About Malawi

The Republic of Malawi became a fully independent member of the Commonwealth (formerly the British Commonwealth) in 1964. Its 10.7 million citizens recognize both English and Chichewa as their official languages, with other languages used regionally. About 55% of its citizens are Protestant, 20% are Roman Catholic, 20% are Muslim, and the remainder engaging in traditional indigenous customs.

The economy is largely dependent on tobacco production. Threatened for several years by severe famine, Malawi has recovered and is now providing maize, the main staple, to neighboring countries. About 6 million Malawians live below the poverty line, and between one-third and one-half of the working population of Malawi are thought to be infected by HIV/AIDS, with inevitable economic consequences.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Malawi (ELCM), a member of the Lutheran World Federation, has 50,000 members.  The ELCM is establishing and strengthening congregations in rural and urban areas throughout Malawi. Training clergy, lay evangelists and congregational leaders is a major focus. The ELCM ministers to communities through evangelism to men, women and youth, through health care programs, through hunger programs, through HIV & AIDS projects, and through development work. ELCM also operates several primary schools and one girl’s boarding school. The development arm of the ELCM, Evangelical Lutheran Development Service (ELDS), is engaged in integrated rural development and educational projects.