Vinworth Dayal
Vinworth A. Dayal, pastor of Third Exodus Assembly in Longdenville, Trinidad & Tobago, is a prominent William Branham "Message" minister whose teachings preserve Branham's Latter Rain and Manifested Sons of God themes through a prophetic restoration framework centered on the "former rain," "teaching rain," and "harvest rain." His ministry became the subject of major public scrutiny after Trinidad and Tobago authorities seized more than $28 million in old $100 bills during the country's currency changeover, later discovering additional funds connected to Dayal's home and church while investigating the source of the money under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Dayal's refusal to participate in a Central Bank interview, his claim that the money was personal rather than church property, and his 2021 money-laundering charge placed his Branhamite ministry at the center of one of the most significant financial controversies associated with the "Message" movement in the Caribbean.
Vinworth A. Dayal is the "Message" cult pastor of Third Exodus Assembly in Longdenville, Trinidad & Tobago. Dayal continues to promote Branham's stage persona supportive of the Latter Rain movement in Trinidad & Tobago, and appears to be aligned with Branham's Manifested Sons of God doctrine that attracted Jim Jones of Peoples Temple. On July 1, 2021, Dayal was officially charged with laundering money.[1]
The latter rain can come only after the former rain which is the spring or TEACHING rain. The latter rain, then, is the HARVEST rain. The latter rain, then, is the HARVEST rain. How could this be the real thing when the Teaching Rain had not come? The Prophet-Messenger who was to be sent to TEACH the people and turn the hearts of the children back to the Pentecostal fathers had not yet come. Thus what was thought to be the restoration and the final quickening unto the rapture had not come.[2]
- Vin Dayal, Our Mission Statement
In January of 2020, government officials raided Third Exodus Assembly and the homes of Dayal's family members to seize millions of dollars under the Proceeds of Crime act. Just the year before, Trinidad and Tobago was rated one of the highest countries at risk for money laundering and terrorist financing.[3] When the government changed currency to limit this risk, Dayal did not immediately comply. Dayal attempted to convert the fortune ammassed through unknown means on December 31, 2019, and the government seized the funds.
According to the Trinidad Express, moments before the dawn of 2020, Financial Investigation Branch police went before a magistrate and secured a detention court order to impound $28,046,500 under the Proceeds of Crime Act.Sources said the money, which was brought to the Central Bank after 5 p.m. on Old Year’s Day, was counted by police late into the night and was confirmed at $28,046,500 in old $100 paper bills.This is the most significant development so far in the currency changeover exercise.[4]
The Daily Observer
After seizure of the funds, the Central Bank requested that Dayal be present for an interview to determine the source of the funds as part of the process to rule out illegal activity and restore the money to Dayal and the church. Dayal refused, however, raising more questions as to the source of the funds and the intended usage.[5] Dayal and his attorneys argued that the money seized was from Dayal's personal funds, not the church's, and therefore not subject to investigation.[6] During the process of the investigation, however, it was learned that an additional 2.5 million dollars were being stored in Dayal's home and at the church.[7] In January of 2020, the matter was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.[8]