Getting to know Cam Butler

Urbanrevs is the vision of former Sports Chaplaincy Australia National Director Cameron Butler.

During his time at SCA Cameron saw the huge opportunity for the body of Christ to respond in a fresh and unprecedented way to local communities across Australia and abroad.

Too most people’s amazement he said, “We had over 15,000 sports clubs asking for Chaplains!” On many occasions he asked sports leaders and administrators “What is that we do that makes you want us?” Few were able to articulate it well, except to say the common response was “There’s just something about you guys, indescribable, but you care, you’re real. And our clubs love that.”

Paul Gardner, a former President of the Melbourne Football club said about chaplains, “You are good at what you do, you’re trustworthy, and, you’re free! Why wouldn’t anyone want a chaplain? It’s a no-brainer!”

The opportunity for pastoral care beyond sports into the wider community is overwhelming, but not unexpected. Not that Aussies are breaking the doors to come to meet with Jesus – yet they have no hesitation in asking for chaplains or more exactly ‘pastoral carers’ for ‘their’ community. Luke 10:1 comes to mind. When you go into your community with the reality of the Kingdom message and action you will discover people are actually hungry for grace and mercy. Aka, You going into the community will notice “The harvest is plentiful…”

The vision of Urbanrevs is in direct response to this prevailing reality. And a response for “more workers”.

However, as church leaders and followers of Christ Cameron challenges the need for us to change “a few of our paradigms, starting with the ‘how?'”.

Adding, “To respond to ‘big’ we need to ‘see’ differently. Every community needs shepherds, that is pastoral carers. Every follower of Jesus is now a shepherd to their community at work, in school, up the street or in their community group.” The way Cameron sees it is the church pastor is not the only shepherd. “Every follower of Jesus needs to take responsibility when they leave church on Sunday to shepherd their personal community towards Jesus during the week.” But are we as church leaders and pastors helping them?

Urbanrevs helps the church get a fresh perspective of the community and our individual responsibility as genuine followers of Jesus.

What Cameron came to realise over the journey was that many followers of Jesus know the “Who?” (Jesus) “What?” (Gospel) and the “Why?” (…because) but most just don’t know the “How?”. “How do I live out my faith, the Gospel of the kingdom intentionally and authentically? Especially in a confusing and complex world?”

“My confidence is that Urbanrevs can help kick-start the ‘How’ in people who love and want to serve Jesus.” Adding, “I’ve seen it work with thousands of people in Australia and across the globe get to understand 5 simple roles and 5 corresponding practical skills to influence a community.” said Cameron.

Apart from leading from the front at SCA for 13 years Cameron served for 15 years as the Chaplain/Pastor of the Melbourne Football Club in the AFL. Light-heartedly saying, “I saw myself as the clubs ‘Pastor’, the staff and players as ‘my congregation’ of sorts, most of them just didn’t know it.” Further adding, “People just don’t have shepherds in their lives! They actually crave having someone who loves on them for being them and brave enough to help them navigate this crazy world when the moment arises.” “We are all called to be Jesus hands and feet and mouthpiece to our immediate community. No getting out of that one!”

Prior to his time at the Football Club Cameron served as a pastoral leader for young people at Richmond Assembly of God for over 7 years under the leadership of Reverend Philip Hills. Following that he served as the Assistant Pastor of a local church for 7 years in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

Now a Grand Dad, Cameron has 4 grown kids all who love and are serving Jesus. Read more about him here.