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History and Vision

A History of Ministry At the turn of the 20th century, the Hill Country of Texas was noted for a climate that could bring healing to sufferers of tuberculosis. Bravely, Florence Butt moved her ill husband, Charles, and three small sons (Charles, Jr., Eugene, and Howard) from Memphis, Tennessee, to Kerrville, Texas.

Throughout those years, the family struggled in poverty, but persevered in spite of their meager circumstances. Howard, the youngest, loved the outdoors. Some of his favorite memories included times spent at a friend’s ranch. Those experiences on a Hill Country ranch would change the lives of thousands in years to come. A dream was born—a dream to provide other boys and girls of meager circumstances a chance to know and appreciate the unspoiled beauty of God’s creation.

Howard pursued a natural bent for the grocery business. After serving in the U. S. Navy during World War I, he established the H. E. Butt Grocery Company. In 1924, Howard married the gifted Mary Elizabeth Holdsworth who possessed a selfless regard for the well-being of others. They were blessed with three children, Howard, Jr., Eleanor, and Charles. The family prospered as the children were reared within a heritage of Christian values implemented in the grocery business.

Together, Howard and Mary established, in 1933, one of Texas’ earliest foundations for their charitable, educational, and philanthropic concerns. Then, in 1954, Howard’s boyhood dream came to fruition when they purchased a 1,900-acre ranch in the Hill Country. Mrs. Butt’s diary records their hope to provide a camping experience for “maybe 100 boys and girls at one time.” Never could they have imagined how their dream would multiply from that day to this. Today over 22,000 people—mostly boys and girls—use the five Foundation Free Camps free of charge each year.

Howard, Jr. dedicated his life to both the grocery company and a ministry for Christian lay renewal. In 1961, Laity Lodge Retreat Center was built as a tool to encourage him in this ministry, and it now welcomes 2,500 guests per year. Across denominational lines, churches, families, and individuals by the thousands have been revitalized to minister to others. In 1966, Laity Lodge Youth Camp was born and has grown to serve over 1,300 campers each summer.

Laity Renewal Foundation, created in 1995, supports the ministries of:

  • Laity Lodge—an ecumenical Christian retreat center dedicated to our common quest to know Christ and what that means in the ordinary secular relationships of our lives. It is a place where people are free to explore choices leading to growth in creativity.
  • Laity Lodge Youth Camp—a coed, interdenominational Christian youth camp which focuses on spontaneity, fun, and relationships to show kids the “best two weeks of their lives,” while sharing with them the Gospel message and love of Jesus Christ. LLYC is dedicated to providing campers with healthy fun in an emotionally safe, learning environment.
  • Foundation Free Camps—provide free camping facilities for qualified church and community-service groups. The program especially targets children and youth groups in Texas communities who would not otherwise be able to afford such an experience. The goal is to provide a place conducive to healthy Christian character development.

Over the  years since the inception of Laity Lodge in 1961, Howard and his wife, Barbara Dan, have remained the guiding forces in the individual ministries. Their daughter and son-in-law, Deborah and David Rogers, are sharing in the leadership of these ministries for future generations. Our continuing vision and mission is to equip believers in Jesus Christ to practice servant leadership by the Holy Trinity to renew individuals, families, institutions, and society—that God may be glorified and the nations come to faith.