Brother Branham established this ministry in 1965 as
an outreach through which the Word would be spread abroad and the soon
Coming of the Lord would be proclaimed. For decades, the William Branham
Evangelistic Association has kept its sights focused on that guiding
principle.
Here is a brief look at the history of this vital agency through which the
Gospel of the Kingdom has been made known around the world.
In July of 1965, Brother Branham asked for a meeting with Brother
Roy Roberson, Brother Fred Sothmann, and his son, Brother Billy Paul
Branham, who were members of the trustee board of the Branham
Tabernacle in Jeffersonville, Indiana. He described for them a new
outreach he wished to establish, a branch of his Ministry that would
operate separate from the local church. Its purpose would be to help
finance evangelistic campaigns and support missionary endeavors
around the world, without being a constant drain on the finances of
the local assembly.
An Exposition of the Seven Church Ages, the first book that
he had produced, was ready to be printed, and he was looking forward
to eventually expanding his ministry’s outreach through the field of
publications.
It took three months for an attorney to prepare and submit to the government
the articles of incorporation for the
William Branham Evangelistic Association. In October, the three board
members and Brother Branham signed the documents that would actually start the
approval process.
Before there had been one journey planned, one event sponsored, or one effort
funded, Brother Branham was called Home to be with the Lord.
The board members had a decision to make. Was there still a need for an
evangelistic and missionary organization to sponsor the Ministry of Brother
Branham? After careful consideration, the newly formed board made the decision
to carry on with the original plans.
The final paperwork was registered in April of 1966. The missionary and
evangelistic branches of William Branham’s Ministry were planted, and WBEA
became the legal vehicle for the continuation of this life-giving,
life-sustaining Message of the Hour.
WBEA continues to publish and subsidize the distribution costs for nine of
the oldest, and most requested, books relating to Brother Branham’s Ministry,
including William Branham, A Man Sent From God and the last book to be
published before his passing, An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages.
A major part of our outreach today is the purchase of all the paper that is
used for the printing of the Message at our Jeffersonville production facility, Voice Of God Recordings.