New pastor plans to build on work in the community (From Watford Observer)

New pastor plans to build on work in the community

2:30pm Saturday 11th October 2008

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By Filip Hnizdo »

ALREADY absorbed in the town’s community after a decade of voluntary work, a new pastor shows no sign of limiting her support to the walls of her North Watford church.

Before her official appointment as minister of the Woodside Church of the Nazarene on Sunday, former healthcare worker Erica Tuxworth spent years as chaplain for youth charities Girlabout and Connections.

Regardless of her new role, she said she would continue this work listening and advising girls and young women of all faiths in drop-in sessions in Watford and Bushey Hall School.

She said: “There’s always this myth that ministers only work on a Sunday, which is not quite true. Officially, I should work five days a week but it’s quite often seven.

“With Girlabout and Connections I help girls with issues like teenage pregnancies, post abortion counselling, boyfriend trouble. The charity itself is a Christian charity but of course you don’t preach to them, you just offer them help.”

The church, in The Brow, is close to two schools and a housing estate, providing a congregation filled with young people and families.

Erica said: “We have quite a high percentage of people from the estate.

“We have some that drive in now but most are from the estate originally. This church is very keen on community and I really believe in building relationships, just showing people care and support.”

Popular groups ranging from a youth group to a coffee stop for the elderly are already in place and Erica said she was keen to expand and improve them.

She said: “The youth group play volleyball, basketball and football. It’s all been going on Sunday evenings for quite some time and it is predominantly teenagers from the estate.

“They all come in and ride their bikes through the church. They’re great lads, great people but have issues.”

Prior to her work as a minister and assistant minister, Erica, 46, worked as practice manager for a GP clinic in Bolton and as business manager for the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Strategic Health Authority in St Albans.

She said this work had been a “great grounding” for her current role.

Before officially joining the Woodside church, she was one of its guest speakers for around eight years while she was involved with the North Watford Church of the Nazarene in Balmoral Road.

She said: “I’m already plugged in to the church but there are a few people I don’t know yet. Still, it’s not quite the unknown.”

Erica lives in Rosecroft Drive with her husband David. They have four children, Gareth, 23, twins Claire and Ceri, 19, and Thomas, seven.

While balancing all her roles and responsibilities in Watford she is currently studying to become ordained as a reverend.

When asked if she was looking forward to having a “rev” title in front of her name however, she replied: “I’m just Erica. I don’t mind about anything like that.”

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