Only God
RREACH’s first operational value is “Only God.” One way we recognize and live our dependence on Him is by beginning, covering and ending every aspect of ministry in prayer, with thanksgiving.
Dr. Richard says, “Prayer precedes ministry,” and as the Lord continues to open doors for his ministry, we realize afresh the need for prayer.
Please take a moment to pray and praise over the updates on this page, featuring a daily prayer calendar at the beginning of each month. Also let us know how we can pray for you!
Prayer Calendar
Prayer Updates
In his words: Ramesh Richard February 2019 update | February 22, 2019
Dear praying friends,
No sooner had this year begun than I headed on a four-region, nine-day international trip filled with opportunities for personal proclamation and global multiplication.
Heard of The Gambia? The smallest of African nations features only 4 percent Christians. And yet, a faith-filled 2018 grad of our Dallas Global Proclamation Academy arranged special meetings with several constituencies.
About 100 churches attended a united Sunday evening meeting, followed by a Monday morning gathering of 100 pastoral leaders. Separate dinners hosted business and government leaders. Several publicly professed faith. The trip climaxed with meeting the nation’s president, who had me pray for him in the name of the risen Lord Jesus.
Long transit waits in North Africa (10 hours) and the Middle East (12 hours) allowed me pastoral visits with two sets of couples, of which one husband has reverted to the religion of his birth. But that did not keep me from praying with him and his Christian wife in Jesus’ name.
Attending the 50th reunion of my high school (we graduated at 16!) in South Asia brought opportunities to personally and publicly present the glad news. About 800 eleventh and twelfth graders heard the Gospel, and over 200 of them responded for an embrace of the Lord Jesus.
I am teaching 12 fine students at Dallas Seminary this semester. And to once again preach at the Seminary’s chapel service was a privilege, as always. I have done so for 30+ years!
Beyond personal proclamation, I must receive and deploy God’s gift of leadership for global multiplication. Serving as the board chair of Trainers of Pastors International Coalition [TOPIC] carries distinct responsibilities, including a major recent meeting, while constantly seeking God’s wisdom for the future.
Thank you for walking with me and the RREACH ministry into the unknown, but not uncertain, future. The Lord provides courage and enthusiasm through your prayers. Thank you very much.
Received: April 29, 2021
Translations, GPA prep, and a recording session | February 18, 2019
Dear praying friends,
In brief:
Praise God! Dr. Richard was able to take a couple of days away for prayerful planning.
Thank God for progress made toward translating RREACH’s evangelistic and pastoral training products into Spanish, French, Hindi, Arabic and other languages.
Glory to God! Several visas in a row have been granted to 2019 Dallas Global Proclamation Academy candidates.
Pray for Dr. Richard’s upcoming filming of Scripture Sculpture and the postponement of a trip to Haiti.
The bigger picture:
Dr. Richard is thankful he was able to get away for a couple of precious days of intensive and prayerful planning. Please pray for more opportunities like this in the coming months, which appear quite full. Pray that Dr. Richard will be able to maximize those times.
God is granting good progress toward getting quality translations of LifeRocks, Dr. Richard’s media-based evangelistic outreach, and of some of his pastoral training materials. Pray for accuracy and capacity for more languages. Pray, too, for reasonable pricing.
A huge praise: Seven 2019 Dallas GPA candidates’ visa applications in a row have been approved! To date, 12 pastors plan to come, six from un- or under-represented countries. Pastors from Ghana, Cambodia and Solomon Islands have upcoming appointments. Many others are working on their applications and scheduling appointments. Thank you for praying and please continue. Also pray for GPA Madagascar, set to begin this week. Ask for God’s hand to be on organizers as they finish preparations and for the right 25 attendees.
Dr. Richard was scheduled to minister in Haiti later this week. However, because of the volatile situation there, the events are being postponed. Please intercede for Haiti and for the many other areas around the world in turmoil. Pray for God's intervention—for safety, provisions, resolution of conflict, and especially for pastors and their families as they minister in those areas. Please also lift up Dr. Richard's Scripture Sculpture recording sessions this week.
Thank you!
Received: April 29, 2021
Be all in. Go all out. | February 1, 2019
Dear praying friends,
In brief:
We’re thanking God for sustaining Dr. Richard through several demanding weeks.
Please pray for a special RREACH vision event coming March 1–2.
Ask the Lord for Dallas Global Proclamation Academy nominations from unrepresented countries and visas for all accepted candidates.
Uphold Dr. Richard’s preparation for ministry trip to Haiti in late February.
The bigger picture:
Dr. Richard challenged Dallas Seminary chapel attendees to pursue the “NIV Life” (Not In Vain), to "be all in" and "go all out" for the Lord Jesus.
Your ongoing prayers for Dr. Richard mean so much, even when you might not know specifically what he has going on. For instance, he recently returned from a demanding ministry trip to immediately prepare for and host two major board meetings (one taking place this weekend), teach a full day at Dallas Seminary, and speak in the seminary’s chapel service—all while keeping other ministry concerns rolling along. He is grateful for God’s sustaining presence and power and for our prayers.
One of the “other ministry concerns” Dr. Richard has in progress is a RREACH vision event set for early March. Please pray for the right attendees and excellence in all the details of preparation. Pray, too, for opportunities for him to set aside time to write and for wisdom regarding various leadership projects.
Please intercede for the Dallas GPA nomination and candidate selection process. We have accepted 20 candidates, but need more from countries not previously represented. Also intercede for the accepted candidates’ preparation process. Getting visas to come to the U.S. remains a critical challenge. Several pastors have already been rejected. Nine have upcoming visa appointments. The pastors and embassy officers need to be covered in prayer.
The Lord willing, Dr. Richard will minister in Haiti later this month, encouraging pastoral leaders and speaking to opinion leaders, including government leaders. Please uphold the organizers and organization of these events. Pray that Dr. Richard will proclaim God’s Word in a mighty way.
Thank you!
Received: April 29, 2021
In his words: Ramesh Richard January 2019 update | January 25, 2019
Dear praying friends,
HNY is a popular texting abbreviation for a Happy New Year. It is a New Year, certainly, by the Gregorian Calendar, to which all of the world subscribes, though many cultures still have their own calendars running simultaneously, whether Jewish, Chinese or Indian. A New Year is new in the sense of hopes and desires, even a new chance at life itself.
On the very first working day of 2019, 24 of our global staff spanning five time zones in eight countries celebrated much that God did through us last year; anything else would be presumptuous. Echoing Romans 15:18, we lead Gentiles to obey God! Here are a few highlights to share:
Twenty-five (of the 300+) leading graduates of the Dallas Global Proclamation Academy (2005-2017) have been inducted as Global Proclamation Associates (GProAssociates). They will serve as alternates, complements and substitutes where and when I can’t go. They are my ministry succession plan.
Speaking at the 50th anniversary of a church I helped plant, with its 30 congregations and over 2,000 people, was overwhelming. A thousand memories of slogging to plant a fledgling congregation which would eventually become the central engine of this multi-site endeavor brought me to tears.
I was able to lead several “Gentiles to obey God” at a most prestigious dinner made up of about 100 leaders from finance, business and entertainment in a major South Asian city. Over a dozen responded to the invitation and some even rose to applaud—an unknown feature in these circles!
Pray for RREACH to better amplify my proclamation globally and multiply more of His proclaimers locally.
We have much upon us in 2019. I so hope we can see each other face-to-face soon. Thank you for under-girding my proclamation of God’s Word by your goodwill through generosity and prayer. With this new year still young, I wish you God’s great blessings for the year. HNY!
Received: April 29, 2021
Proclamation and pastoral care | January 21, 2019
Dear praying friends,
In brief:
The Lord has been giving Dr. Richard many opportunities to speak words of life and give pastoral care to leaders and professionals in West Africa, North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, to name a few recent locations. Praise Him!
GPA Solomon Islands, the first national Global Proclamation Academy of 2019, wrapped up last week. Pray for these young pastors to return to ministry greatly encouraged and strengthened.
Dr. Richard resumes teaching at Dallas Seminary this week. Pray for him to be a useful and powerful instrument in the Lord’s hands.
Pray over a strategic, upcoming event introducing future RREACH ministry.
The bigger picture:
The connection was shaky, but the Lord allowed Dr. Richard to chat with pastors at GPA Solomon Islands by video conference.
Over recent months, God used Dr. Richard to greatly encourage groups of pastoral leaders and believers, as well as speak about life issues to leaders and professionals, in West Africa, North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. The Lord even opened the door for Dr. Richard to meet with the president of a majority non-Christian country, who invited guests, conversations, private time and prayer. Ask God to continue to pour His Spirit upon these places, strengthening those who believe and drawing many to Himself. Pray for direction as Dr. Richard considers upcoming trips to complex locations that offer great opportunities.
The first national GPA of 2019 finished last week in the Solomon Islands. Thank God for the 30 young pastors who attended. Please pray that He will connect, unite and strengthen them in special ways. Pray for upcoming national GPAs in Madagascar, Guatemala, Indonesia (women’s) and Panama.
Dr. Richard looks forward to getting back into the classroom at Dallas Seminary this week. Please pray for his preparation and teaching. Pray, too, as he prepares to speak in chapel January 30. (If you’re in Dallas at that time, you’re welcome to attend. Let us know, so he can look for you!)
We would appreciate prayer as we prepare for an early March event celebrating what God has done through RREACH and introducing the next decade. Please pray that God will clarify all details and bring the right participants for a full, even overflowing, house. Thank you for praying!