Master Sgt. Martinis Butler of Redstone Arsenal has added to his off-duty resume.
The poet, producer, writer and director has become an author in the field of Christian self-publishing.
Butler, 38, a native of Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina, has written more than 100 pieces in different genres for more than 30 years. He said his writings on faith have had the greatest impact.
"I am a Christian that believes in the power of change. I've been told by readers that my topics are relatable to their circumstances and believe my books have impacted their lives." Butler said.
Serving for more than 19 years in the Army, Butler arrived at Redstone in December 2014. He is a graduate of American Military University. He and his wife of nine years, Jessica, a local nurse, have three children.
Butler comes from a family with strong military ties. He and his two brothers all served in the Army; and his sister served in the Navy.
He said he has always had an interest in writing. But he never had any interest in writing a book until he saw a need for outreach while he was deployed to several Third World countries a few years ago. He prayed about what he saw during the deployment and sought to find the right platform to communicate his message. He decided to write and self-publish Christian books that take on social issues.
Butler's first book, "Partnership Among Believers," was released in 2013 and got a good response. This is a self-help guide for people who are seeking empowerment through Christianity. He uses poetry as a platform to tackle the issues of hunger and poverty.
"I wrote the book to encourage and motivate all individuals to seek a path to righteous living," he said. "I sought to answer a host of questions derived from my own personal life experiences and the practices of others who have persevered through life's struggles using our faith to withstand. I've witnessed poverty at its worst. We have so much in America, but oftentimes fail to realize how blessed we really are. I shared some insights on this using morally sound and biblically-based teachings from the Christian Bible."
Butler's second book, "Sanctified for Redemption," released in March, focuses on the path a young woman takes to establish a life to support herself and her child after dropping out of high school. She hates the life decisions she has made and is later confronted with some choices her years of waywardness haven't prepared her to handle. She meets a minister who shares his personal testimony and the plan for salvation. The choice she makes will alter the course of her life and impact an entire community.
Several of Butler's skits and plays have been performed on both military and civilian stages. There has also been an interest from the local religious community. He wrote a play to raise awareness on domestic violence that was performed by Oakwood Adventist Academy Drama Club students in February. Other congregations have asked him to rewrite the play for their productions as well.
Butler said he is scheduled for a permanent move in July. He'll miss collaborating with fellow writers in the Redstone community. He'll also miss his church family at the Rock Family Worship Center in Huntsville where his family worships.
Although some of his pieces have been performed before large audiences, Butler said he believes he is just starting in the business. He said he is learning all the time and has many ideas.
"I hope my heart for people will allow me to continue to make a difference in the lives of ordinary people," he said. "Whether it's a work of fiction that spurs the imagination and ends up in a book or nonfiction steeped in truth that is acted out upon a stage, great storytelling will always be a great journey for the mind. Society presents new obstacles every day, everywhere. So there will always be something for me to write about."
Social Sharing