Pastor Joyce, a Ghanaian currently based in Germany, recently shared her life story on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide show with DJ Nyaami.
She left Ghana in the year 2000, first relocating to the United States, where she lived for nearly 26 years. Later, she moved to Austria before finally settling in Germany, where she now resides in Wiebeck.
During her stay in the U.S., Joyce faced one of the most difficult experiences of her life. While in Ghana for a National Health Insurance registration, she encountered immigration problems after someone mishandled her documents. The authorities accused her of theft, and she was forced into a legal battle in New Jersey. “I had to plead guilty, or else the state would imprison me,” she recalled.
Joyce was sentenced to two years in prison with an additional five years of probation and community service. “I sent a text to my cousin that I was going to be jailed before they took me in,” she said. At that time, she had just completed Bible school, and her faith became her anchor.
Though sentenced to two years, Joyce served 155 days in prison. She devoted her time to prayer and sharing the word of God with other inmates. “I believe God sent me there for a purpose. Even in prison, I was preaching, prophesying, and encouraging others,” she said. Her ministry work impressed officials, leading to a reduction in her sentence.
Despite her strength, Joyce carried personal pain. She chose not to inform her mother about her imprisonment because of her high blood pressure, but sadly, her mother passed away before Joyce was released. At the time, Joyce’s husband was in Australia, and their long-distance marriage eventually ended in divorce after eight years apart.
Later, Joyce reunited with him in Austria. Their renewed marriage brought both joy and trials—three children in less than three years but also six miscarriages. Eventually, the marriage broke down again, and her ex-husband remarried before later returning to her.
Reflecting on her journey, Joyce said: “Our pains are not God’s plans. Through everything, I chose to listen to Him and continue to live in faith.”
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