Tabitha von Kaufmann is an intern with the CARE Leadership Programme in the UK.
When did you trust Christ?
I grew up in a Christian home and have followed Jesus for as long as I can remember. When I was 15, I decided to declare my faith formally and commit to following Jesus at my confirmation service.
What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?
As a teenager, regularly attending youth group and Christian summer camps and assisting with Sunday School encouraged me and helped me make my faith my own. I was well supported by my youth group when facing opposition to my faith. At Cambridge, I attended church, Bible studies, and meetings of the Queen's College Christian Union and Christians in Sport. Studying theology significantly enriched my faith, as God continually sustained me and answered my prayers. After university, I went to Buenos Aires for five months and was amazed to see God’s faithfulness in a completely new context.
What do you hope to gain from participating?
I am looking forward to the world-class teaching at ELF in areas that are relevant not only to my work with CARE but also to my own spiritual development. I would like to meet others who have a calling to serve God in the public square and share experiences. My hope is to develop contacts who might benefit my public ministry in the future.
What is your ministry?
The CARE Leadership Programme trains young adults to lead in the public square. As an intern with Good Faith Partnership, I am working on several projects that aim to expand the influence of Christianity in public life in the UK. The first is building stronger relationships between faith communities and government; the second is uniting 16 Christian denominations to tackle social issues; and the final project is examining the potential impact of AI on faith communities and proposing safeguards.
What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?
As president of Embrace, I coordinated three successful donation drives for the homeless in Cambridge and devised an initiative to collaborate with the university to create apprenticeships for the homeless. I led the Queens’ College Christian Union group and Christians in Sport, holding weekly Bible studies, organising events, and serving as team leader for youth summer camps. I now serve on the kid’s team at church and lead sessions for children ages four through seven.
Why should someone invest in your ministry?
Currently, I am in a position to contribute in ways that can positively influence policies in the public square. I am committed to using my knowledge and skills to achieve meaningful change in government and charitable enterprises and also benefit the church. I seek to grow professionally and serve the body of Christ more faithfully.
