Raymond

Hoekstra, Little David, Leslie Ashley and William Branham

We recently published a thought-provoking image to our Facebook Page, comparing William
Branham's statements about meeting Raymond Hoekstra before making his mythological
hunting trip in Arizona that his cult following refer to as the "Cloud event." Branham often
referred to this event in his ministry as an angelic visitation, and claimed that after seven angels
discussed the "Seven Seals" of Revelation, they broke through the Earth's atmosphere.
According to Branham, he was standing there watching as they broke through the skies, leaving
behind a "mystery cloud."

The thought-provoking image presents a fundamental problem with this mythology. While
Branham claimed to be standing "underneath this [cloud]," he also claimed to have been in
Houston, Texas at the beckoning call of Raymond Hoekstra. According to Branham, his hunting
trip was after that meeting -- placing his trip after the "mystery cloud" of February 28, 1963.

And Raymond Hoekstra had already wrote me several times, but you know, I had planned after
that meeting to go on a hunting trip with Mr. McAnally and them. And I thought, "Well, if I let
them kids die and don't put my effort forth, I'll never be able to go hunting again." 62 So I said,
"All right, I'll come." I come over to Houston, had the meeting, and course the they never
killed them, they just they give them life.
Branham, 65-1127B - Trying To Do God A Service

William Branham was no stranger to Hoekstra. In the early Pentecostal circles, most of the
ministers supported each other as they spread their new gospel throughout the nation.
Branham first described Hoekstra on recorded sermon describing Hoekstra's involvement with
a boy nicknamed "Little David."

And a minister from Indianapolis was there, by the name of Raymond Hoekstra. Many of you
might've knowed him. And he was with the little David. He buried the little boy. It was a couple
days afterwards.
Brnaham, 50-0818 - It Shall Be Even As It Was Told Me

In July, 1947, Reverend Hoekstra was requested by the family of David Walker, nicknamed
"Little David" and "Miracle Boy Preacher," to take over the direction of his work and ministry.
In 1948, this unusual situation was approved by the Indianapolis Probate Court, and Hoekstra
effectively became the campaign manager for the child.

Little David had been introduced into the Pentecostal faith at the Apostolic Gospel Tabernacle
in Long Beach, California, and had supernatural experiences that led his family to believe that
he had a call to preach the Gospel at age 9. There was just one problem: at age 9, the boy had
no sense of doctrine. Ironically, those who studied the ministry of Little David and his
acceptance by the Apostolic and Pentecostal ministers admit that this was not much of a

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problem -- this was the case with many ministers in the Pentecostal faith. "Evidence," or the
ability to produce supernatural signs, took priority over correct interpretation of scripture and
understanding of doctrine. In 1949, Hoekstra began suffering difficulties in his ministry after
awareness started spreading concerning his association the child evangelist.

But while Hoekstra was the child's campaign manager, and in the same Cadle Tabernacle where
William Branham started Jim Jones into his rise to infamy, Hoekstra scheduled a crusade of
meetings. "Little David" preached to a packed house of over 10,000 people. During the course
of this meeting, Hoekstra embraced the mysticism of the "Latter Rain" movement, and began
believing that healing oil was flowing through his hands. Others in the meeting claimed to have
received the same "evidence." Over time, many of the ministers -- Hoekstra included -- decided
to abandon the idea of speaking in tongues being the evidence of the Holy Spirit.

Evidence suggests that William Branham was part of the Little David meeting. At minimum, he
supported it, later inviting Hoekstra to preach at the Branham Tabernacle in Jeffersonville,
Indiana.

How many hear "The Wings Of Healing," Doctor Wyatt and them; and a bosom friend of mine,
Raymond Hoekstra? 'Course he's preached right here at the Tabernacle, Raymond Hoekstra. He
went up into East India, up there, and had a revival, and had thousands of converts up in there.
See what God's a-doing?
Branham, 53-0329 - Israel And The Church #5

But his connection was more than just to Hoekstra -- Branham and "Little David" shared the
pulpit often. In fact, Branham claimed that "Little David" was "God's Gift to the Church" in a
1958 sermon.

In the 40s Little David was healed of blindness at age 5; called to preach at age 9 during a
five-hour vision of heaven; immediately began crusades across America. Thousands of people
packed stadiums, auditoriums, and tents to hear the boy preacher; multitudes saved and
healed; in San Diego, many sailors convened before going overseas in the war, and some are
preaching the gospel today; mission journey to Mexico at age 12, where God saved him from
kidnappers; preached with William Branham during the early days of Branhams ministry
- Little David Miracle Boy Preacher

When they had a little boy raised up sometime ago, and I went to see the little lad about ten or
twelve years ago His name was little David Walker, a wonderful little preacher. He didn't tell
little stories like mama had coaxed him, how Jesus a little baby. He took off his coat, and took a
text, and handled it like a man. And I talked to some of the brethren. I had just been new in the
full Gospel realm. I didn't know they had the same trouble that we Baptists had, of all kinds of
breakups. I thought they were angels. And so then we find out, one of them said, "Well, he
belongs to the certain-certain group." I said, "What difference does it make where his father
belongs? He's the gift that God has sent to the Church."
Branham, 58-0107 - The Queen Of Sheba
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Hoekstra's impact on William Branham was so strong that Branham would interrupt the reading
of Scripture to remind his followers of their connection.

Now, in the Scripture, the 2nd chapter of Luke. And before I read this, though, I'd forgot to
make mention of these other ministering brother. Brother Hoekstra hereI He's been a
bosom friend of mine for years. I remember the first time I met Brother Hoekstra. In
Indianapolis, Indiana, there was a boy dying with polio in the iron lung.
Branham, 54-0725 - Do You Now Believe?

But Hoekstra did not continue the "Little David ministry," though it lasted almost three years.
In 1950, he decided to leave the UPC and start a prison ministry, and made the following
announcement in The Pentecostal Herald:

This is to advise all concerned that Raymond G. Hoekstra is not in fellowship with the United
Pentecostal Church"

Hoekstra asked William Branham to speak in Houston, TX on behalf of the homosexual
transvestite and female prostitute who murdered a real-estate agent. Organizing a "Mercy for
Ashley-Lima Committee, Hoekstra declared a campaign of meetings to be held in Houston. This
meeting was announced in the Odessa American on Wednesday, February 27, 1963.

Those familiar with the "Cloud Event" are faced with several questions after reviewing all of the
information. How could William Branham be standing underneath a cloud on February 28,
1963 when he claimed to have hunted after he was in Houston Texas for a revival that started
March 5, 1963?

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References:

Voice of Healing's Writeup on "Little" David Walker:
http://www.voiceofhealing.info/05otherministries/walker.html

Sermons by "Little" David (Walker)
http://www.dealpentecostal.co.uk/Little%20David%20Miracle%20Boy%20Preacher.pdf

More on Raymond Hoekstra:
https://oldlandmark.wordpress.com/2008/06/29/raymond-g-hoekstra-and-the-latter-rain/

The newspaper clipping advertising the Houston meeting:
http://seekyethetruth.com/files/cloud/Raymond%20Hoekstra%20Little%20David%20and%20W
illiam%20Branham.pdf

More on the homosexual transvestite murderer:
http://seekyethetruth.com/files/cloud/William%20Branham%20and%20the%20Transvestite%2
0Murderer.pdf

A Video about Hoekstra and the Mystery Cloud:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FULbHZTPzJA

Our research page:
http://seekyethetruth.com/resources-research.aspx

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Leslie Douglas Ashley (Murderer Branham Supported in Houston)

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Hoekstra, Leslie Douglas Ashley, Carolyn Lima in Houston

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David Walker

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