THE COST: $100,000,000,000.00
There is no amount of money that can pay the price of serving God. I have been ridiculed. I have been harassed by demons. I have been laughed at in public. I have been lonely and have suffered much. I have left my family to go on hundreds of mission trips. I have missed soccer games. I have missed birthdays. I have missed anniversaries. I have given my life to God 24/7 for 50 years.
When I arrived in the USA in July of 1960, my small apartment had no bed. I slept on the floor with blankets. I knew that if I was going to serve God, I had to get over the idea of getting rich. Today, I am still poor but it is a funny thing: all of my bills are paid on time. We are never late on bills and we never will be. I have a great credit rate. How can this be? Because I am not in love with money. I love God over money and I always will. At the present time, I only have enough money in the bank for two funerals.
I wanted to be an evangelist and my church ordained me after seven years. Today, I am a full-time evangelist without remuneration from the church. It is a blessing to serve the Lord without expecting something in return. It is rare and it is not for everyone. But it is right for me. The cost of serving has been very high. Maybe I lost the respect of my peers but many good things have happened to me too:
1-I have loved the physically ill and mentally ill.
2- I have made friends with prostitutes and homosexuals.
3-I have hired both of the above to work for me.
4- I have hundreds of friends, most of them back in the hills of Rio de Janeiro who would kill for me on request (Don’t worry – I don’t take them up on their offers!)
5-I have gained the freedom to walk the most dangerous ” favelas” ( slums) in Rio de Janeiro and not be afraid of death, because I am protected by gangs all around me.
6- I have ministered to the poor, the rejected, and the unwanted.
All of this began to happen when I gave my whole life to Jesus. If this kind of commitment brings troubles, I have had them. But I received a touch from God and it made me not want to do the “usual thing.” It disturbed my whole life for the better.
The cost of serving God is very high. You will probably never be famous, and will never have the respect of man. You will never be able to please people. You will have to choose pleasing God over man every time.
ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO BE AN EVANGELIST CALLED OF GOD?
Rick Bonfim
Rick, I am dwelling on 2 Corinthians right now. Your words echo Paul’s, but then you are a modern version of him. Thank you for all your sacrifice – the benefits to so many of us have been infinite – we won’t even know all the lives changed (as people go back to their homes and churches after mission trips with you and touch others)until we dwell with Christ. But thank you for your “good courage” as Paul says and for the love for the unloveable. Christianity in all its fullness is expressed through Rick Bonfim ministries. Thank you for helping all of us to “keep our heads up” and not be defeated.
Comment by Pam Morrison — March 25, 2010 @ 10:44 am
It is truly a wonderful state to be in when you choose to serve God over all else. My dear brother, Rick, you may only have enough money in the bank to pay for two funerals, but you are rich in the things of God. You have a treasure housed in heaven that far exceeds anything here on earth. And, I know that I do not tell you something you do not already know. You are a true blessing to God, and you are to me as well.
Comment by Ron Burbank — March 25, 2010 @ 9:55 pm
You are definitely called, and you minister as Jesus did. Thank you for accepting the call and improving in ministering each of the 50 years!! Thank you, also, for teaching the many who want to learn from you. Looking forward to using your book, which will help many, many more.
Comment by Mary B. Rice — March 26, 2010 @ 2:19 pm