‘I felt called by God to lead - when I didn’t believe in women in leadership!’

‘The story of Mary and Martha was radically significant for me, Jesus invited Martha to follow the example of Mary. Not radical because he told her to leave the washing up and cooking, but because he celebrated the choice of Mary,’ says Rev Jo Trickey.

Have you ever been in a situation where everyone else can see something about you that you can’t? I had years of people identifying my gift of leadership and I didn’t really believe them. It wasn’t something I set out to be, it was just what came naturally. I’ve always been able to galvanise people to join in with something, which I just saw as encouraging or to take a lead on decisions, which I described it to myself ‘just getting on with it’. I was perceptively described as ‘gently disruptive’ something that I have learnt over time is a key part of my leadership style. Latterly I’ve learnt that other people were seeing God’s calling on my life before me.