Gideon Para-Mallam is an ordained minister, gifted Bible expositor, and leader in global missions. He is involved in advocacy for the persecuted church under The Gideon & Funmi Para-Mallam Peace Foundation (P-MPF), where he serves as the president/CEO. He is committed to serving God’s kingdom purposes: from Africa to the world and from the world to Africa.
Gideon has been involved in leadership with the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) and other organizations, both local and global, for over thirty years. He has served in various leadership roles with IFES, including as regional secretary in English and Portuguese Speaking Africa (EPSA) from 2008–2017 and most recently, as ambassador (2018–2019). He was the national director of the Nigeria Fellowship of Evangelical Students from 1993–2002 and director of campus ministries from 1989–1992. In addition to his fulltime duties with IFES, he has also served as international deputy director of Africa for the Lausanne Movement.
Gideon is currently Convener of the Langham-Nigeria Initiative for Expository Biblical Preaching. He is also involved with the Movement of Africa National Initiatives, where he serves as the executive coordinator for the Heads of Church Denominational Leaders’ Network. Gideon serves on the board of Redemption Crusaders and recently completed his term on the board of trustees for the Chapel of Salvation at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, in Kuru, Nigeria. He is on the board of trustees of the Africa Forum on Religion and Government in Nigeria and is the chair of the SIM Nigeria Work Group, vice-chairman of the board of trustees for the Missions Supporter’s League (MSL), and member of the board of SIM-WAMO (West Africa). Between 2011–2012, he served on the international board of Serving in Mission (SIM) International (US) as a guest member.
As a minister and speaker, Gideon is frequently invited to speak at conferences, universities, and churches across Africa and around the world. His passion is to see Africa transformed with kingdom values. He is working on a five-year strategic mentoring initiative which focuses on raising 100 younger leaders in Africa. These ideals fuel his passion and commitment to train and mentor the next generation of young leaders. He has a good national network of links with key Christian and Muslim leaders and actively convenes Peace Gatherings, which focus on building peace predicated on justice and conflict prevention between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria. In January 2021, Gideon was invited by the Plateau State Government to serve as a member of the Inter-Religious Council, a body of respected religious leaders.
Gideon has presented papers on peace building, community policing, and urging for united action against violence. He graduated with a BSc major in political science and minor in international relations (1983) from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Nigeria. He also earned an MA in communications (1999) from the highly respected Wheaton College, Illinois (US). He was awarded an honorary doctorate in missiology (social engagement and advocacy) by the Jos ECWA Theological Seminary in 2020.
Gideon is married to Professor Funmi J. Para-Mallam, the director of studies at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Nigeria. They are blessed with five children—three adults and two teenage twin girls.
