Oilfield Christian Fellowship Bible?’God’s Word for the Oil Patch’?hot item on rigs

HOUSTON?So far they have printed approximately 9,000 English Bibles for distribution on every oil rig in the world. Another 2,500 Spanish Bibles are on the way.

“Our goal is to get three free Bibles on each oil rig,” said Oilfield Christian Fellowship (OCF) President John Bird.

The fellowship began in 1991 after a discussion between Bird, a salesman for a service company and Jim Teague, a drilling engineer.

“We realized we knew a lot of Christians in the oil patch and felt that a breakfast would be a good place for them to get to know each other,” said Bird, a layman at First Baptist Church of Houston.

Forty-six men and women attended the first breakfast, which was held at FBC Houston.

Bird said the event was such a success that they decided to have a lunch the first Wednesday of each month. The ministry has blossomed; now the group usually has anywhere from 120 to 130 in attendance at its monthly lunches.

Lily Watson, who sometimes attends, said the great Christian fellowship attracts her.

“This is the third lunch I’ve come to. The speakers are great. It lifts your spirits as you get busy in the everyday work of the week,” Watson said at the June meeting.

The lunches have three main goals, according to Paul Mogabgab, who sits on the board of directors for OCF.

“We are here first to evangelize, then for fellowship and to raise money for our Bible ministry,” he said.

Mogabgab said the lunches help to raise funds to have Bibles printed.

The Bibles are published in a portable, pocket-sized version called “God’s Word for the Oil Patch: Food for the Soul.” The International Bible Society printed them using the New International Version. The Bibles include testimonies from oil professionals from around the world.

Since the Bible ministry began four years ago, Bird said about 6,000 of the 9,000 Bibles printed have been distributed in 29 countries. He said OCF encourages oil workers to take the Bibles with them when they travel.

The Oilfield Christian Fellowship also began a ministry at the Offshore Technology Conference held annually at Houston’s Reliant Center.

In May, OCF held its seventh prayer breakfast at the conference. More than 700 men and women attended the breakfast, 200 more than last year.

Bird said OCF is mainly about one thing: to lift up the name of Jesus Christ among the workers in the oil industry and beyond.

For more information about the Oilfield Christian Fellowship, visit www.oilfieldchristianfellowship.com.