The Rev. Budd L. Sprague is a retired pastor in the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church following 44 years of service. He lives at 5200 Parkhaven Ave. NE, Canton, Ohio 44705; 330/493-6400.
Since receiving his first appointment in 1956, Budd has served churches in a variety of settings from rural multi- church charges to suburban and inner-city churches as well as pastor of the Lakeside church on the Conference Grounds and served as Chaplain during the summer Chautauqua program where he met and introduced the leading preachers and religious leaders of that period during the daily chapel hour.
Rev. Sprague has served on District and Conference committees in the areas of Discipleship, Evangelism, Missions, Church and Society, Personnel, and Ministry -many of which he served as chairman.
Budd has led evangelistic services and workshops for over 30 years both individually and as a National Missioner with the Department of Evangelism, the Board of Discipleship, Nashville, Tennessee; was trained to conduct New Life Missions and Key Events as assigned by the General Board and has led these services in several states as well as being a part of the " Awake Australia" Mission in 1983. He has had training in Evangelism Explosion under Dr. D. James Kennedy and has developed an effective visitation ministry for use in local churches, and led in the development of two evangelistic youth ministries within the East Ohio Conference which have continued for nearly 30 years and seen countless young men and women enter into many areas of Christian ministry as pastors, missionaries, evangelists, and musicians.
He has been actively involved in renewal efforts within the United Methodist Church as one of the founders of the East Ohio Evangelical Fellowship, as a member of the Good News Board of Directors, and as chairman of the Consultation on the Future of the United Methodist Church which met in Atlanta, Ga. in the spring of 1994 and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Confessing Movement Within the United Methodist Church which was founded as a result of that meeting.
Personal: Born in Beverly, Ohio, 1935; Married, Carole L. Snyder, They have 7 children.
Education: Graduated Beverly High School, 1953~ attended Ohio University, 1953-54~ Ohio Northern University, 1955- 56~ Graduated Marietta College, 1960~ Graduated The Methodist Theological School in Ohio, 1963
Honors: Elected Phi Beta Kappa, graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Philosophy and Psychology, 1960; M. Div. Methesco, 1963; received the Denman Evangelism Award from the East Ohio Conference, 1989.
Ministry: Received License to Preach, 1956 - Ordained Deacon, June 1961 - Elder, June 1963 - Served 7 years as student pastor, West Ohio Conference - And in Full Connection in East Ohio since 1963 - Retired, June 2000.
Travel: 1973 Travel and personal research in England.
1974 World Methodist Convocation on Evangelism, Jerusalem.
1977 Led a travel seminar to Israel.
1982 Led a travel seminar to Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Greece.
1983 Participant in "Awake Australia" Mission.
1989 Personal travel to England, Scotland and Wales.
1998 Study Leave, Tyndall House, Cambridge University, Cambridge, England.
2005 Led a travel seminar of Paul’s 4th Missionary Journey to Greece and Italy