Berniece Hicks: Branham’s Sunday School “Messenger” and the Rise of Christ Gospel Church International

For more information about Rev. Berniece Hicks and the Christ Gospel Church sub-sect of William Branham's "Message" cult, see For the Sake of the Children by B. G. Moody.  

Berniece Hicks was a female minister in William Branham's "Branham Tabernacle", appointed to teach Branham's congregation during the "Sunday School" part of the services.  Branham baptized Hicks in 1937[1] and invited her to teach in the Branham Tabernacle as well as play music in the early healing revivals.[2]  Like Branham, Hicks used the Lamsa Bible for her doctrinal teaching.[3]  

Hicks claimed not to be aware of Branham's widespread fame in 1937, which is in full disagreement with William Branham and witness testimony.  Later versions of Branham's stage persona claimed that his healing ministry started after an angelic visitation in 1947 or 1948,[4] and some former members claim to remember Hicks and Branham together prior to this at William Sowder's "School of the Prophets".[5]

Brother Branham told me about water baptism in the Name of the LORD Jesus Christ. And just for the record, he was a mighty man of God, and he had a mighty gift of healing. When I found out who he was and how famous he was, I realized what a miracle   God had done. Afterward, I taught in his church and played for his healing ministries. I have seen miracles take place. I had seen people get up from a cancer bed, who had been given up to die, and carried in on stretchers. I have watched them—after he had prayed for them—stand against the wall and gain twenty or thirty pounds over a few hours, during a big healing line. So do not tell me what I have seen. I know what I have seen. And I have seen miracles that God has done through this poor little creature, as well.  
- Berniece Hicks, 2005, Mar 3.  Sermon 2421

In 1939 Hicks began teaching in the Open Bible Mission in Louisville,[6] which participated in Branham's healing revivals in connection with the Church of the Open Door led by Rev. Wallace Cauble.  Leaders in Branham's "Message" sect such as Tom Meredith, who recruited Rev. Willard Collins[7] (head pastor of the Branham Tabernacle after Branham's death) held revivals at the Open Bible Mission.[8]  Eventually, Hicks started teaching at the Open Bible Mission as well,[9] and the Open Bible Mission opened its doors for Branham to preach.[10]  Interestingly, like Branham, Hicks falsely claimed to be a "Baptist" during those years.  Branham was a bishop in Roy E. Davis' Pentecostal Baptist Church of God sect, a political cult devoted to white supremacy, disguised as "Baptists".

So I did, and there was a church down on the corner which actually was called the Church of the Open Door. We actually were Baptists. And thank God for the Baptist because they believe in the verbal inspiration of the Word of God, and they believe in salvation through grace. Of course, I already had gotten saved. So I thought I would just go there. It was right on the corner,   why not go there?
- Berniece Hicks, 2000, Oct 7.  Sermon 1906

When Jim Jones became a leader in William Branham's "Message" sect in 1956,[11] Hicks moved to Los Angeles and started a small church.[12]  It remained connected to William Branham,[13] and the California group continued to fellowship with Branham during the height of Branham's involvement with Latter Rain and until 1965.[14]  It was during this time that Hicks began writing her book, "Precious Gem", which would become fundamental to her splinter group of "The Message" after William Branham's death.   

The Manifest Sons of God theology that William Branham created and which heavily influenced Jim Jones during Jones' leadership in the "Message"[15] would make a significant impact on Rev. Hicks.  Hicks taught the militant "Joel's Army" version of the doctrine, indoctrinating followers to prepare for war against unbelievers.[16]  Though this doctrine played a significant role in empowering Jones to lead over 900 followers to Jonestown and commit mass suicide, Hicks would continue teaching Manifested Sons of God until her death.  

This message continues to deal with the seal of Truth about the Manifested Sons of God. Joel 2:7,8 focuses on the fourth and fifth points. The fourth point (march) shows that the Manifested Sons of God will march in the icy humility way, and they will walk in the dry exalted paths. The fifth point (restraint) reveals two things they will not do. They will not break rank; that is, they will not lend their authority to one who has not earned the authority and has not been given authority by the LORD. And they will not thrust one another, even jokingly, by speaking hurtful words to others
- Berniece Hicks, 1999, Jan 24.  Sermon 1711

Several other key doctrines used in Hicks' writings and sermons either originated with or were made popular by William Branham, Jim Jones, and other leaders of the "Latter Rain" version of the "Message".  The "Church Age" doctrine Branham plagiarized from Clarence Larkin, for example, was heavily used in Hicks' theology.  Like Branham, Hicks taught that the Seven Churches of Asia Minor mentioned in the Book of Revelation were instead Seven Church "Ages"[17] — exactly as Larkin claimed in his book Dispensational Truth.  Also like Branham, Hicks taught that Elijah of the Old Testament would return near the End of Days.[18]

Hicks continued an isolationist sect of Pentecostalism in Jeffersonville that grew to an international presence. Until her death, Hicks was the leader and central figure of Christ Gospel Church International (CGC) headquartered in Branham's hometown of Jeffersonville, Indiana.  Like Branham, Hicks claimed that her followers could earn salvation through believing in her.[19]  After her leaving, Branham claimed that he did not agree with female ministers[20] and Hicks claimed that female "messengers" were hidden secrets within the Bible narrative.[21] Hicks continued to refer to Branham has her predecessor, however, and claimed that her "The Crucified Way" doctrine was the continuation of Branham's "The Bride's Message".[22]

In 1979, after members escaped CGC and claimed that the group was a destructive cult, the Louisville Courier-Journal newspaper investigated the group. According to reports by former members, Hicks controlled every aspect of their lives, including sexual habits.  Some of those sexual habits were illegal; former members claim that members of Hicks' congregation were molesting children.[23]

The former members said that Mrs. Hicks controls the lives of her church members, that she delves into their sexual habits, that she tape-records conversation she has with members. They say that she is given large sums of money, that she has a valuable collection of antiques bought with church money, that she has an unlimited expense account. Courier Journal, April 12, 1979

"There is so much money involved here ... We talked with people who gave their refrigerators, their TVs, even their houses, to the church. I think when you're talking about large amounts of money, it takes the subject out of the private sector and into the public sector."
Courier Journal, April 15, 1979

Also like Branham, Hick's "life story" was a significant part of her religious foundation and self-promotion.  She claimed that her family was poverty-stricken after her father died[24] of tuberculosis,[25] and that as an early adult she became a dancing girl for private parties and nightclubs.[26] She continued this "life of sin" until Jesus Christ allegedly met her in her room.[27] According to Hicks, Jesus gave her the "revelation" of the "five-fold ministry doctrine"[28] that was popular among revivalists in the "Latter Rain" version of William Branham's "Message" cult following.  Like Peoples Temple[29] and many sub-sects created from Latter Rain, Hicks called her sub-sect "The Message", and taught that mainstream Christianity had become apostate.[30]

After Branham appointed Hicks to minister to his congregation in her Sunday school class, she was sent on a mission to Mexico.  It was here where Hicks claimed to have planted the "mother church".[31] From there, Hicks went to Los Angeles, California after an alleged prophetic vision[32] instructed her to seclude herself from the public and produce three books that would be fundamental to the growth of her sub-sect.[33] Throughout the pages of these books, Hicks used several drawings that appear to have been lifted directly from the works of Clarence Larkin and re-branded as "divine revelation"[34] similar to Branham's usage of Larkin's works for his own "revelations".  After producing these books, Hicks then claimed to have received another "prophecy" to return to Jeffersonville, Indiana, near Branham's church.[35] She returned and opened her first cult church on the corner of Chestnut and Graham street, where her sub-sect would remain until its growth prompted the church's move to Highway 131 and finally its current location on Highway 61 (10th street) in Jeffersonville.[36]

I will have three minds left in my body, so I can haunt you. If you come to visit me, I will speak to you right from the grave.
Hicks, Berneice. 1993, May 11.

In later years, Hicks' theology turned violently more destructive.  She claimed to have been given "three minds", and the power to haunt converts after her death.[37] One of these "three minds" allegedly held secrets that she refused to give her converts during her lifespan, and Hicks claimed that all would be revealed after her death.[38] She also claimed to have the supernatural ability to "travel in the spirit", which she allegedly used to spy on converts.[39] According to former members who worked in her office, this "power" appears to have been executed through the use of actual espionage; Hicks allegedly kept records in filing cabinets for members of her church.[40]

Larkin and Branham were not the only source of Hicks' "divine revelation".   One of Hicks' alleged prophetic insights was that the year 1984 held spiritual significance with "the number seven".  (Branham and other revivalists in the Latter Rain / Voice of Healing movements used the number seven for end-of-days prophetic "insight").  Interestingly, Hicks' prophecy came after reading George Orwell's book, 1984.[41]. Converts were led to believe that 1894 would be the final year before the coming of Jesus Christ.[42]

Hicks died in 2018.[43]  The "secrets" held by her "three minds" were never revealed to her converts.

If I lie in state here right before you bury me, I will rise out of the coffin and tell you one more secret because I still have three minds left in my body.
Hicks, Berniece. 1992, May 20.