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
A 20th anniversary and a historic first in India | March 14, 2014
Dear friends,
Thank you for praying for Dr. Richard while he ministered in India earlier this month. We are grateful to bring you the following praises from his trip!
Personal Proclamation:
While in India, Dr. Richard was able to see many friends when he spoke at the 20th anniversary of a church plant by Delhi Bible Fellowship, where he served as pastor in the mid-1980s. The church plant had struggled when Dr. Richard was serving in India, but the Lord has been gracious and in the last 20 years they have planted several more churches.
Dr. Richard also spoke at a leadership conference, and was thankful that RREACH friend and former coach Del Harris could join him and present a workshop.
Ministry Training:
In Bihar State (once called the "graveyard of missions") Dr. Richard spoke at a pastors conference in Patna attended by 170 pastors and their wives. One of Dr. Richard's childhood friends felt called to Bihar, where being a Christian meant being under threat in every way. Now, 30 years later, this place is called the "vineyard of missions" and there are 1,140 churches and 110 pastors there! (Pastoral training is of great importance here so that church health can keep up with church growth!)
Evangelizing opinion leaders:
RREACH and our partners in Bihar held their first-ever evangelistic event in Patna, attended by 70 people, including 45 unbelievers. Several trusted Christ!
At an evangelistic event in Bangalore, a former classmate of Dr. Richard's responded to the invitation to trust Christ!
Please continue to pray for those who attended events and meetings at which Dr. Richard spoke, that God would continue to use Dr. Richard's words in their lives to encourage, convict and bring them into fuller relationships with Himself.
For His glory,
Edie Ross
Prayer coordinator
P.S. We have updated news on the 2014 Dallas GPA! Click here to see it!
Received: April 29, 2021
Dallas GPA: Marching (toward the goal) in March UPDATED! | March 7, 2014
Dear friends,
Please join us in praising the Lord as we march toward securing a full class of 25 pastors with visas for the 2014 Dallas GPA. Currently, we've accepted 25 candidates, including 15* who have obtained their visas. We now have 17 candidates with visas!
Since our last update, Pastor A from Burkina Faso was granted his visa, as was Pastor D from Fiji. Please pray for these and other pastors who have secured their visas as they work toward raising funds to cover their part of their air travel to Dallas.
Additional prayer requests include:
Please pray for Pastor V from Liberia. After his visa appointment, the U.S. Embassy in Liberia put his application under further review. We are expecting the embassy to call the RREACH offices today to confirm the authenticity of our invitation. We are hopeful this will result in an approved visa for Pastor V. Please continue to pray for this situation. We've not yet heard if his visa will be granted.
Pastor J from Gambia was rejected for a visa. He is trying to decide if he should reapply. This is disappointing for both Pastor J and for RREACH, as no pastors from Gambia have previously attended a Dallas GPA. Please pray for God's wisdom, direction and favor. Please continue to pray.
Pray for God to provide one more master coach to join Dr. Richard in filling out the 2014 Dallas GPA faculty. Please continue to pray.
Finally, please pray for positive outcomes to these upcoming visa appointments:
March 12: Pastor A, from Haiti GRANTED!
March 13: Pastor G, from Cameroon REJECTED. Pray for wisdom on whether Pastor G should reapply or not.
March 13: Pastor F, from Angola GRANTED!
March 17: Pastor R, from Bangladesh
March 28: Pastor K, from Bhutan
Also, please pray for Pastor A from Nepal, who should receive his passport next week. Pray that he does and that he can secure a visa appointment very soon!
For His glory,
Edie Ross
prayer coordinator
*Pastors with secured visas represent the following countries: Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Hungary, Lebanon, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad, Zimbabwe, Haiti and Angola.
Received: April 29, 2021
A few updates: India & the Dallas GPA | February 28, 2014
Dear Friends,
Please continue to pray for Dr. Richard as he ministers in India. He arrived safely and has, among other things, spoken at a pastors conference of 170 pastors and their wives and at an evangelistic event attended by 70, including 15 unbelievers, three who responded to his message. Praise God for these opportunities, and please pray for the Lord to sustain Dr. Richard's physical health as he has several more full days of ministry ahead of him.
We hope to have a full trip update for you soon. In the mean time, please continue to pray for the upcoming Dallas GPA. We have several updates since our last post.
We have accepted 25 candidates, including 11 pastors who have obtained their visas. Praise the Lord for His provision, and continue to pray that we'd soon have a full class of 25 pastors with visas.
Also, join us in praising God for the following:
Pastor K from Togo was able to pick up his visa for the relevant dates without incident.
Pastor J from Mozambique and Pastor P from Myanmar were granted their visas.
Please continue to pray for favor during these upcoming visa appointments:
March 3: Pastor A from Burkina Faso
March 3: Pastor V from Liberia
March 13: Pastor G from Cameroon
Please also pray:
For God to provide one more master coach to join Dr. Richard in filling out the 2014 Dallas GPA faculty.
For God to provide the entire budget for the Dallas GPA by June 28. (The Pastors pay for half of their air travel to Dallas and RREACH covers the other half and all expenses of food, lodging, travel and education during the GPA.)
For His glory,
Edie Ross
prayer coordinator
Received: April 29, 2021
Pastoring amidst violence: Ukraine, Venezuela, Thailand | February 26, 2014
Dear friends,
Greetings on behalf of Dr. Ramesh Richard. You have no doubt heard about violent protests happening in places like Ukraine, Venezuela and Thailand.
We have heard from our beloved brothers in these countries—pastors who have attended a Dallas GPA or a national GPA (Venezuela was our first national GPA in 2011). Please join Dr. Richard and the RREACH board and staff as we lift them up in prayer along with all Christians and especially pastors in these difficult situations.
Ukraine: More than 80 people have been killed in clashes between police and demonstrators in Ukraine's capital, Kiev. Amid an ongoing political stalemate, violence has spread to other towns and cities.
The Ukraine Baptist Union asks for the following prayer:
"Our brother in Christ, a member of a Baptist Church in Kiev, was elected acting President of the Parliament until the next elections on May 25. Please, pray for him. (click here to read more about President Turchynov. )
Ukraine is still divided into West and East and the threat of a Division is still real. Please, pray for the unity of our nation.
All of our congregations are very active praying day and night for God and we see how He responds. This is an excellent time and opportunity to attest to God's love. We have to experience and feel The power of the atonement of Jesus Christ.
Pray for God's wisdom for all our pastors, because people are looking for answers to many questions in the context of this whole situation."
Requests from Pastor A, Dallas GPA 09 graduate:
"Please pray for peace in our country, that we would have new leadership and new country without corruption and old communist mindset. Pray for our nation to repent before God and start living according His word. Pray for revival among churches - that they would think not only about themselves but serve people around them and preach good news.
We are going to pray every evening at the center of our home town, Lutsk, with our church, and distribute Bibles, hot tea there, talk with people about Jesus. Thanks for your prayers and send our greetings to your fellow pastors and your churches. Shalom!"
Requests from Pastor A, Dallas GPA 07 graduate:
"My family and me are well. In my city the situation is not so hot. The church is keep on serving the Lord as normal, besides more constant and intensive prayers for the country. We never were so close to the civil war. Pray that God would give me as pastor special wisdom to lead the church. So many opinions and emotions about what we as believers should do."
Venezuela: A wave of anti-government demonstrations - the largest in a decade - has been sweeping through Venezuela since early February. At least 13 people have died.
Thailand: Thailand has been hit by months of mass protests as part of a long-running political battle. Several have been killed, including at least three children.
Venezuelan and Thai pastors alike are asking for continued prayer for their countries and for wisdom as they pastor through the situations in Venezuela and Thailand.
For His glory,
Edie Ross
Prayer coordinator
Received: April 29, 2021
Ministering in India | February 21, 2014
Dear Friends,
Thank you for continuing to pray for Dr. Richard and RREACH. Dr. Richard is leaving today for a 12-day trip to India and SE Asia. Please pray for travel mercies and divine appointments during his time abroad. Also, pray for the Lord to bless this special time in his homeland.
Ministering in India over the years.
Also, please pray for these specific opportunities that he will have to proclaim Christ:
Preaching at two churches: Pray that God would use Dr. Richard's preaching to bring glory to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Speaking at two evangelistic events: Pray for more than half in attendance to be unbelievers and for soft hearts to respond to the Gospel.
Speaking at a leadership conference and other meetings: Pray those attending will arrive safely and that Dr. Richard's message is encouraging to them.
Dr. Richard also will take a one-day trip to SE Asia for meetings related to the 2016 Global Proclamation Congress for Pastoral Trainers. Please pray for God's wisdom and timing as these discussions take place.
For His glory,
Edie Ross
Prayer coordinator