At the early age of four years old, Dr. Laurent Mbanda fled his native country Rwanda due to extreme injustice and ethnic war. Laurent and his parents were literally running for their lives. For the remainder of his youth, Laurent was raised in a refugee settlement in Burundi.

At an early age, God gave Laurent a passion for education as well as his native people. So at the age of 20 years old, he set off by foot on a 6-month journey to Nairobi, Kenya in search of an education. The $600 Laurent would need to pay for his schooling was provided by a generous couple who had recently married. After hearing of Laurent’s story, they sent him their wedding money. This was nothing short than an act of God.

Years later, following God’s calling for his life, Laurent completed his education and received a Master’s degree in Christian Education from Denver Seminary and a Ph.D. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Since the completion of his doctoral studies, Laurent has served with many ministries such as Compassion International where he served as the Regional Vice President of the African region. Laurent, along with his wife Chantal, have ministered in many places, including Burundi, Kenya, Congo, Ivory Coast, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania. But God’s calling didn’t stop there….

Laurent founded Christian African Leadership Ministries to provide Godly leadership and vocational training for Christian leaders in the African continent. CALM has also made great strides in transforming villages by providing for the basic needs of the people. Laurent and his team are completing the work of ministry and are seeing lives changed and villages being transformed. “I dream for Rwanda and East Africa to be a peaceful country, a prosperous witness of God’s grace and forgiveness, an example of what can happen with good leadership, a nation of purpose and unity among its people.”