Julia Woods with a furry friend during an Oasis gathering. Photo courtesy of Julia Woods

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Homelessness is a hot topic in California, with both everyday residents and politicians taking note of its increase and the issues it triggers. According to a recent census count conducted by Sacramento Steps Forward, there are upwards of 9,000 unhoused individuals on Sacramento streets on any given night. While there is a war of many words as to what causes such a high population and what should be done to resolve it, some local groups are looking for solutions instead. Oasis Ministries is one such group.

“It’s really simple, actually. Love God, love people,” says Julia Woods, co-founder of Oasis, “It’s really the basis of everything we do, everything we should do.”

Woods, along with her husband Pastor Thomas Woods, started Oasis several years ago as a ministry of their church, Living Water Assembly of God in Citrus Heights. Pastor Thomas became the senior pastor four years ago. The church itself is small – only 35-40 attend the Sunday morning services – but their impact is mighty.

“We are so very outreach minded. We wanted to make sure church is what you do between the Sundays,” says Julia. “If all we do is meet inside of a building, we’re never going to be able to talk to anybody about Jesus. We are never going to grow the kingdom.”

For the Woods family, their kingdom focus comes in the form of true help for the low income and homeless. Every Friday, Pastor Thomas brings a grill into the church parking lot and makes hot dogs for local kids and their families. The church also brings out basketball hoops and cornhole for the young people to enjoy. The pastor enjoys the moniker “Pastor Hot Dog,” which has been given to him by the kids who frequent the parking lot on Friday nights.

“That’s their meal for the night, and sometimes they ask to take a few extras for the weekend,” Julia said.

On Mondays, the focus is on the homeless. The church was approached by the Citrus Heights Navigators, in partnership with Citrus Heights HART, about opening the doors of the church to serve the homeless. Now every Monday from 11am to 3pm, the church turns into a hub to help this vulnerable population with hope and dignity. From meals to showers to social time, Oasis has become a sanctuary.

Oasis stays too focused on that hope to bother with the stigmas some people zero in on when thinking about the homeless crisis. They know from their firsthand interactions that not all unhoused individuals have the same story, and it’s important to love them where they are.

In speaking about one frequenter to the church that they’ve helped, Julia said.

“He comes to church every Sunday, he comes to Bible study every Wednesday. He’s still on the streets. He does not have an addiction problem, but life happens and he was on the streets for a few years. He has housing and a job lined up – he was so excited to have someone come alongside him.”

The pastors believe in what they do partially because of where they’ve been. Life hasn’t always been smooth sailing.

“We’ve been on the streets. We’ve been addicted. We’ve been pastors,” said Julia, “One of us comes from money, one doesn’t. There’s not a lot we can’t relate to in some form. He [God] keeps bringing us back to people who are hurting, people who are broken, people who are looked down on... we want to be that non-judgmental person and place.”

The organization benefits from donations like casual clothing and camping gear and picks up donations a few times per week. Financial donations are also gladly accepted both in the church dropbox and through their website, livingwaterag.com.

Donors and volunteers are welcome to head over to the church on Mondays between 11 and 3 to see the group in action and where donations go. The church is also holding a Harvest Celebration on October 14, where “Pastor Hot Dog” and his crew will be out distributing hot dogs, chips, and candy.

Through Oasis, the homeless are not just receiving practical resources – they are receiving hope and healing.

“They are so comfortable. They can leave the worries of outside for three hours and know they are safe. They are loved. They are respected. If they need help, we will do everything we possibly can.”

Living Water Assembly of God is located at 7605 Lauppe Ln, Citrus Heights.