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 May 2018 update | May 18, 2018
My dear praying friends,
Hurray! On April 30, I finished my first full-semester back at Dallas Theological Seminary, after the administration graciously loaned me to serve the world for the last several years in view of executing and recovering from the 2016 Global Proclamation Congress.
Students at DTS are highly motivated. They sacrifice much in terms of season of life, finances and relationships to attend seminary. One student drove three hours each way from Lawton, Oklahoma, to Dallas for an evening class (6:45pm - 9:30pm), returning very late to his home. That kind of commitment inspires any teacher to do his best. I did not know I missed the classroom so much. So, I am grateful.
Since I “lost” the first quarter of 2018 to travel and my father’s final earthly farewell, I formally began 2018 three months late. I am asking the Lord to compress 12 months of life into nine and create new time for me. This He has already begun to do with cancellations and rescheduling. Again, I am thankful.
The personal highlight of the month was my three days with our pastor-son Robby and his family in Greenville, South Carolina. Joshua (8), Emma (5) and I played chess, laughed, read and told stories. Our Dallas granddaughter, Annika (2) is a daily joy and responsibility for Bonnie and me. I am blessed.
The organizational highlight was a set of two global phone calls with RREACH-related staff based in some ten countries. A two-hour prayer time went by so fast that we are going to make it a quarterly habit. Then came an hour of casting vision to the global team in view of the upcoming five years (2018-2022). Our organization does not waste much time, money or energy, and now has been recognized by non-profit watchdog Charity Navigator as the ONLY “religious” organization with a 100 score for financial health accountability and transparency. Praise be to God.
Dallas GPA planning is in full swing for a busy June. Final visas and US entry still pose a problem. Yet God has intervened in our situation in many times and ways so that we are trusting Him yet again to do what we cannot. He tests the limits of our faith till the final moment. Thank you for being part of this brinksmanship through your faithful prayer.
Received: April 29, 2021
Some answers to prayer! | May 11, 2018
Dear praying friends,
In brief:
Answer to prayer: Dr. Richard just completed two undisturbed, productive days of writing!
Keep praying for the possibility of a pre-evangelistic event with opinion leaders, people of influence and affluence, in Paraguay and other places.
Praise God for GProLearning.org’s growth to 7,142 curated pastoral training resources in more than 30 languages.
The Dallas GPA is nearly here; pray for 25 pastors and Holy Spirit-empowered preparation. Also pray for a national GPA in a dangerous region starting June 1.
The bigger picture:
Thank you for praying: Dr. Richard was able to dedicate a few days to writing this week and progressed well on a project. Please ask for his continued creativity and productivity.
Another answer to prayer! A RREACH colleague and local pastor met with a government official in Paraguay interested in organizing a pre-evangelistic event. Thank God for their efforts. Pray for Him to open the door there for Dr. Richard to talk with opinion leaders about life issues. Pray for more such opportunities in other locations, as well.
The resource arm of the GProCommission, GProLearning.org, now features 7,142 pastoral training resources in more than 30 languages curated from around the world. Praise God for the team’s diligence. Please ask Him for good collaboration, creativity and excellent implementation as they continue to introduce the GProCommission and its components to pastoral trainers and leaders globally.
With less than three weeks to go, we are praying for the right 25 pastors to attend the Dallas GPA, held on the Dallas Seminary campus. The count is now 23! Several pastors have upcoming visa appointments. Pray for everyone involved—pastors, RREACH team, Dallas Seminary colleagues, Master Coaches and more—to be led and empowered by the Holy Spirit in their preparation. Please also lift up a national GPA starting June 1 in a region dangerous for believers.
Thank you!
Received: April 29, 2021
Praise, productivity, peace | May 4, 2018
Dear praying friends,
In brief:
Praise for one more pastor who has obtained a visa to join us for the Dallas GPA!
Praise for a good first semester back in the DTS classroom for Dr. Richard; pray for summer productivity.
Pray for GPA Paraguay pastors as they finish and return home and for other GProCommission pastoral training efforts in Latin America.
Pray for many to hear about the Lord Jesus in a new way through LifeRocks.
The bigger picture:
Another praise: Our newly updated LifeRocks media outreach site has gone live with Dr. Richard’s newest talk on peace. Intercede for many, especially in otherwise unreachable areas, to see these talks and receive the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A 22nd pastor has obtained his visa to attend the 2018 Dallas GPA! Six more are in the visa process. Praise God for His provision in so many ways—available and quality candidates, seven new countries represented, visa approvals, generosity in funding, Master Coach availability, good behind-the-scenes teamwork, and more. Keep praying for the right 25 delegates, their and our preparation (including funding), and those dealing with deep disappointment at not being able to come.
Dr. Richard has completed his first semester back in the DTS classroom after several years in a revised role. Praise God for a good semester and pray for him to find times for focused writing this summer. Pray, too, for his son Ryan and Ryan’s fianceé, Chelsie, as they prepare to marry in a few weeks.
Despite some initial challenges, GPA Paraguay began last week and is set to conclude this week. Pray for God’s protection of and provision for all national GPA organizers and potential delegates. They often face major obstacles. We’re also asking the Lord for fruitful GProCommission pastoral training connections all across Latin America.
Received: April 29, 2021
Virtually praying together | April 26, 2018
Dear praying friends,
In brief:
Praise God for a worldwide RREACH staff and team virtual prayer meeting.
Pray for Dr. Richard as he considers how RREACH might look in the future.
Answered prayer: 21 pastors have obtained visas to come to Dallas in June!
Continue to lift up preparations for a LifeRocks media outreach relaunch in May.
The GProCommission team requests prayer as they develop an assessment tool.
The bigger picture:
Image created courtesy of Time Zone Map on timeanddate.com.
The RREACH Dallas staff and external team members, from nine different countries and nine time zones, enjoyed a two-hour virtual prayer gathering last week. Praise God for the unifying power of the Holy Spirit and the technology that makes this possible!
As Dr. Richard prepares for upcoming board meetings, he is considering organizational “balancing”—how RREACH might function in the future. Please be in prayer for him. Also continue to pray for a block of time in May he can dedicate to writing.
We now have 21 pastors cleared to travel to Dallas for the GPA in June. Thank you for praying! Please pray for their ongoing spiritual and practical preparation, and for four more to join this group. On the national GPA front, GPA Paraguay is beginning. Pray for a good group, God’s hand on them, and a possible coordinating pre-evangelistic event.
Intercede for the final stages of production on the LifeRocks website and video, especially diligence and patience with details and technologies to function properly. Ask God to use this to draw many to the Lord Jesus.
Finally, please pray for wisdom and discernment as the GProCommission team develops a tool to help GProLearning.org users assess their skills and theological capacity. Thank you!
Received: April 29, 2021
A new LifeRocks launch and more | April 20, 2018
Dear Praying Friends,
In brief:
An update to the LifeRocks website is coming soon!
Angola and Paraguay are hosting national GPAs this month; the Dallas GPA pastors-with-visas count is up to 18.
RREACH has set a US$1 million goal to expand our care for pastors’ families in need.
Ramesh is looking for time to write in May.
The bigger picture:
GPA Angola: "Wonderful prayer time in the mountains!"
Please pray for the launch of a new LifeRocks website and video. We want the new design, video and weekly blog to draw more pre-Christians to think differently about the Lord Jesus Christ and consider Him as their Lord and Savior. Please ask the Lord for the technology to work correctly, wisdom in advertising to many people, and the Good News presented by Dr. Richard to transform many.
Thank you for praying: Despite continual rains, 28 pastors made it to GPA Angola! They graduate this week. GPA Paraguay begins next week, the Lord willing. Pray for the right 25 pastors to attend and for God's hand to be on the organizers. The Dallas GPA count has grown to 18 pastors who have visas. Remember Pastor J from Botswana, Pastor E from Sierra Leone, and Pastor J from the Philippines as they go to appointments next week. Pastor F from Lithuania was asked to go back next week, as well.
First as a child and then as a pastor himself, Ramesh Richard experienced firsthand the sacrifices pastors and their families make. He established The ENLARGE Fund in honor of his late parents, wishing to raise US$1 million over the next year to help pastors' families, widows and orphans in situations of specific need. Please pray for this effort to be fruitful and for discernment in responding to needs.
Dr. Richard hopes to set aside time for writing in May. Please ask God to provide the right time, place and productivity. Also remember the Richard family as they prepare for Ryan’s marriage to Chelsie Birks in late May.
Thank you!