Oil, The Gospel, and a Golf Game

Today I was introduced to a piece of history that—honestly—sounded too unbelievable to be true. So I fact-checked it. Multiple times.

Apparently, a major turning point in the development of Alberta’s oil sands was brokered by… Billy Graham.

In the early 1960s, Alberta Premier Ernest Manning—a committed Christian and long-time broadcaster of Back to the Bible Hour—was passionately advocating for the development of the Athabasca oil sands. For Manning, this was a spiritual conviction. He believed that Alberta’s buried wealth was a God-given resource, and that failing to develop it would be poor stewardship of the gifts entrusted to the province. In his words, it would be like burying your talent in the ground.

At the same time, Howard Pew, president of Sun Oil (now Sunoco) and a generous supporter of Christian causes, saw the technical potential of the oil sands but was cautious about government involvement. The two men had reached an impasse.

Enter Billy Graham—the evangelist both men had supported, and deeply respected.

In 1964, Graham invited Manning and Pew to a golf retreat in Jasper. What happened there became a pivotal turning point for our country. Through Graham’s presence and relational influence, Manning and Pew found common ground. Shortly after, Sun Oil committed $250 million to launch the Great Canadian Oil Sands project, which would later become Suncor, marking the beginning of commercial oil sands development in Alberta.

Billy Graham wasn’t an industrialist or a policy advisor. He was an evangelist—but he understood that the gospel often advances through unexpected doors. His role in that moment reflects a truth we sometimes overlook: God often works through trusted relationships, strategic influence, and yes, even natural resources, to further His purposes.

It echoes the words of Deuteronomy 8:18:
“But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant…”

This is a lesser-known part of our story—but it’s part of our heritage nonetheless. It reminds us that the mission of BGEA has never been confined to pulpits and stadiums. From oil fields to boardrooms, our ministry has helped bring the light of Christ into every corner of society—sometimes in ways no one expects.