Judy Butler

What do I say to my friend who has labored by my side since the beginning of my public ministry? It was Judy Butler who, in 1979, helped me file for a non-profit status for Joni and Friends; she helped me contact the founding members of Joni and Friends’ Board of Directors; and she helped me set up a small office in the studios of Worldwide Pictures (where I had just completed the Joni movie). Whether hiring staff, pulling together a mailing list, or designing Joni and Friends’ first newsletters, Judy Butler served as my ‘right hand.’ Together, we prayed… and we were amazed to see the way the Holy Spirit ‘grew’ this ministry! Over the years, whenever people would say to Judy, “It’s wonderful the way you’re serving Joni,” she would be quick to put the focus on Christ, “I’m not serving Joni; I am serving the Lord… and He just happens to have me laboring alongside her to fulfill the vision He’s given her; and that is to reach more people with disabilities with the Gospel of Christ.” I’m grateful to God for her faithful service in the kingdom these many years.  Should you wish to offer well-wishes to my friend, you can reach her at [email protected]. Congratulations, Judy, on your retirement. As you always say, “Onward and Upward!”