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
Visa praises and needs, program planning details | May 20, 2016
Dear praying friends,
News from the GProCongress frontline: “Just heard that 30 pastors just received visas in Kenya, with more to come. Twenty-two pastors from Benin received visas in Senegal, even though they were to go to Nigeria! Wonderful miracles are happening, praise God together.” However, we’re also hearing from pastoral trainers in countries where visas are being denied.
Your prayers are vital, please keep on. Many pastoral trainers long to attend the GProCongress yet face visa, financial, health, transportation and other challenges. Pray that the Lord will provide and protect in such a way that their faith will be strengthened and His name lifted up among any non-believing family members, friends, acquaintances—even in their nation. Additional needs in the area of Congress recruitment include participation from countries not yet represented and strong delegations from strategic countries, including a good response to an initiative in honor of the late Rev. Enoch Sirikul.
Dr. Richard and the Congress program team plan to meet next week. Ask God to give them wisdom and creativity in planning, and attention to detail, encouragement and patience in plan implementation. Dr. Richard requests special prayer for three main program elements—the opening and closing events and the mid-Congress Communion service. Also lift up the panel discussion addressing how to connect and enhance the worlds of formal and non-formal pastoral training. The Lord willing, Dr. Richard is to participate in this panel.
Thank you for praying.
Received: April 29, 2021
30 days until the Congress: praises and requests | May 16, 2016
Dear praying friends,
Thank you for your prayer during the difficult time of Rev. Enoch Sirikul’s abrupt home-going and resulting challenges to GProCongress preparation. The Lord Jesus is inspiring Thai Christian leaders to carry forward Rev. Sirikul’s ministry in this land where less than 1 percent of the population identifies as Christian. He is also inspiring broader interest in the GProCongress. As you remember Rev. Sirikul’s family and all grieving his earthly loss, intercede for God to work mightily through those he trained. Specifically ask for His wisdom, guidance, protection and provision as Dr. Richard and the GProCongress team adjust and proceed with even more heartfelt urgency.
Pray for the GProCongress registration team as registration activity has increased heavily. Pray for this trend to continue, technology systems to operate smoothly and visa challenges to be overcome. Also praise God for providing tremendous favor with the Thai government in regard to visas.
Many pastoral trainers have acted in faith, obedience and hope as they paid Congress registration fees. They still need funding to travel to Bangkok. Please ask God to provide abundantly, so that now and in the years to come more may trust and rejoice in His name. Please ask Him for abundant spiritual provision for GProCongress presenters and coaches, also.
In a few days, the Lord willing, Dr. Richard is to record some online curriculum sessions regarding the Holy Spirit. Pray for wisdom, strength and clarity, for God’s glory. Thank you!
Received: April 29, 2021
Grieving and Acting with Hope | April 29, 2016
Dear praying friends,
Dr. Steve Douglass - Campus Crusade for Christ International/Cru, Rev. Sirikul and Dr. Richard last November in Florida
Early this morning Rev. Enoch Yuttasak Sirikul, chair of the Executive Board of Thailand Evangelism and Church Growth Committee, chair of Thailand Campus Crusade for Christ, and national coordinator for the Global Proclamation Congress for Pastoral Trainers, went home to the Lord after a sudden, massive heart attack. Please pray for Rev. Sirikul’s family, friends and ministry.
Rev. Sirikul instantly invited Dr. Richard to hold the GProCongress in Thailand after Typhoon Haiyan battered the Philippines in late 2013, requiring the relocation and rescheduling of the event. “[The GProCongress] will be a historic event in the body of Christ for this generation,” he said.
“I am shocked, stunned and terrifically sad,” Dr. Ramesh Richard said. “I've known 'Nok' for 30 years. He was one of the great leaders of the world and one of my best friends in ministry.” Your committed prayer for God’s total protection and global provision for the fulfillment of the GProCongress and its strategic follow-up is essential during these days. Please remember:
Registration and delegates - up to 5,000 of the right pastoral trainers from all areas of the world
Speakers, presenters, coaches and follow-up – availability and preparation
Funding – God has supplied all the funding needed to meet Congress contract deadlines to date; we anticipate needing another $1.6 million by June 15
GProCongress team – creativity, capacity and Christlikeness
Thank you for praying for us during this time of intense grief and action.
Received: April 29, 2021
Dr. Richard finishes final GProCongress recruitment trip | April 21, 2016
Dear praying friends,
I have just returned from my personal final recruitment push for the Congress. Here are some thoughts for your prayers.
Final vision-casting meeting
1) God has brought fine leaders around the table to implement the GProCongress. There are still decisions to be made and actions to be taken, but the general sentiment is that at this point, we have done what can be done.
2) We saw a registrant "uptick" by about 300 in what seemed a few hours! There is a recruitment effort this week in Nairobi among Anglican Evangelical Prelates. Last week a friend made special connections in a major Asian country, and recent visits to Brazil and Argentina have already yielded fruit.
3) Our industrious back office leaders relocated to Uganda from Malaysia while maintaining a torrid schedule; they also negotiated a generous visa policy for Congress delegates with our kind host country—a great answer to prayer.
4) Coordinated follow-up is to be one of the Congress hallmarks. Our fine follow-up team just gathered in Costa Rica for planning.
5) Our Thai hosts are all "pumped up" because this Congress has a vision with action till 2020! Their volunteers are amazing.
We have fewer than 56 days left. Decisions will be made by the thousands...please pray for total protection and global provision. Pray for me since I am recovering emotionally and work-wise (about 100 hours of written labor) from a personal mishap, the theft of my briefcase at an airport--all important, much useful, some favorite, and a few irreplaceable things.
God's graces kept my passport and credit cards from being in the briefcase, where they normally are!
Thank you for praying.
ramesh
Received: April 29, 2021
Only God | April 15, 2016
Dear praying friends,
Preparing for the GProCongress for Pastoral Trainers has been an enormous test and affirmation of RREACH’s motto: ONLY GOD. Late last week a couple of well-coordinated thieves made off with Dr. Richard’s briefcase, which contained his computer, important Congress notes, several items of personal significance, and cash. The loss and subsequent challenges reemphasized our total dependence on God, and God only. The fact that Dr. Richard was not harmed and the generosity of his Brazilian hosts in helping with funds to cover part of the losses despite their own economic situation re-testify to how great the Only God is. Thank you so much for standing with Dr. Richard, RREACH and the GProCongress team in prayer and praise to Only God!
Yesterday Dr. Richard headed out for his final GProCongress vision-casting trip—in spite of issues that cropped up with his flight. Please pray for good response to the upcoming vision-casting in one country in the Middle East and for productive Congress team meetings in Bangkok next week. Pray, too, for:
fruit from all preceding recruitment efforts
selection of the right presenters and coaches
robust development of the Congress follow-up strategy.
Praise ONLY GOD.