Our second group to Brazil this summer came from two different churches, one in Livingston, Tennessee and the other in Dahlonega, Georgia. These two United Methodist churches sent their youth to find the presence of God and to worship the Lord.

One evening as we drove to a small church, I prayed to God, asking what could be done to release this group from what was hindering them. Something had to happen so that they would turn their minds to Jesus and not to themselves. There was one young man in the group who especially burdened me, since he was an intern. The problem was that his brilliant mind kept getting the best of him. He could not stop asking questions, as his brain insisted upon knowing and understanding everything before any faith could be applied.

After a one-hour trip, we arrived at our destination, a poor church made up of three walls and a stage. The young preacher introduced himself to me, telling me he had been called to serve the Lord in one of my services 15 years ago.

The band began a song which lasted 45 minutes. The music was so loud that my mother could have heard it 40 miles away! Since the kids were clapping and praising, I decided to just relax and let it happen. The young men leading the music were without shoes and frequently faced the back wall as they played, where it was written in Portuguese, “You are entering the territory of the Lion - The Lion of Judah!”

In about an hour, the young pastor took the microphone and began to shout
at the top of his lungs,” I release upon you the anointing of the lion, the man, the calf and the eagle!” I thought to myself, “These are the four living creatures of Revelation 4:7.” Soon my intern began to move toward the altar to pray for the people who were standing there. In a matter of one hour, he was roaring like a lion at the top of his lungs. His voice echoed across the church. At least 100 others were jumping, singing and dancing with all their might. The power of God was being felt by the entire group.

As you know, I am open to new experiences, but I wasn’t sure about this one. “What am I going to tell his dad when we get home?” I thought to myself. Should I simply yell “Pepsi,” which is the signal for the group to get on the bus, and get out of there?

Eventually, the pastor brought the congregation to silence and we began to receive the evening offering. I thought that this was good order and things would quiet down a bit. The praise team began to sing, and then something happened which I have seen only one time in my 30 years of mission work: children from all over the church began to come to our team, laying hands on each one of us. These were small children - some of them only four or five years old.

The children praying for us stayed at it for 10 minutes, insisting in prayer. As the music began to crescendo, my intern once again roared like a lion, ruling over the ground and over himself.

Well, you might ask, “Rick Bonfim, what are you doing with our young people, letting them become like animals in a church service?” I agree with you. It was a total surprise to me as well.

We left that night after eating very thin pizza served to us by the church. I took a look at the intern and saw that peace was all over him. This Georgia Tech senior had had an encounter with the Almighty God which had set him free from his mind. How could I interfere with that? This young man is now seeking to serve the Lord full-time. Going to seminary is in his agenda and he will be a powerful United Methodist minister somewhere. He will be led by faith and his zeal for the Lord Jesus Christ, and not only by his brain.

God can deliver, heal, baptize, and save any way He desires! Many others had a similar experience on this trip. Let me invite you to come with us to Brazil and see what God can do in your life!

Rick Bonfim
Edited By Betty McKinney