In January 1950, William Branham and F. F. Bosworth challenged Rev. W. W. Best to a debate over whether or not their faith healing stage act was biblical. There were two photographers present that captured a photograph of what appears to be a halo behind William Branham’s head. The angle of the camera captured both William Branham and the stage lighting, and the result was a photograph that became an icon not only in Branham’s “Message” cult of personality but also in New Apostolic Reformation history.
When Branham attempted to use the photograph for his book, however, the photographers claimed copyright. Branham’s “Life Story” book was held back over the dispute. James Ayers and Theodore Kipperman copyrighted the photograph, which is why it is stored in the Library of Congress today.
When Branham eventually came to an agreement with the photographers, a very strange partnership was made. Ayers and Kipperman were involved in criminal activity and were eventually charged with counterfeiting and making false claims. Branham, whose ministry was falling apart over doctrinal divisions with Gordon Lindsay and Ern Baxter, needed someone to make false claims. Their “halo” photograph was very effective — to this day, there are a large number of people who still believe that the light above Branham’s head was supernatural instead of stage lighting.
But with this partnership came consequences. When the photographers’ nephew, Leslie Douglas Ashley, was convicted of murder after a sexual encounter between his partner in prostitution and a Houston businessman, Branham was asked to return the favor. Branham went to Houston during his famous “cloud” event to save the life of their nephew.
You can learn this and more on william-branham.org
Counterfeit Suit:
https://william-branham.org/site/resource?key=9a83cb3d-f60c-4612-8334-81e927666c1e&parent=houston_photograph
Leslie Douglas Ashley:
https://william-branham.org/site/research/people/leslie_douglas_ashley
Houston Photograph:
https://william-branham.org/site/research/topics/houston_photograph
Cloud Event:
https://william-branham.org/site/research/topics/1963_mystery_cloud
When Branham attempted to use the photograph for his book, however, the photographers claimed copyright. Branham’s “Life Story” book was held back over the dispute. James Ayers and Theodore Kipperman copyrighted the photograph, which is why it is stored in the Library of Congress today.
When Branham eventually came to an agreement with the photographers, a very strange partnership was made. Ayers and Kipperman were involved in criminal activity and were eventually charged with counterfeiting and making false claims. Branham, whose ministry was falling apart over doctrinal divisions with Gordon Lindsay and Ern Baxter, needed someone to make false claims. Their “halo” photograph was very effective — to this day, there are a large number of people who still believe that the light above Branham’s head was supernatural instead of stage lighting.
But with this partnership came consequences. When the photographers’ nephew, Leslie Douglas Ashley, was convicted of murder after a sexual encounter between his partner in prostitution and a Houston businessman, Branham was asked to return the favor. Branham went to Houston during his famous “cloud” event to save the life of their nephew.
You can learn this and more on william-branham.org
Counterfeit Suit:
https://william-branham.org/site/resource?key=9a83cb3d-f60c-4612-8334-81e927666c1e&parent=houston_photograph
Leslie Douglas Ashley:
https://william-branham.org/site/research/people/leslie_douglas_ashley
Houston Photograph:
https://william-branham.org/site/research/topics/houston_photograph
Cloud Event:
https://william-branham.org/site/research/topics/1963_mystery_cloud
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