” Anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of Me”  – Matt. 10:38

To take up your cross and follow Jesus is not an easy thing to do. Many years ago, God came into a room in downtown Athens and set my heart on fire. Every since then I have understood what it means to carry your own cross.

I thought the life of an evangelist would be to excel in the pulpit, and to conduct large meetings in which the media would be present. I thought I would give interviews and shake the hands of mayors and important politicians. In turn, after 45 years I have preached simple sermons, conducted mostly small meetings, shaken the hands with and prayed for alcoholics, drug addicts,  and criminals.  I have preached and ministered to the unemployed, poor, rejected, abused, mentally ill and the lost and in the process lost the respect of the most important people in the church.

You become nothing, but in the process God can really use you. Most of us think that being respected by many gives us a ministry. You might have your own ministry, but God is not in it. You cannot have riches, serve yourself, agree with everyone, sell your soul to the system  and be able to carry your cross.

Carrying your cross and following Jesus will not give you a name, it will not make you rich, it will not build your ministry. But it will give you an edge: the Holy Spirit will comfort you, give directions, heal, deliver and save through you.

I have decided to carry my cross and follow Jesus.   How about you?

Rick Bonfim

We are at the end of our trip. The Lord Jesus came and healed in a way I will never forget. His grace and His power was overwhelming to all of us.. Usually, the breakthrough comes at the end of the trip, but on this one it came in the beginning. What a surprise!

It was a warm Friday morning after the bible study. I was comparing the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 with Mark 12:28-29, sharing the idea that the 1st commandment through the 4Th are in line with a relationship with God. The 5Th commandment through the 10Th commandment are in line with a relationship with others. this is exactly what Jesus refers to in Mark 12:28-29, ” Love God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself.”

All I said is that in order to please  God you must love the Lord with all your heart. Also, you cannot please God by hating your neighbor. With that said, the Holy Spirit began to work in those in the room.

It began with the heart of Brad(Mark). He heart opened with healing came from heaven. Sarah (with an h) received the same. Phyllis from Mississippi was next. Natalyn came next with a major move of God in her life. You could actually see the hands of God over her as conviction began to take over and her eyes filled with tears. Noreen from the north received the same. Kevin is a discovery, a new one, a powerful man of God. The Lord is working with him for a new anointing, Eric came to a place of peace after many days of turmoil, David is experiencing the hand of God in a way that will heal him, Amanda fasted 7 days and God will give her the return. Gene will sleep and  Amanda will break through in her pursuit of anointing. Michelle came into peace. She will never depart from the peace of God. Now the Lord will begin moving!

On Friday we had to hospitalize Natalyn. I will have to tell you that in the next blog. God brought her from death back to life, by operating in her a mighty miracle. God is wonderful. Hallelluia!

Be in peace. I am.

Rick Bonfim

This morning the Lord came upon us… it is very rare that it happens this early, but it was His will. All of us were touched by a flame that still burns and the day is about over. I know that Brad will be a new creature after what happened this morning… No one can understand how God does it, but I am positively sure, this morning will be remembered in the hearts of all those who are here, in my heart also for many years.

I cannot tell you how it happens… you stay with the word and speak for an hour and half and suddenly like in Pentecost, it comes like an early fire, good fire and clean fire. Early because this should happen at the end of the trip, and it came early. Good because everyone in the group became convicted. Noreen will never be the same, Brad, Natalyn, Sarah… my goodness it was fire like in Pentecost!!

You probably ask me: ” What we do next?” Well, God has a plan… I am sure the bible studies will be fire upon fire and God will do to this group what he did to the other 3 groups of the summer, but this group will get more and more and more….

I am filled with expectation as to what God is going to do!!

Tonight I am headed to Belo Horizonte to preach at a large church there in the morning.. It is 8:00 pm. I am at the airport in Rio waiting my flight. My heart is light and my joy is overwhelming… Pray for me …. I have to come down and preach in the morning….

Rick Bonfim