School of Apostolic Pioneering
By Martin Malmberg
One of the most meaningful things that I did in my life was starting the School of Apostolic Pioneering (SOAP) in in India with Youth With A Mission. The purpose of the SOAP is to equip pioneers with the skills, knowledge, and character that they need to successfully pioneer new ministries. These typically fall into the categories of mercy ministries, training, and evangelism and church planting. One of the foundational verses comes from Acts 1:8.
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Below is a visual representation of how this multiplication of the Christian Church took place.
I staffed the first ever SOAP in Las Vegas in 2007 and from there led the first one in India with Eliangela in 2008, Varanasi in 2009, Varanasi in 2011, Indore in 2012. My close friend Sunil continued the work, pioneering a base in Lucknow and leading additional SOAP schools in 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019. Below on the left shows where the Christians are in India. On the right, each red dot represents a ministry or family of ministries that were started as a result of the SOAP.
Most of the locations pioneered were in the North and West areas. North India has the highest concentration of Unreached People Groups in the world! Over 30 locations were pioneered as a result of the SOAP in India. Sunil, pictured in the middle below, led 4 SOAP schools and is now the National Director of YWAM India overseeing hundreds of ministries. Pictured on the right in orange is a student named Coco who went on to start a Church Planting Movement to an Unreached People Group a couple hours drive north of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
Another one of the ministries pioneered was by Shivaji and Manisha (on the right) and their team who pioneered many new ministries in Maharashtra in West India.
Upcoming SOAP and Prayer Points
After a pause during COVID, the SOAP is starting up again on April 22, 2026. I will conduct the staff training and teach on the first few days of the school. Please pray for me an the success of what we are doing. Specifically:
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My travels to and from India
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The raising up of new pioneers and leaders
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The vision to see 40 new ministries launched
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Strength and clarity as I help train and equip leaders
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Continued impact in both India and here in Las Vegas
SOAP South Africa
The very first School of Apostolic Pioneering (SOAP) on the African continent launched with 19 students and 7 staff. Based in South Africa, this pioneering school carried the theme “Lead, Pioneer, Multiply,” and that’s exactly what students began doing—locally, regionally, and internationally.
Twelve new ministries were launched through this SOAP, many of which continue to thrive to this day. One example is the Vorster family, who began an evangelistic ministry at the University of Potchefstroom pictured below. Ilze, another graduate, launched a powerful initiative focused on education, discipleship, and community development in her hometown. Meanwhile, Paulo returned to Angola after the school to pioneer a Children at Risk ministry. Adetayo, a student from Nigeria, took the call internationally to England.
During the school, students and staff began putting their training into action through cell group movements, often referred to as “Simple Churches.” Three new cell groups were established during the training—each one strategically planted with a vision to reproduce.
One student, Rodolpho, started a cell group among a local group of Rastas.
