Since the formation of this society in March of 1906 we have always been a community church. That was more than just the statement in the sign on the front of the building; it was also about how the people of this society cared for the neighborhood. One example was the leadership of Pastor Leslie Whitehead, who spoke of then Burien Free Methodist at our 75th anniversary as a “sending church.” That was more than just words, as this society cared for Laotian refugees and longed to see a Laotian Church established.

Oasis Home Church, though neither Burien nor Sunnydale remains in the name, continues to be a Free Methodist society with a focus on our community. We have a set of values for the church building and property that prioritize the gospel transformation of our Sunnydale neighborhood. Though we are a church of home churches, we continue to cherish the heritage of our building and property. Being the longest-standing resident in our neighborhood is certainly a testament to God’s faithfulness!

We long to continue our legacy as a community church and have invested in needed updates to ensure that is possible!

One of our values at Oasis is “Generosity in all things.” We are committed to deploying our finances, resources, and leadership for God’s Kingdom! The building is a large part of what God has called us to steward, and we use the building for many “Kingdom” purposes:

• We have a weekly Sunday Collective Service where all of our Home Churches come together.
• We host a Brunch Church on the fourth Sunday of each month, with an emphasis on inviting our neighbors to the table.
• We host events like the Free Methodist Bible Quiz meets that build up our next generation of followers of Jesus.
• We are blessed with several partner churches in the building, which reflect the diversity of cultures and languages in Burien.
• We’ve used the parking lot to host a sanctioned encampment for our unhoused neighbors in Burien, which served as a bridge to the gospel and needed social services.
• We’ve hosted a yearly Neighborhood Block Party on National Neighorhood Day as a way to bring neighbors together post-COVID.

Yet there is more of the building that we long to see utilized for Kingdom impact. In 2023, our society was at a critical tipping point, and major repairs were needed to keep the building in use. Current Pastor Mark Miller and the BOA took a bold step of faith to secure a $250,000 loan from the Free Methodist Foundation to begin the necessary work.

With the successful completion of major projects, we are now positioned to see the building and property for an even greater Kingdom impact for decades to come!

Stories that span over a century of faithful ministry on this property testify to its impact on so many lives! We cherish this legacy, knowing that few churches in the Burien community have experienced such a rich heritage. People come by often to share about how this building was formative in their faith journey, and we long for those stories continue to be sown into the future.

If this building has played a role in your faith, would you consider giving generously to future generations so that this building, with all of its rich heritage, will be equipped to play a role in their faith formation?