Saudi Arabians in the oil business
Saudi Arabia has the largest share of oil of any nation with over 260 billion barrels of proven oil reserves. The Saudis are currently developing their reserves even further with the addition of the large Khurais and Shayba oil fields. By comparison the United States has only 21 billion barrels of proven reserves and Russia has possibly 60 billion barrels. The Saudis are currently exporting about 12 million barrels of oil per day. The Saudi Aramco Corporation is the world’s richest company. A few years ago Saudi Aramco topped the Non-Public company list with an estimated value of $781 billion USD.
The Infrastructure
The Saudis have developed a huge infrastructure to facilitate the drilling, processing and exportation of petroleum. They have some of the very best technology in the oil industry. Engineers manage the entire operation from the Aramco headquarters command center, which has banks of computers and even a 3.5 by 65 meter digital display showing all the operations. Every facility and every valve on the pipelines and all operations are centrally controlled. It is interesting to know that the CEO of Saudi Aramco says "oil is a gift from God but the recovery of oil is the work of men."
Historically significant numbers of foreign workers and engineers were involved in the oil industry, but now about 85 percent of the official Saudi Aramco work force of 54,000 is Saudi. There are also thousands of foreign contractors. Westerners in Saudi Arabia have become a small minority. Besides Saudi Aramco, there are many other companies working in various aspects of the oil industry throughout Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Flag
Map of Saudi Arabia
Sunni Muslims
Saudis are largely Sunni Muslims, and from their perspective they are all Muslim by birth. Many of them have never had any opportunity to hear a presentation of the Gospel in a way that would incline them to obey the risen Lord Jesus. The Quran and the traditions concerning Mohammed are the foundations of Saudi law. Shi’ite Muslims are persecuted, but they are permitted to practice their faith in their villages and towns. Proselytizing is not punishable by death, but by jail and deportations (the loss of a job for some is as bad as death). While the Saudi government has not executed anyone for believing in the Messiah, in August 2008 a Saudi believer was martyred at the hands of her brother. He was not imprisoned for the homicidal act. Conversion is forbidden by the Quran and the penalty is death.
Prayer Starters for Saudi Arabia
- The Scriptures say that the whole earth will one day be “filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Hab. 2:14).
- Pray for the thousands of Saudis involved in the oil industry that they could come “to know the glory of God in the face of Jesus the Messiah” (2 Cor 4:6). Many of them live in the following cities, towns, ports and drilling settlements: Dhahran, Ras Tanura, Jubail, Dammam, Al-Khobar, Hofuf, Abqaiq, Udhailiyah and Shaybah. (Please know that you are among only a small group worldwide who has ever prayed for these cities by name.)
Video: Christian Interview with Prince Turqi of Saudi Arabia (6:03)
Prince Turqi of Saudi Arabia from Glocalnetblog on Vimeo.
Bob interviews Prince Turqi of Saudi Arabia... then Prince Turqi interviews Bob.
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Vooraf: mijn excuses dat ik geen vreemde taal machtig ben. De anderstalige lezer zal iemand moeten vinden om dit te vertalen naar het Engels of Arabisch.
Een gave manier van intervieuwen. Werd ook stelselmatig gedaan door een minister in ons land, van het vorige Kabinet. (Plassterk, 'die met die witte juif, maar dan gastvrij).
Ondertussen konden beide heren tonen, wat hen bezig houdt. Qua mededeelzaamheid of barmhartigheid aan de naasten betonen, springt de filosofie van de levende God -bekend uit De Bijbel- er royaler uit. Christenen (en Joden) geloven dat 'Ik Ben, Die Ik Ben' heerschappij voert over de ganse schepping. In antwoord op dat geloof, behoeven onze gaven aan anderen, niet geografisch beperkt te blijven.
Het mondiale bancaire stelsel voorziet in de mogelijkheid 'je giften' ook naar andere landen of continenten te sturen. Dat staat of valt natuurlijk wel in het vertrouwen dat de handeling zonder grote beperkingen zal gebeuren. Het is te overwegen aan andere en dan met name Islamitische landen, om het Fiscale stelsel zoals dat nu nog in NL fungeert, over te nemen.
Ook de Fiscus in NL erkend het nut van spreiding van welvaart via persoonlijke giften. Hierbij hanteert men hetzelfde principe als waarin Melchizedek bedacht werd door Abraham - Genesis 14: 18-20 Daarom staat het de ingezetenen vrij om maximaal 10% van hun inkomen jaarlijks via giften te herverdelen. De NL Fiscus komt hen daarin tegemoed, door deze som dan in mindering te brengen op het totaal waarover belasting ingehouden zal gaan worden. De drempel is 1%, die dan niet aftrekbaar is van de Belastingopgave.
De vrijgevigheid waarin ons land al jaren voorop loopt, is mede gebaseerd op dit Fiscale klimaat.
Moge de verantwoording aan de levende God meer en meer centraal in uw denken en handelen komen te staan. Moge Hij u zegenen en vervullen met Zijn onmisbare wijsheid. Moge Hij u genadig zijn.
I was glad this pastor said all Christians don't agree on baptism. It was dangerous for him to represent Protestants and say we do not baptize children. Only Anabaptist groups see baptism in this way.
Could there be a better way to train Baptists so that this sort of conversation doesn't happen again?
I would like my comment to be retracted. I think "dangerous" is a little strong especially when I think very highly of Baptist missionaries and journalists. This was a friendly exchange and I am sure representing Christians who baptize children was not Bob's main concern.
I have been praying with you for quite a few years, and am always blessed to be a part of 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World.
This year I very much appreciate the videos that you have added. Each one has touched me in different ways.
The interview with the Prince of Saudi Arabia and his interviewer was very profound, but also fun. I was impressed with both men and their answers.
Thank you all for the prayer and work you put into each day's programme.