Trusting God Completely: Pastor Otabil’s Faith Journey Without Money

Pastor Mensa Otabil’s journey of living by faith without money began when he entered full-time ministry in 1982. Recalling those days, he shares, “God said, ‘I’m going to teach you how to live without money.'” This divine lesson was not one of abundance but rather a journey through scarcity, where he was taught to trust God completely.

He revealed this in a sermon preached during a conference at Charismatic Evangelistic Ministry (CEM) at Accra.

Without a steady income, Pastor Otabil often found himself relying solely on faith. He preached tirelessly, traveling to various villages and towns. “Many times, I would board transport with no money, and someone would pay for me,” he says. He learned to trust that God would provide, even in the most unlikely circumstances.

One of the most remarkable experiences occurred when he lived on the fourth floor of a flat in Ghana, a country often plagued by water shortages. There was a day when there was no water supply to his building. “I laid hands on the tap and commanded water to come,” Pastor Otabil recalls. 

Miraculously, water began to flow, but only in his flat. “Number seven, water. Number eight, no water,” he describes, emphasising that God was indeed teaching him to rely on faith over resources.

Pastor Otabil also learned to trust God for daily necessities. When the iron broke, he prayed over it instead of seeking repairs. “God said he’s going to teach me how to live without money. I don’t have money to repair iron, just lay hands,” he recounts.

Through these experiences, Pastor Otabil learned a profound lesson: faith can substitute for money when God is involved. “If I don’t have money, I don’t fret. I don’t worry because I’ve learned that God is more than enough,” he concludes, reflecting on the deep trust and faith he developed through these trials.