Planting a School of Faith and Flourishing
How Oasis of Love Church in Mansfield is pairing prayer, entrepreneurship, and long-term vision to bless its neighbors.
Key Takeaways
- Close the Gap You See — Oasis of Love recognized poverty and lack of opportunity and moved first with a faith-rooted solution.
- Prayer + Practice — The Daniel School of Business integrates entrepreneurship training with a prayer network.
- Think Long Term — Accreditation and partnerships signal sustainability, not a short-term program.
“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4
Why would a church start a business school?
In Mansfield, Ohio, Oasis of Love Church planted a seed for economic and spiritual renewal: a faith-based business school. It’s a trust statement — that God has placed creativity and leadership in their neighbors and that the church can host both prayer and practical skills.
For Senior Pastor Raymond Cochran Jr. and the Oasis family, this is discipleship expressed in a new way: “We believe in your future and we will walk with you.”
Bridge-Building
In Mansfield’s Black and brown neighborhoods, entrepreneurship has often felt inaccessible. By offering free training in a church space and surrounding the effort with prayer, the Daniel School lowers barriers and restores trust.
The message is simple and powerful: not only “we believe in you,” but “we will walk with you.”
Final Reflection / Call to Action
The Daniel School of Business is more than a program — it’s a declaration that churches can incubate both faith and flourishing. Oasis of Love is betting on neighbors because God has already planted seeds of creativity and leadership within them.
While not an Immerse church, Oasis of Love shows how local congregations can close trust gaps in their city. These are the stories that keep us inspired to serve pastors through Immerse.
Source: Richland Source