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!
Monthly Prayer Calendar
For brief daily prayer points, click here for our monthly calendar.
Prayer Updates
Prayer Multiplying! | December 16, 2014
Dear praying friends,
God is answering our prayer for Dr. Richard and the rapidly approaching Global Proclamation Congress for Pastoral Trainers—and multiplying it. Dr. Richard received the following note after an engagement in Spokane, Washington, last week:
Your message…today was the most challenging subject and prayer request we have had in 2014. As we have learned about the Global Proclamation Congress in 2016, our minds have been increasingly stretched. But today you hit us with exponential expansion as you described the problems of pastoral development and training and the scope of the GProCongress in Bangkok.
There is now a greater sense of urgency in our interceding for you and the GProCongress, and all those missionaries in the world's fields…. Between now and June 2016, the GProCongress is a major, weekly prayer point of ours.
Multiplied prayer according to the Lord’s will is multiplied power. Thank you, prayer partners, for your faithful intercession. Points of prayer to lift up this week:
Praise for safe travels, endurance and encouragement through the demands of Dr. Richard’s recent schedule.
GPA Cuba (January 2015) – preparation is going well. Pray for nine more pastors to attend.
2015 Media Outreach message filming – the first of Dr. Richard’s short videos will be filmed Thursday morning, Dec. 18, the Lord willing.
Time away for Dr. Richard and Bonnie – Dr. Richard hopes to get away with his closest and most sacrificial ministry partner—his wife, Bonnie—this weekend. Please pray for refreshment.
Received: April 29, 2021
Praising God in the Middle of a Torrid Schedule | December 11, 2014
Dear praying friends,
God is sustaining Dr. Richard through a torrid schedule—thank you for praying. After returning to Dallas last week from a 24,000+ air mile journey through four African countries, he went immediately into meetings with key contacts and the RREACH board, had a prayer event, and preached at Christ Church Plano’s two Sunday morning services. Monday found him in New York City for a World Evangelical Alliance event and gathering with strategic groups of Christian leaders regarding the GProCongress. Today, the Lord willing, he flies to Spokane, Washington, where he is to speak at Moody Bible Institute-Spokane’s commencement exercises this weekend. Continue to lift Dr. Richard up for travel and ministry mercies.
Please also pray for these ongoing elements of his ministry:
• Preparation for Dr. Richard’s 2015 Media Outreach messages on forgiveness
• Upcoming national GPAs in Cuba, Nicaragua and Lebanon
• A potential pastors conference to encourage pastors in a dangerous region
• GProCongress mobilization efforts
• Recruitment for the 2015 Dallas GPA
May the Lord Jesus Christ be glorified!
Received: April 29, 2021
Praises from across Africa | December 2, 2014
Dear Praying Friends,
Thank you for praying Dr. Richard across Malawi, South Africa, Uganda and Ethiopia over the past two weeks. Here are a few photos from Uganda for you to enjoy.
Dr. Richard, Robby Richard and four of our Dallas GPA grads who minister in Uganda
The Lord willing, Dr. Richard will arrive back in Dallas today. He has a busy schedule coming up.
Please pray for:
The RREACH Board meetings this week
Dr. Richard's two speaking engagements and trips (within the U.S.) next week
Several special gatherings with long-time and new-to-RREACH friends
Received: April 29, 2021
"We have learned a new thing...": praise/prayer update from Africa | November 25, 2014
Dear Praying Friends,
Praise: GPA Mali accomplished!
Against earthly odds, 21 pastors graduated from GPA Mali last week. Master Coach Pastor MN reported,
It was a new experience which challenged us in a new way. We have learned a new thing to trust God more in hard situations. The world news highlights on Mali: Ebola, Jihaddists, etc., and not enough attendees in the first three days, really shook us. If it were not for Christ's sake we could have decided otherwise. But now, we have joy and thanksgiving in our heart. As Paul said, 'We have kept the faith,' and RREACH has shown how much it cares for the Church of Christ, for it could have cancelled the Mali national GPA."
"We are thankful to God for His grace, care, protection and provision throughout the whole GPA Mali.
Dr. Richard's Journey Through Africa
Dr. Richard is grateful for the prayers sustaining him through less-than-ideal circumstances when he first reached Africa. His hosts' warm spirits blessed him through a busy first few days in Malawi and South Africa. Please continue to intercede for him as he heads, the Lord willing, into a large pastors conference and evangelistic events in Uganda, as well as GProCongress vision-casting gatherings with leaders in Uganda and Ethiopia. Also pray for organizers and attendees.
Thank you for praying!
Received: April 29, 2021
Connecting, uniting, strengthening brothers and sisters in Africa | November 21, 2014
Dear Praying Friends,
Connecting, uniting, strengthening brothers and sisters in Africa
Thanks for praying for my bags to arrive...they did, with everything intact. I don't have to borrow shirt and socks anymore!
Dr. Richard just sent the above message from Lilongwe, Malawi, where he is casting vision for the GProCongress for Pastoral Trainers, speaking at an apologetics conference and giving two Sunday morning messages. He left for Malawi three days ago, arriving after 37 hours of travel to multiple vehicle breakdowns, a long stretch without water, no electrical power, no Internet connection and no luggage. Flights only go to Malawi once every 24 hours, so he was praying for his bags to arrive on the next one. We praise God they did, and without a thing missing!
Malawi is the first of four countries on Dr. Richard’s itinerary. The Lord willing, he will meet with leaders in South Africa, Ethiopia and Uganda regarding the GProCongress, as well as speak at a large pastors conference and evangelistic event in Uganda.
Indeed, thank you for praying, and please continue to pray for:
Health and safety
Strong mobilization for the GProCongress for Pastoral Trainers
Physical, mental, emotional and spiritual empowerment as Dr. Richard prepares for a grueling set of engagements upon his return from ministering in Africa
The Richard family as this will be Dr. Richard’s first time away from home over Thanksgiving in 38 years
Behind the scenes: RREACH Board and Staff
Please pray for RREACH’s dedicated board of directors and staff. When ministry intensity increases for Dr. Richard, it increases for the entire RREACH team. We need the Lord’s wisdom, creativity and sustaining power to serve with excellence and efficiency. Pray for our continued growth in those areas and in encouraging one another.
GPA Mali
The Lord answering prayers for GPA Mali
Pastor MS, MO and MN
The Lord is graciously hearing our prayers for the national GPA in Mali! Twenty-one of the 25 young lead pastors recruited to attend made the trip despite poverty, peril, impeded travel and a sudden Ebola outbreak. Organizing pastor MO, Dallas GPA 2007 grad, traveled more than 1,000 miles and used only his phone—not a computer—to pull the event together. In spite of the difficulties in Mali, Dallas GPA grads Pastor MS from Togo (2013) and Pastor MN from Burundi (2012) joined him to run the GPA. “I am very grateful for this opportunity to serve pastors in Mali,” MS said. Please ask the Lord for a powerful finish to the GPA this weekend and for His ongoing provision and protection as all return to their families and ministries.