!! Dear Pastor, Hello, my name is Andy Richey, missionary to East Africa. At the time of my salvation in 2002, I was a business owner. After a few years of spiritual growth, the Holy Spirit prompted me to take a look at my life and it s purpose. In a step of faith, after 18 years of building our company, we sold our business to pursue eternal fruit for Jesus Christ in mission work. At this time I was able to take several short-term missions trips. These journeys took me to Honduras, Central America; Chad, Central Africa; Cameroon, West Africa; and Kenya, East Africa. After prayer, fasting and pastoral counsel, God has called us to full time church planting work in East Africa. God has blessed with the starting of several churches while working with national men in Kenya. We have a tremendous burden to return to Africa as soon as His will would allow, to build upon the work already accomplished! It would be a honor if you would allow us the privilege to share our burden and calling with you and your church body at your next missions conference, or at a time appropriate to your schedule. We are seeking like minded and soul conscious churches like yours for prayer and financial support, Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. Philippians 4:15 If I can serve you in any way, regardless of your ability to support us financially, it would be an honor to do so. May God bless you as you work to reach the lost, in your community, and across the globe! Your servants for lost souls across East Africa, Andy & Connie Richey!!
Mission Statement The purpose and focus of this work will be to establish national churches that function under three basic biblical principles: 1) Self governing. 2) Self supporting. 3) Self propagating. Our vision and plan to accomplish this purpose is to start a pattern church in the logistical and economic center of East Africa, Kenya. This church will be the foundation for all that is done. Through local church discipleship, we will use this foundation to start a Bible college, preparing national men to be pastors, and missionary church planters. Preparation will include classroom settings, and hands on discipleship in the work of the ministry in the local church. As men are ready and called, we will then work with them in church planting operations, targeting unchurched villages, and the over 500 unreached people groups throughout East Africa. As part of the above, we desire to form groups of national men that will travel together and hold evangelistic meetings reaching the lost with the Gospel. We will then conduct Bible studies for those who call on Christ, giving them the milk of the Word. As God helps them grow, we will, as Paul did, assist in organizing these bodies of believers and confirm them as churches. The only hope of getting the Gospel across East Africa is through nationals. It is our intention to instill the passion Christ displayed into national men as they pastor national churches, reaching their own people. Andy Richey
Salvation Testimonies Andy Richey I was raised in a good, moral home. My parents started going to church when I was quite young, and I can recall them both getting saved. A short time later (at about age nine), I made a profession of faith. After moving to Xenia, Ohio, under the preaching of my former pastor, Dr. David McClellan, I felt great conviction from the Holy Spirit within me about my relationship with God. I truly accepted Christ as my Saviour while sitting in an Arby's restaurant with my pastor in August of 2002. Anyone who knew me at this time, I believe, would testify that the fruits of the Spirit began to show in my life.... I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." (II Timothy 1:12) Connie Richey I was raised in a Christian home. My parents were both saved before I was born. I was in church every time the church doors were open from the day I was born. By the age of four, I had heard all of the Bible stories, and one day I asked my daddy how I could go to Heaven. We went to my room and knelt by my bed, and my daddy told me how to go to Heaven. I was saved that day and have never looked back.
My Calling God broke my heart for the mission field in 2008 while I was in Honduras. I had gone to help and encourage a friend and missionary there. I walked out of a mountain town of about 100 people with tears in my eyes and a burden on my heart. God opened my eyes to the reality of people who would never have an opportunity to hear of God's love and available mercy through Jesus Christ unless someone took great effort to go to them. At that moment I knew that God wanted me on a mission field. This was a great heartache because at the time I was the leader of a Bus Ministry and seeing many saved, and my bus families were my life. I have been to Central America, Central Africa, and East Africa and was burdened for the need at each. It was through prayer, fasting, and pastoral counsel that God pointed me to East Africa. Dr. David McClellan (my former pastor), Dr. Darrell Moore, and veteran missionaries Peter Morris and Barry Ritchie were pivotal in this process and conclusion. "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. (Acts 13:2)
Dear Pastor: It is a privilege for me to write to you recommending Bro. and Mrs. Andy Richey to you for support. They are hard-working members of our East Africa Team. They are and have been deeply involved in the First Baptist Church and its ministries for many years. They are members of my Sunday school class and have been instrumental in bringing many visitors to the class and First Baptist Church. They have a burden for the people of East Africa and are partnering with Bro. Peter Morris in his quest to get the Gospel to East Africa. If you have any questions about the Richeys or the ministry they are involved in, please feel free to contact me at darrellmoore@fbmi.org. Thank you for prayerfully considering this request. His for the world s souls, Darrell Moore Missions Pastor
Dear Pastor, I have been working with national pastors in Kenya, East Africa, for over 18 years. Recently I have been given the opportunity to work with FBMI in bringing together a group of independent missionary families that have been called to serve Christ in East Africa. As independent missionaries we will be required to raise our own support. We will be planting a church, starting a Bible college, developing mobile Bible institutes, and possibly starting a radio station. This will allow us to effectively take the Gospel to Kenya and its neighboring countries through the planting of local churches and the educating and discipling of national pastors and their people. Bro. Andy Richey has traveled to Kenya with me on a number of occasions and has shown himself to have the attributes that a missionary needs on the foreign field. His years as a mature Christian, combined with his experience as a successful businessman, make him an asset to any ministry. I believe he is the answer to my prayer for a fellow servant with a kindred spirit who will help multiply our church-planting efforts across East Africa, leading many to be saved. He has a servant s heart and is versatile and ready to preach, teach, or serve in any capacity for which he is called. He also has a compassion for the people of Kenya and a sense of urgency to see the Gospel spread across Africa. He and his wife Connie are a mature couple who will be valuable members of our team. I ask that you consider this missionary couple for support, both prayerfully and financially, as your time and money will be well invested for the cause of Christ. I believe they will be responsible for seeing many East Africans won to Christ, which will be held to your account. If you would like any further information or have any questions, please contact me at (219) 779 1389, or e-mail me at morrispj_98@yahoo.com. Thank you. Your brother and co-laborer in Christ, Peter Morris Director of East Africa Church Planting
Dear Pastor, My name is Barry Ritchie. I am an independent Baptist missionary in Honduras and a personal friend of Andy and Connie Richey. We became close friends on our deputation years ago, and they have shown the love of Christ in all they do, both in the storms and in the clear. They are not newcomers but already tried and proven before being sent. Their testimony is one of perseverance and personal conviction to live holy lives for Christ, a willingness to sacrifice all for His name s sake. I am not alone in this view. I know many who would testify the same about them. I have seen many missionaries over the years, but few have I seen with the fortitude to do the will of God as I have seen in Andy and Connie. You will have no regrets supporting Andy and Connie, and doing so will store many treasures in Heaven to your account. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me in confidence. Sincerely, Barry and Lisa Ritchie Honduras Missions / Children s Lighthouse International code +504-9925-3538 or 504-8884-5941
DOCTRINAL STATEMENT Scriptures: I believe the Scriptures are verbally inspired by God and inerrant in the original writings, and that there is a preservation of this inerrancy guarded by God and passed on in the TR text. (Psalms 12:6-7, Mat 5:18, 2 Peter 1:21). I believe that the Scriptures are the supreme and final authority in faith, life, and practice (2 Timothy 3:16,17;). I believe that the Alexandrine Texts have unjustified deletions and alterations, many on key doctrinal issues, and is not a proper basis for a Bible Translation (i.e. ASV, NASB, NAB, RSV, NIV). These perversions cast doubt upon God s word, a tool the Devil has used from the beginning (Genesis 3:1). I, therefore, believe that the King James Bible, sourced from the TR, is the only English Bible to be used as the source of Truth and represents the only complete and accurate Holy Bible for English speaking people. The KJV is without error. God Head: I believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Ghost (Genesis 1:1, 26, 18:1-2, Psalm 110:1, Isaiah 9:6, John 10:30, Acts 5:3-4). Jesus Christ: I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and at the same time God the Son (John.10:30). Christ was not created, He always has been (John 1:1, John 8:58). I believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, of the virgin Mary (Matthew 1:23). Salvation: I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a perfect, sinless, spotless substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who call on Him, and Him alone, are justified through His shed blood (Romans 5:9, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 2:24).