God Doesn’t Want Your Goats

We are in the Volta region of Ghana, in the village of Bowire, Pastor Prince and my friend Bright
are giving me a tutorial on the way spiritists use blood sacrifices to appease evil spirits.

“God doesn’t want your goat.” Pastor Prince told one gathering of villagers while he was
preaching the gospel to them. “He has already provided a Lamb.”

For generations, darkness and fear of these spirits had dominated the culture in village areas
like these. But the gospel cut through as missionaries came into the region building churches
and schools nearly a hundred years ago.

The gospel message of freedom in Christ has a sanctifying effect on communities. Personal
freedom, church communities, schools, hospitals, and an overall rise in society follows the
gospel wherever it goes, and here is no exception.

It has taken many decades, but the high places of sacrifice on the mountains have been
abandoned here. A testimony to the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the faithfulness of
pioneering followers of Jesus who have given their lives to bring the good news here.

But it must be preached in order to be believed. And strong pastors and leaders are needed to
carry the message. Trained, empowered and supported men and women of God are changing
the world, one region at a time.

One man approached Pastor Prince after he finished speaking and challenged him.
“You said God doesn’t want require my goat in order for me to be right with him.”
“Yes, that’s right.” Pastor Prince assured him.

“Why didn’t someone tell me this before? I have lost many goats.”
This is the heart cry of the world. Through sacrifice or religious ritual, they have tried to reach
God in vain. They need to hear about the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.

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