William Branham Historical Research
Upgrade in progress 4/27/26 - 5/4/26. Some features may not work as expected.

Ralph G. Stair

January 10, 2022

New research page added:https://william-branham.org/site/people/ralph_g_stair 

New research page added:
https://william-branham.org/site/people/ralph_g_stair 

Rev. Ralph G. Stair was a "Message"[1] cult pastor and evangelist from Pennsylvania who openly groped women during church services, and used cult doctrine and coercion to prey upon the female members of his congregation including young girls.[2]  In 2002, Stair was arrested in Walterboro, South Carolina on two counts of criminal sexual conduct in the second degree.[3]  Stair's wife, Teresa Stair, was aware of extra-marital affairs and defended her husband during the investigation.[4]

Rev. Stair also preyed upon the men in his congregation by draining their finances.  As the investigation into Stair's sect, called "The Overcomer Ministry",[5] progressed, it was learned that Stair mishandled retirement funds.  He was charged with two counts of breach of trust over stealing $26,556 and then $3,079 per week from a male member's retirement investments.[6]

After William Branham died, Rev. Stair appointed himself to be Branham's successor.[7]  After many of William Branham's prophecies either failed or did not happen Branham's his lifetime,[8] Stair began claiming to be the End of Days prophet "Messenger" who would more accurately predict the events leading up to Armageddon.  Stair claimed to have predicted the war in the Middle East, and that President Ronald Reagan would be forced out of office while continuing Branham's theme of nuclear destruction.[9]  

Rapper Craig Mack joined Ralph Stair's cult sect.[10] Mack was an American rapper and record producer who laid the foundation for Bad Boy Records, one of hip hop's most influential labels.

References

[1] The Final Revelation of the Seven Church Ages and the Seven Stars. Accessed. 2022, Jan, 9. Overcomerministry. Accessed 2022, Jan, 9 from https://overcomerministry.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/7-STARS-Booklet.pdf. "2022/09/01 The Final Revelation of the Seven Church Ages and the Seven Stars. Accessed In 2004 the Lord impressed me to finalize the 7 "stars" and churches. This work would build on Brother Branham's "Exposition" of the 7 churches, and the actions and revelations of Brother Stair. While praying about this, the Lord gave me the following scripture as prophetic unction to complete this work In 2004 the Lord impressed me to finalize the 7 "stars" and churches. This work would build on Brother Branham's "Exposition" of the 7 churches, and the actions and revelations of Brother Stair. While praying about this, the Lord gave me the following scripture as prophetic unction to complete this work."

[2] Colleton minister charged with criminal sexual conduct. 2002, May, 18. The Item. "2002/18/05 Colleton minister charged with criminal sexual conduct Arrest warrants say Stair "used coercion to accomplish this battery by enforcing his religious/personal beliefs with the victim Arrest warrants say Stair "used coercion to accomplish this battery by enforcing his religious/personal beliefs with the victim."

[3] Colleton minister charged with criminal sexual conduct. 2002, May, 18. The Item. "2002/18/05 Colleton minister charged with criminal sexual conduct A Canadys man who leads a group called "The Overcomer Ministry" has been charged with two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, the state Law Enforcement Division said Friday. Ralph Gordon Stair, 69, was denied bond and was being held in the Colleton County jail"

[4] Minister charged with Sexual Abuse. 2002, May, 18. Times and Democrat. "2002/18/05 Minister charged with Sexual Abuse Stair's wife denied her husband forced any of the women to have sex. 'The women that went with my husband willingly went with my husband,' Teresa Stair told the (Walterboro) Press and Standard. 'They weren't victims. None of them were victims.'"

[5] The Overcomer Ministry. Accessed. 2022, Jan, 9. Overcomerministry. Accessed 2022, Jan, 9 from https://overcomerministry.org/. "2022/09/01 The Overcomer Ministry. Accessed"

[6] Minister charged with Sexual Abuse. 2002, May, 18. Times and Democrat. "2002/18/05 Minister charged with Sexual Abuse Stair also was charged with two counts of breach of trust more than $1,000, Richardson said. Warrants said stair took $26,556 on Sept. 7, 2000, then $3,079 a week later from a man's retirement investments Stair also was charged with two counts of breach of trust more than $1,000, Richardson said. Warrants said stair took $26,556 on Sept. 7, 2000, then $3,079 a week later from a man's retirement investments."

[7] Barker, Gavin. Brother Stair Ranting on Shortwave Radio. 2020, Apr, 7. Brother Stair Ranting on Shortwave Radio. Accessed 2022, Jan, 9 from https://gavinbarker2.bandcamp.com/track/brother-stair-ranting-on-shortwave-radio. "2020/07/04 Brother Stair Ranting on Shortwave Radio Gavin Barker Stair claims to be the "Last-Day Prophet of God" (or sometimes, the "seventh" such prophet, with William Branham being the sixth). He spends much of his radio broadcasts denouncing just about every other Christian minister as a false prophet. He claims to have prophesied Hurricane Katrina and 9/11 back in the 1980s, and also did prophesy that Ronald Reagan would be removed from office and nuclear attacks would wipe out many U.S. cities by 1988, the latter two of which didn't happen.[citation NOT needed] Oops… so much for the 'Last-Day Prophet of God.'"

[8] ex: Branham, William. Gabriel's Instructions To Daniel. 1961, Jul, 30. Gabriel's Instructions To Daniel (61-0730M). "1961/30/07 Gabriel's Instructions To Daniel Israel returning to their homeland, Israel. Let me just say this now while…I guess it's off of tape. Let me say this. The very hour that Israel become a nation…The reason I've always believed, 'fore my class here, that there was something that I'd have a part, before I die, of getting Israel back to the Lord. Because, when the very hour, by the Pan American chart, that Israel was declared a nation, for the first time for two thousand years since they been scattered, not a people; it was that very same hour, exactly to the hour, that the Angel of the Lord met me up yonder and sent me to the…with the Gospel. The very same thing, May the 7th, 1946 William ex: Branham Israel returning to their homeland, Israel. Let me just say this now while…I guess it's off of tape. Let me say this. The very hour that Israel become a nation…The reason I've always believed, 'fore my class here, that there was something that I'd have a part, before I die, of getting Israel back to the Lord. Because, when the very hour, by the Pan American chart, that Israel was declared a nation, for the first time for two thousand years since they been scattered, not a people; it was that very same hour, exactly to the hour, that the Angel of the Lord met me up yonder and sent me to the…with the Gospel. The very same thing, May the 7th, 1946."

[9] Church of former L.V. preacher draws media scrutiny. 1988, May, 1. The Morning Call. "1988/01/05 Church of former L.V. preacher draws media scrutiny Some believe that when the world is destroyed, the church will be destroyed, too. Others, like Stair, believe the church will survive the tribulation. Stair, however, believes that he is a prophet of God, so he takes it one step furhter. He assigns dates to it all, and he believes it will happen rather imminently Some believe that when the world is destroyed, the church will be destroyed, too. Others, like Stair, believe the church will survive the tribulation. Stair, however, believes that he is a prophet of God, so he takes it one step furhter. He assigns dates to it all, and he believes it will happen rather imminently."

[10] Late rapper's life focus of documentary. 2019, Mar, 13. Daily News. "2019/13/03 Late rapper's life focus of documentary Ralph Gordon stair (main photo) of cult that rapper Craig Mack belonged to. Stair is facing sex charges Ralph Gordon stair (main photo) of cult that rapper Craig Mack belonged to. Stair is facing sex charges."