Missions With the Consfords
August 3, 2026
I remember sitting under a mango tree in a small village outside Kumasi, Ghana, trying to explain the plan of salvation to a man who spoke only Twi. My Twi…
I remember sitting under a mango tree in a small village outside Kumasi, Ghana, trying to explain the plan of salvation to a man who spoke only Twi. My Twi was, well, still learning. His eyes were kind, but I could tell I wasn’t quite landing the punch. That day, like so many others, showed me the true, raw challenge and immense privilege of Baptist mission work in Ghana.
There’s nothing quite like the mission field to strip away all the non-essentials. You quickly learn what truly matters. Back home, we sometimes complicate things. In Ghana, it’s often just you, the Word, and a hungry heart. That’s where the real work begins.
The Call to West Africa: First Steps in Faith
My wife, Laura, and I felt the Lord calling us to West Africa years ago. It wasn’t a booming voice from heaven, not a dramatic vision. It was a slow, steady burden the Lord laid on our hearts, a deep conviction that Ghana was where He wanted us to be. We had to pack up our lives, say goodbye to family and friends, and step out in faith, trusting Him to lead every step of the way.
Landing in Accra for the first time was a sensory overload. The heat, the smells, the vibrant colors, the constant hum of traffic and human voices. It was a world away from anything we’d ever known. We knew right away that this wouldn’t be a short visit. This was home now. We had to learn a new way of life, new customs, and a new language. That went about as well as you would expect for two folks from Texas.
The mission field does not reward drama. It rewards endurance. You study again. You visit again. You preach again. You forgive again. You trust God again. This kind of work demands a steady heart and a fire for the lost, the kind of fire I talk about in my book, Missionary on Fire. You need that inner drive when the outward circumstances are anything but easy. You can read more about our journey and connect with us on our connect page.
Planting Churches and Sharing the Gospel in Ghana
Our main focus for Baptist mission work in Ghana has always been church planting. It’s about more than just getting folks to raise a hand at a meeting. It’s about discipling new believers, teaching them the Word of God, and seeing them grow into mature Christians who can then reach their own communities. This is how the gospel spreads, one person, one family, one village at a time.
The challenges are real. Many people already have deep-rooted traditional beliefs, and some have never heard the name of Jesus Christ. You encounter spiritual opposition, cultural misunderstandings, and sometimes just plain old skepticism. Yet, we see God work miracles. We see hearts open. We see lives changed by the power of the gospel.
The Lord truly gives the increase. We are just His humble servants, planting and watering. The Bible tells us in Mark 16:15, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” That command doesn’t have an asterisk for “easy countries” or “places with good roads.” It’s a universal call, and it’s why we’re here.
“Sub-Saharan Africa is home to more than one-in-five Christians worldwide (24%), a share that has more than doubled since 1910, when it was 9%.”
Pew Research Center
This growth is a testament to the faithful work of missionaries and local believers over generations, and it reminds us that our labor is not in vain. The fields are truly white unto harvest, especially here in Ghana.
Building Relationships and Navigating Daily Life
In Ghana, relationships are everything. You can’t just show up, preach a sermon, and expect people to follow. You have to live life with them. You share meals, you attend funerals, you celebrate births. You learn to listen more than you speak. I learned this the hard way trying to get a water pump fixed in our early days. I kept trying to use Western logic and processes, but it was only when I sat down, drank tea, and talked about family with the community elder that things started moving. The pump got fixed because of relationship, not pressure.
Daily life itself can be an adventure. Power outages are common. Roads can be rough. Sometimes you’re teaching a Bible study, and a goat wanders into the building. You learn to roll with it. You learn to laugh. You learn to trust that God is in control, even when the electricity is out and you’re sweating through your shirt, trying to read a KJV Bible by the light of a phone.
One time, we were traveling to a remote village, and our truck broke down in the middle of nowhere. It was a long walk, and the sun was unforgiving. Laura and I just looked at each other and started walking. We knew God had us. You learn a different kind of reliance out here. You also learn that the International Mission Board does incredible work supporting missionaries worldwide, and we are grateful for the broader Baptist family working to spread the gospel.
Missionary on Fire Podcast
Preserving the Legacy of Faithful Missionaries
The Missionary on Fire podcast features interviews with veteran missionaries, classic sermons from the field, and stories of God’s faithfulness across generations. If you love the heart behind these stories, you will love the podcast. New episodes regularly.
Discipleship and Training Local Leaders
The goal of Baptist mission work in Ghana isn’t just to make converts, but to make disciples who can then make more disciples. This means training local men to preach, teach, and lead their own churches. It’s not about building an American-style church in Ghana; it’s about helping Ghanaians build a Ghanaian church, rooted in the Word of God and led by godly Ghanaian men.
We spend a lot of time in Bible studies, teaching sound doctrine, and emphasizing the importance of the King James Bible. We want them to know the truth for themselves, to be able to rightly divide the Word of God. This is the only way for the work to truly last and spread. It’s a joy to see these men grow in their faith and take on leadership roles, pouring their lives into their own people.
The Apostle Paul told Timothy, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2). This verse is a cornerstone of our ministry here. We are always looking for faithful men, investing in them, and equipping them to carry the torch. If you want to dive deeper into some of the lessons we’ve learned, I encourage you to check out our blog.
Enduring Faith in the Face of the Unknown
Missionary life is a long race, not a sprint. There are days of incredible joy and breakthroughs, and there are days of discouragement and spiritual warfare. You learn to lean hard on the Lord, to trust His timing, and to rest in His promises. Someday I’ll serve more. Someday I’ll witness more. Someday I’ll surrender fully. But someday is a thief. It steals years politely. It smiles while it does it. It doesn’t take your whole life at once. It just shaves off a little obedience here and a little urgency there until you wake up older than you planned.
We’ve been in Ghana long enough to know that God is faithful. He provides. He protects. He opens doors that no man can shut. We’ve seen His hand at work in countless ways, from providing a needed vehicle to healing the sick to saving precious souls. That’s the power of the gospel, and that’s the joy of Baptist mission work in Ghana.
Our journey in Ghana has been one of constant learning, growing, and trusting. It’s a privilege to be a part of what God is doing here in West Africa. The challenges are many, but His grace is always sufficient. If you’ve felt a stirring in your heart for missions, or just want to understand more about living a life surrendered to God’s call, I encourage you to read more about the principles that drive us on our Missionary on Fire page. You can also sign up for our prayer letters to stay updated on our work.
Joe Consford is a Baptist missionary serving in Ghana, West Africa, with his wife Laura. He writes about missionary life, missions training, and the work of the Gospel in West Africa at consfords.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is involved in Baptist mission work in Ghana?
Baptist mission work in Ghana primarily involves church planting, discipling new believers, and sharing the Gospel. Missionaries focus on teaching the Word of God, helping new Christians grow, and empowering them to reach their own communities. It requires learning local customs and languages like Twi.
What are the biggest challenges faced by missionaries in Ghana?
Missionaries in Ghana often face challenges such as language barriers, deep-rooted traditional beliefs, spiritual opposition, and cultural misunderstandings. The work demands endurance and a steady heart, as circumstances can be difficult, requiring constant trust in God’s leading.
How do missionaries typically begin their work in West Africa?
Missionaries beginning their work in West Africa, specifically for Baptist mission work in Ghana, often start by immersing themselves in the local culture and language. This involves moving to the country, learning new customs, and building relationships within communities to effectively share the Gospel and plant churches.
How does church planting contribute to the spread of the Gospel in Ghanaian villages?
Church planting is crucial for spreading the Gospel in Ghanaian villages because it establishes local centers for discipleship and outreach. New believers are taught to mature in their faith and then equipped to share the Gospel within their own families and communities, fostering organic growth one person and one village at a time.