𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗪𝗢 𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗜𝗥𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗔𝗡 𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗟 𝗧𝗘𝗫𝗔𝗦

 

Tim Dunn, Farris Wilks, Assembly of Yahweh, Midland Classical Academy, Holy Bible

Two billionaire Christian pastors, Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks, are quietly reshaping the political and cultural landscape of Texas. With fortunes built in the oil and gas industry and deeply held religious convictions, they’ve become two of the most influential, and controversial, power brokers in the state.

Farris Wilks, a former stonemason from Cisco, Texas, struck it rich during the fracking boom. In 2002, he launched Frac Tech, a company that served the oil and gas industry, and sold it nine years later for $3.5 billion. With the windfall, he and his brother Dan became some of the country’s largest landowners, buying over 672,000 acres across six Western states. They’ve continued to invest in energy companies like U.S. Well Services and Dawson Geophysical, reinforcing their long-term stake in fossil fuels.

But Wilks isn’t just an energy magnate, he’s also a pastor. At the Assembly of Yahweh 7th Day, a church founded by his father, he preaches a literal interpretation of the Bible. The congregation observes Sabbath on Saturdays, follows strict dietary laws, and doesn’t allow women to speak during worship. In his sermons, Wilks teaches that people don’t go to heaven or hell when they die but instead wait in the grave for resurrection.

That religious worldview extends into the political arena. Just days after one sermon, Wilks donated $100,000 to Texas state Senator Bob Hall, a far-right candidate who defeated a more moderate opponent. That single check made up nearly 10% of Hall’s campaign funds. Over the years, the Wilks brothers have poured around $3.5 million into Texas Republican races, backing hardline conservatives through groups like Texas Right to Life and Empower Texans. Their money has helped unseat moderate lawmakers and protect far-right incumbents.

Political experts say their donations aren’t about making more money, but about spreading their beliefs. The Wilks family supports candidates who align with their fundamentalist values, aiming to steer Texas in a direction that reflects their religious beliefs. Even when some of their candidates lose, the brothers have seen their overall influence grow.

Wilks’s sermons have stirred controversy. After President Obama’s re-election in 2012, he declared that the country was “dead” and said he found comfort in the idea of the coming biblical millennium. He’s also denied climate change and made anti-LGBTQ statements, calling homosexuality a "predatorial lifestyle" meant to corrupt children. Now in his sixties, Wilks sees himself not just as a preacher, but as a soldier in a larger spiritual and political war. He’s working to shape a Texas that mirrors his worldview.

A few hundred miles west in Midland, another oil billionaire with deep Christian roots is doing something similar.

Tim Dunn, founder of CrownRock LP, is one of the top private oil producers in the U.S., pumping 140,000 barrels a day. While others paused during the pandemic, Dunn kept drilling. That gamble paid off, and CrownRock is now worth about $8.3 billion. Dunn's personal stake is valued at around $1.2 billion. He’s spent his life in West Texas oilfields and ignored calls to shift toward green energy, believing oil prices would bounce back—and they did.

But like Wilks, Dunn is driven by more than just profit. His faith shapes everything he does. His Midland compound houses much of his extended family, and he helped found Midland Classical Academy, a Christian school. He’s a member of Midland Bible Church and donates to causes like adoption, foster care, and Bible study programs. His company, CrownQuest, operates under what he calls “servant leadership,” and all employees are given a book that outlines biblical principles for managing people.

After the tragic loss of his granddaughter in 2015, Dunn wrote a book and launched a podcast to share his faith-driven approach to grief and resilience.

Politically, Dunn is a major conservative donor. He co-founded a group pushing to amend the U.S. Constitution and contributes millions to political action committees that advocate deregulation and limited government. He sees political giving not as lobbying but as a kind of charitable work—his way of protecting what he sees as traditional American values from federal overreach.

Despite challenges like rising costs, environmental pushback, and labor shortages, Dunn remains committed to drilling in the Permian Basin, where he owns 90,000 acres. His strategy is simple: take risks when others pull back, remain loyal to his workers and beliefs, and continue pushing forward, even as the rest of the world debates the future of energy.

Together, Wilks and Dunn are reshaping Texas with a powerful mix of wealth, religion, and politics. They’re not just building oil empires, they’re trying to build a state in their own image.