Decades ago, educators Ashbel and Rhona Butterfield sent their only daughter to Sunday school in Kingston, hoping that she would learn some useful values. Later, their only daughter left the University of Technology (UTech) with not only a degree in business administration, but also belief in God and commitment to serving him.

Today, a woman in her early 40s, Ingrid Butterfield is the first and only female board member to be appointed to the Open Bible Standard Church, located at the corner of Washington Boulevard and on Ken Hill Drive in St Andrew. She counts this as her chief achievement to date.

What might seem to outsiders an ordinary thing is the result of decades of dedication to what this woman considers good and right. For Ingrid Butterfield, the development of godly character has paid dividends.

It was from her good name, she says, that she was given the opportunity of starting her own business in 2007, after being made redundant from the position of sales manager at Kraft Foods in Kingston.

historic placement

More important, it is that well-defined character which led to her historic placement on the board of Kingston's flagship congregation of the Open Bible Standard Church.

Elder Butterfield is one of three board members - who jointly decide on new outreach programmes and how the church's money is to be spent on current activities. The Open Bible Standard Church boasts one of the largest congregations in St Andrew, with an active membership of 800, and hundreds more in local and inner-city outreach ministries.

Its programmes include the Obistan Kinder Preparatory School, located on the church grounds, and an extensive youth outreach which features an overcomers ministry to get youth involved in evangelism.

For youths, the church also runs the Jesus party (entertainment event) and sports evangelism. The Sunday school programme has outreaches in Patrick City and several inner-city communities where students are unable to come to church, and so the church goes to them.

"I represent the female voice, which is the majority of our membership," Ingrid explains, noting that the church's Women World Fellowship of the Open Bible Standard Church not only teaches the word but trains young women in income-earning and homemaking skills. A duplicate programme for men provides counselling. Both men and women are offered personal development exposure.

businesswomen

But, Ingrid Butterfield brings more than a gender perspective, as she is also a businesswomen with a minted track record.

While studying for her master's in business administration at the Caribbean Graduate School of Theology in St Andrew, she was made redundant in March 2007.

However, the distributors with whom she worked and her former employers so valued her integrity that in September 2007 she was offered a sales and distribution contract with Seprod. She now operates her own business.

Ingrid opines, "The name Butterfield is a good one. I am also able to source and get products because I have developed a standard others can see. It has helped me in business, and in the church fellow believers have seen it too. This has assisted in my movement up."

So valued is her opinion that her client distributors often call her for references.

"When they want to employ people they call me for a recommendation. The names I suggest, they just take them. My value system has opened that door. I am seen as trustworthy and dependable."

Single and childless

For Ingrid Butterfield there is no 'compartment' between her church and the secular, weekly world.

"At work I am among individuals who are not saved, but I am still Ingrid. Hopefully, I will influence them for the better, based on my lifestyle."

Single and childless, Ingrid Butterfield has made a home for herself in the church since age 19. She says she is satisfied that she has mentored and mothered many in the church.

"Singleness is an issue in the church but it has to do with your grounding in the faith," she states. "If you really believe what you say you believe, it guides your actions."

Ingrid Butterfield loves her life and enjoys a well- rounded existence.

She is a sports enthusiast who plays "almost every sport". "I play netball, I am good at football and grew up listening to and loving cricket," she explains.

The multi-purpose court and sports centre at the Open Bible church is her pride and joy.

"We believe in sports. It is a discipline which helps the youth to develop responsibility. We get them here and teach them the word."

The word, she believes, will influence their lives and change their world.