Malawi
June 26th

“Malawi will serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness, all its days!!”

in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. (Luke 1:75,NIV)

》 Country Profile

Continent | Africa
Population | 21.27 million
Area |118,484㎢, Located along Lake Malawi in the inland central-eastern Africa.
Capital City | Lilongwe (1.27 million people)
People Groups | Total 26 groups, Chewa 34.3%, Lomwe 18.8%, Yao 13.2%, Ngoni 10.4%, Tumbuka 9.2%, Sena 3.8%, Mang’anja 3.2%, Tonga 1.8%
People Groups Unreached | 4 Groups (10.9% of the population)
Official Language(s) | English, Chichewa
Total Languages | 23
Bible Translations | Completed 16, New Testament 4, Partial 1
Religion | Christian 74% (31% Protestant, 36% Catholic), Muslim 15.4%, Ethnic religions 8.2%, Evangelical 17% (3.61 million people)

》 About Malawi

Malawi derives its name from the Maravi Kingdom. It became a British protectorate in 1892, later known as the British Central Africa Protectorate from 1893 to 1907. From 1953 to 1963, it was part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland before gaining independence in 1964. Following independence, Hastings Banda ruled for 30 years, imposing a harsh dictatorship. In 1993, a multi-party democracy was introduced through a national referendum. Malawi operates under a presidential system, and since 2020, Lazarus Chakwera has been serving as president.

Malawi remains one of the poorest countries in the world, with approximately 80% of the population engaged in agriculture. The country faces severe food shortages, exacerbated by rapid population growth, limited farmland, unpredictable weather conditions (droughts and heavy rains), widespread corruption, the AIDS epidemic, and high unemployment.

The economy relies heavily on agriculture, with tobacco, tea, and cotton as its main export commodities. Tobacco alone accounts for over half of total exports. Malawi remains highly dependent on foreign aid, receiving significant economic support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and various donor countries. In recent years, Malawi has begun to develop its tourism industry, particularly around Lake Malawi, which covers 20% of the country’s territory and serves as a key attraction for economic growth.

Malawi’s GDP per capita is approximately $1,500.

》 Scripture Focus

》 Prayer Points

1.Christianity in Malawi comprises about 74% of the population, with evangelicals making up 17% (approximately 3.61 million people), steadily growing over time. While some churches contain nominal believers influenced by traditional religious practices, many devout leaders and believers remain faithful to Christ. However, the rapid growth of churches has created a shortage of trained pastors and ministry workers. Additionally, widespread poverty makes it difficult for seminarians and pastors to receive proper theological education. To address this, 17 Protestant seminaries and Theological Education by Extension (TEE) programs provide training for pastors and church leaders.
Christian denominations and churches work together through the Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) and the Christian Commission on the Church (CCM). Large evangelistic campaigns, such as World Field Evangelicals and CFAN Evangelical Campaigns, actively spread the gospel. Let us pray that God will raise up more biblically grounded and well-trained workers to serve in His kingdom. Let us also pray that the churches in Malawi will grow deeper in their knowledge of God, serving as fearless witnesses of the gospel.

2. Several international missionary organizations actively serve in Malawi, including the International Mission Board (IMB), Liebenzell Mission, International SIM Mission, and the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAoC). These organizations focus on evangelism and Christian education, working alongside local communities. Malawi’s youth make up 65% of the population, but many live in desperation due to extreme poverty, the AIDS crisis, and high unemployment. Despite these hardships, various Christian ministries actively serve young people, including Scripture Union (SU), International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (SCOM/IFES), Life Mission/CCCI, and Chi Alpha.
The SCOM ministry alone has over 30,000 students participating in more than 500 groups across the country. Meanwhile, CCCI (Campus Crusade for Christ International) extends its reach beyond campuses, partnering with local churches to spread the gospel and provide discipleship training. Additionally, joint ministries with various churches, such as the “New Life for All” program, house church meetings, and prayer movements, continue to grow.
Let us pray that foreign missionaries and local churches will humbly work together to advance the gospel in Malawi, raising disciples of Christ who will spread the message of salvation. Let us also pray that the Lord will have mercy on Malawi’s youth, guiding them through the Word and prayer, so that they rise up as a generation of faith.

3.The Yao people, numbering over 2 million, are Malawi’s largest missionary challenge, as over 99% of them are Muslim, with only 1% of the population evangelized. Despite the dedicated work of Christian Brothers, SIM, Frontiers, the Australian South African Baptists, and the Deeper Life Bible Church, very few Yao people have come to faith in Christ. Meanwhile, Islamic organizations, such as the African Muslim Foundation, have invested heavily in Malawi, establishing primary schools, offering scholarships for university students to study in Islamic nations, and promoting Islam through aid, relief efforts, and mosque construction. We thank God that the Bible has been fully translated into the Yao language. Let us pray that this Bible will be widely distributed and that the gospel will be actively shared through audio Bible programs and radio broadcasts, leading many Yao people to salvation.
Among Malawi’s Asian communities, the Gujarati (55,000 people) and Kachi (14,000 people) follow Hinduism and Islam and have little exposure to the gospel. The Swahili people, though a small group of fewer than 4,000, are mostly Muslim, with very few Christian believers. Let us pray that Malawi’s unreached people groups will be rescued from spiritual darkness and be born again as children of God.

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