As a rebellious teenager who was banned from church, Gav in Calver seemed to be the unlikeliest candidate to eventually become the third generation in his family to lead The Evangelical Alliance.
But that became reality in July 2019 when at the age of 39 he was announced as the new CEO for the EA, taking over from Steve Clifford who stepped down after a decade’s service.
“It wasn’t just my dad Clive who led the Evangelical Alliance but also my grandfather, Gilbert Kirby, who went on to launch Tearfund – The Evangelical Alliance Relief fund,” reflects Gavin on his family’s incredible heritage. I feel excited and daunted and I’m up for the challenge. I’m absolutely, utterly aware I’m in the middle of God’s call, and when God calls he does equip. But I can’t pretend that it doesn’t feel like the target on my back has gotten bigger and the challenge in front of me gotten greater; but my God can move mountains. We’re believing for great things.”
God’s calling on his life wasn’t quite that clear when Gavin walked away from church life during his teenage years. “As a young person I was banned from church when I was 14 for six months. I struggled at church and found it difficult. When I was 17 my mum and dad moved to the other side of the world to run the American Tearfund. I spent a number of months after that doing some silly things and messing around.”
But all that changed the day after Gavin’s 18th birthday party.
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