Kerry and Cynthia Buttram

SAMS Role: Missionary

Home Church: St Paul’s Anglican, Greenville, SC

Starting Year with SAMS: 2016

Calling to Ministry:

Kerry and Cynthia grew up in families and churches in which God’s heart for the world was a frequent topic of conversation. In their formative years they met and prayed for missionaries, heard  and read their stories. These were people who sacrificed so that those with limited access to the Gospel could see the surpassing worth of Christ. In the early years of their marriage, the Buttrams had a life-changing cross-cultural experience ministering to people of the Middle East during the Lebanese civil war. After a time of discernment, they participated in various mission projects for nearly 20 years in Cyprus, Jordan, Ireland, Kenya, Uganda, Nepal, Vietnam, Myanmar and Sudan. After a period of time back in the USA where Kerry worked as a missions pastor and helping form a mission partnership in Liberia, West Africa, they relocated to Cairo, Egypt with the Anglican-Episcopal Diocese of Egypt at All Saints’ Cathedral and SAMS. In 2019 they moved to the Netherlands to serve the wonderfully diverse community of Christ Church Amsterdam (Church of England/Diocese in Europe) where they continue to reach out to this secular European city and country with its rich Christian heritage.

Vision for Ministry:

Amsterdam is an international crossroads where people from every nation meet for work, trade and opportunity.  We seek to equip the people of Christ Church Amsterdam to so experience the fullness of life Jesus offers that friends and neighbors who thirst for living water will come and drink. We believe this is both ‘taught’ and ‘caught’ in the context of a church community. It must be lived out through loving service to one another, through a commitment to reconciliation and healing, and by continually working to create a culture of welcome.

Personal Points of Interest:

Cynthia and Kerry enjoy the many museums of Amsterdam and cycling all over the city for ministry and pleasure. They love history, photography, music, reading, birding, and exploring the culture and nature of the Netherlands and nearby countries.

Favorite Bible Verse:

“Therefore don’t judge anything prematurely, before the Lord comes, who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts. And then praise will come to each one from God.” I Corinthians 4:5 HCSB