I am so excited for you to meet the amazing Helen Calder and find out about her life, including how she started her thriving online Prophetic ministry which is where I first encountered her.
I have been reading Helen’s teaching on the prophetic for several years and have found her teaching very easy to understand, accessible and so encouraging. She has inspired me massively in writing my own blog and reaching out to encourage others into all they are called to be. She is genuine, authentic with her own story, and totally enabling, helping others to step out. Her writing brings life as you read it and her words are powerful and timely. I’m so inspired by the life she leads doing what God calls her and her husband to, as they are in ministry together.
What a total treat to introduce her to you….
What prophetic words have shaped your life/ministry?
I have a drawer filled with prophetic words, some of which are now more than 25 years old. Many of these have now come to pass, or are in the process of being fulfilled.
One common theme of the prophecies has been God’s call to nations, which has been fulfilled in many ways (my husband Malcolm and I spent 17 years serving in a mission organisation) and is currently being outworked through the global online ministry of Enliven Blog, as well as the launch of Enliven Ministries.
Have there been any pivotal/tipping point moments in your life/ministry that have changed your direction?
In the late 1990’s I went through failure and restoration in prophetic and prayer ministry in my local church. There was a pivotal time when I could have walked away from my church, hurt and discouraged. However, by God’s grace I was able to stay and work through the issues and offences. My attitude and values were overhauled. (There was some deliverance in there too). I was powerfully restored and my husband and I were later released by our pastor, as well as our own ministry board, to our call in Australia.
I often say that when it comes to prophetic ministry, I made every mistake in the book—then discovered there wasn’t a book, so I wrote it! That book was ‘Prophetic People in a Changing Church’, which I published in 2007. This turned out to be another tipping point as Enliven Blog was launched from that project
We all hear from God differently. How do you hear from God?
I receive from God mostly through pictures and visions, so I relate to the ministry of a ‘seer’. However, The Holy Spirit also communicates to me in many other ways. I have a great passion for Scripture, which I consider the primary way I hear from God, as well as being my prophetic ‘plumb line’
Who has been an inspiration in your life or a spiritual parent to you?
In my lifetime, there have been great men and women of God who have mentored and inspired me. This includes my husband Malcolm, who is my champion, as well as partner in ministry.
It was an unforgettable day in 2010 when I sat with Prophet David McCracken and his wife Margaret in the office of their home. That day, they invited me onto their ministry team. To have my call to preach, teach and prophesy affirmed by a prophet and spiritual father after so many years of waiting (I was 46 at that time) was a profound moment in my life. The mentoring I have received as a member of David McCracken’s close-knit team has been invaluable. I also consider it a great privilege to have had my brand new ministry (Enliven Ministries) recently launched within the David McCracken Ministries family
What do you do whilst waiting for promises to be fulfilled?
I believe in taking the next tiny step—no matter how small. Even when I had no audience, I loved to spend hours studying scripture, learning and writing. Before I was a prophetic minister, I served in a local church, and spent 6 years assisting a senior pastor administratively. What I learned during those years, serving behind the scenes, I value more than gold.
I don’t think we ever stop ‘waiting’, because our Father always has more for us and our hearts always pull us forward. I believe in ‘active waiting’—serving faithfully even in small ways. That’s what it takes to not only dream His dreams, but to possess His promises.
How have you coped with any disappointments in your life/ministry?
Yes there have been lots! Forgive, forgive, forgive—and move on.
What has been the key to breakthrough in your life/ministry?
Definitely teachability—being willing to learn and to have leaders bring adjustment when needed. And honour—especially honouring local church, and spiritual oversight. Adversity is the true test in these areas. This is where I failed, and this is also the most important thing God has used, not only to train me, but also to release promotion in my life, beyond anything I could have imagined.
What do you want to see God do in your life?
Sarah, I love that you’ve used the words ‘in your life’ and not ‘through your life’. I want to know Jesus, I want to be intimately acquainted with God—and I desire for my life to reflect Him. The more I know Him the more astonished I am at Who He is; His love, grace, glory and beauty. I feel the Father’s heartbeat for people. My mini mission statement for a long time has been, ‘to know Him and to make Him known.’
What have been your biggest obstacles and how have you overcome them?
If I could name one obstacle, it would be intimidation—I have always been one to hold back. I am naturally introverted and (historically) shy. Obedience is the best means of overcoming fear—my Father continually calls me to walk with Him outside of my comfort zones. All I do is choose to say ‘yes’ and obey—regardless of how I feel. That’s an ongoing challenge!
Do you have a daily routine with God and what does that look like?
I spend time walking with God most days—I love walking by water and worshipping and talking with my Father. That’s when the Holy Spirit speaks to me most clearly. My connection with the Bible these days tends to be more spontaneous—taking deep and lavish splurges as well as small daily bites. For many years, I did daily ‘read through the Bible in a year’ devotions. This foundation has formed a deep well that I draw from.
We connected through your amazing on-line ministry but how did you get started in this?
After I published my book ‘Prophetic People in a Changing Church’ (my ‘true confessions of a failed and restored prophetic Christian’ story), my friends who helped me build the website encouraged me to start a blog. I hesitated for a couple of months, wondering how I could find things to write about on a consistent basis. I find this amusing now, because Enliven Blog will be 8 years old in July and by then I will have written around 400 articles on the topics of prophecy, discernment, prayer and similar themes.
In December 2016, we passed the milestone of one million unique visitors to Enliven Blog. I continually receive feedback and testimonies from people who have encountered God through this ministry and I give all the glory to Jesus. Truly, God can take our failure and turn it into favour. He can take our mess and turn it into a message. That is the power of the cross.
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I hope you are as inspired by Helen as I am and that you find her Enliven teaching blog and books extremely encouraging and easy to read.
There are free resources on her page including this prophetic art book: Art that reflects the heart of God.
I have read all Helen’s books and have found them massively helpful. My top pick would be: Grow Your Prophetic and Prayer Gifts which I have read many times, especially in the early days of growing in the prophetic and wanting to find out more about it. She really makes it clear that there are different stages when growing in the gift and explains each one so you understand where you are and what to look out for next.
There are 10 inspiring ladies in this series so if you have missed one you can link to it from here:
Inspired By Ladies
Helen Calder
Kingdom Calling Blog... 