Discerning God’s Call to Missions: What 7 Years in Ghana Taught Me

I remember sitting in a small, sweltering concrete block building outside Kumasi, Ghana, trying to explain the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ to a group of men who had never heard it before. My Twi was still rough, and the translator was doing his best. In that moment, watching their faces, I knew deep in my soul that this was exactly where God wanted me. That quiet certainty is what discerning God’s call to missions truly feels like.

It wasn’t a sudden, dramatic flash of lightning. It was a slow, steady burn. Before we ever landed in West Africa, there was a season back home when I just couldn’t shake a certain feeling. Laura and I were serving faithfully in our local church. We had good friends, a steady life, and opportunities to preach and teach. By all accounts, things were good. But something was missing. There was a low thrum of discontent, a quiet whisper that kept pulling at my spirit, telling me there was more.

The Burden That Wouldn’t Lift: Recognizing Discontent

I would read missionary biographies, and my heart would ache. I’d hear about unreached people groups, and a burden would settle on me that I couldn’t ignore. I tried to pray it away. I tried to focus harder on the ministry right in front of me. However, the feeling just wouldn’t lift. It was God stirring my heart, preparing me for a new direction.

Sometimes God uses a holy discontent to get our attention. He makes us restless in the good to move us toward His best. We see this principle in the life of Paul. He wasn’t just sitting around waiting for a job. He was actively serving. Yet, the Holy Ghost said, “Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them” (Acts 13:2). The call wasn’t a punishment. It was a promotion to a different kind of work.

That burden felt heavy sometimes, but it was a good heavy. It was a weight that pointed me to a greater purpose. It was the first, undeniable sign that God had something specific for me and Laura, something beyond our current comfortable ministry.

Seeking Counsel and Confirmation: Practical Steps for Discerning God’s Call to Missions

That quiet burden wasn’t enough on its own. Feelings can be fleeting. You need confirmation. The first person I talked to was my wife, Laura. We spent countless hours praying together, discussing what this could mean for our family. She had to be on board. Without her conviction, we never would have made it this far.

After that, we sought out wise counsel. We talked to our pastor, to seasoned missionaries, and to older, godly men and women in our church. They asked hard questions. They made us examine our motives. They reminded us that missions is not a spiritual adventure for the restless, but a calling for the surrendered. This process of accountability is crucial for discerning God’s call to missions. You don’t make life-altering decisions in a vacuum.

We wanted to make sure this wasn’t just a whim. We asked for their honest assessment of our character, our gifts, and our readiness. Their affirmation, combined with the continued burden in our hearts, began to solidify the conviction. If you’re wrestling with a similar call, I’d urge you to find faithful mentors. They can offer invaluable guidance and prayer. You can also explore resources like my book, Missionary on Fire, which shares more about the early days of our calling and preparation.

Counting the Cost: Understanding the Sacrifice

Once the conviction began to settle, the next step was to honestly count the cost. Moving to Ghana meant leaving behind everything familiar. It meant saying goodbye to our families, knowing that visits would be rare and expensive. It meant giving up a certain level of comfort and predictability that most folks in America take for granted. We knew there would be language barriers, cultural adjustments, and health challenges. We chose to believe them.

Nobody goes to the mission field expecting it to be easy. If you do, you’re in for a rude awakening. There’s a romantic idea of missions that gets passed around sometimes, but the reality is often gritty and slow. It’s about showing up day after day, even when you’re tired, discouraged, or wondering if you’re making any difference at all. Furthermore, it’s about finding joy in the small victories and trusting God with the big picture.

“Globally, 3.23 billion people are considered unreached, meaning they have little to no access to the Gospel in their own language or culture.”
International Mission Board

That statistic hits you hard. It reminds you why the sacrifice is worth it. We knew the work would be hard, but we also knew the need was immense. We had to decide if we were willing to lay down our preferences for His purpose. That’s a decision every missionary, and every believer really, has to make. We found tremendous encouragement from the fact that we were not alone in this burden. Many others were also sacrificing to reach the lost.

Stepping Out in Obedience: The First Small Steps

Discerning God’s call to missions is not just about feelings and counsel. It demands action. Once Laura and I felt a clear leading, we started taking practical steps. We began the long process of selling our belongings, packing up what little we would take, and raising financial support. This phase felt like a constant exercise in faith. Every phone call, every meeting, every prayer letter was a step of obedience. We learned to trust God’s provision in ways we never had before.

We studied the Twi language even before we left, trying to get a head start. We knew that connecting with people in their heart language would be vital for planting churches in Ghana. There were days it felt like trying to learn to fly a plane while it was already in the air. You just keep putting one foot in front of the other. The key is to start moving. God often reveals the next step only after you take the first. He doesn’t give you the whole map at once.

We saw God open doors we never could have imagined. Churches responded to our burden. Individuals committed to praying for us and giving financially. It wasn’t always easy. We faced discouragement, delays, and doubts. However, each time, God reminded us of His faithfulness. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way” (Psalm 37:23). Our job was to step. His job was to order.

Living the Call: Endurance on the Field

Years later, here in Ghana, the call isn’t a distant memory. It’s a daily reality. The challenges are real: the heat, the power outages, the occasional snake in the house. I remember one time, our truck broke down about an hour’s drive from the nearest town, right as the sun was setting. My wife, Laura, and I just looked at each other and laughed. We fixed it during the breaks, using what tools we had. That went about as well as you would expect, but we got it running again eventually. You learn to be resourceful out here. You learn to rely on God for everything.

The work of church planting is slow. It’s about building relationships, earning trust, and faithfully teaching the Word of God. We spend hours visiting homes, sharing meals, and simply being present in the community. Sometimes, it’s just sitting under a mango tree, listening to stories. Other times, it’s navigating complex family dynamics or helping someone understand a difficult passage of scripture. We often refer to a reliable online resource like Blue Letter Bible for in-depth word studies, especially when preparing lessons in a second language.

But the rewards are immeasurable. We’ve seen people get saved, baptized, and disicipled. We’ve watched new churches start and grow, led by faithful Ghanaian believers. It’s a privilege to see God work in lives here, to witness the transforming power of the Gospel firsthand. The call to missions isn’t just about going. It’s about staying. It’s about enduring. If you feel a similar stirring, know that it will require a deep well of perseverance. We send out regular prayer letters that share more about these daily realities and victories.

The confirmation of the call happens continually. Every time a new believer stands up to testify, every time a new church leader takes responsibility, every time we see the Holy Spirit moving, it reaffirms that we are exactly where God wants us. We don’t need a new sign. We just need to keep on doing the work. You study again. You visit again. You preach again. You forgive again. You trust God again. This is what it means to be a missionary on fire, living out the call every single day.

The Daily Walk: Sustaining the Call

Discerning God’s call to missions is often seen as a singular event, a moment of profound clarity. But the truth is, the call is sustained by a daily walk of faith and obedience. It’s not just about the initial decision to go; it’s about the ongoing decision to stay, to serve, and to trust God through every twist and turn. There are days when the spiritual battles are intense, when the cultural misunderstandings pile up, and when you just miss your family back home something fierce.

On those days, we lean on the promises of God. We remember why we came. We remember the faces of those who still need to hear. We remember that God is faithful, even when we feel weak. He never promised it would be easy, but He did promise He would be with us. “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:20). That promise isn’t just for the initial sending. It’s for every single day on the field.

Staying connected to the Lord through consistent Bible study and prayer is not optional. It’s the lifeline. We also cherish the fellowship of other believers, both local and fellow missionaries. You need people who understand the unique challenges and can pray specifically. This sustained effort is what keeps the fire burning, year after year. It’s how you avoid burnout and keep your focus on the King’s business. We encourage folks to connect with us and others who are serving, to build that network of support.

Discerning God’s call to missions is a process, not a single snapshot. It involves a burden from the Lord, wise counsel, counting the cost, and then, most importantly, stepping out in faith. It’s a journey that confirms itself over and over again, through the challenges and the triumphs, here in Ghana and wherever God leads His people. The mission field clarifies things quickly. There is only the work.

If you’re feeling that stir, that quiet pull toward something more, don’t ignore it. Pray about it. Talk to your pastor. Get counsel. Then, be ready to obey. The world needs faithful laborers. If you want to learn more about our journey, the lessons we’ve learned, and what it truly means to be a missionary living out God’s call, I’d encourage you to check out my book and podcast, Missionary on Fire. It’s a look at the grit and grace of serving God on the field.

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