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
New faith, new year, new life | January 4, 2019
Dear praying friends:
In brief:
Pray for follow-up with those who made decisions for the Lord Jesus on Dr. Ramesh Richard’s latest trip.
Pray for upcoming outreach events in The Gambia and other places, and for events in planning.
Pray for the Global Proclamation Commission’s (GProCommission) growing contribution to pastoral health and church health around the world.
The bigger picture:
Dr. Richard’s recent ministry trip in South Asia saw a number of opinion leaders—people of influence and affluence—trust the Lord Jesus as their only heart-Savior after his talks. Praise God! Please pray that their new faith will take root and flourish, and that their witness will draw others to Him.
At the beginning of this new year, the Lord willing, Dr. Richard is heading out again, this time for West Africa. A Dallas Global Proclamation Academy graduate from The Gambia is organizing a number of events in a situation in which the majority of people follow another world-view. Praise God for these opportunities.
Pray for His protection over those organizing the events, for the Holy Spirit to prepare hearts and minds to receive new life, and for Dr. Richard to be a useful instrument in the Lord’s hands. Please also ask His direction and provision regarding other outreach and pastoral training opportunities and amplification in 2019.
God continues to deepen and broaden GProCommission effectiveness in strengthening pastoral leaders and pastoral trainers. Much prayer is needed since much of what we’re doing has not been done before, especially in developing a global network of connections, encouragement and resources. We need sensitivity to God, readiness for action, excellent execution and perseverance in His strength.
Thank you for praying! May God bless your New Year with renewed faith and renewed life.
Received: April 29, 2021
Every prayer matters | December 14, 2018
Dear praying friends,
In brief:
Praise and pray for Dr. Ramesh Richard’s current ministry trip in South Asia.
Thank God that Dr. Richard found his much-used and convenient jotter pad!
Pray for special opportunities to proclaim our Lord Jesus this amazing Christmas season.
Ask God to provide just the right resources for RREACH ministry.
The bigger picture:
Dr. Richard encouraging leaders and students at a new theological institute in South Asia
Dr. Richard has enjoyed many opportunities to talk about the Lord Jesus with opinion leaders—people of influence and affluence—during his current trip in South Asia. Praise God for the individuals who organized outreaches and for the good turnouts. Please pray that the messages keep penetrating minds and hearts, that many will receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior!
Thank God with us for granting even seemingly small requests. A few weeks ago Dr. Richard could not find his pocket-sized jotter pad, a handy little tool he always uses for visits with friends or opening comments during talks. He remembered where he had left it, but it had disappeared. He searched high and low and asked RREACH staff to pray with him, especially as time drew near to an international trip with numerous speaking engagements. The good news came to the staff after he was already en route—God placed his hand on the jotter pad (literally—it had been laid on top of a tall cabinet) the night before his departure. Thank you for your every prayer for Ramesh. We may have no idea how the Lord is answering—but He is!
People seem more open to thinking about spiritual and eternal realities at this time of year. Would you please especially remember Dr. Richard and all of our Dallas and national Global Proclamation Academy graduates as they proclaim God’s Word in many different contexts? Pray for their bold and loving witness. Pray for protection and peace. Pray for more people to realize and receive the true gift of God during the Christmas season.
We continually bow before God as He supplies what RREACH needs for ministry. We thank Him for every provision and ask His wisdom in employing it wisely. Please pray for His ongoing, timely provision and for blessing on every channel through whom it flows.
Thank you!
Received: April 29, 2021
Major outreach opportunities | December 6, 2018
Dear praying friends,
In brief:
Dr. Ramesh Richard is on his way to minister in an influential country experiencing increasing hostility towards believers/followers. Please pray.
Praise! GPA Bolivia, the final national Global Proclamation Academy of 2018, successfully graduated 33 younger pastoral leaders. Please pray for 2019.
Plans are under way for a strategic event early next year. Pray for creativity, capacity and Christ-likeness in the process.
The bigger picture:
Two Spanish editions of Dr. Richard's book Preparing Expository Sermons were given to a GPA Bolivia coordinator for use in a seminary there. They hope to incorporate Dr. Richard's seven-step process for preparing expository sermons into their courses.
Dr. Richard is embarking on a trip with major outreach opportunities, but new spiritual realities in his destination country require us to call on the Lord for protection and impact. Please pray for his entry into the country, for all the local hosts, and for full events. Intercede for God’s Word to reach into many and transform the many. Pray also for his engagement to speak at the 50th anniversary of a congregation he planted, which has become a central strategic influence in one of the world’s largest cities.
The final national GPA of 2018 wrapped up in Bolivia with 33 young pastoral graduates. Ask God to continue to work in the lives and ministries of each national GPA graduate—380 in 2018, 1,928 since 2011! Pray, too, for the national GPAs being organized for 2019. Pray for local organizers, logistical details and for the right 25 young pastors to attend each. Please also remember ongoing preparation for the 2019 Dallas GPA. Nineteen pastors have been accepted so far.
Finally (for this week), we would appreciate prayer for a special early-2019 event celebrating God’s work through RREACH and looking ahead to the next phase of Dr. Richard’s proclamation ministry. Pray for creativity, capacity and Christ-likeness as we organize this and for good response from 50 like-minded and long-term generous friends.
Thank you for praying!
Received: April 29, 2021
In his words: Ramesh Richard November update | November 29, 2018
Dear praying friends,
I am quickly over-running my allotted word count even as I begin this letter! Bring out your magnifying glasses to rejoice over a two-week, six-country, seven-airline-dominated last month.
China: A two-hour pastoral visit during a five-hour stopover after American Airlines’ longest flight (Dallas to Hong Kong—17 hours!) with a long-term friend weakened by cancer.
India: One of the richest days of my life in my childhood city! Two-hundred-fifty believers brought 350 pre-Christ friends for a day-long event featuring talks from converts to the Lord Jesus. I was energized by the spirit of the stories, and more importantly by the Spirit of God, to present the final 30-minute talk at the end of a powerful, jet-lagged day. Thirty-eight made first time professions of faith—a huge percentage! That night I flew to my birth city to talk to 20,000-plus people (mostly new believers) on the problem of evil.
Thailand: Yet another four-hour layover after an overnight flight allowed for a pastoral visit with a fine Dallas GPA grad/businessman/church planter. We finished with prayer for a child. That was Monday; on Thursday, he confirmed his wife’s pregnancy. God answers even before I pray! (smile)
Japan: A nation where the evangelical Faith has failed to penetrate. Still at an abysmal 0.50 percent, with most Japanese pastors soon to retire, they need a boost in recruitment and training of younger pastors. Who would have thought that RREACH would provide just that through our Global Proclamation (GPro) Commission? A Japanese leader who attended our 2016 GProCongress mobilized over 100 devoted Japanese pastors, older and younger, for GProJapan. They envision 50,000 congregations in Japan over the next decade.
Malaysia: God (and Bonnie) knew that I needed two slower days, which I found in Kuala Lumpur with RREACH’s director of Ministry Coordination, former Ambassador Selwyn Das. We had delightful times of meeting, eating, even shoe repair and a haircut!
Philippines: GProPhilippines was hosted by TOPIC (Trainers of Pastors International Commission), an organization founded by RREACH 20 years ago. We presented the new global facilitator of TOPIC, Al Bridges (formerly of BEE—Biblical Education by Extension). God used me once again to charge the 150. They plan to train 5,000 pastoral trainers to produce 10,000 new pastoral leaders by 2020!
I trust that your Thanksgiving season included what the Lord makes happen through you, me and this ministry. You were included in our United States Happy Thanksgiving season.
Received: April 29, 2021
In his words: Ramesh Richard October update | October 25, 2018
Dear praying friends,
Last month began at the tail end of a flourishing trip to Costa Rica—two evangelistic events, one large (1000+), and one private (100+), along with launching a national preaching conference at their foremost seminary. This annual conference will grow deep and wide.
RREACH convened two national Global Proclamation Academies. I visited by video with the soon-to-be graduates of the poorest nation of the world (by per capita income). Central African Republic has no consistent electricity, but they found a generator to power the call. I had to talk to them in the dark! Then with 37 younger pastors of a restricted country in Asia, meeting five road-hours away from the glare of their government, I shared a biblical charge by video.
The month concluded by my serving as a leader and speaker at a luxury event to a high-level, private think-tank outside Vail, Colorado. I am grateful to be always learning what the apostle Paul had already learned…the secret of contentment in economic extremes (Phil. 4:12).
Thank you for sending me to proclaim God’s word globally and multiply the proclamation locally. I so value your trust in me and this ministry, and I hope you feel valued, too.