Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Division for Global Mission

The first mission efforts in Malawi, which involved the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), took the form of providing funds for projects related to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi (ELCM), and a companion synod partnership between the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin and the ELCM.

While mission efforts in Malawi were coordinated primarily through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe, beginning in 2000, the ELCA provided financial assistance to the ELCM. This work was coordinated by the Rev. Benyam Kassahun through the ELCA Division for Global Mission program area English-speaking West Africa and Southern Africa. In 2002-2003, there was a restructuring in DGM and responsibility for Malawi was located in the Southern Africa program area. Pastor Kassahun remained the program director, a position still held as of 2008.