Thanks, Culpeper

On a rainy Wednesday evening, Butch Mills stands outside Culpeper United Methodist Church, waiting to assist any stragglers who come unprepared for the weather.

Umbrella in hand, he heads upstairs to begin the next session of a six-week prayer study.

His smile big and genuine, his attitude positive and chipper, from first glance it’s hard to believe that Mills is the same man who, two years ago to the day, nearly got buried alive.

On Aug. 30, 2007, Mills had been repairing a pipe in a trench next to Pawn Mart when dirt and debris caved in up to his neck. The speed and pressure made it impossible to move, crushing his shoulders, breaking every rib and fracturing three vertebrae.

With each painful breath, he struggled for life during a highly publicized rescue. When members of the Culpeper Fire Department had done all they could do, they called Fairfax County Fire and Rescue to assist.

Bob Zoldos, battalion chief of Fairfax’s technical rescue operations team, recalls the delicate situation. “It was the worst-case scenario,” he said. “The outcome was very doubtful.”

To the community’s relief, crews finally freed Mills, airlifting him to U.Va. Medical Center. The efficiency and quick thinking on the part of both agencies contributed to Mills’ survival.

But the prognosis was grim.

On Sept. 11, doctors gave Mills’ family “zero percent hope” and told them a lung operation would be imminent. That day, 300 community members attended a prayer vigil at Floyd T. Binns Middle School.
Almost overnight, Mills’ health took a seemingly miraculous turn for the better.

The lung operation never occurred. Mills began to regain his strength. But he still struggled with much of the pain.

Ever since that fateful August afternoon, folks in Culpeper have looked out for Mills and his family. Now, he’s doing everything in his power to give back.

“To this day, at least four people a day tell me how my accident touched their lives,” said Mills, whose road to recovery was one part physical, one part emotional and one part spiritual. “I received hundreds of cards, dozens of meals, prayers, money and restaurant vouchers, and benefits were held to raise money.”

Help from friends
After the trench collapse, life was put on hold for the Mills family. The week before the accident, wife Robie started classes at James Madison University.

But in order to be with her husband as much as possible through the healing process, she opted to stay home.

When they discussed her going back to school, they knew their limited resources would not last. Yet, because of the community’s generosity, she was able to finish the next semester strong.

When mounting medical bills made even the everyday expenses a burden, donations helped cover medical costs and provided spending money for Mills’ three children.

“They would say, ‘Give this to your kids to go to the movies or something, Butch,’” Mills said.

A matter of faith
Two years since that frightening day, Mills can see the bigger picture of what life is truly about — and how his faith continues to develop.

“Even though I already had committed myself to the Lord, with my accident I came to realize the little things I could do to improve in my life.”

Randy Orndorff, pastor of Culpeper United Methodist Church, had asked Mills to preach a Sunday sermon a few weeks prior to the accident. He noticed how his congregants respected Mills’ insights.

“Butch had already started to become very involved in church activities,” he said. “He was definitely a leader in the congregation.”

Mills also embraced the new role as he grew in his faith.

“I truly was on a spiritual high during that time of my life,” he said.

When tragedy struck, however, Mills grappled with his faith, wondering why his life was spared. He slipped into depression.

“I would only get one or two hours of sleep each night,” he recalled. “Staying in bed all day was absolutely miserable. The pain was so bad that even a sheet on top of me felt like my toes were being bent backward. I felt helpless.”

Praying for others
In November 2007, the Rev. Orndorff called Mills again, asking a more unexpected question.

“We have a prayer list for our congregation every week,” Orndorff said. “I asked Butch to pray for these people.”

This seemingly minor task was very beneficial to Mills as he recovered from his injuries.

“When I had those sleepless nights, I prayed for people I knew and became less focused on my pain and what I was going through. It changed my outlook.”

These types of phone calls, coupled with visits from friends and the community, encouraged Mills to recover emotionally and spiritually.

“There were times I wished I died in that accident, and I just didn’t feel like eating,” Mills said. “But then I ate because I wanted to show my gratefulness to the people who took the time to cook for me and my family. Now I’m so happy to be alive, and I’ve realized how strong Culpeper is to rally behind a person.”

All these events have renewed Mills’ sense of purpose.

“My life is really not my own,” he said. “I belong to God and to my community. Anything I can do to encourage someone and strengthen them in the Lord, that is my purpose in life.”

Leader’s training
One way Mills is carrying out this purpose is attending a Leader’s Training Course in Pittsburgh as part of the Stephen Ministry, an organization that derives its name from Stephen in the New Testament book of Acts.

It was Stephen who was appointed to care for widows and those in need in the early Christian church.

Orndorff believes this kind of training is very fitting for Mills.

“He leads our prayer emphasis and regularly visits people who are grieving,” the pastor said. “Together, we will train others in the congregation to be Stephen ministers in times of crisis and grief.”

With this near-death experience, Orndorff thinks that Mills will be a valuable resource in helping others going through rough times.

“Just like any type of crisis, it makes you more focused,” he said. “You’re more meaningful with purpose and more able to help others going through tragedy.”

Mills’ new outlook has changed how he relates to others and inspires him to pass on what he has learned through his accident.

“Even though I thought I was living for God before,” he said, “I’m different now. I’m more outward. I’m not in denial of what my true feelings are. I’m not forcing myself on people but being available.

‘A second chance’
Mills is now focused on doing more for the community that happily gave him hope.

“God gave me a second chance to do His will,” he said. “That is foremost. My top priority used to be to provide for my family, but now I know God provides when I put His will first.

“I had my retirement planned. But that is the last thing on my mind. If anything, I’ll do more for my community.”

The Rev. Orndorff experienced Mills’ kindness first-hand when his daughter, Kelsey, was killed in a car accident one day before the first anniversary of Mills’ accident.

“Every day after Kelsey died, Butch would fill a cooler with ice and drinks as people went in and out of our house,” Orndorff said. “He has such a caring and serving heart and really exudes what it means to be a good Christian man, father and friend.”

“We are very fortunate to have him with us. In many ways, he lives his life out of this accident and wants to use this opportunity he has been given.”

Life nowadays for Butch Mills is not readily taken for granted, and the small things, like going to the beach with family, have a fresh significance.

“Seeing the ocean for the first time since the accident was breathtaking,” Mills said. “My sons and I had the most wonderful time just laughing and talking about everything while we were fishing. Life is just so much more precious to me.”

Mills was even invited by Zoldos, the Fairfax firefighter, to hand out Unit Citation awards to fire and rescue companies that perform beyond expectations.

“It was inspiring to hear his story,” Zoldos said. “It reminds us of why we do what we do.”

Though Mills still experiences some tingling in his toes and numbness in his thighs, he is confident he will be healed and is grateful for the miraculous healing that has already taken place.

“My complete healing will be inspired by God and also the fervent prayers of the people in Culpeper. I can’t say that enough,” Mills said. “When a community has done something so wonderful, how can you thank that community? I can only pass it on.”

So as Mills leads the prayer study, he is determined to reach out and share openly, honestly and joyfully about how God has worked in his life. His positive attitude permeates everything he says and does.

Through this, he hopes to encourage others to do the same.

Kebede is a sophomore at the University of Missouri majoring in journalism. She is a graduate of Culpeper County High School and was an intern at the Star-Exponent over the summer.