I am amazed by the power of the gospel. In my early days, I thought that a good performance would do it. I did perfom and to my amazement, it did not provide fruit. The ministry did not grow, the people were not happy and the bills did not get paid. What has happened in these last 20 years that has changed the way this ministry continues to grow? Thousands open our website to read materials, hundreds are blessed on the Brazil trips every year, and hundreds come to our revivals throughout the country. God continues to do powerful miracles, events continue to grow and many are listening. What is it that makes people respond? My preaching? No. My playing the guitar? No. My ideas and opinions about the world? No. What is it then?

1-Preaching has not done it. When Jesus went into Nazareth, He knew something was wrong. It was the power of God that made Him pass by those who were intending to kill Him. It is the power of God in your life that keeps you alive. Preaching might convince some, but that alone will not do it. Anyone can preach. It has to do with what you preach and to whom you preach. Preaching out of your head is empty, and preaching out of your pride is death. Always preach out of your overflow in the Holy Spirit.  If you cannot overflow in the Lord, something is wrong with your life. I do pray before I preach, hours of prayer. I do tremble before I preach and I cry a lot. I hear from God what to preach.  But all of this has not done it.  Preaching has not done it!
 

2-Looking good has not done it. Jesus slept in the byways, ate with strangers and tax collecters, kicked tables in the temple court, visited the demon-possessed, talked with prostitutes, touched lepers, preached at house meetings and all of this did not look so good. His appearance was simple and His manners were quiet. He never accused anyone of sin, He never received an apology, He never asked for money. How He looked to others did not matter. Looking good has not done it!

3-My teaching has not done it. After years of post-graduate work I thought I could do ministry by reading more and expressing my thoughts further. My teaching became detailed and very convincing. My seminars were attended by thousands. I read all sorts of commentaries on the Bible and honestly, this did not do it. The teaching was boring, the stench of flesh became stronger, and very little fruit came out of it. Teaching has not done it!

4-The singing did not do it. I remember the years of traveling through Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Michigan and other states playing guitar and singing. Those were empty years. The singing only sold a few records, which put some food on the table and gas in the van. After recording at least five albums of music, I sat empty and with a very weak voice, trying to sing songs which I had written, but no one paid attention. Singing has not done it!

What has happened to us in this ministry? How did God break through all the resistance? What has happened to make us grow and have victory in Jesus? Do you want to know it? Ok. Here it is:

1-I stopped preaching out of my head. I stopped creating sermons. I began listening to God as I read and studied. Many times I went to the pulpit without a single direction as to what to say until the Holy Spirit gave me something. I double my time with the Lord in prayer. Some days I spend hours in prayer, crying before God for a word, a single word from Him. The altars filled, the people cried, and the Lord showed up!

WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT I BEGAN TO HAVE REVELATION FROM GOD. HIS VOICE BECAME KNOWN BY MY SPIRIT. MY HEART BURNED WITH HIS FIRE. MY MIND RECALLED ALL MY STUDY. MY SPIRIT HEARD FROM GOD!

2-Something came to me after I heard a powerful sermon from a well-known preacher. He could out-preach anyone, but he could not pray for people in need at the altar. I knew that more than anything, I needed to learn how to pray. It took 10 years of intense searching the heart of God. But today, I can look at you and pray a prayer that will rock your soul to conviction!

REVELATION BECAME PRAYER. PRAYER BEGAN TO GROW. THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BEGAN TO FLOW IN MY LIFE. HALLELUJAH. BY THE WAY, I DID NOT BECAME A CHARISMATIC. I BECAME A CHRISTIAN, A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST.

Are you tired, lost, feeling defeated, not preaching with conviction?  Are you not seeing the fruit in your ministry that should be there?  Read Lamentations 2:19. It will help you to begin a new life as a follower of the Savior.

Rick Bonfim

It is amazing how God moves when you move. We set up a trip to the hills around our mission. I felt that God would do powerful things if we went into the hills. We happened to stop at Christina’s house which we built years ago, but no one was there. Christina and her husband have been separated for some time now. It bothered me a little but the thought rested for a while.

Next, we came upon Virginia’s home, which we built years ago, but the family never joined us or received Jesus. We greeted the family, over 15 persons counting all the children and sons and daughters. This time they received us with great joy. I was surprised with their welcome. Virginia told us that they needed clothes, so we told them to come to the mission and we would supply everyone in the family with clothing.

Next, we stopped at Andressa’s house. When Andressa was 1 year old, her father burned her with cigarettes because of her mental state.  He deeply hurt this little girl. Today she is 13 years of age and we visited with the family. 

Next, we stopped at a bar and a dejected young man was sitting there, very much depressed. I started a conversation with him and he told me his name was Marcos Venicius Sabino.  The name made me recall an old lady with the same last name. She was a part of our feeding program for years.  We prayed for him and the Lord came into his life as his Savior. Hallelujah!

Next, we stopped at the place where one of our workers lives with her sister. Her name is Lourdes. When I saw the place my heart was filled with sadness. Her area is 6 feet by 5 feet and her son sleeps in the floor in the hall.

Yesterday, we had a worship service here at the mission. God moved mightly and Dr. Robert Haskins preached one of the  most powerful sermons I have heard, based on John  6:37 which says, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me and the one who comes to me I will certainly not cast out.” Here is what happened last night and today:

1-Cristina. We found  out that  her husband is in jail. Her children are running around the streets. She came to us asking for prayer for her life. We are going to visit her husband who is in trouble, and she is planning to return home.  God is working to convict Cristina. God did a powerful miracle on that visit to Cristina’s house. They have 4 children.

2-Virginia. She came to church last night and after 5 years of waiting on her, the Lord saved her soul and she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior. We have waited for this to happen for years. Now, it has happened. Hallelluia!

3-Andressa’s house visit was very good. The family is now stabilized and needs a blessing. I will contact a man who helped me to assist this family with food and the Lord will provide food for this family and care for Andressa. 5 Souls!

4-Marcos Vinicius was working today at the back of his shack when a powerful blow of a shovel cut his foot and he lost two toes on his left foot. We took him to the hospital and the mission is providing food for this family for a time. The whole family will come to Jesus soon. 6 Souls!!

5-Finally, after our visit to where Lourdes lives, her sister called us telling that she has a place below the house that can be renovated and will provide Lourdes with a decent house about 15 by 15  feet. One of our team members of this March trip here in Brasil asked me how much it would cost to fix up the place for Lourdes. I told her around 4,000 Reais or around $1800. We have already purchased all the materials and other people in the group paid for the labor to do the building. We just contracted with a man to build this house in two weeks.
HALLELUJAH TO THE LAMB OF GOD. PRAISE THE NAME OF OUR SAVIOR.GLORY!  GLORY! GLORY! GLORY TO GOD HE IS MIGHTY. HE IS POWERFUL. HE IS LORD OF LORDS AND KING OF KINGS. HALLELUJAH!!

Rick Bonfim