The Rev. James Konsor reads to children during a Christmas season event at the Bakken Oil Rush Ministry in Watford City, N.D. The ministry provides clothing, household items, furniture and more to needy families at a nominal price. Photo courtesy the Bakken Oil Rush Ministry.

When the Rev. James “Jim” Konsor and his wife, Kathie, arrived in Watford City, North Dakota, about seven years ago, it was to take advantage of the oil boom there with a well-paying  job as a truck driver.

Reflecting after his retirement last June, Konsor is amazed and thankful for all that’s been accomplished.

Not as a truck driver, though.

The Konsors leave behind a legacy of helping the multitudes that arrived to work in the Bakken Oil Fields only to find that the local economy fell short when it came to basic services.

“It was kind of like gold-rush days, only with pickup trucks and semi-trucks,” said Jim Konsor. “It was noisy and loud and chaotic and overrun.”

The Konsors are among the notable winners of the Harry Denman Evangelism Award in 2019.  Read more