HOW GOD IS BUILDING LEADERS
It amazes me how God finds leaders and through discipleship builds them into powerful men and women of God. We have just returned from Alem Paraiba Methodist Church where a group of young leaders ages 15-25 brought the kingdom to a small town.
Jerrod Reader, who is 15, prayed for a line of adults waiting to be touched by this young man. In the midst of the glory, I got a little closer to hear his prayer. It sounded like this: “God, come from heaven right now and pour your Holy Spirit upon this man. God, in the name of Jesus Christ, I come against all viles of the devil. Come Holy Spirit, Hallelleuia!” The man was in tears, receiving from God, but not understanding a single word Jerrod said.
Alan Sell laid hands on about 40 people that night, praying for the healing of God to come and release the captives. Jordan preached a small 5-minute sermon that will be remembered by us and everyone else in that auditorium! Katie Freeland moved in so much power that everyone she touched went down.
I know that the Lord is preparing a great army for the coming years. Our ministry this year alone has discipled over 54 young men and women who are currently in one seminary. It gives me great joy to see young people coming to serve the Lord in these days of great growth in the life of our church.
Most of our young boys on this trip are shaving their heads. It is simply a desperate way of saying to God: “Lord, here I am, take away what hinders me; move in me.” Nathan Dickens found one of the elders of the local church and began to pray with him. The man must have been in his 70’s, crying before God for a touch on him and in his family. I saw Nathan, pour tears of joy over this elderly man. I thought to myself: “His father will be proud.” Zach Stubblefield could be heard from miles, screaming over a lady in terrible need. God was doing a powerful work that night. Hundreds received prayer and ministry.
Through the gifts of Glenn Ray, Joseph Tillman Sr., and Mary and Bob Rice, I purchased three instruments in Athens, Georgia - two trumpets and one trombone. We presented these instruments to the church at the Sunday night service and the people rejoiced.
Here are the names of the young people in Brazil now and a word that describes what I see happening with them:
Sidney Card: Full of the glory of God- Never will be the same
Sara Card: Praying with Power- She is finding herself
Sara Bailey: Healed- Not a casuality any longer
Amy Moyers: Delivered
Pauline Blankenship: Baptized in Power- You want her to pray for you. You will never forget it!
Tony Moyers: Called to preach
Kim Moyers: Full of Glory
Allison Linn: Fasting five days
Jordan Kinsey: Shaved his head and preaches like an adult-Rebellion is gone
Zachary Stubblefield: Seminary bound-Solid in Jesus!
Karlee Baumann: Totally healed and delivered- What blessing she is. A winner now!!
Alan Sell: Will serve the Lord in power. Clouds dissapearing- Anointed!!
Lucas Rocheleau: A new creature in Christ-He has a powerful future
Katie Freeland: Will preach in power - Her daddy will have to sit and let her pray!!
Jerrod Reader: The miracle of this trip! Found Jesus!!Found Jesus!! DELIVERED!!!!!
Nathan Dickens: Will become a Methodist Bishop-full of power and glory!!!
Kelly Quartemann: Angels take care of her! A cut on her arm did more good and anything! Has a new future!!
Rick Bonfim
Edited by Betty McKinney
Rick,
Hop, Gloria!!!!
Heard a sermon the other day about Joshua fighting the battle, Moses holding his hands up, Aaron & Hur helping to hold Moses’ hands up. Never thought about it this way but here’s what the speaker brought out. God is using both the young and old to win the battle. The old men/women praying and the young weilding the sword. It took old Moses praying with arms lifted up for young Joshua to win the battle…..and young Joshua had to be down in the thick of the battle in order to beat the enemy. We know the story from Exodus 17, Joshua defeated the Amalekites but this is interesting and the point that the speaker brought out:
Exodus 17:14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it”
Joshua needed to know that he was covered by the prayers of the elders. Joshua needed to know that without those prayers and Moses lifting Joshua up before the Lord, Joshua would have never won the battle. God specifically wanted Joshua to know that he didn’t win the battle on his own power…..
I love the fact that we all need each other for God’s kingdom to advance and the prayer’s of men and women in the “fall & winter” of their lives have much to contribute to that cause.
Blessings on you and your family as you give out of your heart to move the cause of Christ forward in the world we live in.
Lindsey
Comment by Lindsey Williams — June 26, 2007 @ 10:35 am
Rick,
All Glory to God our Father! I am typing through tears of glorious joy. Y’all keep up the fire.
In His grip,
Ed
Comment by Ed Dickens — June 26, 2007 @ 12:49 pm
Praise God for such an inspiring report. Praying for you, Rick, to be their anointed leader and for each of them to receive and take all back to their local churches and to the nations!! Wish I were with y’all and am so glad the church liked their new instruments. Blessings and love. Mary Blanche
Comment by Mary B.Rice — June 26, 2007 @ 12:52 pm
Keep up the great work of our Lord. Brother Rick you have passed down a mantel to those young folks from Brazil that God’s ministry can now be multiplied not with just a double portition but with 17 times. Praise God for their committment to receive and pass on God’s blessings. Your brother in Christ. Larry
Comment by Larry Price — June 26, 2007 @ 5:28 pm
PRAISE JESUS!
Comment by E Chapman — June 26, 2007 @ 8:34 pm
We rejoice in such a wonderful report! May the Lord pour out a double and even a triple portion of His Love and Power upon this special team. Blessings, blessings upon you all—Ben and Kay Harris
Comment by Kay Harris — June 26, 2007 @ 9:11 pm
Sounds glorous, Rick! We praise God for you and His ministry through you! And we praise Him for these young men and women of God - leaders raised up by His grace and power!
Comment by Craig and Tina Green — June 27, 2007 @ 7:37 am
Praise the Lord! God is raising up a new generation of “Jesus Freaks” that will be the standard in this end time in which we are living.
Comment by Eric Sizemore — June 28, 2007 @ 11:00 am
There are no words to add to what God is already doing with these young people. I just PRAISE GOD that they are willing to be obedient and be used by God in such a powerful way! What GLORIOUS lives they will have as they go forward and grow into even more powerful warriors in God’s Kingdom! Thank you, Rick and Betty, but most of all THANK YOU GOD, for providing this opportunity to these young people and for shepherding these precious sheep. I know that not only their lives, but countless others’ lives will be powerfully affected through the coming years because of their experiences in Brazil! I got “Holy Spirit chills” as I read this and the last journal entry. All I can say is HALLELEUJAH!!!!!
In Christian Love, Lynn Pfeiffer
Comment by Lynn Pfeiffer — June 29, 2007 @ 12:32 pm