Riding God’s Wave of Peace: Bible-Based Discipleship Transforming Africa

Summary

God is building a powerful discipleship movement in southern Africa through Bible teaching and pastor multiplication. In peace-starved Malawi and beyond, thousands are coming to Christ, pastors are being trained, and Bibles are being distributed to those who cannot afford them. Obedient teaching, grounded in God’s Word, is multiplying leaders and expanding the work into new nations. God’s wave of peace and transformation continues to rise.

Sensing God’s Powerful Momentum

I feel like I am riding a wave with untold power beneath me.  I am a ministry partner with pastors in Malawi and Bible donors in the U.S. One key pastor in Malawi oversees the ministry there.

Riding God's Wave of Peace

Interestingly, in Malawi, 59 percent of the people are rarely or never at peace, making it the third most peace-starved country in the world.1 God is using our team to bring peace instead of turmoil. We are riding God's wave of peace.

Few people in Malawi can afford a Bible because of their poverty. Most never expect to own one in their lifetime. The heart language of the people is Chichewa.

A Bible costs more than $12.00 U.S. equivalent, more than a week’s salary for many who live a hand-to-mouth existence. Some churches have only one Bible.

Discipleship Through God’s Word

About four years ago, the key pastor used a digital version of my book, “His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength,” to follow up with 18 new believers who recently received Jesus as their Savior and Lord. It is a free eBook on my website. About 22 others joined the class.

He developed how to teach the book with no input from me. He requested some Chichewa Bibles for those without one, and I provided them. The class was taught in both English and Chichewa, mostly the latter.

The class lasted 132 hours, 33 hours weekly for four consecutive weeks. That format would not work in the U.S., but it does in Malawi. He continued to teach classes one after another.

Multiplying Teachers Through Faithful Obedience

Some of the pastors who were students in his initial classes also began to teach. They also taught one class after another.

The key pastor said it was the first time they had experienced 2 Timothy 2:2. “You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others” (NLT). The number of teachers multiplied.

Expanding Impact Across Southern Africa

By the end of 2025, at least 120 different pastors have taught classes using my book in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia. In 2026, the outreach will expand to Tanzania. The wave is rising higher with more momentum and power.

An Invitation to Join God’s Work

Come and see what God has done! We have had 18,110 students in the last four years, with more than 7,500 saved in those classes. We have distributed 14,325 copies of the Nyanja Version Chichewa Bible; Revised Edition. Free Bibles are a significant incentive for people who cannot afford to purchase one.

We order the Bibles through the American Bible Society, which works with the Bible Society of Malawi. Donors get tax credits they wouldn’t if they worked through the Bible Society of Malawi directly.

In 2026, the price to purchase a Bible is $12.60. If God leads you to join our team and purchase Chichewa Bibles through the American Bible Society, email me at johnselcher@gmail.com. I will tell you how you or your church can be involved in this outreach.

1.     Who Feels Personal Peace on Earth?

Photo: Image Creator (microsoft.com)