Dr. Ricky Branham

           Dr. Ricky Branham is a television minister, interdenominational evangelist, senior pastor, and author who has traveled all over since the age of 16, spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. Ricky Branham Ministries (RBM) desires to reach the lost, edify the saints, and minister to people of all ages and in all walks of life for the glory of Jesus Christ. God can do the impossible, and God desires to do the impossible. Matthew 19:26 says, “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

          Ricky’s television program, Ricky Branham Ministries, is on many networks in the United States and continues to grow nationally and internationally. He is an interdenominational evangelist who travels all over and preaches at all denominations and churches that claim Jesus Christ as Lord and personal Savior. He is the Senior Pastor of a non-denominational church Ripley Chapel. Ricky continues to serve and preach at his home church when he is not traveling. He is known as a preacher of glad tidings who leaves his listeners with a message from God that is timely, memorable, and applicable. His “beautifully simplistic” style that God has ordained and gifted him with makes him one of the most welcome and beloved ministers of today. If you would like to have him speak at your church or ministry event, please contact Ricky Branham Ministries through his website: www.rickybranham.com

 

The Call of Ricky Branham

From the Beginning

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

          Ricky’s mother, Ellen, noticed that he had a calling on his life before he was born. She remembers that he moved constantly in her belly during church services, as though he were praising the Lord. When he was around the age of two, he and his parents had a direct encounter with an angel from God and Satan. His mother abruptly awoke out of her sleep and saw Ricky standing at the entrance of her bedroom. He was rubbing his eyes, and she told him to come and get in bed. However, she unexpectedly noticed an angelic being, clearly not from this world, standing behind him waving his hands. The being was a male angel and there was a bright light shining around him. He was translucent, wearing a long white robe with wide sleeves. Suddenly Ellen noticed that it was not Ricky standing there, but that it was his spirit. She woke up Ricky’s father, but he did not see anything.

          Ellen started praying that Ricky would come and get in bed with them if he was going to live. She prayed hard until she somehow fell back asleep. Without warning, she was awakened to Ricky crawling in bed with them. The angel appeared to her in the same spot again. She woke Ricky’s father again, but he still did not see the angel. Then Ricky said, “Mommy I see, I see, a man in white,” which surprised his parents because that was before he could speak full sentences and before he knew his colors. His parents were amazed and somehow everyone fell asleep.

          Ricky’s father then dreamed that an angel touched the bed and it began to spin. His father woke everyone up and this time Ellen saw a man dressed in all black, with red eyes, and his skin looked like charcoal. He stared at all three of them and then walked out of the trailer through the wall. His father did not see him, but he believed what she saw. Ellen believed that this series of events meant that God had something special planned for Ricky, but the Devil was mad and wanted to stop it. It was shortly after that incident that his parents went through a divorce, no doubt an attack of the Devil.

          Both of Ricky’s parents would later remarry other people when he was about eight. He went to church with his mother and stepfather, and father and step-mother when they went. He can recall most of those times. He can remember seeing the people, hearing the music, and listening to the preachers. He can even remember some of the candle smells and giggling at some of the strange and vibrant colored suits that some of the men wore that were popular at the time. The main thing he recalls was how nice everyone was to him.

 

God Uses Ricky’s Grandparents

 

          As Ricky got older, he started to spend more time with his paternal grandparents, Robert and Lena Branham. They were both originally from Eastern Kentucky, and they both moved to Northern Ohio when they were young. They were both raised in the ways of God. They met and married at a young age. They loved God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. They loved going to church. Ricky started going with them every opportunity he could because they exuded the love of God and it drew him to them.

          Ricky went to church with his grandparents two to three times a week. They would get there early to open the church doors, turn on the lights, and to make sure everything was just perfect and ready to go. His wonderful Sunday school teachers taught him the Ten Commandments, the Twelve Beatitudes, how Jesus loved him, and how enjoyable it is to serve God. He participated in church plays, which was definitely not his strong suit. At some of the services, he would take a nap in the pew. He said church provided for some of the best napping because it was the most peaceful place a kid could be. However, most of the time he was a giant sponge soaking in everything he could about God. He began to understand what it meant to have a relationship with God.

          Ricky’s grandparents were a wonderful example of a happily married couple who put God first in every way. They were hard workers, kind, and selfless.

Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.”

They let their light shine just like Christ taught in the Gospels. He saw their good works and so did others. They did not boast about their good works, but rather, just did them in a loving way. He watched them and wanted to be like them when he grew up: a strong in the faith family who loved the Lord.

 

God Speaks to Ricky Directly

 

          In 1998 when Ricky was 15, he began to slowly drift away from God. One night, when he was on the way back home after hanging out with friends, he was in a bad car accident. He asked the EMT if he was going to live as he was being rushed to the hospital. The EMT plainly said, “I don’t know.” He was bleeding profusely from a head trauma. The hospital did a CT scan of his head, and he was put in a dark-quiet room while they called his family in.

          As Ricky lay in that room, he noticed that God was speaking to him. It was not an audible voice but a still small voice that was pressing upon his heart and mind. It was hard to explain but he knew it was God.

Revelation 3:20 says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.”

God was knocking on the door of his heart, and He wanted Ricky to let Him in all the way. God started speaking to him telling him that if he would have died, he would have gone to Hell because he had turned his back on Him. That may sound like God was being harsh but He was not. God told him in such a loving way that it caused him to want to change and be fully committed to Him like never before. He told God if He would spare him that he would serve Him all the days of his life. In the stillness of the room all alone, he repented and confessed and accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and personal Savior.

          The doctor came back into the room to further examine Ricky. The doctor said he could have died instantly based on the way his face struck the car upon impact. He said he would need to see a plastic surgeon for reconstructive surgery on his nose and face. The doctor called him a miracle. He knew it was an act of God that he was alive. God spared him, saved him, and finished His healing work in him. He healed in such a great way that he never had to have any kind of reconstructive surgery.

 

Called to Preach

 

          After Ricky’s car accident, he started going to church again like never before. He went with his grandparents, with friends, by himself, and with anyone else who would go. He tried his best to be there whenever the doors were open. On April 7, 1999 at the age of 16, during a Wednesday night youth church service, he felt God speak to him directly again. God impressed upon his heart that he was called to preach. He knew it was God speaking to him again.

          Ricky hurried home that night to tell his mother the good news. She gave him the advice not to tell anyone but to wait and see if God really was calling him to minister. Shortly after that, Evangelist and Senior Pastor Rev. Ralph Farmer asked Ricky when he was going to preach for him at his church. That same day, a musician named R.B. Fallen asked Ricky when he was going to preach. Ricky asked R.B. how he knew that he was called to preach. R.B. smiled and said, “I can just tell.” He knew that God used Rev. Ralph Farmer and R.B. Fallen to confirm his calling.

          On May 14, 1999 at Rev. Ralph Farmer’s church in North Fairfield, Ohio, Ricky preached his first sermon to a packed country church with 105 people in attendance. The sermon was titled “Trust.” It lasted 12 minutes, one person confessed and accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and personal Savior, and it was evident to everyone in attendance that Ricky was truly called of God to preach. From that point on, ministers from all denominations began to contact him about preaching at their church. Rev. Ken Gifford, a local Methodist minister, took him under his wings and helped him in a variety of areas regarding ministry. Ricky continued to minister, grow in the faith, and began his Christian studies. He was ordained in 2003, at the age of 20 by Ripley Chapel, a non-denominational church. He became an Interdenominational Evangelist, filling in for all denominations, spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.

 

God Blesses Ricky with a Wife 

 

          In 2004 at the age of 21, Ricky graduated from North Central State College (NCSC) as a Registered Nurse (RN) in order to help supplement his income. In the fall he started praying that God would send him the wife that He had prepared for him. He read Christian books about love and prayed a lot on this topic. God was putting this desire in him for a reason. He had peace that God would send him a wife in His perfect timing.

          Later in 2004 Ricky started seeing this beautiful woman around town. She had a contagious smile, dark brown hair, and dark brown eyes. He saw her at the hospital while he took care of her father, he saw her at the tire shop of all places, and other places around their local community. He knew exactly who she was. Her name was Victoria, and she had been a senior in high school when he was a freshman. He thought in high school how beautiful she was. However, he was a freshman so he did not even try talking with her. Also, he had worked with her two years earlier at Pepperidge Farm on one of the packaging lines while they were on summer break from college. The funny thing is he worked right beside her but for some reason they did not even talk. She was not a Christian when they worked together so it was not God’s timing yet for them to get to know each other. God was preparing her to become a Christian and she did. By the time he started seeing her around town a lot, she had become a committed follower of Jesus Christ. He would later find out that she became a Christian when she heard television minister, Dr. Creflo Dollar, give an alter call. She got on her knees in her apartment and right there on the spot repented, confessed, and accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and personal Savior. It changed her life. She started going to church and growing greatly in the faith.

          Ricky made up his mind that the next time he saw Victoria that he was going to ask her out. As God would have it, on December 20, 2004, he would get his chance. He went to Cleveland, Ohio with his friend Ryan, and he was supposed to be back in town for a family event by 6:00 pm. However, the roads were not good and there was no way he was going to be back in time. As he got closer to home, Ryan asked if they could stop at a Barnes & Noble so that he could get a book. Ricky agreed because he knew he was not going to be able to make it to his family event on time.

          Almost as soon as Ricky walked through the doors at Barnes & Noble, there Victoria was. God quickly reminded him how he promised himself that he was going to ask her out the next time he saw her. God was not going to let him forget or chicken out. Ricky mustered up the confidence and asked her if she would like to go out sometime. He thought in his head there was no chance, but he had to at least ask her so he would know. She smiled and said she would. He could not believe it. They stayed and talked for over an hour at the store until she had to leave to get ready for work because she now worked third shift full-time at Pepperidge Farm. Ricky and Ryan left Barnes & Noble and stopped at another store before heading closer to home to get gas. There Victoria was at the gas station. Victoria and Ricky laughed, smiled, and waved. Four days later on December 24, 2004, Ricky and Victoria had their first official date at a Christmas Eve church service. They married on August 11, 2007 with Rev. Ken Gifford performing the ceremony.

 

Pastoring

 

          Ricky and Victoria went all over evangelizing. One particular church that he preached at regularly and he was licensed through, Ripley Chapel, asked him if he would fill in for them long term until they found a pastor. In January of 2008, he started to fill in for them with the understanding that they would not call him Pastor. He did not want to be called a pastor because he viewed himself only as an evangelist. However, as the head of the church board introduced Ricky to the congregation, he called him the Pastor. He continues to be their Senior Pastor to this day while continuing to evangelize.

 

Family and Education

 

          In 2009 Ricky and Victoria were blessed with their first son, Ricky. In 2011 they were blessed with another son, Riley. In 2013 they were blessed with a daughter, Vera. God had expanded their family and provided the perfect setting for them to raise their children in the Lord. God started teaching them what a Godly home looked like. After they were married and while their kids were young, Ricky continued his education with the School of Ministry and the Church of God receiving the Church of God’s licensure and ordination as a minister. He also completed his Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Organizational Management and his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Malone University. Victoria received her Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Malone University. She also completed business certifications through the Harvard School of Business.

 

Television and Radio

 

          Ricky has always had a desire to be a television minister, ever since God called him to preach. The fourth message he ever preached, which was on July 6, 1999, was on television because he was an invited guest by Rev. Ralph Farmer. It was on WGGN-TV 52 in Northern Ohio. That would be the only time he would preach on television until over 20 years later. He had stopped seeking God about becoming a television minister. However, God in His infinite wisdom, mercy, and grace did not forget about the dream that He had placed in his heart long ago.

          On September 30, 2020 Ricky met with a preacher who was on television. The preacher asked Ricky if he had ever thought about television ministry. When he asked Ricky that, something came alive in Ricky and stirred his desire again to preach on television. Ricky lives in a small community so he did not know how it would be possible for him to preach on television. He prayed about it and the Lord led him to the next step of contacting WGGN-TV 52, which he did. On October 21, 2020, exactly three weeks from when he was asked if he had ever thought about television ministry, he had a contract with WGGN-TV 52 and was taping in their studio. His television program, Ricky Branham Ministries, first aired on November 25, 2020 at 6 pm on WGGN-TV 52 in Ohio. The title of his sermon was “Remember Your Testimonies.” His first radio program aired on WLRD 96.9 FM on November 29, 2020. On February 2, 2021 his program aired for the first time on WLLA-TV 64 in Michigan. On June 5, 2021 his program first aired nationally through GEB Television Network. Since then his television program has expanded to many more networks in the United States and continues to grow nationally and internationally. Ricky is amazed at how wonderfully God has orchestrated everything. God has done it in such a way where only He could receive the glory.

 

Master of Theology (ThM) & Doctorate of Ministry (ThM)

 

          Ricky thought he was done with college at least from the standpoint of pursuing degrees. He had originally wanted to obtain his doctorate, but thought maybe it was not meant to be, so he gave up on the idea. However, God clearly showed him that He wanted him to go college for his doctorate and opened the door for him to do so. He graduated from the Christian Bible Institute and Seminary (CBIS) with a Master of Theology (ThM) degree and a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree in April of 2022. He noticed a theme with God: God does the impossible. He is a Doctor that specializes in the impossible. Ricky had a dream to become a television minister when he was first called to preach, but he had given up on that. It seemed impossible. He had a desire to obtain his doctorate, but he had given up on that. It seemed impossible. However, God made both things happen in His time. God does the impossible. He is a Doctor that specializes in the impossible.

 

Going Forward

 

          Dr. Ricky Branham continues to minister all over, spreading the good news of Jesus Christ as a television minister, interdenominational evangelist, senior pastor, and author. Ricky Branham Ministries (RBM) desires to reach the lost, edify the saints, and minister to people of all ages and in all walks of life for the glory of Jesus Christ. God can do the impossible, and God desires to do the impossible. Matthew 19:26 says, “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

          Ricky’s television program, Ricky Branham Ministries, is on many networks in the United States and continues to grow nationally and internationally. He is an interdenominational evangelist who travels all over and preaches at all denominations and churches that claim Jesus Christ as Lord and personal Savior. He is the Senior Pastor of a non-denominational church Ripley Chapel. Ricky continues to serve and preach at his home church when he is not traveling. He is known as a preacher of glad tidings who leaves his listeners with a message from God that is timely, memorable, and applicable. His beautifully simplistic style that God has ordained and gifted him with makes him one of the most welcomed and beloved ministers of today. If you would like to have him speak at your church or ministry event, please contact Ricky Branham Ministries through his website: www.rickybranham.com