A Dad’s Roadmap After Diagnosis: Presence, Provision, and a New Story (with Joe Butler) | Episode 16

In this episode of A Little Extra Love, Kyle Vermeulen sits down with Joe Butler—husband of 29 years, father of three, dad to Micah, and co-founder of Ability Tree—for an honest, hope-filled conversation about fatherhood under pressure and the faith it takes to keep showing up when life doesn’t go according to plan.Joe takes us back to the moment disability entered their story: a seizure on a Wednesday night at church, a hospital ride filled with fear, and a diagnosis that brought more uncertainty than answers. From there, he shares what the early years really looked like—therapy schedules, exhaustion, navigating marriage and sibling needs, and the isolation that so many disability families quietly carry.But woven through every part of Joe’s story is a steady thread of God’s faithfulness: the way the Lord met him in the questions, reshaped his understanding of suffering, and used Micah’s life to open doors for deeper ministry, deeper community, and deeper surrender. This episode is for dads, parents, and church leaders who want something real—something grounded in Scripture, lived experience, and a practical vision of what it looks like to do ministry with families impacted by disability.What You’ll Hear in This ConversationJoe’s origin story: when disability first changed everything for their familyThe “first decade blur”: therapies, school battles, exhaustion, and learning how to keep goingThe difference between trying to “fix” the situation and learning how to embrace the child God has givenHow Ability Tree was born out of a gap—and why families are treated like family, not clientsWhat dads need most after diagnosis (and what Joe wishes every father could hear)Why the Church doesn’t need to start “something flashy” to be faithful—just a changed posture and willingness to learnHow disability reshapes the way we understand suffering, community, and the glory of GodA powerful closing prayer over dads, marriages, families, and church leadersScriptures ReferencedPsalm 127:3 — Children are a gift from the LordPsalm 139 — Fearfully and wonderfully made; God sees what we can’tMatthew 11:28 — Come to Me and I will give you rest1 Corinthians 12 — Every member is indispensable; gifts for the common goodJohn 15 — Abide in the Vine; stay connected to the life sourceResourcesLearn more about Ability Tree - https://www.abilitytree.org/Life with Micah (Joe & Jen’s book) - https://www.amazon.com/Life-Micah-Joe-Butler/dp/B0C5G4CCZNFollow Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joe_n_butler/Follow Ability Tree on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abilitytree/Follow Ability Tree on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abilitytree