Jo Evans
Jo was part of the Evangelical Alliance advocacy team from 2020-2023 and did project management, writing and resource creation for the UK church. Having grown up in Dubai, Jo moved to the UK to study English and Film in Exeter, before being an assistant youth worker for her church. She is passionate about equipping young people to enter conversations about contemporary issues, and ultimately speak of Jesus, and in her time here she was also the host of the advocacy team's podcast, Cross Section. Jo loves the beach, music, art and food, and is married to Tom.
Climate change: Gospel motivation for a global issue
11 August 2021The report (available on the IPCC website here) is said to be the most robust to date, presenting the thoroughly researched argument that climate change is already impacting the whole world. The University of Oxford's Dr Friederike Otto, one of the many authors of the report, says: "Climate change is not a problem of the future, it's here and now and affecting every region in the world." Some other stark warnings in the report are: Extreme heat will become more frequent.There will be an…
Read more...
Job Creation Project: Supporting entrepreneurs in their non-traditional ministry
29 July 2021One night in university led Reuben’s perspective on God to change drastically. He was coming home one wet evening when he passed a homeless man sitting on the pavement. When Reuben leant down to give the man some money and ask him how he was doing, the man began weeping. He explained that people rarely asked him how he was and went on to share his story with Reuben. This interaction led Reuben’s perspective on God’s character to shift. “My ‘born again again’ experience was really understanding…
Read more...
Theos report: We have an opportunity to humanise work
21 July 2021In January 2021 Theos commissioned YouGov to carry out polling that found 33 per cent of “work is just a way of earning to provide for life’s necessities” and 45 per cent say they would retrain for a different career if given the opportunity. In a society that is generally dissatisfied with work, authors of the report Paul Bickley and Barbara Ridpath argue that the “nature and importance” of work, as well as how it can contribute to human flourishing, can be better understood when viewed…
Read more...
Helping the refugee feel at home
19 July 2021In April, the Evangelical Alliance wrote about the Government’s new plan for immigration and urged members to fill in a consultation opposing the two-tiered system which will grade people based on how they entered the UK, regardless of the complex experiences of people seeking asylum. These proposals are now being discussed in parliament in the Nationality and Borders Bill, and I hope the outcome is favourable for those seeking asylum. But as conversations develop, how can we use the tools…
Read more...
Job Creation Project: a ministry for the local church
1 July 2021“I love the idea that helping young people get back into work could be seen as part of the ministry of the local church,” he says. Mike shares different ways the local church can help connect the dots between work and the Christian faith. Through serving the local community as people seek employment, Mike believes we can ultimately point them to Jesus. Mike on running a CAP job club Mike trained as a Christians Against Poverty (CAP) Job Club manager, and has run their Steps to Employment Course…
Read more...
Salt and light in a mental health crisis
21 June 2021In the Queen’s speech, which marked the opening of a new session of parliament, the issue was addressed as the Government set out its Mental Health Recovery Action Plan. There will be a one-off targeted investment of £500 million to ensure that support is in place over the coming year for everyone who needs it. However, experts say that NHS services have a very real risk of being over-run, and many people's needs are desperate. In the face of a mental health crisis, how can followers of Jesus…
Read more...
Job Creation Project: Tackling start-ups and self-employment
17 June 2021Like many entrepreneurs, Jerry has faced setbacks but hasn’t let these deter him. After being made redundant twice, Jerry became self-employed. He went on to set up a number of enterprises including a tech company, a social enterprise and a call centre in Palestine. With all this experience, Jerry is an invaluable voice into the Evangelical Alliance's Job creation project. He says, “I think I’ve taken more risks since becoming a Christian, because I know my home and my treasure is…
Read more...
Job Creation Project: The church transforming lives by creating jobs
20 May 2021Paul has a background of music, design and video, and for a long time was self-employed as well as working for a church. In 2009, he was asked to help with the project. He ended up creating the business plan and becoming project manager. Six years into the project, Paul also became senior pastor. I spoke to Paul in mid-May, just days before Xcel Bowl was able to open its doors to the public again. Paul on starting a bowling alley Along with his team, Paul approached the county council to ask if…
Read more...
UK competition to help churches support those facing unemployment
17 May 2021As part of our job creation project, we want to signpost to organisations and initiatives that are also championing Christian action in the unemployment crisis. Last week, Cinnamon Network UK, together with The Mercers’ Company, launched their annual incubator competition. The competition seeks to find brilliant church-led social action projects and replicate that work in other churches across the country. This year, Cinnamon want to find a project that will help churches build capacity to…
Read more...
Job Creation Project: a conversation with Joëlle Warren MBE
13 May 2021Joëlle Warren MBE founded recruitment firm Warren Partners in 1999, and runs her business with an ethos based on Matthew 7:12: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” Joëlle is a founding partner of Warren Partners, a leading UK executive search firm which supports and recruits executive and non-executive directors across the UK and internationally. She serves as Her Majesty’s vice-lord lieutenant for Cheshire, which is where she lives. In this conversation, Joëlle…
Read more...
Job Creation Project: Catalyse Change co-founder talks “releasing kingdom potential” in business
6 May 2021Rich: "Catalyse Change has been set up to release 'kingdom potential'" At the heart of Catalyse Change and CREO, the charity's initiative for entrepreneurs, is the belief that God’s people are to embody and extend God’s kingdom now as in heaven, wherever God has placed them. Rich says, “That might be how you parent, how you lead a team, how you create jobs. It’s spiritual, social and systemic change.” Rich believes that the responsibilities we have in life are God-given, and as such we ought to…
Read more...