John Collins Interviewed by CBC News on William Branham's Influence on London Street Preachers

John Collins, founder of Seek Ye The Truth and a former member of the William Branham movement known as "The Message," was quoted by CBC News in a September 25, 2017 report by Andrew Lupton examining the influence of Branham's sermons on controversial street preaching in London, Ontario.

The CBC report, titled How a dead U.S. evangelist inspires London's reviled street preachers, examined Matthew Carapella and Steven Ravbar, two London street preachers whose public confrontations with women, churches, and local residents had drawn complaints from community members, church leaders, Mayor Matt Brown, local police, and bylaw enforcement officials.

After reviewing CBC video of Carapella preaching in London, Collins recognized the rhetoric as closely resembling the recorded sermons of William Branham, the Jeffersonville, Indiana evangelist who rose to prominence during the post-World War II healing revival and died in 1965. Collins told CBC that Carapella was "basically regurgitating what William Branham said."

The report noted Collins's background as someone born into a Branham-inspired group and his later work through Seek Ye The Truth to document Branham's history, teachings, and influence. Collins described "The Message" as a destructive cult and discussed the movement's use of Branham's recorded sermons, including home-based "tape services" where followers gather to listen to Branham's recordings.

The CBC coverage also addressed concerns raised by Carapella's family, who told the outlet they believed he had fallen under the influence of a cult inspired by Branham's teachings. Collins advised families affected by similar groups to remain "patient and persistent," while emphasizing that leaving such movements can be a difficult and life-altering process.