This last week we left Athens on Thursday morning and drove to Madison, FL. We had a small service and I was privileged to meet Pam O’Toole, Steve Odiorne, Tom Hardee, Robert Odiorne and for the first time Cary Hardee and I had a good conversation about Jesus. 

The next day we drove to Grace UMC at Tifton, GA and saw that Eric and Carol Sizemore are in revival with this church. The praise and worship was powerful and the Lord ministered to many. Dorise Yancey and Kim Hester prepared the meal and the food was from heaven. Hallelujah!

Next, we departed to Brunswick and our meeting was at Captain Joe’s Restaurant. Lord, it was good and the fellowship was also good. Alice Meyers came from Florida and we had a wonderful time in the Lord. Singing in a restaurant was fun!

Finally, we went to Savannah and met with the group there. Clate and Bell Ralston received us and we met Michael Culbreth at our dinner. He is the pastor of Grace UMC and an anointed singer.  God really blessed us there.

Hebrews 1 says that Jesus is 3 things for you and me:

1 – The radiance of God’s Glory

God’s glory heals, delivers, blesses and gives life. This is not a 30-year plan extended upon church membership. This is the greatest warranty the world has ever seen. IF JESUS IS IN THE HOUSE, THERE IS GLORY! I am tired of services where we diminish the presence of God in order not to offend others. Carrie Prejean, California’s Miss USA contestant, answered corrrectly to the panel: “Marriage is between a man and a woman.” Are you a Christian or are you a pleaser of man? THERE IS NO RADIANCE WHERE THERE IS COMPROMISE TO BIBLICAL STANDARDS.

2 – The exact representation of His being

When you see Jesus, you see God. If you want to see God, look at Jesus. Jesus is not Pentecostal, Charismatic, automatic, fanatic or any other “-matic.”  When those who belonged to the ministry of John the Baptist came looking for Jesus, they asked, “Are you the one or do we look for another?” Jesus responded, “The blind see, the lame walk and the dead are raised. Blessed are the ones who are not offended because of Me.” ARE YOU OFFENDED BECAUSE JESUS HEALS, SAVES AND DELIVERS? THEN YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN. YOU LOOK LIKE ONE, YOU SMELL LIKE ONE AND YOU TALK LIKE ONE, BUT YOU ARE FAR FROM BEING A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST.

3 - Sustaining all things by His power

I know that my life is short and my days are numbered. What gives me peace is that He sustains me. He affirms me, and He loves me. Our ministry and lives are sustained by Him. For over 35 years I have been without pension programs, without benefits from the church (I am not complaining). I have lived, breathed, and preached for over 50 years sustained by His grace and power.  Jesus is the Sustainer of all things by his power. His Holy Spirit power!

Rick Bonfim

I always thought that beef was a Texas thing; however, Kansas produces more beef than Texas. This is the state which gave us famous names such as Medicine Lodge, Dodge City, Fort Dodge and Pawnee Rock. It is the West at it’s best. Flat as a table, the landscape gives you a 360 degree view of it all. I am in Hays, which is in the northwestern corner of the state, 2 hours from Nebraska. The trip from the airport in Wichita took 3 hours by car. Pastor Eric Rook and Barry picked me up and we shared Jesus all the way.

How does God make connections like this one? it is amazing for a country boy like me from Georgia to be in the Midwest and visiting a Methodist Church in Plainville. I met the pastor in a prayer line and God spoke to me about him. Last night I shared on the power of Pentecost, which is the event that followed Easter.

Last night, I was still thinking about my message from Sunday morning about how Mary Magdalene was chosen by God to announce the living Savior to the disciples. It really spoke to me that the birth, crucifixion, and ascension of our Lord were orchestrated events, but the resurrection was so simple and without many present to witness it. Mary Magdalene, a prostitute delivered from seven demons, is the one who came to the tomb and found it empty. She hurried to tell the disciples, and John, the quiet one, came running even faster than Peter. John arrives and looks inside of the grave; Peter goes in and then they leave again. But Mary Magdalene stays outside of the tomb after they leave.

Who is this woman whose miracle is not recorded in the Scriptures? Why is she so important? She is the one who first goes in the tomb and meets the two angels. I repeat, she is the one who met angels, not Peter! Next, she finds a “gardener”, which happens to be Jesus!  Not recognizing Him, He says to her, “MARY!” AND THEN SHE SAW JESUS  – the Risen Jesus revealed Himself to her first, of all people.  Isn’t that just like Jesus to do such a thing? What grace and tenderness resides in Him!

Pentecost followed Easter. The disciples were afraid of the Roman authority and were hiding. But they obeyed Jesus’ words to remain in Jerusalem and Pentecost happened!

Last night, Pentecost came to Plainville. Many were filled with the Holy Spirit and power. It was very touching to see a 78-year old man looking at the cross with tears.  The cross was the symbol of death in the days of Jesus, and now is the symbol of hope for all mankind.

IF JESUS SAW YOU TODAY, WOULD HE RECOGNIZE YOU THE SAME WAY HE RECOGNIZED MARY? I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IF HE SAW ME TODAY, HE WOULD RECOGNIZE RICK BONFIM!

Rick Bonfim

I have been preaching for 50 years and in the last two years people are coming from east and west to join our ministry as never before. These are people who the Lord is sending to us; people who have gone with us to Brazil. They are young, they are energetic, they are anointed, they are hard working, they are creative and more than anything, they love Jesus. It is really a breath of fresh air coming our way. I want you to meet then here today. By the way, I have 10 people named here, but there are new souls coming to be part of our ministry every day.

1-David Bleakman

An engineer with a heart for God. If you meet him you will be impressed. Everything he does not only moves forward and but produces results. He went to Brazil and his life changed. He is only one of the people who the Strange family has brought to Jesus in the last year. it’s amazing what God is doing through David Bleakman.

2-David Schmid

Another engineer who joined our ministry and has become an amazing story. David traveled to Brazil to draw plans for the mission church extension which is about to take place. David is a single man – a person who can cook and keep a spotless house in Peachtree City, Georgia. He used to race Lotus cars and now works for an engineering firm in Atlanta. David is a blessing to the kingdom of God.

3-Mike Reader

I don’t know how many times I have thanked God for our brother Mike. An electrician by trade, he lives in Madison, Florida with his wife Melissa. His imput into our ministry has changed the way we operate. His involvement with the INTERNSHIP PROGRAM  in Brazil has been an overwhelming blessing to us. You need to meet Mike. He will bring joy into your life. 

4-Clint Strange.

I finally met Clint, one of the five Strange brothers, this last March. I will never forget the power of the Holy Spirit ministering to him in Brazil. There are spiritual events that you know you will remember forever, and his experience in Brazil is one of those. Clint is a credit to his family and a credit to the kingdom of God. What a joy to meet Clint and get to know him as a man of God.

5-Jennie Armstrong

You have to meet her: a single mother who loves the kingdom of God. She is energetic, creative and a blessing to those who have the privilege to meet her. Her sharing with us about events, public relations and simply sharing Jesus has blessed all who know her.

6-Michelle Burnette

She works as an anesthetist who puts people to sleep in our hospitals. But in terms of her family, she puts them into the kingdom! Her father has received Jesus Christ as his Savior on the March trip to Brazil and now the family is hearing from the Lord about themselves and others. What a joy to see God at work in this family. It all began with Michelle. Have you ever met her?

7-Paul Phelan

You that do not come to our Tuesday Bible study at Bethlehem UMC, Georgia, have never met Paul. He is a quiet, gentle man of God who has changed so much, I sometimes do not recognize him. He is filled with the Holy Spirit and anointed of God. What a blessing to us Paul has become.

8-Robin Marshall

Those of you from Dahlonega know Robin well, but others from Georgia need to meet her. She is creative, filled with ideas and one serving and anointed lady. When you come to the Rekindle The Flame conference AUGUST 14-16, 2009 AT THE CIVIC CENTER IN ATHENS, look for Robin. Anything that has to do with the way things look comes from her. What a blessing she has become to Jesus.

9 – Daphne Wright

When she first came to Brazil on a mission trip, she wanted to be invisible.  But the Lord saw her and called her to ministry.  She has come back to Brazil as an intern and helped us tremendously there.  And now, she is bringing 10 people from her small town in Tennessee on our first June 2009 trip to Brazil.  She is growing in leadership and anointing.  She has a great purpose in life and she is impacting so many for the kingdom.  We love Daphne.

10 – Christina Lohmeyer

She took a brave step of coming on a Brazil mission trip in March, even though she did not know what it really was all about.  Everyone in Brazil fell in love with her.  She stepped up to the plate and helped to make a miracle happen for one of our staff members there.  She prayed for people into the kingdom in some of the darkest places in Brazil. She immediately became “part of the family” because of her heart and her love for Jesus.  We hope to see Christina many more times and to see her family blessed.

More people who are blessing the kingdom of God and blessing us:

Robert Bunch

Billy Kervin

Chris Dunagan

Darren Fink

Randy DeGroot

Stephanie Watkins

John Ibsen

Johnny Ray

Josh and Jenny Strange

Steve and Kathy Pierce

Tommy Hardee

Steve Odiorne

Clate and Belle Ralston

Dale Klockseim

Dr. Michael Cross

Burt Strange

Well, I cannot go on. There are too many more. Are you missing something in your life? Come join these and other wonderful people who are part of Rick Bonfim Ministries and God will pour into your life!

Rick Bonfim