Chantel Makarawa serves as Associate Pastor at McPherson First United Methodist Church and as solo pastor at Little River UMC, joining the Great Plains Conference in 2025 through the Transition Into Ministry program.
Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Chantel’s call to ministry was shaped by the strong faith of her mother and grandmother, and encouraged by her late father, who believed in her gifts and supported her journey. She continues to draw strength from her family; her father, mother, brother, and daughter who remain a constant source of encouragement. Growing up with a stutter, she once struggled to find her voice in the church, but through God’s grace discovered resilience, courage, and a passion for ministry.
Chantel came to the United States in 2022 to study Social Justice and Advocacy at Drew Theological School, hoping to one day work with a global NGO. Yet God had other plans strategically positioning her for pastoral ministry. She previously served under Greater New Jersey Annual Conference at Livingston UMC and with Mosaic Ministries at New Dover UMC in New Jersey.
She holds a BSc in Psychology (Africa University), an MSc in Human Resource Management and Development (University of Salford, UK), and a Master of Divinity (Drew University). She enjoys music, cooking, and spending time with her daughter. Fun fact: Chantel loves experimenting with recipes from different cultures and sharing them with friends and family.
