John and Janet Butterfield were given the Alumni of the Year Award from John Fox, President of the Alumni Association, at the 2005 baccalaureate ceremony.

John and Janet Butterfield

John and Janet Butterfield, co-recipients of the Alumni of the Year 2005 Award, find inspiration in Ephesians 1:11, which states, “It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ, he had his eye on us and had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.”

John and Jan met at Northwest Bible College and married in 1954. During their fourth year, Jan sang solos and John practiced speaking on Gospel Team assignments. “We called it the ‘cutting edge’ of practical experience,” John remembers.

They pastored for thirteen years in Brewster, Peshastin, and Lakewood. In 1960 with two small children aged four and one-and-a-half, they planted a church in Lakewood. The congregation began with a Mormon family, a Catholic family, and an Episcopalian family. “If you lived in Lakewood at that time, you would have seen a young pastor carrying a pulpit in one arm and an alter in the other walking down to a local store basement room just two blocks from our small rented home,” Johns says.

By 1962, they were building a church. John says, “For $22,500, our budget included an architect and builder. The church had a 27 foot ceiling, stain glass windows, a balcony and a full basement. Was this a miracle? Yes!” John and Janet served many military families during their seven years at Lakewood.

After a much needed rest and a time for reflection, the Butterfields decided to stay in Lakewood and get involved in lay ministries. They developed and restored real-estate projects and investments with ownership and management, while taking missionary trips. John traveled to South America with his father, Northwest University President Charles E. Butterfield (1950-66). John says, “At an early age I caught the heart of missions from my father and mother. Over the years Jan and I have been privileged to be a part of the lives of several missionaries. I truly believe our prayers and financial support have been the heart of our passion!”

John ministered in Korea with his missionary brother Charles (’58). He also helped Marvin (’51) and Delores Cole, who were translating scriptures for the Maka Indian Tribe in Paraguay.

John and Janet have been married for 52 years. Their three children include Gregory, a manager with Boeing in Seattle; Carmen, a sixth grade teacher for 24 years in Everson; and Philip, a family and marriage counselor with Greater Lakes Mental Health in Lakewood. Philip, carrying on the family tradition of ministry, has opened his work to several local churches. John and Janet are the proud grandparents of six grandchildren.

From their initial gospel team assignments at NBC, John and Janet continue on ministry assignment at the age of 74. They both serve on the Northwest University Alumni Association Board, and John serves on the Campus Planning Committee. John and Janet say, “Our attention has once again returned to NU and the wonderful things God is calling a new generation to fulfill. We know where they sit and how God can mold their lives. What a privilege for us as Alumni to put our heart and soul into the greatest Kingdom on Earth,” John says.

“The future at NU has never looked brighter. Because of God’s faithfulness we want to make a difference. That difference for Jan and me is summed up in prayer and faithful giving. Thank you, Lord, for Northwest University.” You can contact the Butterfields by e-mailing them at jjbutterfield@msn.com.