MY LIFE WITH GOD
At the age of 15, my father put me on a plane to New York City. He prayed over me that God would use me to His glory. The prayer was prophetic, and it took over one hour. I cried much that night as I traveled to New York City. I had a one-way ticket, a change of clothing and a guitar. My father found Jesus through the work of the Salvation Army in Sao Paulo. So he wanted to give to America a gift of one of his sons. I was chosen and he sent me.
After one week lost at JFK, one Cuban man to help, one Greyhound Bus to Jacksonville, Florida, one job as a janitor at Springfield United Methodist Church, 6 months in Hollywood, Florida with friends who loved God and one scholarship at North Florida Junior College, life began. All of this in less then 2 years. Life took off. I went to Brazil after 7 years and found my wife, Mary Lucy. Then it was Madison, Florida to Tallahassee, Florida at FSU, then to Emory University, and finally to the University of Georgia after seminary. All of this took 11 years. Mary Watson and Alan Lindsey shared their earnings to build a mission in Brazil and it was built. From 1960 to 2009, I have been serving the Lord with all my heart, 49 years, not counting the years I served as the pastor of a Methodist Church as a boy from the age of 14 to 15.
I lived in a church parsonage and sang all the hymns in the hymn book. I never missed church except one time when I sneaked out to play a soccer game on a Sunday morning. Mary Lucy and I have had three children, two boys and a girl: Rick, Sammy and Sandy.
In my 49 years, I have had one vacation, used up at least 10 guitars, preached 400 times a year some years, traveled from California to Washington State to Michigan and in between, south and north and even went to Cape Cod to preach. At the age of 65, I am worth what it takes for two funerals. All bills are paid, I own a mortgage, and have no retirement plan of any kind. I have many friends all across the United States, people who love us and support us monthly.
God has a purpose for my life. After seminary, Dr. Charles Boylen prayed for me and the Lord took over my life in a powerful way. I became an evangelist in the Methodist church in the North Georgia Conference. God has been good to me. Every pastor I pray for received strength to serve. Every youth I laid my hands on is changed. Many have been called to serve the Lord full time. I have fought many battles and still winning in the name of Jesus.
What God did for me brought many enemies and deep rejection from the church. I never thought I would be called an ethic minority in the church. I always viewed the church as a family, so that was a shock to me. God had to heal me of all of that. Today there is an army of servants around me. Committed, saved, filled with the Holy Spirit, this group of people will bring the kingdom where they serve. There is a joy in doing mission work and sharing food with the hungry. There is great joy in discipling others and bringing healing to many.
I do have a request:
I would like to meet you. You might have heard me somewhere in a church or maybe you read my blogs. You might have heard some of my music. Perhaps I came across as wired, moving back and forth and talking 100 miles a hour. I might be too Pentecostal for you. Actually, I am a Methodist by choice. I have tried to slow down, but it did not please God. He did this to me, and I am to please Him with the way he wants me to be. I would like to meet you and shake your hand. Would you give me this honor?
Rick Bonfim
WOW!!! Pastor Rick you are a blessing to many and an inspiration to me. I LOVE hearing about what God is doing in you and through you…..for all these MANY years. You are an exceptional pastor for ‘this day and age’. Praise God for the impact you are having. Where I live…there is so much ‘luke warmness’ in the body of Christ today….so much ‘carnality’ in the church of the LORD Jesus Christ. I go to a Methodist church, however,…I perfer to say….I am a Christian and I attend a Methodist church….rather than “I am a Methodist”. My heart is heavy for the lack of spiritual maturity in the body of Christ. Not that I am so mature and have arrived…and have it all together, but….I do hunger and thirst to see God’s people filled with His Spirit and living lives that bring Him much GLORY and HONOR. Pastor Rick, I have shook your hand before and I hope and pray that I will be able to do that again. You are making a HUGE difference in the lives of many…ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD. I love you with the love of the Lord. Keep going strong …like you are until… HE comes …or you go!!! J. Spradlin in Hampton, GA
Comment by jeanne spradlin — July 11, 2009 @ 9:23 am
Dear Rick
It is my pleasure to have met you many times and benefit from your ministry. Your music blesses me so much and your ministry of God’s word is wonderfully your own the way God made you. My life is blessed because of you. Be encouraged you are making a difference. Please relearn the song Just in Time.
Comment by Bobbie Bachman — July 11, 2009 @ 9:25 am
Rick, Ron and I look forward to seeing you all at Rekindle the Flame in August. Many blessings to you, your family, and wonderful ministry.
Love,
sandy blount
Comment by Sandy Blount — July 11, 2009 @ 9:27 am
Rick, I have been so blessed by you and what the Lord does through you – and Betty – and all the people at the mission and others I have met in Brazil and Israel. I am so grateful.
We should ALL be Pentecostal – by that I just mean Romans 8:9 – “if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” As I read John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, William Law – the fellows from the 18th c., they all say – our highest blessing is to know the Spirit. If more did – if there were more preaching and understanding of being Spirit-filled, there’d be less carnality, boredom, and indifference in our churches. Anyhow, I thank my God, every time I think of you. I can’t attend Rekindle the Flame or Israel this year – perhaps next.
Love and blessings!
Comment by Pam Morrison — July 11, 2009 @ 12:15 pm
Oh, Rick Bonfim, What a blessing you are in my life. When you were here in Albany a few years ago you brought joy and love that I had not known. I painted a white horse in the clouds preparing for the Lord’s return with the saints. Your “Ride a White Horse” certaintly fits the painting. I titled it “I will carry the KING.” Carry on the work of the Lord, you bless so many. Love, Barb Haupt
Comment by Barbara Haupt — July 11, 2009 @ 1:02 pm
rick,
Bless You!!! I am one of those Kingdom servants you are referring to. I will be shaking your hand in Israel. To God be the Glory!!
Julie
Comment by julie thibodaux — July 11, 2009 @ 6:29 pm
Rick,
You changed my life…by pointing out my negativity toward life and my resistance to the Holy Spirit. I treasure you and your teaching recordings. You helped me understand the Holy Spirit and feel it in my bones. Your ministry and your example drive me to want to serve God in a powerful way and step out for Jesus in a hurting world.
I praise God for your ministry at Aldersgate thru the years and your ministry to the Lord all over the world.
May God bless you and your family always.
Margaret
Comment by Margaret Martin — July 13, 2009 @ 8:02 am
Hello Bro. Rick, I affirm you my brother that you are indeed a Man of God, empowered for His purpose. Anyone who has ever met you will never be the same and that is the way it should be for a Man of God. Keep making a positive difference in the lives of those whom you come in contact with and do not worry about what the world had to say. Your report call will be approved by God at the final trumpet blast and mankind will be like those on the outside of the Ark when God told Noah to seal up the door. It will be too late. Keep up the good work Brother Rick, Larry.
Comment by Larry Price — July 13, 2009 @ 7:16 pm
AMEN! GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD…YOU AND I HAVE MET AFTER A SERVICE IN AUGUSTA; THE BURNS MEMORIAL METHODIST CHURCH ABOUT 7 YEARS AGO. SINCE THEN GOD HAD ME RECEIVE THE ABOVE WEBSITE. THERE ARE A LOT OF BELIEVERS THERE. IT REACHES INTO ALL THE WORLD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. HENRY X BULLER
Comment by HANK BULLER — July 17, 2009 @ 3:44 am