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
Requests from the pastors we serve | September 18, 2013
Dear Friends,
Please take a moment to pray over these situations, sent to us by pastors ministering in very difficult places. It has been Dr. Richard's great privilege to serve these pastors and others like them through Global Proclamation Academies or pastors conferences throughout the years. Names have been withheld for protection.
DR Congo pastor:
Aug. 30: "The security situation in and around Goma has worsened. We have cancelled our day of prayer because of the bombing going on in Goma. Pray for the protection of the town of Bunia, where a rebel movement is at war for the last week. We have the Ugandan army that has invaded the country in the North, 180 kms from Bunia. All of this is threatening security around us."
Sept. 18: "Thank you so very much for praying for us. I am well and my family too. We are busy. Of late I have been raising food to feed the displaced people because of the war 25 miles away from my town. I was able to raise seven tons of rice, 2.5 tons of beans and cooking oil to feed 2,500 people. Tremendous needs, keep praying."
Syrian pastor:
Aug. 27: "Last week was so hard on Damascus. More than 60 mortars fell on the city of which the majority fell on the Christian Quarter in Damascus after being sent by the Opposition gangs of Islamic Radical Groups.
On Thursday August 22, a mortar fell near my uncle (My mother's brother), an old man of 76 years. The Mortar fragments hit his legs and he was bleeding for 4 hours. After spending two days at the ER, uncle George passed away."
Sept. 5: "Maloula is a Syrian village located in the rocky mountains 60 km north of Damascus city. It is one of the only three villages in the whole world that its inhabitants - Christians & Moslems - live peacefully together and still speak Aramaic the language of Lord Jesus Christ.
On September 4, 2013 Maloula was attacked by opposition armed groups in order to put under their control. Its Ancient Churches, Monasteries, Christian heritage & people, all are threatened of being destroyed after being harmed by the attack.
We appeal to all sisters & brothers around the world to raise the awareness of the danger facing ancient heritage & people in Syria. Please try to do something to save it."
For His glory,
Edie Ross
prayer coordinator
P.S. RREACH recently was able to disburse funds to Syrian pastors through the Pastor's Family Care Fund to help with children's school fees and other needs. Please join us in praising God for the provision of these funds and the opportunity to minister to pastors serving in difficult areas.
Received: April 29, 2021
Costa Rica trip praise report | September 14, 2013
Dear friends,
Thank you for praying for Dr. Richard as he ministered in Costa Rica. Please join us in praising God for His goodness! I am excited to share these bits of good news with you:
Join us in praising God for the 25 pastors from different denominations who came to GPA Costa Rica from around the country. Coordinators reported thatpastors took home a new fervor for expository preaching and also life-long friendships.
Of his experience, one pastor wrote, "In life, I’ve said goodbye to friends, turned around and walked away without knowing when I would see them again. Today, leaving from el Redil [the venue wher
e they stayed] I experienced the same emptiness in my stomach—multiplied by 25. I couldn’t avoid the tears and the sensation that a part of me stayed with you all. I am taking you in my heart."
Another said, "I never thought I would be so encouraged and trained in this few days."
While in Costa Rica, Dr. Richard also had opportunities to speak at an evangelistic dinner where 500-plus people attended and 50 indicated a decision to trust Christ! He also was able to preach at Sunday morning church services. Please join us in praising God for those opportunities to proclaim Christ.
Also, join us in praising God for His protection of Dr. Richard and those he traveled with. On one occasion, his group was protected from a stray bullet-like object that pierced a billboard seconds before they walked in front of it!
Thank you for your continued prayer for Dr. Richard and RREACH.
For His glory,
Edie Ross
Prayer coordinator
Received: April 29, 2021
Please continue to pray for Ramesh Richard and RREACH | September 11, 2013
Dear friends,
Thank you for your continued prayers for Dr. Richard and RREACH. Dr. Richard has returned from Costa Rica, and we will have an update on that national GPA and his trip there soon.
Please join us now in praying for these ministry and operational requests:
Media Outreach:
RREACH's Media Outreach ministry harnesses the power of Facebook to reach unbelievers with the Gospel. Through this initiative, RREACH operates a Facebook page (www.facebook.com/liferocks.org) where we post thought-provoking content from Dr. Richard. From the page, visitors can link to our program-specific web site (www.LifeRocks.org) where they can watch evangelistic videos by Dr. Richard, get more information and chat with a worldview-trained evangelist.
In the first half of 2013, our Facebook content was placed in the newsfeeds of more than 21 million Facebook users around the world (via Facebook advertising.) More than 200,000 Facebook users responded by “liking” our content, and more than 5,800 Facebook users “shared” our content on their own pages, exposing their friends to our posts as well. Additionally, nearly 93,000 unique visitors came to our program-specific web site for further information about the Gospel.
Please pray for:
the continued success of Facebook and web site advertising
those who are responding to the invitation to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior
The video editing team in the Philippines, which is animating the monthly evangelistic videos posted on the www.LifeRocks.org page
Pastor's Family Care Fund:
RREACH’s Pastor’s Family Care Fund provides specifically for Gospel proclaimers and their families during times of extreme need. Dr. Richard has noted over the years that wherever relief is needed, pastors often are the ones administering it. They and their families sacrifice to help others.
Please pray for:
Financial partners to support this fund
Plans to come together to use designated funds to help pastors and their families in Egypt and Syria.
The pastors and their families in those countries who are facing danger and persecution in their ministries.
Dr. Richard's personal proclamation ministry:
Dr. Richard’s Personal Proclamation of the Lord Jesus Christ is at the heart of the RREACH ministry. He does this both by teaching pastors and believers at conferences and from church pulpits and also through evangelism—with burden for society’s unbelieving opinion leaders.
Please pray for these upcoming opportunities:
Sept. 14: Dr. Richard will be in Atlanta, where he will meet with the ICETE to discuss the upcoming Global Proclamation Congress for Pastoral Trainers 2016 in Manila, Philippines.
Oct. 5-9: Dr. Richard will travel to Orlando, where he will meet with Global Church Movements.
RREACH operational requests:
One of RREACH's operational values is to be "Lean, Nimble and Wise" in its use of the gifts donors graciously give. With that in mind, please pray:
For wisdom as Dr. Richard interviews a well-qualified person for employment with RREACH as an administrative assistant
For His glory,
Edie Ross
prayer coordinator
Received: April 29, 2021
National GPAs -praise report | September 6, 2013
Dear friends,
Thank you for your faithful prayers for Dr. Richard and RREACH. I'd like to share some praises with you that we received from two recent national GPAs.
GPA Bangladesh:
In early August 30 pastors from around Bangladesh attended GPA Bangladesh. RREACH staff at the national GPA reported how grateful the pastors were to be connected and united with one another. Most live in very difficult situations, and as Christians in a predominately Muslim and Hindu society, they are looked down upon. To fellowship and pray with a group of Christian brothers and fellow pastors was so refreshing and encouraging.
As one pastor noted "We made lifetime relationships with each other."
The highest-rated session was a practical work session in preaching expository sermons. One pastor said, "The impact of this training will last forever since the sessions were very much practical and addressed us on a personal level."
Praise God for the pastors who were able to attend GPA Bangladesh and pray that they would apply their training in their own churches and multiply it by sharing it with other pastors.
Also praise God for his protection over GPA Bangladesh, which took place amidst heightened political unrest in that region. In fact, some pastors had to stay two extra days because of a political strike and countrywide shutdown. The organizers added some extra sessions to redeem the time.
(To be as sensitive as possible to safety concerns, we won't post pictures of GPA Bangladesh. Please continue to pray for these pastors as they minister in difficult situations.)
GPA Nigeria:
At the same time in a different part of the world 27 pastors from across Nigeria were attending GPA Nigeria. RREACH staff who attended reported that this was the most boisterous group of pastors at a national GPA yet. In fact, during worship at a local church the pastor asked everyone to "make a joyful noise to the Lord," and the pastors grabbed chairs and waste baskets and started dancing and singing.
The pastors had the same zeal for learning, and some of their sessions went on until 11:30 at night. The group also beseeched organizers for additional sessions to address problems prevailing in the Nigerian churches and those sessions were reported to be "awesome and transforming."
In some Nigerian churches pride is celebrated and hierarchy is encouraged in ministry leadership. This was a concern for organizers.
However, they reported that they were overwhelmed when pastors publicly confessed their errors in humility rather than let pride reign—a testament to how the teaching and fellowship at GPA Nigeria had influenced them.
Please join us in praising God for His provision of these 27 pastors and His sanctifying work in their lives. GPA Nigeria organizers already are discussing the possibility of regional GPAs within Nigeria, at the request of the pastors who attended.
For His glory,
Edie Ross
Prayer Coordinator
Received: April 29, 2021
Dr. Richard ministering in Costa Rica | September 3, 2013
Dear friends,
Please join us in praying for Dr. Richard as he ministers in Costa Rica. Specifically pray for the following requests:
Sept. 5 evening: Pray for Dr. Richard as he speaks at an evangelistic event at Vida Abundante Church. Pray that God would use him mightily to reach unbelievers in attendance. Also, pray the audience is composed of at least 50 percent unbelievers.
Sept. 6 afternoon: Dr. Richard will do a question-and-answer session with delegates at GPA Costa Rica, which began on Aug. 29. Pray that he can encourage these fine, young pastors.
Sept. 7: Dr. Richard will again be ministering to delegates on the final day of GPA Costa Rica. Pray that pastors' hearts would be united and that the training they received would strengthen them as they lead their congregations.
Also pray for Dr. Richard's safe travel to, from and around Costa Rica.
For His glory,
Edie Ross
RREACH prayer coordinator