Williston, North Dakota is a town of 13,000 people, in a county of 20,000. According to The ARDA, the county is 17% Evangelical and has 17 Evangelical churches, giving it 1 such church for every 1162 people (based on 2000 data).
And a few of you pastors need to consider sending future church planting teams there.
Now, if you track with my writings, you are probably asking yourself why I am urging a few churches to consider sending future teams to such a place. While the county does not have a recommended Evangelical church to population ratio of 1:1000 (urban context), it is very close (and not too far off from the rural recommendation of 1:500). Also, it is striking within the 10-20% Evangelical range.
So, why Williston, North Dakota?
Last night, I caught an amazing report on Rock Center with Brian Williams. The 9 min. 22 sec. story–which you can see HERE–profiled the small North Dakota community that is now a boom-town.
An exceptionally massive amount of oil has been discovered around Williston. New technology is allowing it to be extracted. This is a major game-changer, not just for the city, but for the country as well.
While jobs are hard to find in other parts of the United States, the demand for workers in Williston is far exceeding the number of people available. Thousands of well-paying jobs need to be filled immediately.
And if last night’s report is accurate, then Williston must brace itself for a massive influx of people and businesses over the next several years. Life in this small community will never be the same. This is one reason future teams are needed.
Whenever something of this magnitude occurs, the need increases for gospel advancement into such areas. And I fear that our brothers and sisters making up those 17 churches will quickly become overwhelmed–if they are not already.
Here is another reason for church planting teams: Consider for a moment the growth of the darkness. Whenever the population of well-paid men (living in “man camps”) grows dramatically in a community with little post-work opportunities to overcome boredom, you can imagine the results. The media reports that crime is on the rise in Williston, doctors are witnessing an increase of chlamydia cases, and strippers are making $2000-3000 per night. Here is one article recently published in the Wall Street Journal. Other recent reports are out there; I’ll let you do the searching.
Where the darkness is great, oftentimes, the receptivity to the light is greater. Our Lord has been known to breakthrough the thickness of blatant wickedness, despair, and hopelessness, to most glorify Himself. But, someone has to share this great news of His love.
It is amazing how fossil fuel fuels the need for missional opportunities.
Keep an eye on this community. Pray for our brothers and sisters serving there. Pray for laborers to go, love, and serve the people as this town expands.
(You know I write this in the friendliest of tones–grin.) Instead of sending more workers to this town, why not focus on training the existing believers to be church planters reaching out to the new influx of workers?
I agree. But if they lack the vision and willingness (I’m not saying that such is the case.), while others are ready, I would say move with the movers to set the example.
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Hi, thanks for your heart. I saw the news report on Rock Center. I heard one of the men being interviewed say that they were desperate. I know the context was that they needed workers, but all I could hear was a desperate need for the Gospel. Our church is praying about where to plant another church. This may be the place. Thanks for your insight and heart.
You are welcome, D. W..