The Buzz newsletter | Updated Weekly
Church Listening Session Details
This Sunday July 12 is our All-Church listening session. We will begin with a meal together at 12:30 pm in the sanctuary. Then join for discussion around tables with people from each of our congregations. (We'll have nametags ready so you can easily get to know each other!)
Now that our mission statement has been updated, we're going to look at best ways to carry that out. See the overview of 3 key proposals that will be presented for feedback. This listening session will be similar to the one in February which brought helpful discussion & feedback. Council members will again help facilitate discussion around the tables. You can share your input at the meeting in writing or verbally. We want to hear from each other!
Birth Announcement!
Along with parents Jose and Soli, we joyfully welcome baby
Eliana June Benavides! After Soli was on several weeks of bedrest, Eliana was born on June 26. All are doing well. Thank you for praying as they adjust to being a family of 3!
Graduation Congratulations
So many Butler graduates this year...13!
Brooking Becker
also earned her
masters degree and single subject science teaching credential from Alder School of Education. She graduated May 31 and was recently offered a job teaching high school science! She will continue living in the Bay Area. Parents Jeff and Lisa are celebrating with her as well as with her sister, Katarina, who landed job post-graduation in the bay area as well.
Congrats, Brooking!
Celebration of Life for Ackamus Gill Garcia
Together with Kimberly Garcia & James Gill, we remember the precious life of their 7 year old son Ackamus. The Celebration of Life will take place here at Butler Church on July 21 & 22 (Tuesday viewing 4-6PM; Wednesday viewing 9AM, service 10AM). As we come together with the family, the Summer Park community, and church members to grieve and remember, support for the family is possible through the Butler Church benevolent fund, or the GoFundMe, and sign up is also available for those who would like to help with meals.
Scripture Reading Plan
Our summer Family Matters series continues through the week with our scripture reading plan. As you read Genesis and notice the often "messy" family dynamics, notice also where you see God at work - giving us hope in the midst of our own circumstances! There will be a variety of speakers for our Faith Community and Common Ground services; this Sunday (July 5) Pastor Ron will be speaking
Week 5 (July 5-11)
Monday: Genesis 25:1-11
Tuesday: Genesis 25:12-18
Wednesday: Genesis 25:19-34
Thursday: Genesis 26:1-22
Friday: Genesis 26:23-35
More news items....
Special Announcement from Pastor Ron
Dear Butler Church Family,
I’m writing this week with a personal update: many of you will know that when I began my time as Interim Lead Pastor (Sept 01, 2025) the Council had asked me for a commitment of 9–12 months. That timeline is now almost at an end; my final Sunday here at Butler will be August 23, 2026. Serving you all, each of the 4 congregations, our church staff, and our Southeast Fresno neighbors for the past year has been deeply meaningful and a personal source of joy. Although the work of “transition” is not complete, I believe that the changes already approved and the current strength of our Council’s leadership bodes well for a flourishing future for Butler Church. Building consensus and moving together in a unified way takes time where we listen, learn, compromise, dream, and pray. In the future, things may not look exactly like they have in the past, but the Council and pastoral staff are committed to leading with the same priorities and values that have characterized Butler Church over many years of faithful ministry.
For Kathy and I, the Fall of 2026 will mark a major change in our lives – we have accepted an invitation to join the educational mission and training ministry in Germany of TCM International Institute. This means that we will be moving to Tübingen, Germany in September of this year. Our roles will be distinct but connected to a common mission: Kathy will join the TCM donor relations and development team while I take on the role of Director for the Institute for the Study of Christian Origins. This work will find Kathy representing TCM in a variety of settings (including the main training facility near Vienna, Austria). My role will primarily focus on teaching (research languages and biblical studies) and mentoring graduate students affiliated with the Eberhard Karls University in Tübingen. As you can imagine, we’re experiencing a wide range of emotions as we leave Fresno after 12 years and leave the place where 4 of our 5 children currently reside! We leave grateful for our years in the Central Valley and especially for this most recent year here at Butler Church.
Some additional context: The
mission of TCM (the only institution accredited by the US Higher Learning Commission that works exclusively outside the United States) is to “develop Christian leaders for significant service through higher learning.” Currently, TCM reaches students from all over Europe, parts of Asia, and most recently part of Africa. Students are served with opportunities to learn from entry-level micro-credentials to undergraduate course work and full graduate programs (see
link for fuller description). Modular courses in biblical studies, Christian ministry, and leadership are taught on-site several countries while hybrid and fully online courses also reach students in under-served regions around the world.
Graduation Congratulations
We conclude these graduation months with one more Butler graduate! Isaac Chavez, of our missionary family Pablo & Maricela Chavez in Peru, completed his senior year at Reedley High School. He graduated on May 28th. Congrats, Isaac!
This summer, Isaac completed a 100-hour internship at Baskin Robbins, which he really enjoyed; he is hopeful that he can get hired there. He is also taking two online summer classes. In the fall he will start full-time at Reedley College - as part of the Pete P. Peters Honors program. He will turn 18
next week Thursday, and has his driver's license appointment scheduled just a few days later! Maricela writes: "Please pray for his adjustment as a college student and to living away from the family."
Children's Ministry Update
This summer our Children's Ministry Director, Maria Galvan, is taking family leave. In the meantime, our team of volunteers is working hard to keep our programs running. We have two classes (3 yrs-Kindergarten & 1st-6th Grade) that meet our 10:45 services following the opening worship time, for 30-40 minutes. Children from Common Ground and Amor y Fe enjoy reading their Bibles, playing games, and sharing life together with friends their age.
This is an important time for faith development and connection for our children. Please consider serving once-a-month. Our entire Butler Family (all four congregations) are welcome to share their gifts of teaching and serving! Contact Pastor Connie for more information about ways to help on Sundays and during the week.
** Note: This Sunday, June 21, we will have Children's Church for 1st-6th Grade only based on availability of volunteers; we hope to resume preschool class the next week.
Update from Pastor Ron
Summer is fully upon us now as school is out and many families are traveling, attending camps, and/or on vacation in these weeks. I, too, have been traveling and recently returned from 5 weeks away… In the next few days, we’ll announce an open study session where anyone interested can see photos and hear about the significance of these sites for our understanding of early Christianity…
...Our discussions over the past 10 months have welcomed a range of perspectives and experiences. Even so, it is encouraging to see broad support for a more unified way of exercising our community life. Currently, distinct congregations give members an identity in a subset of Butler Church; but
our Council has heard consistent calls for greater cooperation and communal sharing across the congregational boundaries.
I believe that we can honor this desire even as affinity groups can also continue to flourish (with unique style or language preferences). Our next all-church listening session (tentatively scheduled for July 12) will consider 1 or 2 proposals that could move us closer to that desired vision. Stay tuned!...
A final note of THANKS:
Toby Ens has served Butler Church as our “tech intern” since the beginning of September 2025 and he completes his 9-month internship this week! We are so grateful for his cheerful, faithful presence and for the expertise with which he has served in this area.
Thank you, Toby!!!
[Read the full June update for more on the Biblical lands trip; Discernment process and; current Financial Update; and thanks to our summer Intern!]
Graduation Congratulations
Sahn Saelee celebrated the graduation of two daughters this summer!
Carrie Cha
graduated May 22 from Fresno City College with a BS in Dental Hygiene. She is considering working at a military base where her brother is in the Air Force.
Akira Cha
graduated from McLane High School on June 9. She plans to attend Fresno City College, focusing on Biology.
Congrats, Carrie and Akira!
Church Council Update
The Church Council met on Thursday, June 18. A copy of the agenda is available online. The agenda includes: next transition steps and timeline; possible bylaws revisions; potential future staff needs; budget planning for 2027.
A reminder: Council meetings are open for guests to attend and listen in. If you have a topic to suggest for a future meeting, or any questions or concerns, please direct those to the council member from your congregation.
Please pray
for the council as they meet for wisdom, discernment, and unity in decisions to be made.
Update from the Church Business Meeting
This past Sunday afternoon at the June 14 church business meeting, approval was given to 3 motions brought by the Council: a revised budget for 2026, the revised wording of our Mission Statement, and moving to a unified (single) church budget and related amendments to the bylaws. The next step in our transition process is for our Council to bring recommendations for how to carry out “being a multicultural community” and congregational leaders are encouraged to process this with each of our congregations. Stay tuned also for a date for our next all-church listening session.
Our Mission: To be a multicultural community that connects people with Jesus and one another in Southeast Fresno and around the world.
Graduation Congratulations
Rodney Komen graduated from Fresno Pacific University on May 9th with a bachelors degree in Nursing. Rodney writes, "My prayer is to work at Community regional medical center and to serve my patients."
Congrats, Rodney!
We're highlighting our graduates each week! If you are graduating this summer, let us know! (You can also drop a note in the offering this Sunday.)
Invitation to Gathering 2026 this July!
Butler Church is part of a larger church family of the US Mennonite Brethren Churches (USMB). This summer the national conference will be taking place in Salt Lake City, and the invitation is open for all to attend! Come be encouraged, challenged and renewed; the theme is “Cultivate: Living on mission with Jesus.” Rooms may be reserved at our group rate through
June 20. Details are at
usmb.org/gathering2026. If you aren’t able to attend in person, do join in praying over the Gathering!
Graduation Congratulations
Aron Khoutsavanh graduated from Fresno City College on May 22nd - a surprise the family managed to keep until that very day for his dad Nixon Khoustavanh with Chansamone's help! Aron studied graphic design and has already been doing contract work designing and producing posters, flyers, and tshirts. This summer he is taking some time off to help his family with a big repair project. Congrats, Aron!
Congratulations also to sister Kiera Khoutsavanh who is completing middle school this week!
We're highlighting our graduates each week! If you are graduating this summer, let us know! (You can also drop a note in the offering this Sunday.)
Graduation Congratulations
Tobiah Ens graduated from Fresno State on May 15th with his Bachelors of Arts in Computer Science. (His grandfather, Harold Ens, who graduated from Fresno State in 1965, is especially excited to have another Bulldog grad in the family!) Here at Butler Toby has also been working as our Tech Intern which has been a blessing to all of us as well. Toby is staying in the Fresno area and will be looking for an IT job for now. Congrats, Toby!
It's graduation season for the Ens family. Timothy Kamin Ens is graduating next week from Hoover High School as one of 50 valedictorians on June 10! He will attend community college and hopes to later transfer to a 4 year college in Oregon while he also considers pursuing an aviation program. (Timothy attends First Presbyterian church so we don’t see him often here at Butler.) Parents Lowell and Melissa, and grandparents Harold & Helen are very proud of these two young men! Congrats, Timothy!
We're highlighting our graduates each week! If you are graduating this summer, let us know! (You can also drop a note in the offering this Sunday.)
Youth Ministry Update
Our youth leadership team is working on plans for some fun summer events, so stay tuned for more details! (Since summer brings a change in school, family, and work schedules, our regular Sunday youth group gatherings will be on a break for summer.) Youth and parents, be sure to follow as updates are posted online!
butlerchurch.org/youth and on IG @butleryouth.4884
Graduation Congratulations
Alex Coleman will be graduating high school June 10 from Aspen Ridge. This summer, Alex plans to work a summer job and spend as much time as possible with his friends before they all go their separate ways for college! Alex has also been a faithful volunteer with children's ministry here at Butler. In the fall he'll be at Fresno City College finishing up general ed classes.
Congrats, Alex!
We're highlighting our graduates each week! If you are graduating this summer, let us know! (You can also drop a note in the offering this Sunday.)
Graduation Congratulations
Teda Pel will be graduating this Saturday (May 23) from the Fresno City College RN Program. She is a daughter to Khom (Mally) Khoutsavanh. Teda writes: "I am extremely grateful to be able to get into this program, complete my ADN, and become an RN. This experience has helped me understand how nurses can impact the community. After graduation, I hope to land a job in a cardiac unit. I plan to continue my education to get my bachelors and maybe masters. In the future, I hope to use my skills to help on a medical mission.”
Congrats, Teda!
We're highlighting our graduates each week! If you are graduating this summer, let us know! (You can also drop a note in the offering this Sunday.)
Children's Ministry Team
One of the best investments you can make is jumping on board with our Children’s Ministry team and serving our kids! Passionate people are needed to help once a month in Nursery, Preschool, or Kids class 1st-6th grade. We are very flexible and offer various roles beyond teaching.
All the curriculum and training is provided; you just bring your love for the children! If you feel the Holy Spirit leading to join our team, please connect with me. Also join me in prayer, for volunteers that will shape the spiritual future of our children!
Would you consider joining us for one Sunday? Join our team and make and an eternal impact on our children. For more information, contact the church office or talk with a pastor!
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." -Proverbs 22:6
All new Christian Leader this summer!
Don’t miss out on the new redesign of Christian Leader, the print magazine of our USMB churches. Your next issue arrives in July! We’re skipping May/June as we move to quarterly issues starting July 2026. With more pages and time, we’re focusing on stories that matter—featuring a new look, expanded content, and a renewed focus on encouraging faithful, everyday discipleship and leadership. Christian Leader exists to tell the stories of what God is doing across our family of churches, resource leaders and strengthen faith in everyday life. The more people we reach, the stronger our shared connection becomes.
Regular attenders receive a copy of the Christian Leader by mail free through our support through USMB! If you need to update your subscription, let us know!
Graduation Congratulations
Terry Vongviset writes: "I am currently completing my RN to BSN program at Fresno State and will be graduating this Saturday (May 16). This journey has helped me grow professionally and strengthened my confidence, leadership, and patient care skills. In the future, I hope to continue my education by pursuing a master’s or nurse practitioner program. I am also interested in exploring case management as a career path so I can continue helping patients navigate and improve their healthcare experience."
Terry's parents are Ken & Judy Chaypramouk from our Asian Grace congregation. Congrats, Terry!
We're highlighting our graduates each week! If you are graduating this summer, let us know! (You can also drop a note in the offering this Sunday.)
Graduation Congratulations
We have several graduates in our Butler family this spring! Katarina Becker is earning her bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley on Saturday May 16 with a double major in Music Education & Psychology (with department ceremonies on May 17 & May 20.) Kat recently completed a senior recital on french horn, and was part of the Cal Band drum line! She plans to enter grad school for a Master’s degree and teaching credential. Congrats, Kat!
We're highlighting our graduates each week! If you are graduating you’re graduating this summer, let us know! (You can also drop a note in the offering this Sunday.)
Update from Pastor Ron
Last week’s update included a short description of a trip that Kathy and I are embarking on, today! However, there are items for our church family that deserve another update....Our Council met last evening (May 13) to continue the discussions around elements of transition for the church. The consensus was that we seek input from the church membership in two upcoming church business meetings.
....On June 14 @ 3:00 pm the Council will bring the following three proposals for discussion and vote: a balanced 2026 budget, a "unified budget process" beginning in 2027, and an updated Mission Statement....The Council will call for a listening session in July (date yet to be determined) in which the whole membership can consider the one or two proposals for changes to our ministry model.....
[read the full update on our Council Updates page for details!]
Friends, I know there is a lot of information here that may well raise questions and curiosities. I encourage you to be in touch with your congregational representatives, the Council executive, and the pastoral staff for further conversation and clarification. Remember, we are trusting that God’s spirit is leading us as we continue to do the good (hard!) work of listening, sharing, and discerning together.
See you on Father’s Day in June!
Pastor Ron
Assistance Donations
Through the Butler Church Benevolent Assistance Fund, we have been able to help with several time sensitive needs recently. Given the upcoming cuts in SNAP funding even more requests may be coming in soon. Please consider making an additional donation to the church benevolent fund , by designating for this in the offering or through giving online. We also work with partner agencies like MB Foundation and Everence to expand our capacity through matching grants.
Another way to donate is by contributing to our food pantry. Non-perishable goods can be dropped off on Sunday mornings in the sanctuary foyer. Canned goods like pasta sauce, chili, and chicken are especially helpful.
If caring for needs of folks in our community in very practical ways is something close to your heart , please also talk with your pastor or contact the church office. We would like to build a social action response team that can respond to needs as they are made known. If you have a personal need, please also talk with a pastor.
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Updated on: 7/1/2026
Looking for earlier Butler news stories? You can visit our news archive here.