I just had the joy of preaching at Central United Methodist Church in Fayeteville, Arkansas. Fayeteville is the home of the Hogs, an Arkansas college football team. This church is the home of great men and women of God, people who want to see the kingdom of God prosper in this nation. It is perhaps the largest United Methodist church in Arkansas. In all my years as a traveling evangelist, I have never seen a more humble, hungry and determined group of United Methodists.

This church worships in all services, and they have five services every Sunday! The young, the old, the intellectual, the poor, the rich, the student and the blue collar worker sing together with unity and enthusiasm. In all of my years, I don’t believe I have ever seen United Methodists who love each other so much.

I met people who look at the cross with pride. When the invitation to come to the altar for prayer was presented to them, they came with faith in their faces. The altar was filled at every service with most of them praying as if it was the last time they would ever pray. Hearts were burning with the love of God. Children were praying for their parents, and couples were kneeling together embracing at the foot of the cross.

It seems a though I have been in heaven for five days and now it is difficult to return to earth. People like Toni, Kenneth, Julie, Brian, Steven, Bill, Sue, Jennifer, Sarah, Beth, Harriet, Brown, Dirk, David, Les and Sue, Pam and many others will remain in my memory forever.

“Give them something to eat,” Jesus said to his disciples (Luke 9:13). The opportunity to feed over 5000 people with only two loaves and five fish was meant to arouse the faith of the disciples. The exercise was to create something out of nothing. God does wonderful things out of nothing. You might say that faith is to believe in nothing in order to create something. The multiplication of bread and fish was a sign of the type of faith which would bring forth the kingdom.

You want this faith. It is at times, seemingly completely out of reach, but a glimpse of it and you will never be the same. No wonder the Apostle Paul speaks of the righteous living by faith.

This weekend God descended into Fayeteville, Arkansas and He met people with this type of faith. The church, the city and the state will never be the same. Halleluia to the Lamb of God!

Rick Bonfim

Edited by Betty McKinney

I have experienced a life-transforming mission trip in the company of a gifted and anointed group of high school and college-age students and adults. Moments from this trip will be marked into my mind for years to come. To understand you would have to be there as the angels of God manifested themselves in the life of Kelly Quarterman. Her falling from a roof caused her to be totally changed and today she knows in her heart that a powerful future waits for her! Hallelluia!

Surely Satan wanted the life of Jerrod Reader. You have to meet this young man to believe it. Gifted with a briliant mind and a great personality, Satan wanted to destroy him and to cause this young man to reject the love of God. However, Jerrod found the love of Jesus Christ and the world will hear about it. His future is filled with blessings. He can become the President of the United States or a powerful lawyer.

If you meet Zachary Stubblefield, you would think of him as quiet and reserved. But within this quiet college freshman there is a desire to serve the living God forever. He is not so quiet any longer. His heart has been touched by the Master and his future is filled with joy and power as he prepares to serve God. I would like to be close by just to see what God will do in the coming years. Get ready, world, for Zack!

Nathan Dickens will never be the same. The anointing of Jesus Christ is upon him and when you have a need, just call Nathan and let him pray for you. You will hear and feel the presence of God and know that this young man has spent time with God. I want to see him bring hunger for God into his college experience, ministering to others he meets in college life.

Of course, many will try to resist the hand of God but they will not remain. God is calling a new generation of worshippers, gifted and anointed to preach and carry the good news to the world. These are a only few in the midst of millions God is preparing throughout the word to announce the coming of the King of Kings in clouds of glory! Tony Moyers, Kim Moyers, Amy Moyers, Pauline Blankenship, Sara Card, Sidney Card, Sara Bailey, Ali Linn, Gabby Matthews, Phillip Wages, Ryan Robinson, Joey Hendrickson, Cali Ware, Alan Sell, Jordan Kinsey, Katie Freeland, Karlee Baumann and Lucas Rocheleau.

What is it about this time in Brazil that makes such a impact and makes a life change so radically?

1 – Bible studies geared toward personal needs. In 33 days we had over 60 hours of Bible Study including over 20 evening and morning services.

2 – Breakthrough prayer before every service. In 33 days we spent over 40 hours of prayer. Each student interceded, sometimes for 2 hours, for the evening services

3 – Personal counseling and special ministry. On our mission trips, we work in the hills and at the mission, but our priority is to provide each person with personal ministry. All of the participants received special care as to their needs. The mission staff provided care in all areas of need from housing to meals and transportation.

4 – Daily planned activities providing many opportunities for exchange with community young people. Our group played soccer and basketball with the youth of the community. This exchange helped them to assert themselves and prepared to meet persons coming for prayer in the evening services.

Our gratitude to Jorge Luiz, our mission administrator, Betty McKinney, our Bible teacher and group manager, Celio Velasco, our bus driver and maintenence man, Claudio, our evangelism director and translator, Rosalina and Maria our cooks, Mira Martins our full-time maid, Tony Camargo our local pastor, Rossana our financial director, Lourdes our telefone operator and Charles our commnication director. They are the greatest!! In the USA, our secretaries, Mary Lucy Bonfim, office manager, Nikki Cook- operations, Donna Rigsby-financial director and Linda Gardner our thanks for a wonderful job. To Jesus Christ: Hallelluia!!

Rick Bonfim

Edited by Betty McKinney