David L. Butts

The service will be livestreamed at 1 PM Eastern here: https://www.facebook.com/mccth

David Lester Butts (1953 – 2022)

“[Those] who mobilize the Christian Church to pray will do more toward the task of world evangelism than any other.”

–Andrew Murray

Dave went to worship at the feet of His Lord and Savior Jesus at 8:31 AM on Saturday, November 26, 2022.

He was born June 11, 1953, in Terre Haute, IN to Lester L. and Margaret (Crumrin) Butts. He was proud to be a 5 ^th generation Hautean!

Besides his wife of 30 years, Kimberly “Kim” (Bradford) Butts, Dave is survived by sons, Ronald L. Butts, Vermillion, IL, and David Bradford Garland (Melissa), College Place, WA; his sister, Marianne Littlejohn (Jim), Carmel, IN; brother-in-law, James Galbreath (Kathy), Denver, CO; sister-in-law, Ruth Anne Reddick (Phil), Glendale, CA; grandchildren: Jenna L. Butts, Paris, IL; Luciana “Luci” Rose Garland and Jackson Bradford Garland, College Place, WA; grandchildren of his heart: Anna Cline, TX; Brett, Draven, Quentin and JaeLynn Riggleman, IL; nieces and nephews: Laura Jill Littlejohn; Jenna Littlejohn Mejeur (Nate); Catherine Scherer (Jim), Jonathan Cannell (Kjerstin), Christopher Cannell (Becca), Shannon Converse (Robert), Brittany Hanlon, Jake Reddick, Emma McDonald; aunts: Evadene Crumrin of Marshall, IL and Nancy Butler of Corrales, NM; and a myriad of cousins and great nieces and nephews on both sides of the family!

Dave graduated from Garfield High School in 1971 (shout out to the Purple Eagles). After a brief season in politics and other occupations, Dave felt the call to Christian ministry. He was ordained November 24, 1974. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lincoln Christian College (1975), and Bachelors (1978) and Masters (1982) from Indiana State University. In 2014 he received the Doctor of Philosophy in Theology (PhD) from Atlantic Coast Theological Seminary.

From 1974-1992, Dave served in various pastoral roles in area Wabash Valley churches. He served at the Kansas Christian Church in Kansas, IL from 1981-1992 and has been an interim pastor in several other Wabash Valley churches.

Dave and Kim were married November 28, 1992, at Kansas Christian Church in Kansas, IL. In 1993 they co-founded Harvest Prayer Ministries which will celebrate 30 years of ministry in August, 2023.

Besides teaching and preaching in hundreds of churches all over the United States and in other nations, Dave was a conference speaker both nationally and internationally. He served on several Boards of Directors and committees focused on prayer, revival, missions and evangelism, including:

• President, Gospel Revivals, Inc. ( Herald of His Coming )
• Chairman, America’s National Prayer Committee
• Chairman of the Board of the National Day of Prayer
• Chairman, Pioneer Bible Translators Board of Directors
• Board of Directors, America Prays
• Executive Team, One Cry for Revival
• Board member, Church Prayer Leaders Network

Dave was a prolific writer, authoring many books (several with wife, Kim) on various aspects of prayer. Perhaps his favorite was Prayer, Peace and the Presence of God which he wrote during his cancer battle in 2017. Dave has also written many articles for magazines, blogs, and other publications.

Dave’s legacy of prayer through Harvest Prayer Ministries will carry on through his wife, Kim, and through a strategic partnership with One Cry for Revival. This partnership was set in place by God months before Dave’s recent journey with cancer.

Dave was passionate about the Church learning to pray corporately for revival, the completion of the Great Commission, and for God’s people to learn about intimacy with God through prayer. His ultimate desire was to see the Church become a unified, worshiping house of prayer for all nations as described in Isaiah 56:7 and Mark 11:17.

His life verse was taken from Colossians 1:27: “Christ in us, the hope of glory.”

His favorite verses and passages to teach on and pray into were: Psalm 27:4, Matthew 9:38, John 17, Colossians 1, and Revelation 4-5.

Dave was known as a connecter and a bridge-builder. He was a kind man of peace.

Dave loved the nation of Israel. He and Kim led several prayer journeys to Israel, teaching on prayer while visiting biblical sites. One of his favorite places in the world was sitting on a worship boat in the middle of the Sea of Galilee. Dave also had a passion to see our own nation seek the face of God. Much of his writing and teaching was focused on praying for revival in the Church and in the nation.

Dave was an avid reader, especially enjoying C.S. Lewis and Tolkien. He often mentioned reading Lord of the Rings 29 times! Music of multiple genres was dear to his heart. The first thing he would do each day, even before coffee, was turn on music.

Family has always been an important part of Dave’s life. His parents raised him to love Jesus with all of his heart and his sister, Marianne, has been a wonderful support to him throughout his life. Dave always looked forward to her amazing baking skills as well as meals she would cook from their childhood. During his last days they both spent a lot of time talking about heaven together.

Spending time with his sons and grandchildren was a great delight. Dave performed the marriage ceremony for son, David, and Melissa on October 22, just a month before his passing. They flew here from Washington State to have Dave marry them in a very simple ceremony, knowing that he likely would not be able to do so in June, 2023, when their big wedding is planned.

Gathering with friends for Euchre or 5 Crowns has been one of his favorite things, and as many of you know, food has always been high on his list of things to enjoy.

When a day had been particularly busy, Dave enjoyed getting away with Kim for random drives in the country, or to spontaneous destinations just to enjoy nature’s beauty and explore more of Indiana. The beach (any beach) was always a special destination.

Visitation, as well as Dave and Kim’s Christmas Open House will take place at Maryland Community Church, 4700 State Road 46, Terre Haute, Indiana on Friday, December 9 ^th from 4-8 PM.

With few exceptions, Dave and Kim have had a Christmas Open House every year as a gift for their friends and neighbors. Dave began this tradition as a young pastor at Kansas Christian Church before he and Kim were married. We hope you will enjoy carrying on this tradition as the Open House will take place in the church atrium during the Visitation.

A Celebration of Life/Worship and Prayer Service will be held at 1 PM on December 10 ^th at the church.

Private Graveside Service: A private family graveside ceremony will take place at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Terre Haute immediately following the services.

Memory Book: Please feel free to bring written memories, personal stories, tributes and/or photos of Dave, which will be put in a memory book for the family.

Memorial Gifts: The family requests that in lieu of flowers, gifts be made to Harvest Prayer Ministries in Dave’s honor. There will be a basket available at the church, or, go to https://www.harvestprayer.com/donate/

The family would like to thank:

• Hospice of the Wabash Valley and the Gibson Family Center for Hospice Care, for the amazing care given to both Dave and Kim during the last three weeks of Dave’s life.
• D. Anderson Cancer Center/Community Cancer Center North in Fishers, Indiana
• Floyd Dill and Callahan and Hughes Funeral Home
• Maryland Community Church
• All of the many caring, loving friends who have and continue to support us all through this time of loss.