Testimony - Helen Millard, Licensed Lay Minister
"Church life was always part of growing up, but faith felt more like routine than relationship. That changed at age 19, when an unexpected pregnancy brought a sudden awareness of God’s presence and the support of a caring priest. Naming my son Jonathan—“gift from God”—I began a journey of deepening trust in God’s love.
Through years of working in childcare and special education, God continued to guide and surprise me. A wrong turn during vocation discernment became a turning point, leading to joyful Reader training and new friendships. Now serving as Warden of Readers, I know that even on the darkest days, God is near, still knocking, still leading—faithful through it all."
Growing up, church was something I did. Everything I was involved in had links to church. From Sunday school, choir, bellringing and youth club, church was part of normal life. All my friends went to different churches or chapels and we would join together for Singing Festivals and Eisteddfods. Faith wasn’t talked about and although I knew about Jesus and all the stories, no one talked about relationships with God and Jesus.
When I found myself unmarried and pregnant at 19, it was then that God came crashing into my life. I needed the support of the church family and one of the priests at that time, took the time to help and support me through a difficult time. I named my son Jonathan which means ‘gift from God’. He has been my life and I knew I needed to discover more about my relationship with God.
Through teaching him about a God who loves him and me so much, my faith has grown. God is one of surprises which has led me to become a child minder, then on to my training as a Teaching Assistant and my current role in a special needs school, and these have all been part of this journey. God holds me in the palm of his hand because I am his child and he loves me with a love I cannot understand.
God still surprises me with the roles He has led me into. When exploring my vocation, I went to a discernment panel in North Wales in the snow. I should have taken the hint as during my time there, I realised that this was not where God was leading and on leaving, I took a wrong turning. God showed me practically that I was on the wrong road and when I was finally on the right road home, took the wheel to ensure I arrived safely as I cried all the way home. The right road to Reader training gave me great joy as I met so many new friends who still support me today. It allowed me to discover that serving God and working went hand in hand.
Travelling with God is always one of exciting opportunities. Putting all my life into God’s hand and allowing him to speak and show me has allowed me to take on the role as Warden of Readers and become part of the vocation team. Jesus tells us that even if we have faith as small as a mustard seed then nothing will be impossible. Even on my darkest days, God has been there supporting me and helping me through. He continues to knock on my door and I keep opening it so that God can continue to work through all I do.