April 2010
by Ramesh Richard
The Global Proclamation Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ is unambiguous, “repentance and forgiveness is to be proclaimed in His name to all nations” (Luke 24:47). The spiritual need has never been greater.
- Explosive population growth is pushing seven billion.
- Christ’s church is growing exponentially in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
- Two million or more pastors are under-trained and isolated in ministry.
If these needs are not addressed in large and disciplined ways,
- The biggest numbers of people in history will be endangered for eternity.
- Church growth will continue without church health.
- Under-trained pastors will continue to serve alone in their ministries.
After three years of discernment (and perhaps, 30 years of preparation), God has birthed a new vision and mission for RREACH’s ministry-training sector. The mission is to spiritually connect, strategically unite, and systematically strengthen a Global Proclamation Community made up of large numbers of pastors. They will influence their congregations to reach into spiritually needy contexts to provide spiritual health worldwide.
The foundational part of this ten year (2010-2020) project begins this June at a strategic reunion of the Global Proclamation Academy.
What is the Global Proclamation Academy?
The Global Proclamation Academy (GPA) began in 2005 to further the vision and burden of Ramesh Richard. RREACH is a global proclamation ministry which envisions changing the way One Billion Individuals think and hear about the Lord Jesus with a strategic burden for evangelizing opinion leaders and strengthening pastoral leaders of weaker economies.
The expanding Church of the Lord Jesus Christ worldwide needs connected, united, strengthened pastors to effectively lead the global Church over the next decades.
During the last five years, the GPA has provided fine young pastors a life-defining modular program in a non-formal, continuing education, and networking environment. Experienced master-coaches focus on the three critical ministry areas of pastoral ministry: biblical spirituality, theological discernment, and effective proclamation.
We have hosted 122 pastors from 59 countries—in Asia, Africa, South America, the Middle East, and Central/Eastern Europe. Each June, RREACH selects and sponsors 25 pastors for a once-in-a-life time, three week program on the campus of Dallas Theological Seminary. Each new class of candidates is chosen through a global referee process and builds an expanding network of influential and connected alumni. We actively maintain their connections year-round.
These younger pastors will soon shape the identity, theology and ministry of the global Church, especially in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. All graduates have gone back to their countries and have multiplied their training with other pastors. With their partnership, we intend to build a Global Proclamation Community over the next ten years. It all begins this June at our upcoming strategic reunion—where they will commit to leveraging their training across the world.
A Strategic Reunion
WHY?
Over the next decade (2010–2020), Ramesh’s desire is to fulfill our Lord’s Global Proclamation Commission (Luke 24:47), by spiritually nurturing and systematically networking a Global Proclamation Community. This global community will be made up of a few thousand pastoral cohorts with 25 pastors in each group, thus enabling us to reach our vision—to change the way One Billion Individuals think and hear about the Lord Jesus.
WHAT?
During these ten days, connections across class years will be re-established. Collaborations will be initiated for effective ministry over next decade of our still young millennium. We will not be offering the usual GPA curriculum. Instead, structured times for prayer, planning, instruction, and fellowship will implement our strategic purpose. A program for the wives will also enhance their commitment to the Lord and their husbands.
WHO?
GPA graduates from the classes of 2005-2009 with their spouses (but no kids). We are trusting the Lord for 100 pastors and 50 wives from 40+ countries. We have asked all of our graduates to raise money for their own airfare. RREACH is raising funds for their wives as well as for the costs of the entire ten day conference.
WHEN?
June 4-13, 2010
WHERE?
Dallas, TX. We have decided to hold the planning and launching events in our great region of North Texas for various reasons including office infrastructure, personal relationships, logistical ease and the opportunity to recover the pastors’ memories for their wives!
Networking “A Band of Brothers”
GPA Chaplain, Bill McClure, regularly contacts our graduates to encourage, counsel, and pray with them. As he contacts the men through SKYPE and e-mail, and sends updates with their prayer needs, important relationships are strengthened. The fruit of his labor was especially evident after the horrific news of the earthquake in Haiti. As a result of his efforts in networking, many GPA pastors from around the world have led their congregations in spiritual intercession and emergency financial support of Haitian GPA graduates.
Some GPA graduates found ways to tangibly help. For example, Pastor Mario from Brazil (’06 GPA graduate) mobilized the Brazilian church to give $25,000 to Haitian pastors. He flew into the neighboring Dominican Republic, met GPA grads Elbin (‘06 Dominican Republic) and Edward (‘07 Dominican Republic), brought food and supplies, and then personally transported them into the devastated region. He specifically helped our Haiti graduates, (Bilda, ‘05, Rigaud, ‘07, and Vijonet ‘09) whom, we discovered through GPA referee, Pastor Edner Jeanty, were all safe.
Their help tremendously blessed this devastated country. One of our pastors has around 40 church members living in his yard. Another lost his home and is living on the street. Being surrounded by GPA grads from other years and locations lifted their spirits. The Lord willing, Dr. Richard should be returning from Haiti as you read this. He has been asked to come and provide a day of refreshment for pastors in this stricken land. One hundred percent of all your gifts to the earthquake fund will be distributed at that time to pastors and pastors’ families who were widowed or suffered great loss in the tragedy.
God received the glory for the work He is doing through our men. During the June Strategic Reunion, we hope to multiply this strategic cohort model among large numbers of pastors worldwide.
