Oilfield Inspiration
About the Oilfield Christian Fellowship
In 1991, a drilling engineer Jim Teague, and a salesman, John Bird, decided to
host a breakfast in order to get to know other Christian's in the oil industry. Only
advertised by word of mouth, remarkably 46 men and women showed up at 6
AM for the first meeting! Everyone enjoyed the camaraderie so much they
decided to meet monthly for lunch, thus the Oilfield Christian Fellowship was
founded and within a few months, as many as 250 were attending.
Today OCF luncheons and dinners are held in Canada, Colorado, Oklahoma,
Texas, Louisiana, Wyoming, and Pennsylvania, with more chapters in the
making. Here speakers share how they came to know Christ and what He is
doing in their lives. Because of this, thousands of men and women have been
encouraged, lives have changed and many have accepted Christ for the first
time.
But the OCF has become much more...
In the summer of 2000 a Bible ministry was begun whereby oilfield employees would be supplied with Bibles in the language of the country
where they were sent. To date over 120,000 Bibles have been hand carried to 46 countries, in 22 languages. In September of 2003 John
was inspired to create a custom made oilfield Bible which he named; God's Word for the Oil Patch, Fuel for the Soul. Twelve months later
he and Bible supply chairman and drilling engineer Mike Chaffin had designed the first of its kind Bible specifically for the oil industry.
Along with the two NIV Testaments, it contains 46 pages of testimonies and commentary from president to rig hands.("In his heart a man
plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” PR 16:9 )
The scripture, "As iron sharpens Iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 is more than fitting for the various ministries of the
OCF in general and each chapter. From facilitating the first Oilfield Chapel in Big Piney, Wyoming, providing a new truck and trailer to take
God's Word and love into the fields around Wamsutter, Wyoming each day, intern appreciation luncheons, campus leadership forums, to
the Oklahoma City chapter raising a quarter of a million dollars for the City Rescue Mission, God has truly inspired and used the OCF.
A monthly newsletter is sent to nearly 4000 and each year a prayer breakfast is held in Houston during an oil conference, with as many as
900 in attendance and other breakfasts are being held around the country as well.
To God be the glory and honor!
"…our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:3
www.oilfieldchristianfellowship.com
Oil Patch Chaplains
By Tom Beddow
There is a group of men and women located across the entire state that includes corporate
executives, roughnecks, accountants, pulling unit hands, business managers, heavy equipment
operators, secretaries, tool pushers, engineers, drillers, truck drivers, superintendents, pumpers,
salesmen, roustabouts, attorneys and welders.
This list demonstrates the diversity of the workforce found in the oil patch. This diversity
multiplies the types of needs these employees have. However there are some basic needs that
are shared by all. These are listed below.
Comfort and support in times of crisis and grief
Proper notification of family members in case of death or serious injury.
Provisions for educational and preventive resources for alcohol and substance abuse,anger
management, stress management and family life education.
Learning how to use faith as a personal and family resource.
Even though all of these needs can be relevant to any employee, those jobs that are out
in the field are inherently more dangerous and therefore have a greater risk for most of the
needs that are listed.
It is because these needs are serious, yet at the present time they are not being met, that the
concept of Oil Patch Chaplains (O.P.C.) was conceived.
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