Ralph Powell

Ralph William Powell was born in 1933 of immigrant parents who came from England in 1928 and became naturalized citizens. As a first generation American he was taught that his heritage was from today forward. It is important to know and love your family but do not put stock in where they or their families came from or what their position or job was in life.

Ralph served the Lord, while a Michigan State University, with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship as a dormitory Bible Study organizer and leader. Ralph Graduated as an Electrical Engineer, married Sharon Gilchrist, the smartest beautiful blond, Bryan College student Ralph and Sharon raised four daughters, who were all called by God along with their husbands and families who continue to serve Jesus Christ as their redeemer.

1968 Ralph and Sharon applied to be missionaries with Trans World Radio. They were looking for Electrical Engineers to work their new Africa Transmitter. Our 3 year olds health problems prevented our approval by them.

In 1987 Ralph was called, by the Lord, to help organize a men’s bible study. Sharon and a number of women were in a women’s Bible Study Fellowship (BSF). They prayed for a men’s BSF to begin. Over 600 men met every Monday evening for BSF in Troy Michigan.

In 1988 Ralph was called, by the Lord, to help in the Founding of Michigan Theological Seminary (MTS). Sharon was out first Treasurer. He served 6 years as Founding Chairman of the Board of Directors while the Seminary organized, purchased a building, received their Charter from the Department of Education from the State of Michigan and called their first President. Ralph continued to serve on the Board in various offices including the writing of Grant Request Proposals. MTS became accredited with the Association of Theological Schools in 2007. MTS' assets were given to Moody Bible Institute in 2010 and it was renamed Moody Theological Seminary - Michigan.

In 1989 he was called, by the Lord, to work on the translation and publication of the New Testament into the Falam Chin dialect of Burma, now called Myanmar. 3600 copies were smuggled by these people, in 1993/94, into their villages. In 1995 a group of men formed the Myanmar Evangelical Partnership project to work on the translation and publication of a complete Study Bible into the Falam Chin dialect and also to oversee and raise funding for the founding of the Yangon Theological Seminary. Yangon was formerly known as Rangoon. Yangon Theological Seminary began classes in October 1996 with 12 Masters Degree students.

Ralph served as Chairman of this Myanmar Evangelical Partnership project until October 1997 when it was incorporated as Encouragement, Inc. a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation. Ralph then became corresponding Secretary of Encouragement, Inc. thru today. Encouragement, Inc supported Yangon Theological Seminary, equipping about 500 students and then Beulah Theological Seminary equipping about 450 students thru 2020. The seminaries offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees. All professors have Doctor or Master Degrees, and all Master Degree students must have Bachelor Degrees. The English language is used for all texts and teaching. No Americans are allowed to live in Myanmar because of the military controlled dictatorship government, so all evangelism must be done by Citizen Christians living there. Praise the Lord for the ongoing fervent work, that He alone prospers, of these oppressed, unreachable, and unreached lovely people.