Roger Rudin

Roger Somers Rudin was a "Message" cult pastor from St. Paul, MN, who led the Upper Room Fellowship in Phoenix, AZ.  Most of his congregation migrated from Iowa, after Rudin convinced his converts that the result of William Branham's Los Angeles Prophecy would create a paradise in Arizona.[1]  During his three decades as a minister, Rudin was the target of dozens of lawsuits ranging from fraud and swindling to criminal suits involving drug possession.[2]  Members of his church also accused Rudin of swindling.[3] It wasn't until after Rudin's death that members of his church began to question the allegations, and came to realize that Rudin's private life was much different than his public appearance.  Rudin was a homosexual man, well known in the gay community.

While preaching the cult-approved position against homosexuality, Rudin operated a gay bar called the Paradise Lounge.[4]  He used influence with the homosexual community of Phoenix to fund his church, organizing "gay mecca" meetings complete with country-and-western bars and leather dungeons.[5]  The homosexual community was largely unaware of Rudin's Pentecostal church, while members of his church were also largely unaware of Rudin's sexual orientation.  His converts were very surprised to learn that their tithes and offerings had been spent in gay bars.[6]

For more information, read "Preach of Trust" from https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/preach-of-trust-6422000 

Roger Rudin is named in the Intent to Sue documentation prepared by Gerald Lee Walker and Sarah Branham.

Rudin was the owner of the Phoenix historic Westward Ho[7][8] hotel where William Branham preached the sermon "Turning Northward"[9] and other and speaking engagements.[10]