “religion,” allowing freedom for us to practice relational evangelism with our LDS neighbors without financial concern. This will also allow any funds that do come in from a church plant or donations to be used solely for the purpose of ministry. Having a full-time job that is non-ministry related will also be incredibly helpful in building non-threatening relationships with LDS people in the future. The Passion of People of the Free Gift is these four things:
Teach Seminars – For more information about our seminars or invite us to speak to your group, click here. Fill the Pulpit – We desire to be available for Pastors who need a break from preaching, need somebody to fill in during vacation, or simply desire to have us come and preach on a particular topic. Lead Mission Teams – We desire to work with churches and provide mission trip opportunities to Utah, Southern Idaho and Northern Arizona where the LDS church is most prevalent, as well as other areas that are highly populated by those caught in “religion.”
Assist Churches/Pastors – We desire to come alongside Pastors and churches in areas highly populated by religious people, especially those churches that are in areas where it is hard to raise funds and Pastors are required to be bi-vocational. For more information on how you can partner with our ministry, go to http://www.peopleofthefreegift.com/donate/
Feel free to contact us!
