Presentation of the mission work
»Free people's mission Inc. Krefeld«

Preface
Basis of Belief
Baptism
The Lord's Supper
The Return of Christ
William M. Branham

Preface

This interdenominational mission work has the objective to fully return to the doctrine and practice of the original Church in the days of the apostles. The base of this work which stretches into all the world is the Mission center at Krefeld. Here a local church exists where Pastor E. Frank since many years mainly ministers at each first weekend per month. He shares responsible leadership with the co-pastor, Bro. Leonhard Russ, together with the co-pastor, Bro. Paul Schmidt. Already in 1953, Bro. E. Frank and Bro. L. Russ came to know each other. In 1955 Ewald Frank participated for one week of meetings held by Rev. William M. Branham in Karlsruhe, Germany. What took place in those services - the divine confirmation and unique gift left a lasting impression with him. In 1958 Rev. E. Frank participated in the »Voice of Healing« convention arranged by Rev. Gordon Lindsay in Dallas, Texas, USA. Here he met a great number of US evangelists who became slowly renowned world wide. The special ministry of William M. Branham was obvious in comparison with all the others. It was the special gift of discernment, this humble man of God was used in, which did not only impress but reminded one on the days of Christ and His ministry. Toward the end of 1959, Bro. Frank started to translate the sermons of William Branham preached in the USA. He was convinced that especially the independent churches who believed the full Gospel would receive the spiritual enrichment with gladness. Shortly after it became obvious that a independent mission work had to be brought into existence to make certain that the free proclamation of Bible truths would be possible. Many of the leaders of the full Gospel Churches did not accept the ministry of the man sent from God. In the contrary, without consulting and proving things by the Scripture they misunderstood especially the prophetic part of his ministry.

In the year 1960, the »Free people's mission« as a non profit fellowship was established under the leadership of Bro. E. Frank, Bro. L. Russ and Bro. P. Schmidt. The two brethren are still ministering together with Bro. Frank. The fellowship which started at first as a house meeting grew constantly through the years. In April 1964, the »Free people's mission Krefeld« was recognised as a religious fellowship by the German government. In the following years this work extended beyond the boundaries of Europe. Also in 1964, Bro. Frank made his first missionary trip to Asian countries. In India great multitudes came to hear God's Word - the meetings were crowned with special blessings. Since 1968 Bro. Frank frequently visited the »iron curtain« countries, including the Soviet Union. From 1968 till 1978, he had twenty minute speeches each Sunday through the well known »Radio Luxembourg«. From all over Europe and world wide the invitations were coming in. In April 1974, the local church which seats 550 people was inaugurated. The mission work expanded continuously and was obviously blessed by the Almighty.

In the year 1976, it was necessary to enlarge the mission center. The neighbouring land to the Church plot was bought and two missionary buildings were erected. The total ground of the mission center is 10,000 square meters. Thereupon stands the church, the bungalow for the janitor, the two mission buildings and since the beginning of the nineties we do have our own publishing house. The publications and books about Bible topics and the sermons of Bro. Branham are being translated and printed here in 8 different languages, serving over 130 countries. That is about the number of countries, Bro. Frank has personally visited and ministered in. This international and independent mission work is being financed only on the basis of free will offerings. In the true sense of the word, it is a »faith work« which exists and is being done in trusting God for all things. All literature, books, cassettes are sent out free of charge without any hint to participate even in the postage expenses. We do not have registered members. Those who are blessed share in the work with their tithes and offerings. Everyone decides for himself how to have part in the mission outreach.

Basis of belief

The Holy Scripture is the only source, perfect foundation and only measuring road for the faith, the doctrine and life. God through His prophets in the Old and through the apostles in the New Testament has said all we need to know. The Bible is therefore the complete testimony of God to which like unto a testament nothing can be added.

The »Free people's mission work« is different to all the revival movements which the Church of Christ experienced since the Reformation. All have organised their own churches in the respective denominations they established. We have the task to proclaim the revealed Word, the message of the hour and preach the whole counsel of God which must be made known to those who need to experience the completion. It is our aim to serve all of God's children who are still scattered in the different churches. From this final proclamation not a new denomination will come into being, but the result will be the prepared Bride Church of Jesus Christ who is being called out from everywhere.

We certainly do not claim to be the only saving church, but see ourselves as part of the »Ecclesia« together with all who are called out by God's Word. The elect constitute the living Church of the living God. We do not point to a man as the founder, but in reality are a continuation of the last revival. The goal is that the Lord Himself can built and complete His Own Church.

The teaching of God's Word and the proclamation of the everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ has always a two-fold effect. Man is shown to be lost because of all the transgressions, and therefore under judgement. Secondly, those who believe the preaching of the Word experience the faith that comes into their heart as the power of God unto salvation of the soul and the full justification before God.

Justification of the sinner does not mean justifying sin. Only those who avail themselves of God's offer of grace and receive the same personally experience the salvation and recognise that they are called and chosen. If someone rejects God's offer the same will be rejected. Only those who accept Him will then be accepted by Him.

The Holy Scripture is definite in all it testifies. Only what man say about it is ambiguous. Therefore we reject every interpretation as we do have the love for the Truth of the revealed Word.

Only what apostles left to us in their writings is indeed apostles' doctrine. Only what the Bible truly testifies is biblical. Only what originates from Christ is indeed Christian. Decisions made in different councils in the course of church history are rejected as by them the adding to and falsifying of the original Word is obvious.

We believe in the one true God besides Whom there is no other, Who manifested Himself as Creator, Sustainer, Saviour, King, Judge etc. This is our foundation of our true faith.

The Nicene-Chalcedonean creed is being rejected as unscriptural. Therein one finds written as follows, »Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God begotten of the Father, only-begotten, that is, from the substance of the Father; God from God, Light from Light, Very God from Very God, begotten not made, of one substance with the Father ...« Nowhere does the Bible speak of a Son being begotten and born by the Father in heaven. There is not even a hint in the Holy Scripture for such an assertion. The Son was born here on earth as recorded in the Gospels. The true apostolic confession is found in the Bible only. In the history of the dogmas are found the confessions of the Church.

God is one. There are not three omnipresent, not three eternal, omniscient, not three who divide almightiness among them, not three who unite, but rather there is only one almighty eternal God Who since the beginning of time manifested Himself in manifold ways. In the New Testament, He manifest Himself for our salvation as Father in Heaven in the Son, Immanuel God with us, on earth and through the Holy Spirit. In all the Old Testament the Son was predicted. He was begotten by the Holy Ghost, born by Mary, the Redeemer coming into the flesh, the first-born among many brethren. Through His vicarious suffering and giving His life at the cross, all sons and daughters of God were reconciled with their Heavenly Father. Through the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, man are brought to the salvation knowledge of God which they can personally experience. Thus man by a true conversion are changed in their thoughts, forsake the broad way and are renewed in their hearts and are born again by the Word and Spirit of God unto a living hope.

God created man in His Own image for fellowship with Himself. The relationship between the Creator and humanity was broken through the fall into sin.

The fall into sin brought forth the result of a seed. Therefore the Lord God had to put enmity between the two different seeds and told Eve that she would give birth to her children with pain.

In that connection the first promise for the coming of the Messiah was given Who would be the »Seed« of God coming through the woman to bruise the Serpent's head which was cursed.

At the beginning of the natural creation, Satan through the Serpent deceived and beguiled Eve and she pulled Adam into the transgression and so the enemy had won the influence over the creation which now through disobedience and transgression was separated from God even unto death.

At the beginning of the supernatural creation, God snatched from Satan the fallen humanity through the second Adam. He overshadowed Mary and so the Son of God was begotten by the Holy Spirit and born into this world to mend the damage through redemption and reconciliation and to re-establish the fellowship with God.

The mystery of the redemption of lost humanity is found in the fact that the Redeemer Himself paid the price. The Word was made flesh, became totally human in order to suffer and die in the Body of flesh and to conquer death and hell proven through the glorious Resurrection. Because the fall into sin happened in flesh and blood, it became necessary that redemption of fallen humanity is done by the Redeemer in the Body of flesh. He shed His holy Blood in which divine Life pulsated on the cross of Calvary for our redemption.

Thus the irreversible counsel of God takes Its course in spite of the timely interruption and will be completed with those who believe God for all eternity. They are the ones who receive God's offer of grace and are pardoned. They will be taken into the eternal Glory and bliss for ever. After God's plan of salvation is complete time merges into eternity.

Baptism

According to the apostolic pattern only those who believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour are baptised. »He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved ...« (Mk. 16: 16). This is being done by immersing the person once as practised by the apostles and in the first Centuries after. The sprinkling and the pouring has no Biblical foundation and was invented in the epoch of Christianising the nations by force. That it is even today. Because the infant cannot be asked or decide, it is forced upon the child.

Peter, the man of the first hour, said on the day of the inauguration of the New Testament Church as the one empowered by God under the leading of the Holy Spirit, »Repent, and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.« (Acts 2: 38). »And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations ...« (Lk. 24: 47). In baptism the believer testifies of heaving received the forgiveness of sins, and therefore confirms it in obedience by being baptised.

The apostles at the very beginning, also Philip and Paul, understood the great commission of Matthew 28: 19 correctly and baptised accordingly into that holy name. They did not repeat the commission as a formula but understood that the New Testament covenant name is »Jesus« in which the only one God revealed Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In that name alone we have the salvation of our God. For thus our Lord commissioned, »... baptising them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.« (Mt. 28: 19). God is Father, but that is not a name. Son is also no name neither is Holy Spirit a name. These are designations. The one name of Father, Son and Holy Ghost into which the disciples and everyone was to baptise in is »Lord Jesus Christ« . That is the true doctrine and practice of the apostles. At the beginning of the New Testament Church and, as church history states, long after the apostles, all believers were baptised in the name of Jesus Christ.

The Lord's Supper

The Lord's Supper is also being celebrated according to the Bible pattern. One bread without leaven is being prepared according to the number of those participating. The bread is being blessed under prayer, then broken and given to all who so derive. The cup with wine is also being blessed under prayer whereof all drink. The Lord's Supper is being held in remembrance of the suffering and death of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Who offered Himself as a Sacrifice in His Body and shed His Blood to pay the price for His Own Church He redeemed.

The Return of Christ

We believe that the Return of Jesus Christ as overwhelmingly promised in the Holy Scriptures is very near. Our Lord told us to watch the signs of the time but never to set a date, because no one would know the day or the hour. We are further convinced that Bible prophecy as predicted by our Lord is now being fulfilled in this end-time on every level, especially with the people of Israel.

The Return of Jesus Christ is identical with the first Resurrection which will take place before the millennial reign commences. »Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hat no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years.« The second resurrection takes place after the one thousand years reign. At that time all people who ever lived on earth will have to appear before the last judgement (Rev. 20).

William M. Branham

We believe and accept with gratitude that God has sent William Branham as a chosen vessel in our time as He did with Paul. Both have received a very similar supernatural calling and commission and were placed into the Church of the living God as a whole. As the Bible confirms and the international church history records, God has always called men for special tasks. In the historical churches and also in the free churches those who were used especially since the Reformation are well known. According to the Word of God we now live in the last prophetic part of the time of grace and therefore God according to His promise has not sent a reformer but rather a true prophet, a seer. William M. Branham was the only one in our time who could point to a day and an hour of his divine call and therefore is a man sent from God as was John the Baptist at the first coming of Christ. As all the renowned evangelists in the USA can confirm that he was the one God used after the Second World War to bring about the breakthrough in the spiritual renewal movement and healing revival which has spread throughout the whole earth. Because of his ministry the many evangelists started their work, even the coming into existence of the Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship and the various charismatic movements in reality derive from his ministry. Of course all the others remained in their inherited doctrinal frame work. Brother Branham was the only one whose teachings and practice were according to the apostolic pattern. In his sermons he also brought forth the mysteries hidden in God's Word from Genesis to Revelation. He had a true confirmed prophetic ministry and remained within the boundaries of God's Word. For William Branham the Bible was God's absolute. Many a times he said, »My words are the words of a man which can fail, but God's Word which I preach can never fail and remains for ever.«

The statement about the year 1977 found in the book »The Exposition of the Seven Church Ages« is internationally known. People are not aware of the fact that this utterance does not originate with William Branham, where upon we place the emphasis. It comes from Dr. Lee Vayle who was the one who composed the book. Because some have calculated that 1977 would be the 70th jubilee the statement came into existence that world systems would terminate and the Millennial reign would be ushered in. In December 1972, E. Frank already clarified this matter in a circular letter stating that this quote does not come from the lips of William Branham. This was held against me by the »Branham followers« who were still propagating that all the contents of the book are to be ascribed to William Branham. The »Free people's mission« in Krefeld has nothing to do with the so-called »Branham groups« who have left the scriptural foundation. We are in fellowship with the Body of Christ within the Church of the living God continuing the same ministry that was God ordained in our time. To us the Holy Scripture applies in all things. Teachings which some refer to as »Branham doctrines« but are not found in the Scripture originate in misunderstandings of the different interpretations. As it was and is being done with the Scripture Itself, the letters of Paul, as Peter writes, the same was done by brethren who have twisted the things their own way. History has repeated as in every denomination so in this last revival. Branham is not the founder of a new religion, not a man who brought a new denomination into existence, he was a man sent from God to the people of God with the original Word of God and we were brought back to the true proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The »Free people's mission« at Krefeld does not look upon prophets, apostles or men of God as to be an object of faith, but rather as special tools in the hand of God. They are being received by those who believe the promises in God's Word as written in the Holy Scriptures. Whenever a direct calling and commission is given to someone then the words of our Lord are fulfilled, »He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward« (Mt. 10: 40-41) and »... He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me ...« (Jn. 13: 20).

What will be with all who bypass the God sent ministry, if the following statement Bro. Branham claims to have heard when he received his commission is true, »As John the Baptist was sent to forerun the first coming of Christ, the message that is given you will be a forerunner of the second coming of Christ!«?

Should anyone be interested to know more about Bro. Branham's ministry or to receive any literature, feel free to contact the Mission center.