Advancing Spiritual Care

By Dierdre L. McCool, Butterfield Foundation

Matthew 9:35-38 reads:  And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom; and healing every sickness, and every disease among the people. When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.  He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few.  So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

Jesus engaged.  He loved everyone and intentionally went after the vulnerable.  

Jesus taught.  He talked about the importance of loving God, neighbors, strangers, and enemies. He emphasized the importance of forgiveness and repentance.

Jesus shared.  He wanted everyone to know He was the way, the truth, and the life.  

Jesus healed.  He cured people from sickness and disease.  

Jesus cared.  Compassion was a primary attribute of His.  He longed for the crowds to experience peace, acceptance, and a sense of belonging.  

Jesus set the standard for whole person healthcare and restoration.  For one to flourish, He taught the body, soul and spirit of each man and woman had to be transformed by His power.  As His disciples, we are called to follow in our Shepherd’s footsteps.  

At the Butterfield Foundation (Foundation), we constantly seek innovative ways to practice Spirit-led stewardship that transforms lives.  We seek to go after the poor and disenfranchised throughout the world via our funding. We endeavor to build and maintain unity through love and forgiveness.  We strive to be Gospel-centric in our interactions and granting. We fund initiatives to promote physical healing and are seeking ways to address mental, social, and spiritual brokenness too.   We base our ministry on compassion, purposefully and sacrificially extending grace to each person with whom we encounter.

Spiritual health is often over-looked as an indicator of overall well-being.  Therefore, the Foundation recently launched an initiative to advance spiritual care in charitable Christian clinics and Federally Qualified Health Clinics (FQHC’s).  Students from Christian learning institutions who are studying to be pastors, chaplains, missionaries, etc. are given an opportunity to grow their skills and engage in meaningful conversations with patients from a variety of different backgrounds through the Eric Baird Spiritual Care Internship (EBSCI).  

The pilot for this program started in partnership with Mid-America Christian University (MACU) and Crossings Community Center & Clinic (Crossings).  Savannah Balute was the first student to take part in the internship during the 2021 spring semester. She indicated serving at Crossings not only challenged her but connected her with those who are from very different places, backgrounds, and beliefs.  She said, “This internship taught me that you do not need all the answers and fixes to people’s problems.  Instead, it’s about trusting the Holy Spirit and His guidance.”

(Pictured from left to right:  Marq Youngblood, Executive Director, Crossings; Savannah Balute, MACU; Dierdre L. McCool, Executive Vice President, Foundation) 

Interest continues to grow in this program. The Foundation now has partnerships with the following entities: The Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital; Christ Community Health Services; and Harding Theological Seminary. The primary purpose of this initiative is to motivate students to consider careers serving vulnerable populations in the healthcare field. To learn more information about the EBSCI, visit our website at www.butterfieldfoundation.org or contact Dierdre L. McCool, Executive Vice President at dierdrem@butterfieldfoundation.org.

The Great Reset

By: Dierdre L. McCool, Vice President - Butterfield Foundation

So many things have changed since the Coronavirus entered our world. At Butterfield Foundation, we experienced a COVID-19 workplace exposure on March 13. Within three hours, we scrambled to put policies and technology in place to allow our team to self-quarantine and work from home. Like many other states, Oklahoma had Shelter-in-Place legislation that launched within a few weeks of the exposure. Thankfully, we had become experts at telecommuting!

During the early days of the pandemic, responses to the unknown befuddled me. Mass hysteria seemed to be ever-present as was the lack of hand sanitizer, Clorox wipes, bread, flour, and toilet paper. Businesses closed, highways were eerily empty, and masks hid smiles. Fear and anxiety were constant undercurrents. Many charitable clinics and social service organizations started to struggle financially. Securing PPE and other necessary supplies to minister to at-risk populations was proving expensive. The Butterfield Foundation acted quickly, setting aside $200,000 in Covid-19 grant funding.

In my neighborhood, I noticed some interesting ripple effects. Children began to appear on our sidewalks on bikes, scooters, roller skates, and at our pond with fishing rods. Dads and moms strolled by our house holding hands. Unruly yards morphed into garden masterpieces. My life also changed. My husband and I cooked healthier meals, walked every morning, and increased our prayer life. We had more time for family and friends. Jesus was – and still is – resetting my pace and priorities.

I recently learned Corona means “crown” in Latin. In essence, COVID-19 is the “crown virus.” Based on how things have changed, I would certainly agree it wins the prize for changing the world in 2020. However, another Person wore a crown that promises eternal change: Jesus Christ. Over 2,000 years ago, He donned a crown of thorns so we could experience redemption and complete restoration. Thankfully, His crown trumps all crowns!

It seems as if God is up to something during this pandemic. He recently brought the following Scripture to mind:

Isaiah 43:18-19 - “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

According to Christianity Today, millions of worried people who turned to the internet due to COVID-19 anxiety have ended up connecting with Christian evangelists and coming to know Jesus. They have exchanged a mutable crown of fear for an immutable crown of love. The Great Commission is resetting…it is going digital.

Many of the charitable clinics in Oklahoma – and throughout the nation - upgraded technology and implemented telehealth. The ability to reach more patients with whole person healthcare is expanding. Is He in the process of re-setting healthcare too?

I think He is offering all of us a chance to reset our lives.

In closing, I want to encourage everyone to evaluate heed the words of the Isaiah to see what – if anything - Jesus wants to “reset” in your life. The following are a few questions to help you get started:

1. What needs to be “set again?”

2. What needs to be different?

3. What specific areas of life would you like to change?

4. Where do you need to spend less time?

5. What do you need to more of?

6. Why do you want to change these things?

A Light in the Darkness

By: Dierdre L. McCool, Butterfield Foundation Vice President

“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” (Matthew 10:8)

Early Christians turned the world upside down when it came to fulfilling Christ’s command to care for the sick. Love so characterized the early Church that Tertullian reported Romans would exclaim, “See how they love one another!” When a devastating plague swept across the ancient world in the third century, Christians were the only ones who cared for the sick, which they did at the risk of contracting the plague themselves. Meanwhile, pagans were throwing infected members of their own families into the streets even before they died in order to protect themselves from the disease.

Today, many Christians continue to risk their lives to bring hope and healing to the sick and dying in some of the poorest countries on earth. Butterfield Memorial Foundation (BMF) actively collaborates with organizations advancing the Kingdom through funding and encouragement. In 2019, BMF staff conducted site visits to several ministries who have received funding from BMF in the past. We plan to visit others later this year.

During a visit to Burundi, Shelly Goodnight, BMF Grant Committee Chair, Dierdre McCool, BMF Vice President, and Jennifer Richardson, Director of Programs, participated in the Widow and Orphan Conference hosted by Sister Connection. We had the opportunity to visit several of the widow’s homes.

A visit to Kibuye Hospital was inspirational. The group learned how Busoma was made and had the opportunity to tour the hospital and see the community where all the missionaries live. A new pediatric wing is under construction.

A visit was made to Hope Africa University to see how the solar power project funded by BMF was coming along.

During our visit to the Van Norman Clinic in Bujumbura, we saw the ongoing need for expanded maternity services and the excellent training provided to the staff.

In January 2020, Hal Hoxie, President of BMF, and his wife, Kathy, along with Anita and Sarah Baird, traveled to India to participate in the dedication of the Eric Hostel at UMRI Hospital and participate in graduation at Immanuel University.

If you are aware of a non-profit, Christian healthcare organization that is in need of funding, just direct them to our website to complete a Letter of Inquiry at butterfieldfoundation.org.