The training of ministers is sometimes considered a denominational or seminary approach. However, there is both Scripture and quotes from Brother Branham that speak of the importance of doing this.
Let’s go back to the Old Testament and see the teacher and disciple relationship. This is not new in the New Testament under our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Under the New
“And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.” 1 Samuel 19:20
Here we see Samuel as the teacher in charge of a company or school of prophets. This should be assumed that these were men called and anointed of God and Samuel was there to teach the younger men his message and how to be faithful to God. This was the training of ministers. It is not that Samuel chose them out and then God anointed them through the prayer of Samuel. If a prophet has a message, it would be natural for him to teach that message to others. Then the others in the gifting they have
“And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets.” 2 Kings 4:38
Here is a new title given to the prophets, sons of the prophets. This doesn’t mean they are literally children of prophets, but it is referring to their relationship with teacher-disciple.
“And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.” 2 Kings 2:3
“And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.” 2 Kings 2:12
Elisha was a part of the training of ministers and in the same relationship with Elijah. He refers to Elijah as his father and the other sons of the prophets call Elijah, Elisha’s master. Elisha learned from the ministry of Elijah.
“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2
Paul instructs Timothy to do the same for others that Paul did for him. Find faithful men and commit the word of God to them so that they can go and teach others. I want you also to notice a few things that brother Branham spoke about this.
“25. We would ask to bless our dear Pastor, Brother Neville, who’s stood gallantly at the post of duty year after year through the hot and cold to herd and to pasture the sheep of the flock that gathers here. Pray that Your Spirit be upon him, help him. And bless all that’s connected with the tabernacle. And soon, Lord, if it be Your will, we expect a lovely, big tabernacle standing here on the corner where we can have a school, that we might school young ministers and send them to the four corners of the earth to earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints.” [1]
“82. Now, I think, this church, if you men would, when you build this church, make this like your headquarters, and like Brother Neville here being like the senior elder among you. See? And sometimes you get a question that you can’t discuss out with your church out there, then bring it in here to Brother Neville, and you all discuss it together. If you can’t come to any decision, I’ll be coming by, pretty soon, then we’ll all come together with it.
83. And—and then, in there, get training in your own groups, other ministers, men that you see that has a calling in their life, for the ministry. Train them young men. Bring them in here to the elder. All of you set together in a ministerial meeting, and there teach the deeper things of God. Don’t go on the bad end. Keep someone who can have confidence in, to be kind of like a—a leader for you. And then, sometimes, if you don’t see it just exactly the way he does, goes, that’s all right. You’re in the Faith, anyhow. Just move along. Maybe when we come together, then, all of us together, we’ll pray; the discernment of God come down, and He will give it just exactly what it is, you see, and let us know just how to do it.
84. And in there, churches can go hear, and training up a group of men. And if I’m in evangelistic work somewhere, there is places I can place them, worldwide.
85. What if I was in India, go back to India? There I’d say to these people, maybe, would have thousands of them. Stay there for a week or two, and they see the ministry. They love it. They believe it’s the Truth. They come out of heathenism. There I’ve got…and maybe in two or three weeks.
When I was over there, two nights, and maybe a hundred thousand converted to Christ; nowhere to go. The next day, take a plane and start back to Rome, then to the United States. Leave them just like sheep put out among wolves.
What if I had a group of men, young men trained in the Message, see, to say, “Now, wait a minute. Before I leave here, we’re going to set in order these churches. I’ll have a man. I’ve already telegramed them. They got the money. They’re on their road here, right now, to take over this; a good man. There is two or three young men with him, who will be his helpers and assistants”?
86. And a church of this Faith can be set there, which will be an outpost in India, outpost in Germany, outpost in Switzerland. Why, right now, we should have had them all around the nations where I been. And the Message then, from there, comes another, from another comes another. See what I mean? [The brethren say, “Amen.”—Ed.]” [2]
“In every age we have exactly the same pattern. That is why the light comes through some God-given messenger in a certain area, and then from that messenger there spreads the light through the ministry of others who have been faithfully taught. But of course all those who go out don’t always learn how necessary it is to speak ONLY what the messenger has spoken. (Remember, Paul warned the people to say only what he said, I Corinthians 14:37, “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD.” “What? Came the Word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?”) They add here, or take away there, and soon the message is no longer pure, and the revival dies down. How careful we must be to hear ONE voice, for the Spirit has but one voice which is the voice of God. Paul warned them to say what he said, even as Peter did likewise. He warned them that EVEN HE (PAUL) could not change one word of what he had given by revelation. Oh, how important it is to hear the voice of God by way of His messengers, and then say what has been given them to say to the churches.” [3]
Brother Branham also advocated for having
[1] 59-0628e , Questions And Answers, Rev. William Marrion Branham
[2] 62-0601 , Taking Sides With Jesus, Rev. William Marrion Branham
[3] cab 04 – smyrnaen, 4 – The Smyrnaean Church Age, Rev. William Marrion Branham