Kash Amburgy

Part of Roy E. Davis' evangelistic mentoring of William Branham included training in the doctrines of the poison and snake-handling sect of Pentecostalism.  Not only did Branham work with leaders of the sect, but Branham's core theology was also based upon the passages from the end of the Book of Mark commonly used in the poison and snake-handling sect.[1]  Though later versions of his stage persona claimed that he did not agree with the practice, Branham refused to condemn those who did. [2] One instance of the practice of poison and snake handling remains in the transcripts, however, wherein Branham described Roy Davis drinking poison as a "moving of the Spirit".

 "So it was the Holy Spirit moving. So when he made that challenge again, he let out a big "Ha-ha” and held his watch up. "If there’s a God, I’ll die in a minute.” Waited for a minute and said, "Didn’t I tell you wasn’t no such a thing? Ha, ha, ha,” like that, laughed out like that. So Roy when he made that challenge said, "Why not some of you guys out there believe that God’s so real,” said, "try this sulfuric acid test.” Now, now, I’m not telling people to do that. Don’t you do it unless the Holy Ghost is with you. See? Now, I don’t believe in taking up serpents, or… I believe if I was baptizing out in the water, and a serpent grabbed me, I’d throw him out on the bank and go ahead and baptize like Paul did or something like that. Or somebody slip poison to me, I’d trust God for my healing. That’s right. But I don’t believe in bringing things, say, "Come here and I’ll show you I can do it.” I think that’s wrong. That’s right. But Brother Davis walked up to the platform. We got a notary public’s statement on this. He walked up there. He said, "Christian people,” about two or three thousand setting there, he said, "I’m twenty-five years old.” He said, "I’m a minister of the Gospel,” and he said, "I—I know that my God is able to deliver me from that,” but said, "nevertheless, if He does or does not, I’ll never let that infidel stand there with that in his hand and challenge God’s Word.” He said, "I’ll meet you in glory.” Grabbed it out of his hand…?… and drank ever drop of it right down, stood there and preached the Gospel, and about fifteen hundred people received the baptism of the Holy Ghost setting in the meeting. Hallelujah. Yes, sir.Branham, William. 1953, September 7. Lord, Show Us The Father And It Sufficeth Us (53-0907A).

The names of the men involved, however, are more difficult for "Message" cult leaders to remove as they are not easily identifiable through keyword searches.  One such person involved in this dangerous sect was Rev. Kash D. Amburgy from Ohio, who was greatly outspoken in the Pentecostal sect that practiced snake handling.[3]

Kash D. Amburgy was a Pentecostal preacher who promoted the ministries of members of William Branham's campaign team.[4]  Amburgy was well-known for his open support of snake handling in the church, which drew great skepticism from the general public — especially after faithful congregants were injured, and fought to oppose laws created by the Kentucky State Legislature to protect innocent victims in the snake-handling churches.[5]

Kash Amburgy's name is still included in transcript 65-0119, a recording of a conference at the Western Home Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona held just months prior to William Branham's death in 1965.[6]   Amburgy had planned to attend the Phoenix conference and assist William Branham but failed to make the appointment.  Branham mistakenly thought that a "Brother Humburg" was the absentee, but when a man corrected Branham with the last name "Amburgy", Branham immediately recognized the name and provided the name "Kash".

"There is some, one of the speakers that never showed up; hasn’t as yet, I don’t think. Brother Humburg, or is that…[A brother says, "Amburgy.”—Ed.] Amburgy, Amburgy, Kash Amburgy. So I—I get it all wrong, that’s that German name. I—I guess that’s German. So I may have to kind of pinch-hit, as we call it, excuse the expression, for him."[7]

Kash Amburgy became a household name in Cincinnati through several television commercials promoting his "Big Bargain Barn"[8] - a furniture and appliance store in South Lebanon. He would often end the commercial with the slogan, "Follow the signs, follow the arrows to Kash's Big Bargain Barn in South Lebanon, Ohio, where you save cash with Kash."

Amburgy started his career as a door-to-door Bible salesman, often bragging that he had sold as many as 170 Bibles in one single week.[9]  He was a minister for over sixty years of his life, gaining popularity through a Bible Church of God Radio Broadcast on WPFB-AM (910) in Middletown, Ohio.  By 1971, Amburgy was a millionaire.[10]