1946), Sarah (b. Lived In Denver CO, Dallas TX, Phoenix AZ, Chandler AZ. He claimed to be a minister from God, a prophet even. But still, a real genuine Christian has to be a segregationalist [sic]. No matter what they do, or what, I still there is something, and that stays with me"[24] Branham would go on to maintain lifelong connections to the KKK. Find out about our seminary and the exciting things unfolding here. To satisfy segregation laws when ministering in the south, Branham's team would use a rope to divide the crowd by race. [248], On December 18, 1965, Branham and his family except his daughter Rebekah were returning to Jeffersonville, Indiana, from Tucson for the Christmas holiday. Owen Burns E.V. [32][33], At the time of Branham's conversion, the First Pentecostal Baptist Church of Jeffersonville was a nominally Baptist church which adhered to some Pentecostal doctrines, including divine healing and speaking in tongues; Branham reported that his baptism at the church was done using the Jesus name formula of Oneness Pentecostalism. [81] Branham insisted that Lindsay take over complete management of the publication. [220], Whereas Russel had claimed to be the seventh messenger himself during the 1890s, Branham's sermons differed and he described his own characteristics as the attributes of the Laodicean Church age messenger; Branham believed the age would immediately precede the rapture. [144] A minister attending meetings in Durban with his congregation reported that over twenty people suffering from tuberculosis were pronounced healed by Branham, but all failed to recover. [105][94], Bosworth argued in favor, while Best argued against. [280], The Living Word Fellowship, a group of over 100 churches at its peak, was founded by John Robert Stevens, who had been heavily influenced by Branham and promoted many of his doctrines, was often reported in the news during the 1970s and 1980s as a doomsday cult. "[195] Some of Branham's contemporaries accused him of being a "woman hater", but he insisted he only hated immorality. William Francis Brennan. [217][218] Hassan wrote that Branham's followers use "deceptive tactics to recruit and indoctrinate unsuspecting people," and that "recruiters do not tell new members" about the historic "deep ties to white supremacy groups. [187] This led to denominationalism, which he viewed as the greatest threat to true Christianity. [252] The expectation of his resurrection remained strong into the 1970s, in part based on Branham's prediction that the rapture could occur by 1977. ), passed away peacefully in the spiritual embrace of his family on Sept. 28, 2022, after a long and full life. You put your trust in the Lord, and He'll look out for you. [142], Serious allegations also were made following Branham's meetings in South Africa during 1952 and complaints were lodged with government authorities. [82][83] In 1948, Branham and Lindsay founded Voice of Healing magazine, which was originally aimed at reporting Branham's healing campaigns. Rev. Attendees reported seeing him "staggering from intense fatigue" during his last meetings. Pastor Rosier Pile : 'Course you ain't. By 1960, Branham transitioned into a teaching ministry. His family was unable to pay for his medical bills, but members of the Indiana Ku Klux Klan stepped in to cover the expenses. He claimed to have also had a short career as a boxer, winning 15 fights for a 'Golden Gloves, Bantam Weights' class. [190] Not all Pentecostal sects accepted the idea. Log In. American historian, David Edwin Harrell Jr. described him as: an unlikely leader.his preaching was halting and simple beyond belief. But this legacy lives on in his followers and the hundreds of sermons that were recorded or transcribed. [98][7] According to Lindsay, the altar call at his Durban meeting received 30,000 converts. Only follow up after Branham's waiting period had passed could ascertain the result of the healing. [113][120], Branham also claimed to pray for and heal the granddaughter of Florence Nightingale at a London airport. They had 9 children: Isobel Wigglesworth (born Yeo), Gordon Hamilton Yeo and 7 other children. Peter says the foundation , Rock is Christ (1 Pt.2:5-8) Revelation is never what we build on Paul says . [278], Branham's followers are often in the news for criminal activity. [34][c] Weaver speculated that Branham may have chosen to hide his early connections to Pentecostalism to make his conversion story more compelling to his Pentecostal audiences during the years of the healing revival. A 23-year-old leukemia patient was pronounced healed by Branham, but failed to recover and died about thirteen months later. They were arrested multiple times in both countries for harassing women for their appearance and disrupting church services. [172] Weaver also attributed Branham's eschatological teachings to the influence of a small group of his closest followers, who encouraged his desire for a unique ministry. [127][128], From the early days of the healing revival, Branham received overwhelmingly unfavorable coverage in the news media, which was often quite critical. [256] In 2018, Voice of God Recordings claimed to serve Branham-related support material to about two million people through the William Branham Evangelical Association, and estimated there were 24 million total followers of Branham's teachings. [269], Some groups of Branham's followers refuse medical treatment because of their divine healing beliefs. [185] He believed and taught that miracles ascribed to Christ in the New Testament were also possible in modern times. [43] After sharing his prophetic visions, Branham offered a prediction that the rapture would happen by 1977. The second of eight children born to Irish immigrants, William J. Brennan Jr. went on to become one of the longest-serving and most influential justices in the history of the Court. [94], Most revivalists of the era were flamboyant but Branham was usually calm and spoke quietly, only occasionally raising his voice. "[136] Another case was four-year-old Donny Morton, who was diagnosed with a rare brain condition. [124] Criticism of Branham's use of this gift was primarily around its nature; some asserted that it was a non-Christian practice and accused him of witchcraft and telepathy. [6] The belief is widely held in the modern Charismatic movement,[6] and the legacy of his restorationist teaching and ministering style is evident throughout televangelism and the Charismatic movement. July 30, 1997. The tribe filed a racketeering case against them to recover their money. [35], During June 1933, Branham held tent revival meetings that were sponsored by Davis and the First Pentecostal Baptist Church. [113], A 1952 campaign in South Africa had the largest attendance in Branham's career, with an estimated 200,000 attendees. [108][106] The Los Angeles Times reported on the healing in an article titled "Ex-Rep. Upshaw Discards Crutches After 59 Years". William L Brennan, 62. Log in or sign up for Facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. director of photography Film Editing by William Holmes . Find your friends on Facebook. Matthew Brennan. [223][i] According to Weaver, Branham's "obsession with Luke 17:30 and Malachi 4:56 dominated the end of his ministry". [236][207] Weaver believed Branham desired to be the eschatological prophet he was preaching about,[236] but had self-doubt. [227], Branham claimed the sermons were inspired through an angelic visitation and the appearance of what he believed to be a supernatural cloud in Arizona that was visible in the American Southwest on February 28, 1963. [66] The fascination of most of American Christianity with divine healing played a significant role in the popularity and inter-denominational nature of the revival movement. [73] In his later years, he also connected the angelic visitation with the establishment of the nation of Israel, at one point mistakenly stating the vision occurred on the same day. It's a pitiful thing. Also known as Dnc William Brennan, William Brenna. Historian Catherine Wessinger concludes Jones used Christianity as a vehicle to covertly advance his personal ideology, "Let me close by saying this: that the Son of man is now being revealed from heaven. [132], Branham was also accused of fraud by fellow ministers and churches that hosted his meetings. [68] Kidston served as Branham's first campaign manager and was instrumental in helping organize Branham's early revival meetings. Branham reported that in his visions he saw seven major events would occur before the Second Coming of Christ, including the prediction of the rise of Adolf Hitler, the Second World War, the Italian occupation of Ethiopia, and the rise of communism. He is to come according to Luke 17:30. The movement began in the teachings of the healing revival evangelists and grew as their teachings came to receive broad acceptance among millions of Christians. Still other groups believe Branham was the return of Christ. [90] After one year of campaigning, his exhaustion began leading to health issues. [244] Branham also claimed that he foretold the coming of the 1937 Ohio River Flood, the same flood he told his audience led to the death of his wife and daughter. His visions ended with the apocalyptic destruction of the United States that left the nation's cities in smoldering ruins. Wathen Distilleries in nearby Louisville, Kentucky. [185] He believed healing was the main focus of the ministry of Jesus Christ and believed in a dual atonement; "salvation for the soul and healing for the body". [151] During the early years of his campaigns, donations had been able to cover costs, but from 1955, donations failed to cover the costs of three successive campaigns,[8] one of which incurred a $15,000 deficit. [270] Many followers of Branham's teachings live within insular communities, with their own schools and with no access to television or internet or outside media. His ministry spawned many emulators and set the broader healing revival that later became the modern charismatic movement in motion. Instead of leaving it the way God wants it, he wants to make his own way. [30] Branham said that he heard a voice speaking to him while he was recovering from the accident, which led him to begin seeking God. A dog can't do it, a hog can't do it, a bird can't do it. Education: Magna cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania . [10][37] On June 2 that year, the Jeffersonville Evening News said the Branham campaign reported 14 converts. [249] He was rushed to the hospital in Amarillo where he remained comatose for several days and died of his injuries on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1965. [21], Branham was involved in a firearms incident and was shot in both legs in March 1924, at age 14; he later told his audiences he was involved in a hunting accident. [116][117] Winnipeg Free Press reported a girl was cured of deafness. Davis baptized Branham and six months later, he ordained Branham as an Independent Baptist minister and an elder in his church. Jesus taught that he was the sure foundation, there is no other Mt. In the United States, Branham was charged with tax evasion for failing to account for the donations received through his ministry; admitting his liability, he settled the case out of court. [127][122], In 1955, Branham's campaigning career began to slow following financial setbacks. (uncredited) Makeup Department Production Management [194] He argued that there were many people named Jesus but there is only one Lord Jesus Christ. [9] His racial teachings on serpent seed and his belief that membership in a Christian denomination was connected to the mark of the beast alienated many of his former supporters. [209][210][122], Branham reported discussing the possibility that blacks were descended from apes as early as 1929, but claimed to reject the belief at the time. [283], Paul Schfer, a follower and promoter of William Branham's teachings based in Chile, was discovered to have been running a compound where he was sexually molesting and torturing children in 1997. 506-444-6070 Rev. [201] Branham believed women were guilty of committing adultery if their appearance was intended to motivate men to lust, and viewed a woman's place as "in the kitchen". [39][34] Branham said he made several suicide attempts following their deaths. Branham faced legal problems as a result of his practices. Brennan said through. [28] Branham returned to Jeffersonville in June 1929 to attend the funeral. [109] Upshaw died in November 1952, at the age of 86. [172][235] Branham did not directly claim to be the end-time messenger in either of his sermons on the church ages or the seven seals. Despite Branham's objections, some followers of his teachings placed him at the center of a cult of personality during his final years. Louis. Branham was an important influence on the Latter Rain revival movement, which Hawtin helped initiate. In a 2008 California court case, authorities investigating Leo Mercer's group of Branham followers in Arizona discovered that following "Branham's death in 1965, Mercer gradually became more authoritative, employing various forms of punishment. Women had to be punished. Some critics accused Branham's team of sharing prayer card information with Branham before he began his prayer lines. [89][104] At the peak of his popularity in the 1950s, Branham was widely adored and "the neo-Pentecostal world believed Branham to be a prophet to their generation". Bill Brennan hasn't been seen since he walked out the door of the Stardust casino in 1992 with a huge haul of cash and chips. He required supplicants to claim to be healed to demonstrate their faith, even if they were still experiencing symptoms. Supporters of polygamy claim Branham authorized the practice in his 1965 sermon entitled "Marriage and Divorce". [228] Branham viewed the revelation of the seals as the crowning achievement of his ministry and the ultimate fulfillment of his purpose as a prophet. A. The fifth (5) vision showed him the horrible moral decay of the world, centering mostly around women.He saw women cutting her hair, smoking cigarettes, drinking, wearing pants and indecent clothing. However, Florence Nightingale never married and had no children or grandchildren. [128] At meetings in Regina, Branham pronounced the wife of a prominent minister healed of cancer. [214][204] Branham was baptized and ordained by Roy Davis, a founding member and later Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan; Branham and Davis continued to associate throughout Branham's life. He was considered by many to be the initiator of the healing and charismatic revival that began in. And by that time the healer would be too far away to be questioned or to explain. [63] Christian writer John Crowder described the period of revivals as "the most extensive public display of miraculous power in modern history". There was also evidence that Mercer sexually abused children. [150] It also revealed that others assisting in his campaigns were taking financial advantage of the campaigns. July 29, 1997 Mrs. Brennan, members of the Brennan family, Justices of the Supreme Court, Members of Congress, the administration, Father Jordan, Father O'Hara, Monsignor: Throughout our history, a few powerful ideals have transformed the lives of our people. He was on his way to Jeffersonville, Indiana to preach on the "Trail of the serpent." But God did not allow him to preach this last sermon. [241][k] In his later years, he came to believe all denominations were "synagogues of Satan". 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