But some Believers here have their eyes on another treasure—a spiritual harvest that's got incredible potential with workers from all over the country and world arriving in the region to take advantage of good-paying, plentiful jobs.

Pastor Jesse Gore of Living Word Baptist Church in Odessa has ministered here for decades and says he's excited about the population boom. "All factors indicate that we're going to double in just a few short years," he said. "So we're looking at a huge influx of people."

Oilman Damian Barrett leads the Midland/Odessa chapter of the Oilfield Christian Fellowship, a Texas-based ministry that has distributed more than 350,000 copies of custom Bibles for oil workers around the world. The Bibles include testimonies from those in the industry.

Stockpiling Bibles

Barrett keeps a trailer-full of Bibles for Permian Basin workers in a trailer just outside of Midland. He says there's huge ministry potential right now. "They've come in from all over the country and there's even some that have come in from out of the country just to work here because we're booming right now. It's just a crazy time here in Midland, Texas."

Oil production here flows 24-7 and that creates enormous demands on workers, who are needed six and often seven days a week. That makes it tough to reach them with the Gospel.

"The schedules are about 80 hours a week," said Gore. "So when you think about that kind of workload eventually after a period of time that can really take a toll mentally, physically, spiritually."

The Challenge: How to Connect with Workers

Gore and Barrett are just two of those with a vision for reaching this population. They've had to think creatively about how to connect with workers here, given the challenges with access.

"If you were to just want to go out to a rig and hand them Bibles—you really couldn't do that," said Barrett. "So you almost need to be in the oilfield to do it."

He and other Believers here are distributing Bibles however they can. Some work special events, like the annual oil show. Others hand them out where they work or live. Barrett says some Bibles are planting seeds while others lead directly to salvation. (Screengrab image: via CBN News)

"There are times ... people will come and say 'you know I need Christ' and then there're others that say 'load me up with Bibles 'cause I know lots of people that need these Bibles," he said.

Getting the Last Word

Gore is finding it's possible to connect with people by accommodating to their schedules. He organizes Bible studies around lunch, one of the few times that workers can take a break.

And, as a former safety professional, he offers his services and free breakfasts at special events for area companies, as long as he gets to make the closing comments.

"I tell them, 'I get the last 10 minutes to tell them who changed my life so I get to evangelize,'" he said.

These kind of opportunities are leading to some sweet Gospel stories. One came after a worker dropped off Bibles at a local business and a worker who had picked up several copies returned.

"The guy came back," said Barrett. "and he said 'man, I can't thank you enough. I went home last night, read all of the Gospel of John. My wife did the same thing. We both got on our knees right there in the house and accepted Christ as our Savior. And, we're changed."

A payoff that's even better than the rich flow of oil and gas in this remote Texas desert. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Tens of Thousands Attend Jerusalem Annual Passover Priestly Blessing, Focus on Hostages, Families

Oregon Taps Out of Drug Decriminalization: Three Years after Voting to Make Drug Use Legal, the State Has Reversed Course

Pro-Life Democrat Runs 'Graphic' Abortion Ad during the 'Today' Show

Outrage Follows Biden's Abortion Blessing at a Recent Rally

Alberta Official Reveals 'Almost All' Wildfires in Province This Year Have Been Started by Humans, Not Climate Change

Biden's EPA Rolls Out Regulations Aimed at Killing the American Coal Industry

New York City Union Workers Backing Trump 3 to 1 Over Biden; Chant 'We Love Trump' during Impromptu Visit

8 GOP States (and Counting) Ban Biden's DOJ from 'Intimidating' Voters at 2024 Polls

Poll: A Majority of Americans Support Mass Deportation for Illegals, and Nearly Half of Latinos Agree

West Virginia Student Helps Pass Bill to Teach Intelligent Design: 'This Is a God-Fearing State'

Free Speech Resolution Allows Satanic Temple 'Invocation' Sparking Chaos at a Michigan Board Meeting

Paris Olympics Will Feature a 'Pride House' to 'Celebrate' Homosexual and Gender-Confused Athletes

Video Captures Drag Queen Indoctrinating Kids, Getting Them to Chant... 'Free Palestine'

Who's Funding the Anti-Israel, Pro-Palestine Protests?

More Lawfare: Former Arizona GOP Chair Kelli Ward, Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows Indicted for Role in Alternate Electors Case

DEVELOPING: Harvey Weinstein Rape Conviction Overturned By New York Appellate Court

Supreme Court Puts Final Nail in Coffin of Effort to Block Trump from Ballot in Arizona

SCOTUS Begins Hearing Arguments on Presidential Immunity: Is This the Most Important Day for Donald Trump?

Courageous: Worship Leader Sean Feucht Prepares to Confront Anti-Israel Evil, Darkness, and Horror

'Australian Censorship Commissar' Orders X to Globally Remove Video of Islamic Terror Attack on Christian Bishop