Jim Jones Timeline Changes Again - Lester Sumrall
It was previously believed that Jim Jones joined the "Message" cult following of William Branham towards the end of 1955. During a nasty split in Pentecostalism after the Assemblies of God deemed Branham's Latter Rain theology to be heretical, Jones joined forces with William Branham, Joseph Mattsson-Boze, and leaders of the other side of the split. Shortly after joining, Jones went on revival tours with Mattsson-Boze and announced that William Branham would come to Peoples Temple in June of 1956.[1]. This grew from a simple visit to a massive convention to a series of Branham conventions hosted by Jim Jones in multiple states.[2]
It was previously believed that Jim Jones joined the "Message" cult following of William Branham towards the end of 1955. During a nasty split in Pentecostalism after the Assemblies of God deemed Branham's Latter Rain theology to be heretical, Jones joined forces with William Branham, Joseph Mattsson-Boze, and leaders of the other side of the split. Shortly after joining, Jones went on revival tours with Mattsson-Boze and announced that William Branham would come to Peoples Temple in June of 1956.[1]. This grew from a simple visit to a massive convention to a series of Branham conventions hosted by Jim Jones in multiple states.[2]
New evidence suggests that Jones' ties to the "Message" cult pre-dated 1955. Before Peoples Temple formed, Jones preached in the Laurel Street Tabernacle in Indianapolis. For its dedication on April 10, 1949, Rev. Lester Sumrall came to Laurel Street to hold a series of revivals.[3] In the "missing" issues of The Voice of Healing recently recovered, it is clear that Sumrall was deeply involved with William Branham's campaigns, and wrote articles for Branham's The Voice of Healing publication.[4]. When William Branham held revivals with Jim Jones at the Cadle Tabernacle in Indianapolis, IN, Branham preached a sermon entitled "Hear Ye Him".[5] Branham preached a sermon with the same title at Sumrall's church in South Bend, IN in 1958.[6] It is clear that Sumrall was deeply involved with the Branham Campaigns.
This would suggest, contrary to the current historical data portrays, that Laurel Street Tabernacle was sympathetic to William Branham and his "Message" -- instead of strongly opposed to it due to their Assemblies of God affiliation. It also moves the timeline of Jones' involvement with leaders of the revivals from 1955 to 1949, and explains why Jim Jones was asked to hold a series of revivals with Rev. O. L. Jaggars, who was on the editorial team of William Branham's The Voice of Healing publication.[7]
References
[1] For more information: see The 'Full Gospel' Origins of Peoples Temple, https://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=92702. "For more information: see The 'Full Gospel' Origins of Peoples Temple, https://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=92702"
[2] ex: Branham, William. Father, The Hour Has Come in Chicago, IL). 1956, Oct, 2. Father, The Hour Has Come (56-1002A, in Chicago, IL). "1956/02/10 Father, The Hour Has Come in Chicago, IL) Happy to see, today, is our host pastor, Brother James Jones, from Indianapolis, back there William ex: Branham Happy to see, today, is our host pastor, Brother James Jones, from Indianapolis, back there."
[3] The 'Full Gospel' Origins of Peoples Temple. "Assemblies of God District Secretary T. F. Zimmerman traveled from the denomination's headquarters in Springfield, Missouri to preach the morning services, while District Superintendent Roy E. Wead offered the dedicatory address in the church led by the Rev. John L. Price. Jack Beam, who would later become a pillar for Jim Jones in Peoples Temple, was on the board. The Rev. Lester Summerall, Assemblies of God missionary and evangelist from South Bend, Indiana, came to hold a series of nightly meetings in celebration.". "The 'Full Gospel' Origins of Peoples Temple. "Assemblies of God District Secretary T. F. Zimmerman traveled from the denomination's headquarters in Springfield, Missouri to preach the morning services, while District Superintendent Roy E. Wead offered the dedicatory address in the church led by the Rev. John L. Price. Jack Beam, who would later become a pillar for Jim Jones in Peoples Temple, was on the board. The Rev. Lester Summerall, Assemblies of God missionary and evangelist from South Bend, Indiana, came to hold a series of nightly meetings in celebration."
[4] Sumrall, Lester. The Truth About Angels. 1958, Jun. The Voice of Healing. "1958/06 Sumrall, Lester. The Truth About Angels"
[5] Branham, William. Hear Ye Him With Jim Jones and Peoples Temple at Cadle Tabernacle). 1958, Feb, 9. Hear Ye Him (58-0209A, With Jim Jones and Peoples Temple at Cadle Tabernacle). "1958/09/02 Hear Ye Him With Jim Jones and Peoples Temple at Cadle Tabernacle) William Branham Hear Ye Him (58-0209A, With Jim Jones and Peoples Temple at Cadle Tabernacle)"
[6] Branham, William. Hear Ye Him. 1958, Feb, 9. Hear Ye Him (58-0209A). "1958/09/02 Hear Ye Him Now, the evangelist don't have all to do with the meeting. It's the pastor, also. Now, I want our dear Brother Sumrall to come here for the words that he will now say William Branham Now, the evangelist don't have all to do with the meeting. It's the pastor, also. Now, I want our dear Brother Sumrall to come here for the words that he will now say."
[7] The 'Full Gospel' Origins of Peoples Temple. In 1951, Jones was offered a large sum of money to hold a series of revivals in Los Angeles, California for the Rev. Orval Lee Jaggers. Jaggers was both an editor for Branham's publication and closely affiliated with Leroy Kopp of Calvary Temple,[43] Like Branham, Jaggers taught unusual doctrines concerning the Zodiac's relationship to Christianity and teachings on Unidentified Flying Objects. Also like Branham, Jaggers' extra-biblical doctrines resulted in the formation of a destructive cult. It should come as no surprise that Jones pronounced his belief in UFOs and extraterrestrial life throughout Peoples Temple's history. "The 'Full Gospel' Origins of Peoples Temple. In 1951, Jones was offered a large sum of money to hold a series of revivals in Los Angeles, California for the Rev. Orval Lee Jaggers. Jaggers was both an editor for Branham's publication and closely affiliated with Leroy Kopp of Calvary Temple,[43] Like Branham, Jaggers taught unusual doctrines concerning the Zodiac's relationship to Christianity and teachings on Unidentified Flying Objects. Also like Branham, Jaggers' extra-biblical doctrines resulted in the formation of a destructive cult. It should come as no surprise that Jones pronounced his belief in UFOs and extraterrestrial life throughout Peoples Temple's history."