Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,
this is brother Frank speaking to you from the International Mission Centre in Krefeld, Germany. We just had a wonderful beginning of the year 2011 and we also looked back to what God has done throughout the year 2010 and I must say, for me it was one of the greatest years in the ministry the Lord has so graciously granted to me. I have preached in exactly 30 countries during 2010 and especially some countries, like Pakistan and other Asian counties, and then, of course, eight African countries where the harvest was plenteous and many, many souls came into the kingdom of God and the message of the hour was accepted and, by divine revelation, all individuals could say Amen to the Word that was preached.
Then we have a DVD ready for all who wish to see a few cuts from these meetings where God did great things with up to eighteen thousand in a stadium in Kinshasa. And as I said, for me it was one of the greatest years in the ministry. Then, coming to the beginning of 2011, more than 800 people were gathered here in the Mission Centre from various countries in Europe and also from overseas and we shared not only the Word of God, but also the film, a few cuts as I said, from the African meetings and also the Brother Branham film where he prays with the gift of discernment for the people. It was a blessing to all of us knowing it was not a man, but it was God keeping and fulfilling His own promise and sending a prophet before the great and dreadful day of the Lord would be.
And then, to say that I, brother Frank, had the privilege to know this man of God for 10 years, to be in his meetings in Germany and in the USA, so I became an eye-witness and ear-witness and, as we all know, a true witness must be present when something happens, otherwise he cannot be a witness. When our Lord spoke to the twelve, He said, “Ye are my witnesses.” They were with Him in His meetings, in His sufferings, they saw Him after His resurrection, they saw Him going up to glory and they heard the announcement: “...the same Jesus that was taken from you into Heaven will come back in the same way as you have seen Him going up.”
So I count it a very, very special privilege God gave to me as someone living in Germany and yet having part in what God has done through the ministry of brother Branham. And we know God has not a national spirit. The spirit of God is the Holy Spirit. And God may use a man like Paul in one country, in one continent He may use Martin Luther, John Weasley, He may use different men at different times, but every ministry ordained of Almighty God is for God’s people in every country on the face of the earth. Therefore, brother Branham’s ministry was not for the North American continent only, but it was for the bride of Christ, for the church of the Living God in all nations. And even after brother Branham was taken to glory, the Lord so led that I could go from continent to continent, from country to country, to share the true original message of the hour containing all the promises God made in His Word. And we do believe that God does all things according to His Word.
Beloved, what we had in the first meetings in this year were a number of things. We shared the Word of God, we spoke about the things which God revealed unto us, especially through the ministry of brother Branham, but then we came to the conclusion sharing the thoughts of 1st Corinthians 13 and also Mathew 25 – if we would know all the mysteries, if we would have all faith to move mountains and would not have love, divine love, not charity – anybody can have charity, there should be the word “love”, not “charity”. And friends, the love of God was manifested on the Cross of Calvary. So God loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. It was love, love, God’s love manifested in Christ. We are purchased with the blood of the Lamb. We received forgiveness of our sins, we received eternal life, all because God loved us. And only perfect love will enter there. This is what brother Branham was told when he was still with us on earth and was taken into glory, he heard the one speaking to him: “Only perfect love will enter here.”
And then we think about Mathew 25, about the oil, about the lamps, about the vessel to carry with us to refill the lamps – and we think about the Holy Spirit and also about verse 10, “They that we ready went into the marriage and the door was closed.” To my understanding, William Branham was sent with the message that should forerun the second coming of Christ. With this message, the calling-out time, the preparation time is meant. First, we hear the call, we answer the call, we come out from all things which are not in agreement with the Word of God and we enter into the rest, we enter with the peace of God which is more than we can understand. And then we also believe that the messenger was taken after he had brought the message and now this message has reached the ends of the earth. And I am convinced that the return of Christ, the second coming of Christ, when He will return as the Bridegroom to take the Bride to the marriage supper – this great event is drawing closer and closer. And we do expect the return of Christ in our time. Nobody knows the day or the hour, but our Lord said, “...when you see all these things come to pass, then ye know it is near, even at the door.”
Beloved brothers and sisters, especially ministers of the Word, you that believe the message of the hour, stay with the Word of God, stay in the love of God and prove it by your actions, love not in words, but indeed as Christ loved us. Let us love one another and may we all be prepared for the return of Christ. God bless you throughout the year 2011 and be with you in Jesus’ holy name. Amen.