INTRODUCING - Rev. HELEN HIGGIN-BOTHAM

Dear Friends,

For those of you who don’t know me yet, I’m Helen, and I’m the United Reformed Church Minister at Fulwood URC and Christ Church in Longridge. I was Ordained and Inducted to these churches back in June of 2007, so I’ve made it through my first year in Pastoral Charge!!

In many ways that glorious day last year – despite the pouring rain! – was the culmination of many years of journeying and preparation that began back in 1957 in Colne in Lancashire. I was born into a very active Methodist family – my Dad was a local preacher and baker & confectioner, and my Mum seemed to be on every church committee going, as well as minding the busy shop. My three older sisters and one older brother meant that I was never without someone to argue with – and growing up there was always a hive of activity.

Going to church was something you didn’t argue about – you went and that was that. But I didn’t mind, mostly! And then, one day, during an Evangelical Mission week by some folks from Cliff College in 1969, I decided to give my life to God. It seemed to be the right thing to do, but I wasn’t very good at keeping my promise. God was always there, but I was becoming an expert in ignoring Him when it suited me. However, God wasn’t ignoring me! Whatever He saw in me needed a lot of nurturing, and over the next 20 years, events were to prove critical in shaping the disciple I was to become.

I did the normal school/college thing – but wasn’t overly successful; in 1977 I got married, believing that I had found my niche in life; in late 1980 our first son, Daniel was born, closely followed by Richard in early 1982; life was rosy – but God had been pushed out of it.

I was to come down to earth with a bump in 1983 when I discovered my husband was and had been unfaithful – so I returned to Colne and the security of my parents. By this time, Dad had gone into full-time ministry and was in his second pastorate at Whalley Methodist Church. The love of my family and the welcome of that congregation put me back in touch with God, finally resulting in me rededicating my life to Him during a Billy Graham Mission England event at Anfield Football Ground.

Life was rosy once more, and this time God was in charge, mostly – but He hadn’t finished with me! In 1986 I married Colin – my No. 1 support after God – and in 1988, our daughter Charlotte was born – but in many ways the biggest turmoil of my life was still to come. Colin was in the Royal Signals but left in 1989, and we settled first in Portsmouth, and then over the water in Gosport, Hampshire. ‘Civilian’ life had its share of ups and downs, but we were like any other young family – just trying to make ends meet. We both became members of Drayton Methodist Church, and enjoyed making a contribution there, though once in Gosport, our nearest church, St. Columba’s United Reformed Church, became our spiritual home.

It is at this point that I must try to compact things – or risk taking up the whole of your magazine! Suffice to say that a series of events took place from 1989 to 1999 which left me in a very dark place. There is no easy way to explain what happened, it was partly circumstances, partly our own fault, partly the pressures of bringing up three children, but we were left with very little money and no home.

A large part of my life had become filled with a blackness I didn’t understand and a restlessness I couldn’t escape from. As a family unit – Colin, myself, and the children were as strong as ever – but I still had this mass of black cloud hovering over me wherever I went. If everyone else was coping with the situation, then why wasn’t I? It was then that I was diagnosed with Clinical Depression – and whilst medication helped, and still does, I felt there was a lot more to discover. My illness became the turning point at which God began some pretty radical changes in my life.

Looking back, I have come to realise that it was only through being at that low point...at that time...that I was finally able to respond to the still small voice of God I’d been trying to ignore for most of my life. Before then, I fulfilled my Christian duty on my terms – and cried out to God when I needed Him. Now it became increasingly clear that God needed more from me; and so for my spiritual life to have meaning, I must stop fighting whatever it was that God had planned – stop making excuses that I didn’t have the time, or the resources, or the energy, and just surrender to His will. Only then would I know the joy and peace of mind that I craved for – only then would the black clouds begin to go away.

I had a brief spell of writing poetry about how I felt – something which was very cathartic and seemed to help others too. I accepted a call to become an Elder – and whilst this was rewarding, I somehow knew that it wasn’t enough. I began to take part in leading worship – something which felt right and which I enjoyed. I then began what was to be a three year commitment to the United Reformed Church’s Lay Training Scheme – ‘Training for Learning and Serving’ – but still there was something missing.

Then, finally I faced what it was that I had been unwilling to face. I realised that ‘the something missing’ in my journey with God was an acceptance of His call to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament – and believe me, no-one could have been more surprised than I was, to realise that the first 45 years of my life were in preparation for this!

And so, after years of soul-searching, another four years at the URC’s Theological Training College in Cambridge, one Degree, and a great deal of tears and laughter, God finally had me where He wanted me – in Preston, with some wonderful people, some great colleagues, and yet still an awful lot to learn! Never doubt that God has a plan for you – and never doubt in your ability to say ‘Yes’ – because whatever it is, and whatever you have to face to get there, God never lets go and will always equip you.

Yours in Christ