Abi Jarvis
Abi Jarvis is the public leadership co-ordinator at the Evangelical Alliance, seeking to equip Christians with the skills and confidence to be faithful leaders in the places where God has called them. She has responsibility for the SENT course and the Public Leader: England curriculum.
Abi has a BA in Ancient History, an MSc in Political Communication and is currently studying for an MA in Kingdom Theology at WTC. She enjoys going to the theatre, watches too many American TV dramas, and somehow became responsible for daily office exercises despite her hatred of all things sporty. Much to her dismay, Abi ticks the box for pretty much every stereotypical feature of a PK – a pastor's kid.
Book review: Leading – The Millennial Way
17 June 2019Using the research and Simon’s extensive leadership experience, the book investigates major traits of millennial leaders and considers how these traits can be considered benefits, rather than the stereotypical negative assumptions often made about them. For example, the authors challenge the idea that millennials aren’t committed to their work because they tend to leave by 5.30pm. Instead, they suggest that millennials are committed to all aspects of their lives, and the healthy lifestyle this…
Read more...
A heritage from the Lord
13 June 2019I don’t have children, but I recognise the crucial role that early years child care provision can play. If I’m honest, my main memory from play school is being called Abigail and not recognising it as my own name (I was always Abi). What I only understand as an adult is that my time at play school enabled my dad to give his time to the church he pastored, and for my mum to undertake a degree in social work, eventually working within early years provision herself. My aunt runs a childcare…
Read more...
Julian Richer – what a Christian public leader
20 May 2019In addition to this, a third of the £9.2m he received for the shares is being given back to the staff (excluding the directors), who will receive £1,000 for every year they have worked for the retailer. The average pay-out will be £8,000 but there are 39 employees with more than 20 years’ service. As one employee put it, “This amount of money is life-changing for anyone. I was nearly in tears, but it doesn’t surprise me. Julian is an amazing person.” This clearly isn’t a case of someone making…
Read more...
Turning the tide on youth-related violence
11 April 2019On Saturday I was part of a crowd at Trafalgar Square, London, that had come out to show locals and tourists from around the world that the church stands against knife crime. That evening I went to the cinema and a request that some people stop talking during the film resulted in a young woman threatening to kill my friend. Yesterday I read that 13 prison officers at Feltham Young Offenders Institution had been taken to hospital after being assaulted by teenage prisoners over the weekend,…
Read more...
The head, not the tail
27 February 2019I love these verses not only because of their focus on justice, mercy and humility, but because they are active, intentional actions that effect our relationships with each other and with God. We are instructed not to simply approve of the theoretical concepts but to embody justice, mercy and humility as we act, love and walk. When we act in godly ways, we reflect the One who made us. As many involved in justice and mercy ministries can testify, such public demonstrations of our faith are a…
Read more...
Marie Kondo and the charitable giver
24 January 2019Anecdotal stories suggest that charities have seen a great upswing in donations this month, partially due to a Netflix series from tidiness expert Marie Kondo. Kondo’s show apparently encourages people to ask whether their possessions are giving them joy and if not, they’re advised to give them away. Shop staff have reported that they have been inundated with items that have Kondo’s ‘signature fold’. I’m all for decluttering. I’m a bit of a hoarder myself, especially with books, and always…
Read more...
Christmas: Emmanuel in public leadership
7 December 2018It might seem like an obvious message, but there was great power in hearing these words from senior national leaders in politics, the army and the charity sector. These weren’t just theories, this is the reality for men and women who have spent decades fulfilling their calling from God. Knowing that God is with us is essential in carrying public leaders through times of opposition, giving boldness in pursuing work and comfort in failure. It doesn’t mean that crisis isn’t stressful or that…
Read more...
Prenatal testing for Down’s Syndrome: a slippery slope?
21 September 2018If you don’t know much about Down’s Syndrome testing then, on first viewing, Jane Fisher’s statements on Radio 4 this week might sound appealing. The new non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), she says, is safer and more accurate than the current test, is already available in Wales, is being held up by bureaucracy, and women in England are “desperate” for it. Those campaigning against the test are hardly worth a response, it seems from the interview, so their arguments can’t be that important.…
Read more...
Four ways to support Christians in the arts
20 September 2018In July 2018 we hosted a roundtable for Christians working in, or supporting those in, the arts. This included church leaders, filmmakers, Christians in fashion and the fine and performing arts, and representatives from Morphē Arts and the Arts Centre Group. The conversation revolved around three main topics: what leadership in the arts looks like, the challenges facing Christians in the arts, and how churches – both as a body and a collection of individuals – can support and encourage those…
Read more...
Leading in the community – the role of magistrates
25 July 2018Ian Rawley is the senior pastor of New Life Church, Cambridge. As well as leading his local church, he travels extensively around the world, helping church leaders and encouraging churches. He is also involved in humanitarian work, especially in the global south. Ian has served in various roles as a magistrate in Cambridge, including being chairman of the local advisory sub-committee that recruits, interviews and recommends potential new magistrates for appointment. Athos Ritsperis spent 16…
Read more...
Jethro and the art of delegation
25 July 2018A young public leader recently told us “We see delegation as a failure…we feel inadequate as we don’t have the gifts to do every single bit of it”. Delegation is a crucial part of leadership. It is simply not possible to do everything yourself. I have written previously about the importance of having a support network for your vision. But delegation isn’t just about support, it’s about utilising the gifts of others – gifts you may not have – to advance your shared vision. In Romans 12:6-8, Paul…
Read more...