Maurico and Ana-Paula Fulco
Joined the church in December 1997 and were interviewed in preparation for the Oasis Church of God 20th Anniversary celebrations.
How did you come to be at Oasis Church?
We came to Luxembourg from the Vineyard church in the United States and wanted to worship in a similar environment. God had set on our hearts to worship in an English speaking church. We visited a couple of churches, but the children kept pushing us to find somewhere they could “raise their hands in praise” during Sunday School. Eventually we visited Oasis soon after they had moved into the current premises on rue de Strasbourg.
What made you decide to stay?
We had a very good welcome and that was probably the most important thing. The service took place in what is now the Sunday School. There weren’t many people, so it was the kind of church where you either got involved or left. Apart from the welcome, we saw that a lot of people had a heart for God. The children were very excited when one of the songs being played was a song they knew from Vineyard.
What are your best memories from the early years of the church?
I think just being a family church at the time. We had outings at the park and at Echternach lake. Everyone would take their lunch, we would share food, the children would play, and we would spend a whole afternoon there. Or people would bring food from their countries to share after the service and we would invite visitors for an international luncheon and raise money for the missionaries supported by the church.
How did you get involved with the church at that early stage?
Interestingly, when we were in the States, we led worship in Sunday School and we had a home group. It really helped get us ready for Luxembourg. Since we’ve been with Oasis, we’ve been helping with Sunday School, home groups, worship, Ana Paula has led the ladies ministry, and Mauricio has occasionally spoken in church.
Do you recall any humorous stories from the early church?
One time the church decided to have a Musical Marathon. People signed up for one hour sessions over the course of a 24 hour period and played or sang to the music of their choice. Some people brought pots and pans or whatever they had to make a joyful noise. Another funny moment was during the celebration of Mauricio’s 40th birthday. The cake was specially decorated for the occasion with a picture of Mauricio as part of the icing. We still remember Mauricio closing his eyes and grimacing when we started to slice the cake and the knife got close to his head.
Have there been any completely unexpected rewards?
We were very surprised when Mauricio was called to serve as an Elder in the church. The church also shared in our 25th wedding anniversary celebration, which was very special to us. Finally, the baptisms of Hugo and Luisa were incredibly special to us.
Would you like to share any prayer requests with the church?
We pray that Oasis will continue being a church that feels like family. We pray for the church leadership during this time of transition, for guidance and direction for Pastor Graham as he retires from his secular job, and for Pietro and Giovanna as they complete their transition into the leadership of Oasis.