Sharing Gospel in West Africa: A Missionary’s Honest Take

I remember sitting under a mango tree in a small village outside Kumasi, Ghana, trying to explain the crucifixion to a group of men who had never heard the name of Jesus Christ. The sun was hot, and the flies were persistent. My Twi was still rough around the edges, but their eyes were fixed on me. That day, I learned more about the raw power of sharing the gospel in West Africa than any seminary class could teach. It was real. It was urgent. And it was all about God’s grace.

Our work here in Ghana is simple, really. We preach the Word, we teach the Word, and we plant churches where folks can grow in the Word. Although it sounds easy enough on paper, the reality is often a long, dusty road with plenty of potholes, both literal and spiritual. Nevertheless, the Lord is faithful, and His message still transforms lives.

The First Steps: Language and Laughter While Sharing the Gospel

When my wife Laura and I first arrived in Ghana, everything was new. The smells, the sounds, the pace of life. And of course, the language. Twi is a beautiful language, rich with proverbs and tones that can change a word’s meaning entirely. I spent hours every day with a tutor, struggling to wrap my tongue around sounds I’d never made before. It was humbling, to say the least.

I learned quickly that you can’t truly connect with people until you can speak their heart language. You can preach through an interpreter, and we do that often. However, there is a different level of trust when you can sit with a man, drink a cup of strong tea, and share the truth of Christ in his own tongue. Many times, my attempts at Twi would end in laughter. Usually, it was at my expense. For example, I once told a chief I wanted to buy his goat’s head instead of asking for wisdom. That went about as well as you would expect. But the laughter broke down barriers. It built relationships. Ultimately, it opened doors.

We see this pattern in scripture, too. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19). The command is to go and teach. That teaching requires understanding, and understanding starts with communication. You cannot teach effectively if you cannot communicate clearly.

Building Trust, One Relationship at a Time

The mission field does not reward drama. Instead, it rewards endurance. It rewards patience. Back home, we’re used to quick results. We want to see a decision card signed, a prayer prayed, and a life instantly transformed. And praise the Lord, sometimes that happens here too. But often, it’s a slow burn. It’s showing up week after week. It’s drinking tea, sharing meals, and just being present.

I recall one man, a respected elder in his community, who listened to me preach for nearly two years. Every Sunday, he was there. Every Bible study, he attended. He would nod, he would ask questions, but he never made a move towards salvation. Laura and I prayed for him constantly. We visited his home, we helped him with small tasks, we just loved him. We didn’t push. We just kept sharing the gospel in West Africa, one conversation at a time.

One morning, after a particularly clear message on repentance, he stayed behind. He had tears in his eyes. “Pastor Joe,” he said, “I have carried this burden too long.” That day, under the very roof of the church we had planted, he got saved. It wasn’t a dramatic, instantaneous conversion story for him. Instead, it was the slow, steady work of the Holy Spirit, watered by prayer and consistent witness. It was worth every single moment of waiting.

“In 1910, there were an estimated 9 million Christians in Africa, accounting for about 9 percent of the continent’s total population. By 2010, more than 500 million Christians lived in Africa, making up 62 percent of the population.”
Pew Research Center

The Unchanging Power of the KJV Word

In a world of shifting sands and fleeting trends, the Word of God stands firm. That’s why I use the King James Version. It’s dependable. It’s authoritative. And when you’re dealing with eternal truths, you want a Bible you can trust. We don’t need fancy language or modern interpretations to make the gospel relevant. It’s already relevant. It’s the power of God unto salvation.

I’ve watched men and women, young and old, hold a Bible for the very first time. Their reverence for it is often palpable. They treat it like the treasure it is. We teach them to read it for themselves, to study it, and to apply it to their lives. The Bible is not just a book of stories. It is God’s instruction manual for life, death, and eternity.

Consider 2 Timothy 3:16: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” This verse reminds us that the Bible is breathed out by God Himself. It’s not just good advice; it’s divine truth. When we are sharing the good news in West Africa, we are not sharing our opinions. We are sharing the very words of God, and those words have power.

I often direct new believers to resources like Blue Letter Bible to help them dig deeper into the KJV, even with limited internet access. The hunger for truth is real, and the tools to find it are invaluable.

Overcoming Obstacles with God’s Help

Life on the mission field isn’t always picturesque. There are challenges. There are spiritual battles. There are times when you feel like you’re hitting your head against a wall. We’ve dealt with sickness, vehicle breakdowns in remote areas, and deep spiritual resistance from traditional beliefs. But God is always bigger than our problems.

I remember one particular instance when we were trying to start a new church in a village known for its strong animistic practices. Every time we preached, something would go wrong. A generator would die. A sudden storm would scatter the crowd. It felt like we were under attack. Laura and I spent many nights on our knees, praying for spiritual breakthrough.

We learned that prayer is not just something we do; it is the work itself. We don’t just pray about the work; prayer is the primary work. We kept showing up. We kept preaching. We kept praying. Eventually, the Lord broke through. We saw families come to Christ, and the church began to grow. It was a hard-won victory, but it reminded us that “if God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).

The Joy of Seeing Lives Changed

Despite the challenges, the joy of missions far outweighs the difficulties. There’s nothing quite like seeing a man who was once bound by idol worship now freely worshipping the one true God. There’s no greater reward than baptizing new converts and watching them take their first steps in faith. It’s why we do what we do. This is what Missionary on Fire is all about.

We’ve witnessed countless transformations. Children who once had no hope now sing praises to Jesus. Families torn apart by sin are reconciled through Christ. It’s a privilege to be a part of what God is doing here in Ghana. The harvest truly is plentiful, and the laborers are few.

If you’ve ever read my books, “Missionary on Fire” or “That’s My Goat!”, you know my heart for this work. It’s messy, it’s difficult, but it’s eternally significant. The Lord has called us to carry His light to those who walk in darkness, and that is a calling we embrace with all our hearts. We invite you to learn more about our ongoing efforts and to connect with us.

The privilege of sharing the gospel in West Africa has shaped my life in ways I never imagined. It has taught me patience, dependence on God, and the unshakeable power of His Word. If you’re burdened for souls, I pray you’ll consider the call to missions, whether on the field or through faithful support. You can find more about our work and vision on our Missionary on Fire page.

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