Background
Malmivaara was the son of Finnish Awakening movement leader Nils Gustav Malmberg ja Helena Jaakontytär Huhtala.
Malmivaara was the son of Finnish Awakening movement leader Nils Gustav Malmberg ja Helena Jaakontytär Huhtala.
He was representative of clergy in the Diet of Finland before Finnish independence in 1897, 1899, 1900 and 1904-1905. He worked together with Mauno Rosendal and Juho Malkamäki as a leader of the awakening movement and as a vicar (leading pastor) of Lapua parish 1900-1922. Before that assistant pastor in Kiuruvesi (1879-1892) and vicar of Paavola (1892–1900).
The result of the work of Malmivaara and Malkamäki were awakenings in many places in southern Ostrobothnia and the movement entered a new revival period.
Malmivaara is a notable Finnish hymnwriter who renewed the hymnal of Finnish Awakening Siionin virret. He also carried out the renewal of the hymnal originally composed by Finnish pastor and revivalist preacher Antti Achrenius.
In 1888 Malmivaara founded the periodical of the Finnish Awakening Hengellinen Kuukauslehti. Regarding alcohol Malmivaara opted for absolutism and introduced it into Finnish Awakening.
In 1914 the first folk high school associated with the Awakening started in Lapuas Karhunmäki.
As a preacher, Malmivaara was equal to his father and had a particular capability to touch the hearts of his listeners. Malmivaara"s wife became Karin Rajander. The couple had several children among who several sons became pastors.
Malmivaara"s descendants are still represented in the Finnish clergy.
He was also a member of the Parliament of Finland belonging to the Finnish Party in the years 1907–1914 and 1917–1919 (National Coalition Party).