I have been thinking about what it takes to change our churches & produce growth. The unchurched will not come to a local sanctuary, but will come to football games and keep on coming. Evangelists are discouraged when it comes to empty pews. Meanwhile, the church in the Third World is exploding! There are several things they are doing that amazes me. Here are some of them:

1-A small church of 200 members will have 40 congregations. This is where they put their money… small congregations which are being planted in needy areas.

2-The church is open to blacks, whites, indigenous people & visitors…there are no “white only” churches in South America.

3-There is no discrimination to singles: single women, single men, single mothers, single elderly.

4-40% of all attendees are below 26 years of age.

5-The pastors will visit people of the church all day and the associates handle the office.

6-The pastors will preach out of the overflow toward needs & salvation…..80% of the time.

It seems to me that our churches here in the US are in need of a revival of grace. When my father began his ministry, he brought to church all the women who worked in the streets along with the drug addicts. Salvation came to those in need first and then to the rest. We in America have specialized in “normal people.” If there is anything about someone needing to be built up or healed, we call for the doctors and psychiatric care.

We need a revival of grace and love to common people - and to those in the greatest need. Jesus, speaking about the greastest commendament, said:

“Love your God will all your heart, all your mind and all your strength, and love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:30-31).

50% of what is considered sin by God is related to you and others. Here is what can increase grace in us toward OTHERS:

1-Allow self-expression in worship and cut back liturgy (we have too much of it).

2-Permit worship music to be creative and led by those called to do it. Dismiss the professional musicians (most of them are boring). Simply to play well does not mean you are called. God is tired of fake worship. In some cities there is more life in the bar across the street than in the sanctuary of God.

3-Hire pastors who are called and saved by grace. Dismiss those who just need a job.

4-Change the time of worship. What we have now is Wednesday 7:00 o’clock and Sunday 11:00 o’clock. How about a worship for working people from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm where you serve free lunch?

5-Cancel all public offerings. Make a hole in the wall in the back of the church and teach about tithing and offerings. People will give more if they are free to do when they want to, all through the week.

6-Make it mandatory that every new member should go on a mission trip. Teach them to understand the global village and how the world feels about us.

7-Remove all clocks from the sanctuary… tell members that if they have to go to leave quietly… and let the Holy Spirit keep moving.

8-Teach the ministry of Jesus, the real Jesus, the Son of God, the worker of miracles.

Since I believe that no one has the whole truth but Jesus, take it and use it or leave it. Hallelluia!!

Rick Bonfim

To those of you who live in my area, you have to be surprised with the Tuesday night Bible study. I have lived in this house for 15 years and in Athens, Georgia for over 40 years and have never had a Bible study in my house. But, the Lord has changed all of that during these last 10 weeks.

Every Tuesday night at 7:00 pm we begin with praise music. Our flag song is “Hallelluia Anyhow,” and we sing with joy. We expect over 40 this coming Tuesday for our last Bible study of the summer. God is doing powerful things in Athens, Georgia.

Here is our lesson from this last week:
If you believe that Paul spoke in context, then you have to accept that Romans 12:1-21 is all about worship. He begins by saying this, “In view of God’s mercy,” which means that if you understand the mercy of God, then you can present your bodies as a living sacrifice.  He means to literally present your body. Worship is a physical thing - you have to stand up and worship God. In doing so, your worship becomes holy and pleasing to God. Singing just for fun is not worship; it’s fun. Worship is holy. In the process of worship your mind is renewed, because your spirit is fed. Worship feeds the spirit of man. If you do not worship, you are a sick puppy because your mind never rests. It is contantly worried about the future.

Then, in worship the will of God is revealed. The will of God for the day, about health, about work, about money, about decisions - all this can be revealed to you while you sing.  Worship is a miracle. God speaks to our needs during the act of worship. It is a response from the Father to you. Worship is like faith. It grows in content and importance. Thus, the will of God will increase in power over your life. The will of God can be good, but can be also pleasing and if you insist, it can be perfect. Just like faith, it has a measure of strength to it.

Paul next warns us to be careful to not become proud, since you are members of a body and a body must work for the common good. Finally, Paul says that during worship you will be given the opportunity to prophesy. Prophesy is a gift to the common man. You do not have to be a prophet or a pastor to prophesy. It is the act of edifying and comforting someone with a word from God. It’s a gift of the Holy Spirit. Saying something positive and holy over someone’s life is from God! The devil does not do that! The interesting thing here is this: IT HAPPENS IN THE ACT OF WORSHIP!!Are you willing to worship God with all your mind, with all your heart AND with all your body?

Rick Bonfim

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods; but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner.

As he was walking back he saw Grandma’s pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved! In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile; only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch the next day Grandma said, ‘Sally, let’s wash the dishes. But Sally said , ‘Grandman, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen. Then she whispered to him, ‘Remember the duck?’So Johnny did the dishes.

Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, ‘I’m sorry but I need Sally to help make supper.’ Sally just smiled and said, ‘Well that’s all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help’ She whispered again, ‘Remember the duck?’ So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.

After several day of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally’s; he finally couldn’t stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck.

Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, ‘Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.’

Thought for the day and every day thereafter:
Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done… And the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.) ..whatever it is… You need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing. He has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He’s just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you.

The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness; He not only forgives you, but He forgets. It is by God’s grace and mercy that we are saved. Go ahead and make the difference in someone’s life today. God is at the window!

When Jesus died on the cross; he was thinking of you! If you are one of the 93 % who will stand up for him forward this with the title, ‘I’m in the 93%’. Would you believe 7% of people won’t forward THIS!