Preaching Is Still Necessary—But We Must Adapt A CEO of IT4PASTORS response to Ghana’s renewed enforcement of the ban on preaching in moving commercial vehicles ** Ghana has entered a new chapter in the way we think about public evangelism.

The recent public discussion surrounding the enforcement of the ban on preaching inside moving commercial vehicles has understandably generated strong reactions among pastors, evangelists and Christians across the country. For generations, preaching on buses and trotros has been one of the familiar ways of taking the Gospel beyond the walls of the church.

But as ministers of the Gospel, we must learn to respond to changing times without abandoning the Great Commission.

What does the law actually say?

The issue is important to understand correctly. Ghana's Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519) prohibit causing or permitting a nuisance, including preaching and hawking, on a public or commercial vehicle while it is in motion under Regulation 141. The applicable general penalty can include 10–50 penalty units, imprisonment of up to eight months, or both. Insight Ghana

The prohibition itself is not entirely new. Similar restrictions existed under the 2012 road traffic regulations, but enforcement was previously weak. What has changed is the renewed enforcement and the tougher consequences under the 2026 regulations. Graphic Online

The rationale presented is primarily road safety, passenger comfort and the prevention of activities that may cause disturbance or distraction inside moving vehicles. The regulation is not a ban on Christianity or preaching generally; it specifically addresses preaching and hawking in moving public or commercial vehicles. Adomonline.com

As Christians, we should therefore respect the law while asking a more important question:

If one door of evangelism closes, what other doors can the Church open?

Preaching must continue—but we must adapt

I believe strongly that preaching is still necessary.

The Great Commission has not changed.

People still need to hear the Gospel. People are still searching for hope. Families still need prayer. Young people still need direction. Communities still need the transforming message of Jesus Christ.

But the methods we use to reach them must evolve.

The Apostle Paul said:

“I have become all things to all people, that by all possible means I might save some.” — 1 Corinthians 9:22

The phrase “by all possible means” should challenge the Church in this generation.

The bus may no longer be the appropriate platform, but the smartphone is.

The moving vehicle may no longer be the place to preach, but online radio, social media, books, WhatsApp and SMS can take the same Gospel much further.

The Evangelist Has to Become Digital

This is exactly why IT4PASTORS has been advocating for pastors and churches to embrace technology—not to replace the pulpit, but to extend the reach of the pulpit.

Here are some practical alternatives:

1. Start an Online Radio Ministry

Instead of waiting for passengers to enter your bus, create a platform where people can come and listen to you from anywhere.

With IT4PASTORS Online Radio training, pastors can learn how to establish and manage an online radio station that can broadcast sermons, Bible teaching, prayer programmes, worship and evangelistic messages.

Your congregation may be hundreds on Sunday, but your online audience can potentially reach thousands beyond your geographical location.

2. Use Social Media as Your Evangelism Field

Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, WhatsApp and other platforms have become today's public squares.

A five-minute sermon, a one-minute Bible message, a testimony, a prayer or a short evangelistic video can travel much further than a preacher walking through a bus aisle.

And unlike a bus sermon that ends when the passenger reaches their destination, a digital message can be watched, shared and revisited repeatedly.

3. Write the Message in a Book

Some pastors have preached the same message for 20 years—but their message remains inside their memories or church notebooks.

Write it down.

Your testimony can become a book.
Your sermons can become a book.
Your Bible studies can become a book.
Your experiences in ministry can become a resource for another generation.

Through our Book Writing Made Easy with Technology training, IT4PASTORS encourages pastors to turn their revelations, knowledge and ministry experiences into books that can be published and distributed both physically and digitally.

A preacher on a bus may reach 30 or 40 people.

A book can reach thousands.

4. Use Bulk SMS and WhatsApp Messaging

Evangelism does not always require standing in front of a crowd.

A carefully prepared Gospel message can be delivered directly to people's phones through bulk SMS and WhatsApp messaging.

Pastors can send:

• Bible verses
• Prayer messages
• Evangelistic invitations
• Follow-up messages
• Crusade announcements
• Counselling information
• Daily devotionals
• New-member follow-up

The important thing is to use these tools responsibly, respectfully and with appropriate consent, rather than turning evangelism into unwanted spam.

5. Build a Digital Follow-Up System

One of the biggest weaknesses of traditional evangelism is follow-up.

Someone responds to an altar call today—and disappears tomorrow.

Technology allows churches to collect contact information appropriately, record decisions, send follow-up messages, organise prayer requests and connect new believers to a local church.

Winning a soul is important. Helping that soul grow is equally important.

We Have Already Started Teaching This

This is not merely an idea we are presenting because of the current bus-preaching controversy.

Just recently, IT4PASTORS supported the Free Evangelism & Crusade Seminar – “Win a Thousand Souls 2026”, held on 28–29 September at Triumphant Baptist Church, Community 17, Lashibi.

The seminar brought pastors and evangelists together to look at practical ways of winning souls and conducting effective evangelistic outreaches.

Among the sessions were:

Rev. Prince Kpasra — Technology Tools for Soul Winning & Operating in Healing and Miracles

Rev. Oswald Akoto — The Role of the Holy Spirit in Soul Winning

Evangelist Sepher Yazi — Soul Winning for the End-Time Church

Rev. Aisha Cooper-Bruce — Raising Funds for Crusades

Rev. Emmanuel Yeboah — Planning Crusades & Outreach for a Local Church

These sessions addressed evangelism from spiritual, practical, organisational, financial and technological perspectives.

The message was simple:

We cannot afford to stop winning souls. We must become more effective at winning them.

The Bus May Be Closed—But the Mission Is Not

I would therefore encourage every pastor and evangelist who has traditionally used commercial buses as an evangelism platform:

Don't give up. Adapt.

Don't fight the law.

Don't risk imprisonment.

Don't conclude that evangelism has become impossible.

Instead, ask:

“What technology can help me reach the people I used to reach on the bus?”

Perhaps your next sermon should become a podcast.

Perhaps your next evangelistic campaign should become an online radio programme.

Perhaps your next testimony should become a book.

Perhaps your next crusade should have a digital follow-up system.

Perhaps your next Bible message should reach thousands through social media.

Perhaps your church should develop an SMS and WhatsApp communication system.

The Gospel has never been limited by technology. The Church simply needs to learn how to use the technology available to it.

The printing press helped spread the Gospel.

Radio helped spread the Gospel.

Television helped spread the Gospel.

And today, the internet and smartphones have placed extraordinary evangelistic opportunities into the hands of ordinary believers.

The question is no longer simply, “Where can I preach?”

The question is:

“How many people can I reach, and what is the most effective and lawful way to reach them?”

My Appeal to Pastors

As CEO of IT4PASTORS – ICT Solutions for Pastors, my appeal to pastors and churches is simple:

Do not let a change in the law become a limitation to your calling. Let it become a motivation to innovate.

The bus may no longer be your pulpit.

Your phone can become your pulpit.
Your book can become your pulpit.
Your online radio can become your pulpit.
Your social media page can become your pulpit.
Your WhatsApp network can become your pulpit.

Preaching is still necessary.
Soul winning is still necessary.
The Great Commission is still necessary.

But we must adapt.

IT4PASTORS is ready to help pastors and churches use technology to take the Gospel further.

Rev. Prof. Prince A. Kpasra
CEO, IT4PASTORS – ICT Solutions for Pastors

Technology is not replacing ministry. Technology is helping ministry reach further.