Our Team
Devon Oasis Ministry Directors
Bob and Lynne Andrews
Director
Bob and Lynne Andrews moved into Little India in 1986 with a desire to serve Christ and minister to the beautiful people living here. Bob and Lynne raised their family of four sons in the community as Bob fulfilled various pastoral roles and cared for the poor, including multiple refugee families. Although the landscape of the neighborhood has changed during 30+ years, the Andrews’ love for and calling to it has not.
In 2008, Bob began building a ministry which cared for the many needs of the overwhelming number of new refugees flooding into the community. In the Spring of 2014, he opened Devon Oasis Ministry storefront in the heart of Little India at the intersection of Western and Devon Avenues.
Because of the Andrews’ faithfulness, the Lord has blessed Devon Oasis with relationships with thousands of people throughout the neighborhood, across the Midwest, and in multiple American cities. Annually, Bob trains over fifty college and seminary students in intercultural ministry, including several preparing to serve others overseas. He also connects churches in various cities to their local refugee communities. In 2014, Bob and Lynne were honored by World Relief with the Jerry T. Comer Award for their constant care for refugees and other vulnerable people in the city of Chicago.
Bob is an ordained minister with the Missionary Church. He also teaches theology as an adjunct professor at Loyola University and has taught missions at Moody Bible Institute. He began graduate studies at Trinity Divinity School, earned an M.Div. from Moody Theological Seminary, an MA in Historical Theology from Loyola University Chicago, and a PhD in Theology from Loyola.
Devon Oasis Ministry Staff
Disha Moreau
Disha teaches English and oversees our many English teachers at Devon Oasis Ministry center. She brings ten years of cross-cultural teaching experience. She earned her Bachelors in Elementary Education at Moody Bible Institute and her Masters in Education from Trinity International University and taught at an elementary school. For years Disha and her husband Bob have served alongside Devon Oasis Ministry—caring for this community well before she served on staff. She loves immersing herself in the diverse cultures of Little India by developing relationships with people, helping them adjust to American culture, teaching them English, and showing them the love of Christ. Teaching English allows her to help people become independent, life-long learners. She loves watching her students make personal connections in English by describing their family, food, or a memory from their home country. Disha loves to have spiritual conversations naturally, encouraging people to live with an eternal perspective. Mostly, she wants people to know that the God of the universe wants to have a personal relationship with them.
Alyssa Grunden
In 2017, Alyssa and her husband Josh moved into the neighborhood with a desire to live alongside families they so dearly loved. Alyssa first served at Devon Oasis Ministry when she was a student at Moody Bible Institute. Now—after graduation—she continues to serve our families through overseeing our homework center. Here, she does so much more than help kids with challenging math problems or comprehension questions. Homework center is an opportunity to play a small but important part in each child’s journey. In Alyssa, our kids find someone who truly loves them and wants the best for their lives. Outside of this programming, Alyssa intentionally builds relationships with women in the neighborhood—mentoring and walking alongside them. Her passion for casting vision and serving and loving those in Little India is evident in the relationships she’s cultivated and ways she loves our community.
Taylor Bradman
Taylor received his undergraduate degree from Moody Bible Institute in 2017 and his master’s degree from Trinity International University in 2023. He carries with him a passion for missions both overseas and in the U.S. Taylor moved to the Little India neighborhood in October of 2022, and through a series of events only God could orchestrate, started his internship at Devon Oasis in January of 2023. After his internship, he joined the team at Devon Oasis and helps in many ways – including at the homework center, youth group, in-home care, and ESL classes. Working with the neighborhood kids is such a joy for Taylor. Through this, he has the opportunity come alongside and help them navigate school, a new culture and language, and the complexities of life.
Michelle Moraitis
Michelle was moved by reading Western Christians in the Global Missions; What’s the Role of the North American Church? The author presented a new world where people from many countries, through displacement and immigration, have settled in completely new homes in America, and he urged the American church to serve the people groups God had brought into their neighborhoods. Michelle then learned that Devon Oasis served these people from around the world and decided to intern with the ministry in July 2021. She fell in love with the ministry and the people they serve, and decided to move to Chicago in faith. After graduating Bethel University (Mishawaka, IN) in 2022, Michelle moved into Chicago’s Little India and has been working with her teammates at Devon Oasis to teach English to refugees from around the world. She also helps out with the homework center and visits people in their homes. Relationships, love, and the message of the gospel are three characteristics that Michelle lives out while doing ministry in the neighborhood. She loves to help people with their practical needs, but she always wants to point people to Jesus at the end of the day.
Our Interns
Each school year, over 50 interns from colleges and universities around the Midwest serve with us. Little India and our families transform their lives as they serve in the community through teaching English, helping with Homework Center, serving the needs of families in their homes, and many other service opportunities. Our interns do life with our families—developing meaningful friendships—and these relationships often last well after their internship ends. Internships can serve any college major—legal, business, intercultural studies, nursing, ministry, etc.
Gain Practical Experience
Receive Mentoring
Our team strives to invest in our interns as they pour themselves into our community and ministry. Our interns experience personal growth that comes from Scripture, intentional teaching, and over 30 years of experience in Little India.
Fulfill Course Requirements
Our team works with your university or college to make sure your internship will meet course requirements.
Gain Cross-Cultural Experiences
The world is at our doorstep. In Little India, over 100 countries are represented. As our interns build relationships with and serve those in our community they gain incredible cross-cultural experiences!
Our Volunteers
We serve an incredible number of families because of our many volunteers. Every week, dozens of individuals and families give their time to teach English, tutor and help kids with homework, and visit our families at home.
And we need you! We are always looking for men and women to serve alongside us as we help meet the needs of people in this neighborhood.
All volunteers go through a child safety training and background check.
Learn More About Devon Oasis Ministry
Who We are
What We Do
Serve With Us
Looking for More Info?
Contact us to learn more about Devon Oasis Ministry and find out how you can join us.