I just had our annual board meeting for RBM. After that we had the RTF meeting with the best people I have ever met in my whole like. To close to them is like being in heaven. They are the best friends in the world. I have worked with them for over years, some of them 20 to 30 years…. they are the  best friends   in the world.

If you never met Bob Rice, you are missing of the best human beings in the world. The best fisherman in the land and  my friend in Jesus.. Our chairperson for 10 years now is Mary Blanche… You would be proud to meet her and to spend time with her..teh best friends in the world.

In all my years, it could be of serving the Lord I do not remember friends so loyal and so true. They are the joy of my life.

God has given us so many friends… in Brasil, if you ever met a good man, it is Jorge and Rossana, real friends in Christ.. I trust them with my life and all that I do for Jesus.

So, that is the way I feel today, grateful. Grateful to the Lord for all the friends He has sent our way, working and helping us for so many years.

Every one of them is a miracle from God. Some, God has healed. Others touch the hem of His garment. Others hae been saved by grace and fill the the peaceful Holy Spirit. Others have been blessed in so many ways… all these friends have had an experience with God that marks their lives.

They are the Board of RBM and the RTF Committee. You will want to meet them some day.

Thank God, for these wonderful friends..

Rick Bonfim

It is difficult to believe in something when you have never experienced it or known about it. Just to act in faith is not easy.  The disciples were confused and disoriented after the miracle of the multiplication of  bread  in Mark 6:52. “For they had not understood about the loaves; their their hearts were hardened.”

Why would their hearts be hardened? Why not just believe that fish and bread can be multiplied by prayer? Some of the reasons might be these:

1-When you do not know how things work, you have the tendency to be afraid of them.

2-When you are exposed to supernatural things, you tend be afraid of them.

3-When there is a conflict of mind and heart, the mind seems to win most of the time.

The unbeliever feels “manipulation;” the believer feels faith. The unbeliever doubts, the believer rejoices. The unbeliever questions the actions of the Holy Spirit, the believer receives them. Thus, as you read this blog and wonder about it, let me ask you a few questions:

Do you believe in the power of God to heal, save and deliver?

Do you believe that Jesus rose from the dead and will return?

Do you believe in eternal life with the Father?

All of the above are difficult to receive and believe. To witness a miracle,  you have to believe in  something intangible. Nothing to see.  Nothing to play with which is palpable.  You have to open your heart and believe to have salvation. 

QUESTION: ARE YOU A BELIEVER OR AN UNBELIEVER?

Rick Bonfim

I have been privileged to serve as an Evangelist for another year. God has done some incredible healings this past year and I have learned so much in the process. I am 67 years of age, to be January 1st 68 years of age and still learning now more than ever before.

What this Evangelist needs?

1- Prayer. You need to make a commitment to pray for this ministry. The new people coming by profession of Faith is substantial and the schedule requires constantly. Weekly I am preaching several times and the invitations never stop. The travel, this year to be 7 overseas trips and revivals, plus two bible studies a week, plus, discipling at least 4 interns keeps you busy.. Mary Lucy still works at the office daily and the staff is busy 9 to 5 pm daily. WE NEED PRAYER!

2-Our A&HUR PROGRAMS are the most important source of income to pay staff here and in Brasil. Brasil still $2.000,00 to $3.000,00 short every month. I need help in continuing this Mission program. We are feeding the hungry 4000 to 5000 meals every  month… really, this much and the upkeep of kitchen materials and all the food is staggering. Pray the Lord send more income to the feeding program.

3-We are extending our Internship Program adding more young man and women to it. Pray that we have the right staff to minister to their needs. Dr. Frank Appell and Elizabeth Wolfe have been a blessing to our staff, but we need other to step up and come to Athens weekly to teach and disciple our INTERNS.

4-If there is a need that stands out today is the necessity to finish all the books I have been writing. Pray that I would have discipline to finish these books and publish them for the Glory of the Lord and share with many how God has increased my Discernment of Spirits and helped me to help many.

5-Pray for Mary Lucy and I. Our schedule and our time with children have become essential. I was blessed to have my mother for 67 years. Now, Mary Lucy’s mother is beginning to fade and she will have to go through what I have been through these last 3 years. Pray for our family.

6- Pray for our trip to Israel. It has been one of the most powerful projects ever in our ministry. The value of this trip in terms of teaching has been great. Many have experienced what we have brought together, now, we need new folks and new directions to continue to teach in this area. Pray for Israel trip of November 2012.

7- I have received information from NAUME, National Association of United Methodists Evangelists that I have been chosen to receive the Philip Award at the Congress of Evangelism in Nashville,Tennessee on January 3 . Due to our family needs in Brazil, especially the loss of my mother, I will be able to attend. I am honored to be chosen by the United Methodist Evangelists in America. Pray for NAUME, that God will use Gary Moore to be a great blessing as the new Executive Director. 

Pray, Pray and Pray for us in 2012

Rick Bonfim

General Evangelist

United Methodist Church

Explain: Power being perfected. Yes, power has properties and what makes power,  are properties  in it. You have  varying  electricity and you have stable electricity. A 3 phrase connection is better then a two- phrase connection. 

The Power of God has also the ability to being perfected in your life. Jesus did not use the same power to raise the dead that He used in expelling a demon.  Listen to Paul:

“ …that power is like the working of a his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised Him from the dead.” Eph 1:19

Power, working, mighty, strength are different words that means different power. 

What Jesus said to Paul was: “ My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2Cor. 12:9

Paul suffered an ailment that kept him humble or becoming conceited. So, what is the message here? Here it is:  Power develops faster when in confrontation with weakness. Power actually works better when exercising over our faults… It is the nature of the Holy Spirit. Some of us  have a concept of the Holy Spirit made by emotional experiences of others, but we have never had our own experience.

You need power? Invite God into your life and things will begin to change. It did happened to me.

Rick Bonfim

When Paul wrote II Corinthians 1:3 he spoke of “The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.” This really spoke to me since my mother went to be with the Lord this month.

As I was reading, something came across my eyes that  I have never seen in this passage:”FOR JUST AS THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST FLOW OVER INTO OUR LIVES, SO ALSO THROUGH CHRIST OUR COMFORT OVERFLOWS.” – II COR. 1:5

The idea here is this: FLOW AND OVERFLOW. MORE GOES OUT THAN COMES IN. WHEN THE COMFORT OF CHRIST THROUGH HIS SUFFERINGS COMES INTO US, IT GROWS INTO MORE COMPASSION AND COMFORT. THE MORE WE RECEIVE FROM JESUS, THE MORE WE CAN GIVE THE SAME THING TO OTHERS.

I have seen this all my life. This weekend I preached at Clarenton UMC, the lovely cathedral where Dr. Eugene Thomas is the pastor.  It is in Arlington, Virginia in the shadows of  the Congress of the United States. The heart of Washington, D.C. is only a 15-mile drive away.

We had breakfast at the Murky Place, where pastries were divinely put together. I shared about comfort. God really came in and around 12 noon two women standing by heard the word. One told me that her heart was overwhelmed that God knows her sufferings. He understand her pain.

I asked the girl behind me working in her computer if  I spoke too loudly, since it was a open place for breakfast.  She answerered me saying,  ”I took notes. I hope it was ok.” I said, “Do you feel comforted?” She said,”Oh! yes!”

Are you comforted by the presence of God? Does His presence FLOW INTO YOU AND OVERFLOW UNTO OTHERS?

WHAT STOPS THIS SYSTEM FROM OPERATING? Answer: Self- Pity, Selfishness, Self-centerness, Ego and  Pride, etc….

LET IT FLOW!!!

Rick Bonfim