Nigel Harris prepares to hand over his role as Tearfund CEO

‘In the nearly 40,000 churches and communities we are working with right now, all of these things are already happening. This is the church’s story. But, I believe God is genuinely using Tearfund to be an agency that supports the church to get this work started and to help it to grow and multiply in reach and impact. And if we hold to having Christ at the centre of everything we do, that will only continue to expand under new leadership.’

Finishing strong: the next six months

Nigel’s leaving date is planned for June 2025 and he says, ‘While I remain as chief executive for these next six months, it is my commitment to all of you that I want to finish as well as I possibly can to do all I can to help set up my successor, whoever that may be, and to give everything in these last six months as, I hope, I’ve given everything over the past nine years.

‘In my time at Tearfund, I’ve been privileged to visit more than 25 countries and I’ve seen churches acting as centres of hope and transformation, and that is still my testimony to you all: I believe that transformation is possible. And I believe that individual lives, communities and nations can be changed by the power of the gospel. And that is the hope of the world manifested through the local and global church.

‘As I look out into the world, I see two massively contrasting themes and a significant spiritual battle – I see a deeply traumatised and conflicted world, and I see the church bringing the good news of Jesus to the most deprived, and the most marginalised.

‘I’ve seen that transformation happen. I’ve been a witness to the church bringing change with the support of Tearfund. I have such faith in our loving and all-powerful God and his calling on his church.’

The yeast in the yeast

For Tearfund staff and partner staff around the world, Nigel’s smile, compassion and enthusiasm for pursuing the call of God, both as the church and as Tearfund are well known. His leadership style is personal and heartfelt and he will be greatly missed – including for his unique way of expressing things at times. In summing up Tearfund’s continued calling, he says, ‘The parable Jesus told of the yeast (in Matthew 13:33) speaks to us of the church’s role in bringing transformation in the world, and I feel like Tearfund is that yeast. Or perhaps, as we serve the church, we are the yeast in the church – we’re the yeast in the yeast!

‘I would like to thank all of you for your prayer, support and friendship. It has been such a privilege to be part of the worldwide body of Christ with you all, to share relationships all around the world and to work together in supporting the church to bring transformation.

‘Above all, I give glory to God and thank him for his faithfulness to Tearfund and to me.’

A word from Anna Laszlo, Tearfund’s Chair of the Board of Trustees

‘Under Nigel’s leadership, Tearfund has identified and tested its calling to be a servant of the church as the church responds to its calling to be salt and light and to bring transformation into the world.

‘With his deep passion for supporting those living in deepest poverty to define their own future, his strong faith in God and in God’s plan for the church, and his clear thinking, Nigel has led Tearfund into a place of focus and clarity on its role. As a result, individuals, relationships, churches and communities have been, and continue to be, deeply and sustainably changed.

‘Nigel has been a genuine servant leader, combining vision, strength and humility. Tearfund has been greatly blessed in this. He has led Tearfund in walking closely with and relying on God in all things as we follow him where the need is greatest.

‘On behalf of the Board and Tearfund as a whole, I give huge thanks to Nigel for all he has brought to and done for Tearfund. I wish him every joy both in the coming six months, and in the season that will follow.’