“We are the clay, you are the potter; we are the work of your hand.” Isaiah 64:8
Born on New Year’s Day in 1939, Samuel John Butcher was the third of five children in the home of a poor Michigan couple. Before long, the family packed up and moved to Redding, California, in hopes of finding greener pastures. Sam spent his childhood at the dining room table drawing and sketching. He often went to a local dump to look for scraps of paper.
Sam’s grandmother taught him to love Jesus at an early age. As Sam grew older, he worked in the shipping department of the Child Evangelism Fellowship where he also served as a “chalkboard minister,” drawing Bible stories for children. While there he joined with a friend to create the Jonathan and David brand which eventually became his famous teardrop-eyed children known as Precious Moments. In 1978, his first Precious Moments figurines were unveiled, and in less than a year, Sam Butcher became a success. With over 1,500 figurines in the collection, Sam could have settled back to relax. However, that was not how Sam Butcher viewed his talent.
In 1984, inspired by the beauty of the huge ceiling paintings of the Sistine Chapel, Sam began designing the Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage, Missouri. He felt this was one way to share his faith with others. Sam painted 9,000 square feet with thousands of his little people as a monument to the Lord.
The painting took over 500 hours of tedious work while lying on his back. In 54 murals and 30 stained-glass windows, he depicted the life of Jesus and many other Bible stories. Millions of visitors have come to admire the work of a man who devoted his life to touching the hearts of countless people.
Sam’s life has not been without pain and sadness. Over the years Sam has taken an interest in missions in the Philippines. He frequently visits there with his family. While in the Philippines, he was given the news that his 27 year old son was killed in an automobile accident. This caused Sam to work tirelessly day and night on paintings for a special chapel room called Philip’s Room.
Sam Butcher’s faith in the Lord and his drive to continue serving others has seen him through the roughest of times. Sam uses his talents to teach people of all ages the story of a loving Savior through the eyes of tiny, pastel, tear-drop-eyed kids. Sam teaches us to use our talents for God and for others.
Lord God, thank you for blessing us with talents. Help us to look for opportunities to use our talents to serve as a blessing to others. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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