Lazarus currently serves as missiologist-at-large with Pioneers, a mission organization, and is the acting president (vice chancellor) of the Evangelical University (formerly Theological College of Central Africa) in Ndola, Zambia.
He attended the Second Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in Manila in 1989 as a young leader, and later attended the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in Cape Town in 2010 as one of the senior leaders.
Lazarus trained in accounts and business studies in Zambia, then went on to receive a BSc in pastoral ministry in Lancaster, Pennsylvania (US), an MA in intercultural studies from Wheaton Graduate School, and a PhD in theology and history of mission from the University of Edinburgh.
Lazarus was born and raised in Zambia. He is married to Rachel Melhorn Phiri and they have two sons, Jeremiah (wife Taryn) and Immanuel.