The Tearfund Story

 1960s

World Refugee year (1960) inspires compassionate Christians to send gifts to the Evangelical Alliance. The terrible 1968 famine in Biafra, caused by civil war in Nigeria, prompts the public launch of the fund under the leadership of George Hoffman. The Evangelical Alliance Relief (TEAR) Fund is born. Cliff Richard gives his first fundraising concert for the cause in the Royal Albert Hall in 1969. Annual income reaches £55,000.

1970s

Tearfund expands. Supporters can give £5 per month to sponsor children in Bangladesh, providing food, healthcare and education through Christian projects. We launch a youth and student programme to inspire young people to radical discipleship. Tearcraft begins providing dignified employment for thousands of skilled workers, selling craft in the UK.
Annual income reaches £3.29m.

 

1980s
The decade of Live Aid, war in Ethioipa, turmoil in Eastern Europe. 1980, Tearfund sends its own medical team in to work in refugee camps in Somalia. 10 million face starvation in Ethioipia, and 1985 sees the biggest charity single and event ever: Band Aid. Tearfund starts a regular giving programme for long-term support for development programmes.
Annual income reaches £14.4m.

1990s

Civil unrest in the Balkans, Rwanda and Sierra Leone. 1993, Tearfund celebrates its 25th anniversary with an award-winning edition of ‘Songs of Praise’. 1994, Tearfund launches a massive appeal and relief response following the Rwandan genocide. Tearfund focuses on world debt as a founder-member of the Jubilee 2000 movement. Hurricane Mitch devastates Central America (1998) and Tearfund joins the Disasters Emergency Committee of relief agencies to appeal for funds.

 

2000s
The dawn of a new millennium sees floods in Africa and South Asia. The Jubilee 2000 campaign achieves qualified success. 2005, as a leading member of the ‘Make Poverty History’ coalition, Tearfund sees the UK church mobilised as never before to speak against injustice. Chronic food crises in Africa dominate the headlines and Tearfund launches emergency appeals, as well as working in long-term development, helping communities adapt to climate change.

Present day
Global recession hits poor communities hardest, as exchange rates cut the value of Tearfund’s funding. Tearfund remains committed to our ten year vision: to release 50 million people from material and spiritual poverty through a worldwide network of 100,000 local churches.

‘When we launched Tearfund’s ten-year vision in 2006, we chose our words with great care,’ says Matthew Frost, Tearfund’s Chief Executive. ‘We asked supporters to “Be part of a miracle.” Not to “Be part of a revolution” or “Be part of a change.” We see from the life and teaching of Jesus that miracles are not dependent on favourable circumstances, but faith and determined actions combined.’