Meet Velden Meyer from South Africa

by Velden Meyer

The Meyer Family with Table Mountain, South Africa, in the background

Greetings! I’m Velden from South Africa and I'm sharing my journey because I believe God has positioned me to assist in reaching Cape Town's growing Muslim population. I will be using the relational approach of Disciplers International, which has greatly influenced my calling.

I grew up in a Christian home, attending church and reading the Bible, but my genuine conversion came in 1990 when I accepted Jesus as my Savior. My wife, Alana, and I have been married for nearly 35 years and we have three God-fearing, Jesus-loving children, a daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren. During the COVID-19 lockdown, I sensed God calling me to return to my studies. Even though I had graduated in 1995, the Lord led me to get a scholarship leading to a Master's in Ministry degree with specialization in Islamic Studies.

Anas Ibn Malik Masjid (Mosque) and Madressa (School)

This marked my first serious introduction to Islam and the faith of 2 billion people worldwide. The coursework required me to engage directly with Muslims about the Christian faith. Unfortunately, conversations proved to be frustrating and fruitless so I withdrew from further discussions. Finally, months later, I asked the Holy Spirit to change my heart toward Muslims and free me from taking these conversations personally. Transformation came gradually. Rather than trying to convince Muslims the truth concerning Christianity, I began sharing the gospel simply and personally while pointing out misinterpretations of the Bible and the Christian faith, leaving conviction to the Holy Spirit.

This shift proved powerful. When I later met with an Imam, I asked him basic questions about Islamic teachings regarding Christianity and the Bible. The Imam couldn't explain the foundation of what Muslims are taught. He admitted that he had never read the Bible but simply accepted what he had been taught as true, without understanding its basis. This encounter boosted my confidence dramatically. I realized that nominal Muslims were no different from nominal Christians, many believing what they were taught without questioning or understanding the reasons why. This realization transformed my approach to evangelism among Muslims.

From Crisis to Calling

In 2025, my business failed. Within two weeks, we packed up and vacated our home in Pretoria, where we had lived our entire lives. We moved to Plettenberg Bay (520 km east of Cape Town) to stay with family members temporarily. As my family prayed for God's direction for our next move, the only viable option was an invitation from friends in Cape Town to stay with them in their home for as long as needed. Although I was not looking forward to the winter rains and strong winds in what is known by locals as the “Cape of Storms,” I surrendered this resistance to God's leading.

Plettenberg Bay - favorite prayer place

The Discipleship Challenge

Known as the “Pink City,” Cape Town is recognized as the gay capital of Africa. It is also home to the largest Muslim population in South Africa, along with diverse Christian communities, Hindu temples, Buddhist centers, and numerous spiritual traditions. This mix of cultures, identities, and faiths creates a spiritually rich and deeply contested landscape, one where the good news of God’s love in Christ and His redemptive power has immense relevance.

As I began conversations with Muslims about faith, I faced a critical question: How do you disciple someone who leaves Islam for Christ? I believe that existing Discipleship programs don't address the unique needs of Muslim converts, who never experienced the concept of a loving Father. In Islam, Allah is presented as an authority to obey, with salvation based on good deeds outweighing bad deeds.

I searched extensively for a program focused on helping converts experience a relationship with a loving God rather than merely learning theological doctrines and denominational practices. In the process, I discovered Disciplers International (DI), which aligned perfectly with my vision.

I contacted DI founder, Bart Physioc, and joined a training session in progress. In September 2025, I finished the training and became a DI Ministry Associate. I hope to transition from Associate to Partner status in January 2027.

Step-by-Step Training for Teens

Training the Next Generation

I trained six homeschooling teenagers (including my own two children) in a condensed six-week format. The feedback was positive.  Participants felt they truly learned something significant. I am currently working with a husband-and-wife team who are completing their Discipleship training this month.

Plettenberg Bay youth pray for our kids

As newcomers to Cape Town my family and I face significant challenges. We need to secure employment, find our home, join a Bible-based church for fellowship, and build meaningful friendships. Yet I believe God's vision is clear: To reach Cape Town's Muslim population and provide them with the practical tools and spiritual formation they need to become Disciples of Christ who are mentored to become Disciplers for Christ.

I ask for your prayers as we navigate these next steps and build bridges within the Cape Town faith community.  Do we know exactly how God wants us to do this? No, not yet.  But Step 1 was getting us to Cape Town.  Now for Step 2...

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