Governor Mary Fallin has issued an Executive Proclamation designating October 13 as Oilfield Prayer Day to raise awareness about the state’s distressed energy industry, according to a report by The Oklahoman.
An annual breakfast is slated at the Tower Hotel (formerly the Marriott Hotel), 3233 Northwest Expressway in Oklahoma City. The event will conclude with a statewide prayer initiative.
“The oilfield is hurting right now,” said the Reverend Tom Beddow, coordinator of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma’s Oil Patch Chaplains ministry. “We’re asking churches all over Oklahoma to open their doors, put on a pot of coffee and pray for the oilfield, and not only for the oilfield but the state, because the economy of our state is so connected to the oilfield.”
“Praying for the Patch” was created with the Oil Patch Chaplains and the Oilfield Christian Fellowship working in partnership to offer similar prayer events in other cities.
The first breakfast was held at Oak Grove Baptist Church in Cushing in April. This was followed by gatherings at First Baptist Church of Enid, Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church in Woodward and First Baptist Church of McAlester.
Beddow wants churches to pray for people whose livelihood is directly connected with the oil patch and energy industry. He would like congregations to pray and find tangible ways to help individuals who have lost energy industry jobs.
He said Oil Patch Chaplains has held resource fairs in various parts of the state including Elk City, Enid and Tulsa that were designed to connect displaced oilfield workers with employers and support services. Beddow said there’s a critical need for the faith community to come alongside and host similar events and activities.
The Executive Proclamation for Oklahoma’s Oilfield Prayer Day can be found here.