From right, retiring CEO Paul Leonard and newly named CEO Jonathan Reckford are working together for a smooth leadership transition. Here they help raise a wall on Habitat's 200,000th house.

A Perfect Fit

By Paul Leonard

When I arrived at the headquarters of Habitat for Humanity International nearly 16 months ago, I thought I knew this ministry well. After all, I had led a local Habitat affiliate; I had chaired Habitat's International Board of Directors; I had participated in Habitat for Humanity house builds all over the world.

But I had not met the thousands of Habitat volunteers and supporters I have been privileged to meet during these past months as managing director and, then, as interim chief executive officer of the Habitat ministry. Wherever I have traveled--whether for Habitat speaking engagements, for meetings with corporate partners, or to Habitat affiliate events--I have been awed and humbled by the passion and commitment people bring to their support of this work.

This has been a God-inspired movement from its beginning, and I am confident, as I begin wrapping up my assignment here, that God has sent a leader capable of guiding Habitat forward into a bright future of service in building houses and hope, in building bridges between people, in building healthier communities for all, from around the corner to around the globe.

	This has been a God-inspired movement from the beginning; I am confident ... God has sent a leader capable of guiding Habitat forward.

In selecting the next CEO, the board was looking for someone with Christian character and compassion, a life that had demonstrated not just the ability to say the words, but to live the words. We found that person in Jonathan Reckford.

We were looking for someone with experience in change management, who understands that every day you get up may not go exactly as you planned, that you have to be flexible. We found that person in Jonathan.

We sought candidates who believed in diversity, not just as a glib comment, but in their lives, the way they had lived, the people they had associated with. We found such a person in Jonathan.

And we wanted someone who had international experience, someone who understood difference in cultures and was sensitive to the needs of people around the world. We found that person in Jonathan.

With Jonathan stepping into the CEO role, I look forward to returning to volunteer service with Habitat, confident in the knowledge that capable and committed leadership is in place to move this ministry forward.

Thank you for your past faithful support of Habitat for Humanity. Thank you for continuing to care about those so in need of simple, decent, affordable homes. Thank you for the support I know Jonathan Reckford and Habitat can count on from you for this important work in the years ahead.