Ted Perkin is a member of the CARE Leadership Programme in England, doing research on healthcare-related issues for a member of the House of Lords.
When did you trust Christ?
I grew up in a Christian family and was baptised. In my early years, my parents and Sunday school leaders faithfully taught me the Gospel. Increasingly, I came to understand that Christ’s death called for my full devotion to the Lord.
What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?
I was spiritually nourished at summer camps, particularly Christians In Sport. I eventually claimed my baptismal vows as my own and co-led the Christian Union in Year 12. Before university, I read the Bible and prayed, growing in me a desire to live for Christ. Embedding myself in church at university helped me as I encountered new, challenging ideas. After being elected to the student body, I faced difficult social issues, but this reaffirmed my belief that only God can provide ultimate truth, and we can speak Christ into contemporary culture. Interning in legal policy in Delhi was also formative, particularly being part of a small Evangelical church and volunteering with the Delhi Brotherhood. Their compassion and faithful witness, in a culture often hostile to Christianity, taught me the value of the Church.
What do you hope to gain from participating?
I am looking forward to both the excellent teaching and the networking opportunities. Additionally, I want to learn from others and develop relationships that might benefit my future public ministry.
What is your ministry?
I am a CARE Leadership Programme intern in the House of Lords serving with Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, a leading advocate for palliative care and healthcare, and a lifelong opponent of assisted suicide.
What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?
At All Souls, I helped lead students from across the globe in exploring academic disciplines, studying God's Word and building Christ-like fellowship. I was elected Welfare Officer at Emmanuel College, liaising with college authorities concerning student mental health. Meetings covered an array of social issues, and as the only Christian, I learned to speak my faith and conscience into contemporary politics judiciously and compassionately. As an Emmanuel College Representative at the Cambridge Inter-Collegiate Christian Union, I led Bible studies and outreach events and liaised with the dean.
Why should someone invest in your ministry?
The European Leadership Forum will help me place faith at the centre of my personal and professional development. The knowledge and wisdom I can gain from Christians who have attained significant leadership positions in politics will be crucial to my career in legal and foreign policy, showing me what biblical leadership can look like in a fallen world.
