ABOUT THE OASIS OF REFRESHING MINISTRIES SHEPHERD

Bishop Bruce V. Parham, Sr., Ph.D.

Bishop Bruce V. Parham, Sr., Ph.D. was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the youngest of three sons given to Pastor Arthur and Mother Almeda Parham. Being raised as a son in ministry, both physically and spiritually, instilled his burden for ministry. It was obvious by the age of two that Bishop Parham had a rich anointing to sing. As an adolescent, he was engaged as a regular soloist at various church services, annual conventions and convocations of the Mt. Sinai Holy Churches of America, Inc. During this time, Bishop Parham’s gift of singing was encouraged by his grandmother who told him to “open up your mouth and sing!”

This advice proved beneficial. At the age of twenty, Bishop Parham won numerous state and national gospel music competitions. Concurrently, Bishop Parham answered the Lord’s call to preach the Word. His anointing to sing intertwined with his anointing to expound on the Word made him unique. After singing at the Gospel Music Workshop of American in St. Louis, MO, he received his first recording contract. For the next decade, known as “Philadelphia’s Son of Promise”, Bishop Parham recorded three solo albums and worked with many leaders in the gospel music industry.

Ministry through song became subsequent to the preached Word. Bishop Parham traveled worldwide preaching and operating in the five-fold ministry. As an evangelist, Bishop Parham has facilitated thousands of souls coming into the Kingdom of God and encouraged countless others.

Great men and women of God have influenced Bishop Parham: Pastor Arthur Parham (his natural father), Bishop Robert Taylor, Bishop Ralph Dennis and others. Bishop Parham desired to house the knowledge imparted to him, coupled with the anointing God released on his life. He further desired to cultivate a place where people would be saved, healed, delivered and restored; a place where people would come to find love, help, hope, strength, guidance and encouragement. The Lord told him that this place would be an “Oasis” for those in need of spiritual refreshing. Through the leading of the Lord, in September 1998, Oasis of Refreshing Ministries, Inc. was birthed in Wilmington, DE.

In November 2001, God increased the mandate on the life of Bishop Parham and caused him to stretch again. His vision grew to encompass others who embrace a progressive, multi-cultural, charismatic fellowship. The purpose of the fellowship is to facilitate the cultivation of the body of Christ in anticipation of the Lord’s return. Under the auspices of Bishop Parham, they are united to release a Fresh Fragrance into the body of Christ that is pleasing unto the Lord and thus became the Fresh Fragrance Covenant Fellowship. Bishop Parham is the Presiding Prelate of the Fresh Fragrance Covenant Fellowship which now consists of close to twenty churches all across the United States. In July 2006, Pastor Parham was consecrated to the Sacred Holy Order of Bishop by his spiritual father, Bishop Wilbert Baltimore during the Holy Convocation of the Fresh Fragrance Covenant Fellowship, Inc.

As Bishop Parham faithfully attends to the ministries of Oasis and Fresh Fragrance, he continues to operate in his gift of song. His latest release is entitled, Dwell Together.

Pursuant to his many years of dedication to education and ministry, Bishop Parham received his Masters of Arts in Theology and his Ph.D. in Religion from the North Carolina College of Theology in June of 2006. His commitment to the Word of God has stimulated his desire to open a school to equip leaders for ministry.

Standing beside this great man of God is a great woman of God; his queen, Elder Janet Parham. Together Bishop and Elder Parham endeavor to bring to fruition the vision God has revealed to him. They are natural parents to six beautiful children: Ashley Renee’, Bruce Jr., Jsaniese Lynae’, Alexis Regine, Devyn Marquise and Jada Chantel and spiritual parents to many others.