Dad-of-three Howard spent 20 years working in insurance before career switch After spending 20 years working in the insurance industry, Howard Thompson knew he was meant for something else.
“I enjoyed my job and I made a reasonable amount of money keeping my family comfortable, but I felt I wanted to do something that helped people in a different way,” explains Howard, who is now the Rev Howard Thompson, pastor of Colchester New Church, in Maldon Road.
“It wasn’t like I was walking through the woods and the clouds parted and God spoke to me.
“I just had a series of moments in my life when I felt there was a call to serve people.
“If it was not through business, then I thought maybe it was through joining the military, then the peace corps.
“At one time, I thought it would be by becoming a psychologist.
“Slowly, I got closer to the idea of helping people through the ministry.”
Howard, a dad of three from Philadelphia, in the USA, came to Colchester two years ago.
Prior to this, he had become increasingly interested in theology and Bible studies, thanks to the church he attended with his wife and family in America and began studying a part-time masters in divinity.
By the end of the first year, Howard, who had studied psychology for his first degree in America, was asked if he wanted to study fulltime.
After graduating, he worked as a pastor at a church near where he lived, preaching and teaching religion.
Howard says: “I enjoyed it and it was a great honour. But then when the opportunity came to serve a small congregation in the UK, I discussed it with my wife and we moved over here.”
His daughter is at university in America and his two sons, aged 12 and eight, are here in Colchester.
Howard and his wife only joined the Church 15 years ago and found they were becoming more involved in it as they learned about its values and those of the community around them.
He says: “It was mainly because of what was happening with our children.
“When you contrast it to some of the things happening with children these days it made a difference, such as not disrespecting your elders, not learning too much about life too early, knowing what is appropriate. That is not to say our children don’t watch movies or play computer games, but not so much of the explicit and violent stuff too soon.”
The good influence on his children spurred Howard to continue being involved in the church until he found his own interest in it deepening.
Now leading a membership of 30 in Colchester, Howard is enjoying life in the town.
He advises others who may be interested in a career in the church to be sure it is for them.
He adds: “I don’t think you can separate your life from you spirituality, so I sense that if you follow the word of God then you show that in your life.
“Obviously, being religious helps, but before you go into it, I would advise people to do some spiritual work themselves. Get counselling, both from a pastor and maybe a psychologist, and do your prayers. It is difficult work and your spiritual work is eternal
