Revival

in the Gulf

Could revival break out on an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico –- among men hardened by a tough job and years of spending half their time apart from their families?

Consider what is happening on a large, 70-man platform off the Louisiana coast. In fact, such a platform might be a preferred site for such an outbreak. Men work two-week stints, isolated from their families and regular lives. They have only television and dvd's for company in the off hours. There is the day-to-day fellowship the men have with each other, usually limited to such things as politics and sports and such like. But the platform environment can be lonesome and draining.

On this particular rig, one devout man said to another, “You know, Jesus sent his disciples out two by two. What if the two of us just got together for prayer a few evenings each week?” So the pair joined in prayer in a meeting room three or four nights each week. Their prayer time was intended to last an hour. Instead, it lasted two hours. The first few times, there was only the two. Then another man joined them. Then another and another.

Suddenly, there was another visitor. The very real presence of the Holy Spirit joined the meeting. Men began to repent. The list of sins was common and included the usual: cursing, began to repent. The list of sins was common and included the usual: cursing, off-color jokes, smoking, drinking, not being good employees, etc. Men who have been working together for years and have developed “oughts” against each other have repented and asked forgiveness of each other. 


Perhaps the most powerful was the men's regrets and repentance for neglecting their families. It is so easy (and the desire so strong) to just crash, to indulge in favorite past-times such as fishing and hunting and ignore Mom and the kids when your tour is over. Just being providers is not enough. Churches and pastors are benefiting, too, as the men bring home what they are receiving on the platform. Some of them had stopped going to church.

More and more men joined the prayer meeting. The number has gotten as high as 28 of the 70 men on the platform.

Such attitudes as humility and honoring each other and their superiors have risen in the men, thanks to the Holy Spirit. (The supervisors are in full approval of the prayer meetings: The men make better employees after they have been touched by the Spirit of God.)

Back to the question: Can revival break out on an oil platform? The answer: God can bring revival anywhere He pleases!