When the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly closed church doors across Canada in the spring of 2020, religious congregations everywhere were forced to confront a daunting and unprecedented question: how do you sustain a living, breathing faith community when people are strictly prohibited from gathering in person? While many religious institutions viewed digital outreach and livestreaming as a temporary, stopgap measure to survive the public health lockdowns, Oasis United Church in Penticton, British Columbia, chose a radically different path. Instead of rolling back their online efforts once restrictions lifted, church leaders made digital ministry a permanent, foundational pillar of their spiritual community.
It all began during the earliest days of the lockdown, a time of collective confusion and steep learning curves. Church leaders had to rapidly figure out the technical complexities of hosting online worship services, while parishioners—many of whom were older adults encountering these platforms for the first time—had to learn the nuances of muting and unmuting themselves on Zoom. What started as an emergency response has since evolved into a sophisticated, multi-faceted hybrid ministry. Today, Oasis United hosts a hybrid Sunday service that has successfully increased overall worshipper attendance by an impressive 43 percent. Beyond Sunday mornings, the church now organizes multiple virtual and hybrid events each month, weaving digital engagement into the very fabric of congregational life.
One of the most enduring and popular digital initiatives born from this era is the church’s Thursday Zoom café. Held weekly from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., this online social gathering proved so deeply meaningful to participants during the isolation of the pandemic that the congregation continues to host it to this day.
"It has become part of the heart of our community because people have gotten to know each other better," says Rev. Keri Wehlander, the minister of Oasis United.
This philosophy of deepening interpersonal connection has gone on to influence the church’s broader programming schedule. In addition to the Thursday social hour, Rev. Wehlander hosts a weekly virtual "Living Compassion" meeting, which is intentionally centered on developing self-compassion as well as empathy for others. The church also holds an online monthly Communion and Contemplative Prayer gathering, ensuring that spiritual nourishment remains accessible regardless of physical distance.
Furthermore, Oasis United marks major calendar milestones with seasonal virtual events and parties. On Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, and St. Patrick’s Day, the congregation gathers online to celebrate together. Rev. Wehlander emphasizes that these digital initiatives are deliberately designed to be fully accessible for congregants who may be facing illness, residing in hospice care, living far away from Penticton, or simply those who prefer to participate comfortably from home in their pajamas.
Embracing this digital future was not without its hurdles, but the congregation approached the technological shift with a remarkable spirit of adventure and resilience.
"It’s not that we all knew how to do this, but we weren’t afraid of it," reflects Rev. Wehlander.
As the church worked to develop and expand its digital programming, leaders recognized that volunteer enthusiasm alone would not suffice for long-term sustainability. Oasis United hired a dedicated tech coordinator to manage the audio-visual requirements of their hybrid Sunday services. At the same time, members of the congregation made a concerted, conscious effort to improve their own digital literacy so they could actively pitch in and support the church’s new technological direction.
"I have relied on the openness of the congregation to try these things, even if they’ve been hard," Wehlander notes, praising the willingness of her parishioners to step outside their comfort zones.
Financial support also played a critical role in this digital transformation. A targeted grant from the United Church of Canada Foundation provided the necessary resources to help Oasis United enhance its online presence. With this funding, the church launched a regular digital newsletter, established an active Instagram page, and began producing engaging video reels for Facebook.
The strategy paid off dramatically. Since 2020, the church’s Facebook views have surged by 176 percent, while its YouTube views have skyrocketed by an extraordinary 571 percent, extending the reach of Penticton’s Oasis United far beyond the traditional geographical boundaries of the Okanagan Valley.
For Rev. Wehlander and her congregation, these numbers represent more than just web traffic; they reflect a deeply held spiritual mission to connect with others in an increasingly digital world.
"There’s a constant desire to reach beyond the walls of the building and say, ‘How can we make sure that we’re not isolated from those around us? How can we be engaged and involved?’" Wehlander says. Looking back at how far the community has traveled since the dark days of early 2020, she adds, "I can’t imagine the life of our community without these online offerings… it has opened up so many possibilities."