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
Only God | November 3, 2017
Dear praying friends,
It’s hard to think of a better phrase than RREACH’s motto to apply to what has been happening in Dr. Ramesh Richard’s ministry.
Only God allowed RREACH to accomplish bringing 35 pastoral couples out of a battle-ravaged nation to a neighboring country for a few days of refreshing. These pastors have remained in dangerous circumstances, willing to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ. Even their children want to stay. And God is using them to bring many to Himself! Praise be to God! Pray for them as they have now gone back to serve.
Only God gave Ramesh two hours of back-and-forth dialogue one evening with 16 bright pre-Christian university students in an international setting. Toward the end, one student asked him directly what gives his life meaning. Ramesh was honored to share. Praise God for this opportunity! Pray for these students to find true meaning in life.
The Lord willing, the first women’s national Global Proclamation Academy will begin next week in the Philippines. The organizing team, master coaches and potential attendees have been encountering many challenges as they prepare. Intercede for God to protect and provide, as only He can, amid health emergencies, mechanical breakdowns, financial struggles and last-minute schedule conflicts. Pray for this to be an unprecedented time of connecting, uniting and strengthening for pastors’ wives and women in ministry. Praise Him for the 20 pastors who recently graduated from GPA Mexico 2.
Thank you for your faithful intercession.
Received: April 29, 2021
In his words: Ramesh Richard October update | October 25, 2017
Dear praying friends,
After a summer of prayerful thinking, listening and waiting, consulting and strategizing, I am excited to see God’s next steps and season for RREACH unveiled. We are in our 30th year of ministry, and we build on the past. Anniversaries remind us of how far God has brought us—but they don’t tell us how far we have to go!
Last month I celebrated 50th and 25th anniversaries with ministries akin to RREACH. They are training pastoral leaders who seek to serve congregations all over the world. Fifty, 30 and 25 years ago, we could not have imagined the ways He would enable us to do this.
In the keynote address at the 100th anniversary of Missio Nexus, I had to address 775 leaders of missions organizations representing 30,000 missionaries to return to their first foundation—evangelism. I encouraged them to consider whether we were just doing evangelism by proxy, rather than doing evangelism ourselves. I sensed, and comments confirmed, that God once again used me.
A RREACH donor who also volunteers at a respected and major YMCA asked me to bring their annual breakfast talk. They wanted to “lift the C in the YMCA; to put the C back in YMCA.” A significant group of in the Park Cities area of Dallas heard the message. Would you pray that it can lead to more testifying about the Lord Jesus—the hope of the world!
Video-conferences with the young pastors attending national GPAs in Mongolia and Niger were mutually inspiring. The Church in Mongolia is only 27 years old—younger than RREACH! In Niger, less than one percent of the people claim to be Christian, and they are fragmented by a general culture of distrust. May God enable our GPA grads to bear witness among their people with new strength.
Thank you for walking with me on this challenging ministry venture. You are a critical part of how God provides for us in many ways. A meeting with a dear friend just weeks ago resulted in an introduction that turned into a generous gift of kind to RREACH. Your prayers, introductions, financial support and encouragement carry us. I entreat your generous fellowship for the journey ahead.
P.S. Stay tuned for updates on our international pastors and families retreat and GPA Mexico 2. They're happening right now!
Received: April 29, 2021
Pray for pastors! | October 20, 2017
Dear praying friends,
A vision several years in the making is being realized! The Lord willing, next week RREACH will host an international retreat for about 40 pastors and their families from one of the most turbulent regions in the world. “I am going to be with heroes of our Faith, who have faithfully served God’s purposes and people in their great land during a time of turmoil and need,” Dr. Richard says. He is to fly out this weekend.
They have set a day of prayer and fasting (over at least one meal) for the retreat. We welcome you to join in this. Please ask the Lord Jesus for travel mercies and a deep and rich time of spiritual encouragement and personal refreshment.
The GProCommission team reports similar prayer requests on behalf of pastors around the globe. They desperately need spiritual refreshment and protection, provision, and unity to do God’s work most effectively. Pastors in Mexico are even now gathering for their second national GPA. Would you join us in praying for the health of pastors, churches and societies everywhere? And pray for more individuals from every culture and conviction to come to know the True, Good and Chief Shepherd. Thank you!
Received: April 29, 2021
Ministry and math | October 13, 2017
Dear praying friends,
Sunday service in one of the fastest-growing churches in the world
People are hungry for God. The picture above shows Ramesh Richard’s view as he spoke in one of the fastest-growing churches in the world during his recent South Asia trip. He spoke in two of five services which average 20,000 to 25,000 attendees each. At a mega youth conference of 15,000 the church held the next day, around 10,000 responded to his invitation.
From there he went to teach at the first pastors conference held in conjunction with RREACH's first Chair of Preaching and Pastoral Ministries, established at SAIACS a year ago. The attendance--55--was but a fraction of that at the mega-church. But for Dr. Richard, it was more strategic. The reason is simple: multiplication. Those pastors, by God's grace, will lead many future churches.
This last week Ramesh gave several “heart message” talks to about 200 church planting leaders from around the world at a Global Alliance for Church Multiplication Forum in Minneapolis, Minn. Their goal is 5 million churches planted by 2020. The corresponding challenge: Who is going to pastor those church plants to long-term health? RREACH's Global Proclamation Commission is working on that. At the same time the forum was in session, 36 pastors and 18 wives were finishing training in Cuba's second national Global Proclamation Academy.
That, dear prayer partners, is how God is multiplying the effect of your prayers!
The response has been encouraging. “Your talk was superb today. Superb. Much positive feedback. We thank God for His provision.” And from a media conference in South Asia, “I could see the Holy Spirit working in every word you spoke. I clearly see God’s hand in hand picking you for this year’s conference, and from the feedback we are getting, I am seeing God igniting hearts to move forward in the area of the harvest.”
We can’t tell you how much we appreciate you. Please keep on praying. The Lord willing, RREACH’s board of directors meets this weekend, GPA Mexico begins next week, and we are planning a retreat for pastors and families in a desperately dangerous region.
Received: April 29, 2021
Praying around the world | September 29, 2017
Dear praying friends,
We heard from people around the world who prayed for Dr. Ramesh Richard as he spoke to a group of influencers last week—what a blessing and encouragement! “God did speak through me,” he reported. “I sensed it...and so I am told.” May God multiply its impact.
Ramesh is now in the middle of a three-city trip in South Asia. His upcoming engagements include speaking at one of the fastest-growing churches in the region, a mega youth conference, and a pastors conference. Plus, many people wish to meet with him. Praise God for these opportunities! Pray for the right words at the right moments, physical and spiritual protection, and, ultimately, for more people to embrace the Lord Jesus Christ.
We’re excited about the young pastors who have recently graduated from GPA Niger and GPA Mongolia. Please intercede that they will apply what they learned and continue to encourage each other. GPA Cuba and GPA Mexico are coming up.
Also lift up the GProCommission team’s efforts to connect, unite and strengthen trainers of pastors. The range of needs in this area is vast—but God is providing as we pray! An associate who can communicate with a significant language group recently joined in the work.