Joshua Butler on Creative Mission In Your City, the Power of Listening, and How Trial Formed His Pastoral Heart
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This week, Jason had a great conversation with Joshua Butler, pastor of Redemption Tempe in Arizona. They discuss Josh's story of coming to faith, entering vocational ministry, and his time working at a church in Portland doing mission and outreach in their city. That church, Imago Dei, has a beautiful history of creative work in their city to serve and minister to their neighbourhoods. In his 15 years there, Josh developed a keen awareness of what it meant to be missional in a post-Christian city.
Another learning from his time in Portland was how to listen to and journey with young people as they wrestled with challenging questions about the bible, God, and Christianity. This is what led him to write his first book, The Skeletons in God’s Closet. Since then, he has continued to write, with his second book exploring what it means to pursue and love Jesus fully.
As they closed, Joshua shared about how in 2020 he started to go blind and that doctors feared he would soon be without sight in both of his eyes. Contemplating what it would mean to continue life without the ability to read, see his kids, and have the same independence, Joshua shared how he journeyed closer to God in that season. Thankfully, he hasn’t lost sight, but he has a clearer vision for his calling as a pastor. Through the trial and uncertainty of that time, he talks about how it formed in him a greater love and recognition for the gift it is to get to pastor.
Thanks to the Canadian Bible Society for supporting this episode. Learn more about their Bible Course here.
Joshua Butler
Joshua currently serves as lead pastor of Redemption Church in Tempe, a thriving church near Arizona State University, one of the largest colleges in the country. Prior to 2018, he served as an outreach pastor for fifteen years in Portland, Oregon at Imago Dei Community Church.