Pioneering global sports chaplain Cameron Butler, pictured, from Melbourne is the guest speaker for the 2024 Toowoomba Mayoral Prayer Breakfast.
The 30th community fundraiser will be held on Tuesday, May 14 at Rumours International, 323 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba from 6am.
Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald said Mr Butler, a former digital design manager and director of a software and digital company, had turned his passion for ministry into a national and globally significant faith-based network.
Mayor McDonald said Mr Butler was a passionate speaker who enjoyed challenging the norms of life and faith, while inspiring audiences with a different perspective on what constitutes genuine influence.
Mr Butler was invited by the Melbourne Australian Football Club coach Neale Daniher to serve as senior club chaplain in 1998. Mr Butler served in this role in a voluntary capacity for more than 15 years offering pastoral care to players, staff, coaches, club executives, board members and fans.
During this tenure, Mr Butler was appointed CEO of the fledgling Sports and Leisure Ministries (SLM). Mr Butler helped to expand the organisation to a membership of more than 800 in Australia over 10 years that included associations with the AFL, National Rugby League, Australian Institute of Sport, V8 Supercars and its governing body, horse racing and Football Australia.
SLM was rebranded as Sports Chaplaincy Australia, after which Mr Butler assisted in the rapid growth of Sports Chaplaincy globally. This work has included training thousands of chaplains across Asia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
His commitment to helping communities flourish led him to found Urbanrevs, an online mission model that offers a practical and quick bible-based training course for people who want to be effective chaplains or provide authentic pastoral leadership in any field.
Mr Butler serves on several boards and is a former founding member and chair of the Lifesaving Chaplaincy Australia Council and a founding member and vice chair of the International Sports Chaplaincy Federation.
Tickets will be on sale from 9am on Monday, April 15, 2024. (see full details below).
Mayor McDonald said a charity beneficiary would be announced in the coming weeks.
"The Toowoomba Mayoral Prayer Breakfast has the distinction of being one of the few events of its kind in Australia that is completely supported by its home businesses and organisations with proceeds delivered back to a chosen charity," Mayor McDonald said.
"I thank all business people and volunteers for contributing to the function, which has raised more than $318,000 for more than 30 charities in this Region."
Prices are $27 for adult tickets and $17 for school-age children.
Tickets can be purchased at Council's Little Street Customer Service Centre in Toowoomba from 8.30am to 5pm on weekdays.
Tickets also can be bought by calling 131 872on weekdays or via Council's website by visiting www.tr.qld.gov.au/breakfast (*from April 15)
All credit cards, except Diners Club and American Express, can be used.
