Dear Brothers and Sisters,
My name is Daniel Earll, and I have been living in Cape Coast, Ghana, West Africa, for the past seven years. Before coming here, I spent several years serving in pastoral ministry in my home state of Iowa. During that time, I began to sense the Lord calling me to the international mission field—though I had no clear timeline and no concrete plan. I was working as a project manager for a construction company, had built a successful career, and lived a comfortable life. There was nothing pushing me to leave quickly.
In 2018, a close friend who led a West African ministry called Acts 2 invited me to travel to Ghana with him. I agreed without hesitation. I remember thinking that I would either love it or hate it—and that I would probably know which within the first hour. I was right.
It was early spring in Iowa when we departed, with snow still clinging to the ground. When the plane doors opened on the tarmac in Ghana, I was hit by a wave of hot, humid tropical air—and in that moment, something in me came alive. But it wasn’t just the climate that captured my heart. I was immediately struck by the warmth of the people: their kindness, generosity, sincerity, and joy. With each passing day, I felt increasingly certain that this was where I was meant to be. I had never planned to live in West Africa, but over time God made His calling unmistakably clear.
What began as a short season of ministry has grown into a long-term commitment to preaching and teaching the biblical gospel, investing in education and discipleship, and providing practical care for vulnerable children and families. The needs here are overwhelming—far beyond what words can fully convey.
The journey has not been easy. The challenges were intense from the very beginning, yet those early trials only strengthened my conviction that I was walking in obedience to God’s call. Resistance came swiftly and forcefully, confirming that the work ahead would not go unopposed.
My father played a profound role in my life. He was my best friend and my mentor. We spent countless hours together fishing and hunting, and even more time talking about life and faith. He discipled me, shaped my character, and showed me—by example—what it meant to be a man of God.
Just one week after I returned from my first trip to Ghana, my father died by suicide. It was completely unexpected and devastating. We later came to believe that he had been targeted by an organized crime syndicate that preys on retirees in the Branson, Missouri area, and that he was defrauded of his entire pension—nearly one million dollars. The shock and grief of that loss marked my life forever, and it unfolded at the very moment God was redirecting my path in the most profound way.
We believe that when my father realized what had happened, it was simply too much for him to bear. Losing him was utterly soul-crushing for me. Yet in the midst of that devastation, the Lord drew near in a very real and personal way, bringing comfort and healing to my mother and to me—healing that only He could provide. After many months of prayer and long, difficult conversations with my mom, I made the decision to move forward with the calling God had placed on my life and relocate to Ghana.
Upon arriving in Ghana, ministry opportunities came immediately and in overwhelming volume. I was quickly flooded with preaching invitations across the country, often speaking at six to eight events each week. In addition, I began training pastors from a wide range of denominations on a monthly basis and served as co-pastor of an Independent Baptist Church alongside a local pastor. As the Teaching Pastor, I preached every Sunday morning and evening and taught every Wednesday night.
Around that same time, I was invited to partner with a local NGO, The Dennis Foundation, founded by Mary Dennis. The foundation is devoted to serving the most vulnerable members of our community—especially children and families in nearby villages. Through this work, we provide education, medical care, and practical support tailored to each individual’s needs.
Out of this mission, we established Sovereign Grace International School. The growth was nothing short of remarkable. Without any advertising, the school expanded from a single student to 120 students in just a few months. This growth was driven by the quality of education we provide and, just as importantly, by the way we treat the children. In Ghana, it is common for teachers to use corporal punishment, even for minor behavioral issues. At our school, we do not cane children. Instead, we use non-physical, restorative forms of discipline rooted in dignity and care. Parents deeply value this approach and entrust us with their children because of it.
Every day, we also provide meals for every student—and often for some of the staff as well. The teachers take turns preparing the food, cooking over ten kilograms of rice each day, along with chicken, fish, or goat. For many of these children, the meal they receive at school is the only food they will eat that day. If they do not eat at school, they likely will not eat at all. The way we invest in these children—spiritually, emotionally, and physically—goes far beyond what numbers can measure. It is not merely addition or subtraction; it is life-changing, generational impact.
We also regularly travel to surrounding villages to conduct mobile medical clinics. During these outreaches, we check blood pressure and blood sugar levels, provide basic wound care, and offer malaria testing. For many people in these communities, this is the only medical care they will receive all year.
Around this same time, I began teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu simply as a hobby—to stay in shape and keep my skills sharp. What I never expected was how powerfully the Lord would use it. Over the past five years, I have trained approximately 100 students, being very selective about whom I invest in. Through this work, Ghana appointed me as the Head Coach of the National Jiu-Jitsu Team, and I am now being pursued by the Ghana Armed Forces to help train qualified military instructors.
Most of my students are Muslims, which has opened doors for deeply personal conversations about faith. Many have come to my church, and some—at great personal risk—have come to Christ. I love the Gospel, and I love Jiu-Jitsu, and God has beautifully woven the two together for His glory. Being part of what He is doing through this has been an incredible joy.
Before moving to Ghana in 2019, I sold my house, my vehicles, and nearly everything I owned—through garage sales, rummage sales, and giveaways. Though I arrived with a modest financial cushion, by the end of 2020 I was completely depleted. I struggled to say no to people who came to me with genuine needs. While discernment has grown over time, compassion has always been costly. By then, I had married Mary Dennis, the founder of the NGO I was serving with, and I carried responsibility not only for ministry, but for my family.
In December 2020, a close friend in Phoenix invited me to help temporarily at his motorcycle shop. I saw it as a chance to earn some income and connect with churches for support. Unfortunately, it was the height of COVID. Churches were closing their doors and were unable—or unwilling—to take on new missionaries. After months of working, calling, and visiting churches, it became painfully clear that returning to my family in Ghana might not be possible. The weight of that realization brought me to one of the darkest moments of my life.
Just days before everything unraveled completely, I received an unexpected message on Facebook from someone I had never spoken to before. He asked when I was returning to Africa. I replied honestly, “Only God knows.” He told me he had to run but asked if we could talk again the next day. I agreed—and decided to pause everything to see where that conversation might lead.
The following day, right on time, he reached out again. He introduced himself as the Outreach Pastor at Global Vision Bible Church and explained that he had followed our ministry online for years. He had spoken to Pastor Greg Locke about us, and they invited me to Nashville to spend a weekend with them. While there, we discovered a series of astonishing connections: Pastor Greg had previously visited Cape Coast, met my wife through another missionary, and the pastor I co-led a Baptist church with had served as his translator. It was overwhelming. Only God could orchestrate something like that.
During the Sunday service on July 5, 2020, the church took up an offering for us and committed to sending me back to Ghana. Pastor Greg publicly declared that Global Vision would support and fund this ministry for as long as I served in Ghana. I sat in the front row and wept uncontrollably. The Lord met me powerfully that day—restoring hope and gently correcting the path my thoughts had been taking. It was a defining moment in my life.
For the first few years, the partnership was strong. Support was consistent and sufficient. But over time, things began to change. Support started arriving later and later, and eventually I found myself pleading just to receive what had been promised. More than 150 people depend on this ministry each month. When support is delayed or missing, it affects not only our family but entire households who come to our gate asking for help—sometimes just enough to buy food. Turning them away while we ourselves are struggling breaks my heart.
In November 2025, support arrived very late and was suddenly reduced by 28%, without explanation. The same thing happened in December. Then, in January 2026, all support stopped entirely. As of this writing (February 11, 2026), we have received no communication or explanation. Calls and messages have gone unanswered, and contact has been cut off completely. This has been deeply painful, especially since I once respected Pastor Greg so highly that I named my son after him.
We later learned of allegations of financial mismanagement and leadership failures within the church, resulting in a restructuring that eliminated all missionary support—without warning. The result has been devastating. My family, along with many others here in Cape Coast, has been left in an extremely vulnerable position. Still, it is an honor to suffer for Christ, and we remain committed to the work He has called us to.
So this is who I am: a twelve-year U.S. Army veteran, a proud son raised in a long line of Iowa farmers, a devoted father to my son Calvin, profoundly blessed to be the husband of the most remarkable woman I know, and—above all—a humble servant of my King. There is no King but Christ.
We are now humbly seeking partners to help continue the work the Lord has already begun here. Momentum is building. The harvest is real. Cape Coast is breathtakingly beautiful—and spiritually very dark. The battle is real, and we cannot fight it alone.
Your partnership—whether short-term or long-term—directly impacts hundreds of lives. You are always welcome to come and see the work firsthand. We regularly host individuals, families, churches, and mission teams, and a short time here can be life-changing for everyone involved.
Thank you for caring about the Gospel in Cape Coast, Ghana. May God bless you richly.