RAPID CITY - If you are between age 18 and 30 and a regular churchgoer, you may know about "the gap." That is the word George Larson used to describe the problem area churches have in forming and sustaining small groups or Sunday schools for young, single adults.

The 26-year-old goes to Rimrock Evangelical Free Church, which has a Sunday attendance of about 500 people. Even so, the church has had difficulty keeping a young people's ministry going.

"Part of it is a singles group is so cyclical," Larson said. "Singles get married."

Kristi Friederich, a 29-year-old woman who attends South Canyon Baptist Church, understands what Larson is talking about.

"Personally, I've decided that our age group is in a constant state of moving," she said. While her church also has tried to establish a group, "Everyone gets married, or moves or jobs change," she said.

The problem that individual churches were having called for a common solution - and that is how Oasis came to be established in October 2005, according to Friederich, who is one of the founding members.

It was Darcie Decker, a leader in Saturday Night Alive Singles, who urged Friederich to join her in starting an outreach for younger singles.

Saturday Night Alive, which has been an active in Rapid City for many years, gears its activities to a somewhat older group consisting of people who are divorced, widowed, separated or never married. The group is a valuable resource for many local men and women, but it was not a good fit for younger singles.

In its two years of existence, Oasis has become a social and spiritual "way-station" for young people from about 15 area churches. "It worked to pool all of the churches," Friederich said. "We got a decent group together."

The group meets every Tuesday night, with the second and fourth Tuesdays devoted to Bible study led by the Rev. Greg Blanc of Calvary Chapel of the Black Hills.

"They kind of adopted me as their surrogate pastor," Blanc said. "It is an interactive Bible study, with the opportunity to ask questions and share experiences."

Blanc explains the goal of the Bible study as leading participants "to have a balance in serving, learning the word of God, growing deeper with a greater heart to be active participants within their church."

Bible study is augmented with a varied schedule of other, more casual social activities. Group members have participated in karaoke at "The Body" Builder Bookstore, played miniature golf, dined out and gone to movies, among other activities.

Whether studying the Bible or meeting up for fun, Oasis is proving to be a great way for members to continue their spiritual journey while building supportive relationships.

"Just being able to meet a variety of different people, being exposed to their problems and joys, has taught me to be thankful for my life and prepared me in different ways to deal with life," Friederich said.

Larson encourages other young Christians to join. "At first, going into a group is a little scary. You might not know anyone there. But everyone is in the same place you are at," Larson said. "It is really a great place to create friends and not just hang out with friends you have had for a long time. The leadership is wonderful, and the Bible study leaders are great. There's just a lot of great stuff going on in the group."

For more information about Oasis, e-mail oasisyam@gmail.com or go to http://oasisYAM.googlepages.com