Malawi’s new president, Lazarus Chakwera, personifies the grace of God. Born to subsistence farmers in a village without running water or electricity, his two elder brothers, sadly, died in infancy. When their new baby was born, his father—also a preacher, evangelist and church planter—had a vision the boy would escape the fate of his two older brothers. So he named him Lazarus, after the biblical character raised from the dead.

As it turns out, young Lazarus would go far beyond simply surviving. He earned degrees in Philosophy and Theology, spent more than 20 years as the head of one of the country’s largest denominations, the Assemblies of God, became a respected professor in theology and studied in the US as well, graduating with a doctorate from Trinity International University in 2000.

But the challenges have been tremendous. The family had no electricity or running water, barely enough food, and young Lazarus seemed almost pathologically shy.  Educators had taken notice of his brilliance, however, and he ended up being chosen to go to a more prestigious secondary school. There, he learned his distinct American accent by mimicking a teacher, he says.

He initially had ambitions to be a doctor so he “wouldn’t have to talk to large numbers of people” (he talks more about that in the short video below). 

During his education he says he met God, and felt Him "began to redirect my life towards ministry.” Then, about a decade into leading the Assemblies of God, Dr. Chakwera sensed a new call. 

“God spoke to my heart. He said, ‘I am not pulling you out of ministry. Instead I am extending your ministry. I want you to get into politics.”

So, in 2013, Dr. Chakwera ran for office and became leader of the Malawi Congress Party. He spent the next six years serving in congress and in the presidential election held last month, after more than a year of political protests, Chakwera won with 58 percent of the vote. It was the first time in Africa that a court-overturned vote resulted in the defeat of an incumbent president.

He officially took office on June 28, and his second week in, called on the African nation to join in three days of prayer and fasting against the spread of COVID-19.

The 85% Christian country has fared remarkably well against the virus so far, bringing in restrictions before even any cases were detected and staying on guard with both precautions and prayer. Still, the pandemic has taken a significant economic toll on one of the world’s poorest countries.

“With your help we will restore faith in having a government that serves, not a government that rules,” the new president pledged in his inauguration speech. “A government that inspires, not a government that infuriates; a government that listens, not a government that shouts; a government that fights for you and not against you.”

He is married to Monica, and the couple have four children. Please pray for him, his family and for Malawi; that the new government would lead wisely and justly, and shine the light of Jesus across the whole of Africa.