Rachel Howlett, one of our ordinands who will be ordained this summer says candidly that her calling to ministry has been a long time coming and is one she spent years trying to avoid. “I think the journey started when I was about 14. I’m 42 now. So, it’s been a long journey, probably for the most part it has just been me running away from it a little bit.”
Although her family weren’t regular churchgoers, Rachel says she discovered her faith as a teenager in school. Her original plan was to study theology and go into ministry, but life took other turns. “I got a bit sidetracked and became a teacher, then spent many years as a mum, and then went into children’s and youth ministry, which is where I’ve been for the last 10 years.”
All the time her sense of calling never went away. “I had a lot of excuses as to why I shouldn’t do it, but also, I think I was afraid I wouldn’t be good enough. The realisation that no one’s really good enough, but that God equips those he calls really helped me.”
Rachel’s work in teaching, parenting, and youth ministry has shaped her approach. “Whatever age I’m working with, it’s the same skills, listening, relating, walking alongside people. This year I’ve been working with people in their 90s, and I’ve found it’s not very different from working with young people.”
Rachel says she believes the Church needs more people who understand children, teenagers, and families. “There’s a gap in a lot of churches. We need to think about their experience of church and what it looks like for them to belong.”
Rachel will serve her curacy in the Saint J's Group with Wellow (Benefice) and one of the things she is most looking forward to is being fully rooted in the community she will serve. “I’ve worked in churches before, but I’ve never lived in the parish. I’m really excited about being grounded, being there for the everyday interactions, seeing people at the shops, when they are walking their dog, being part of it all.”
She’s inspired by the work already happening in her new parish. “They’re doing great things with social action, young people, and prophetic ministry. I’m looking forward to joining in with what God’s already doing there.”
Reflecting on the journey, Rachel says, “It’s taken time. But now it’s the right time. And I trust that God will give me what I need to do what He’s asked me to do.”