Excerpt from the Herald of Truth Wednesday, June 23, 2004

When Brother Branham preached at Bible Hour Tabernacle in Jonesboro, Arkansas (May 19-26, 1946), the pastor, Brother T. Richard Reed called his friend, Brother W. E. Kidson, in Houston, and told him of how God's power was being manifested through the ministry of this young preacher from Indiana. Brother Kidson immediately invited Brother Branham to his church, Houston Gospel Tabernacle, and in September of 1947, he conducted a 15-day-long campaign in that city.

Brother Kidson and Brother Branham became close friends, and for a short period of time, Brother Kidson served as manager for the Branham Campaigns.

Here is an excerpt from an article written by Brother Kidson in the October, 1946 issue of Herald of Truth:

An Old Fashioned Revival....
On September 15, we closed, at Houston Gospel Tabernacle, one of the greatest meetings that I have ever been associated with. I hardly know how to begin to tell you about it. From the very first it seemed that the canopies of heaven rolled back and the glory of God rained down upon us as in the days of the apostles. I have been in the ministry for over thirty-two years, have met many of our greatest preachers, and have attended many of the great revivals as well as having been directly connected with them, either in meetings of my own or in connection with some of our other brethren; but never in all the years gone by have I seen the power of God move as it did in Houston Gospel Tabernacle, beginning September 1 and running through September 15.

Last May, my good friend, T. Richard Reed of Jonesboro, Arkansas, told me about a great meeting that was going on at his church, the Bible Hour Tabernacle. He kept me well posted about it and told me how he felt toward the man who was conducting it; therefore, I contacted Brother William Branham of Jeffersonville, Indiana, and invited him to Houston. When he received my letter he had over fifty other invitations lying on his desk, but God seemed to witness to him that he should come to Houston. Even though we had never met, he accepted the invitation. . . .

It would be impossible to tell you in this paper about all the healings which took place. There were four during the meeting who had visible goiters, which disappeared immediately while being prayed for. A number of people who were blind had their sight restored. Many deaf ears were opened and many dumb were able to speak. One man, who had not spoken for ten years, immediately upon conclusion of the prayer, was able to repeat words after Brother Branham.

One sister who had a cancer on her face was prayed for. The next night she came back and the cancer was gone. One woman who had a large tumor was prayed for one night and the next night she returned stating that the waistline had been reduced by eight inches. A boy with a large water-head is continuing to improve. In three days' time his head had been reduced nearly five inches in circumference. One man, brought to church in an ambulance, was able to walk out. Friends, it was just one miracle following another. Nearly 1,500 people were prayed for during the meeting.

Our building when fully seated holds 600 people. We had every one in it that could crowd in. The last few nights they were sitting on the steps, and standing in every available place; the vestibule was full, hundreds were standing outside, and hundreds were turned away. Never had we seen so many people healed. We perhaps are like you we have heard much about it and we have seen a reasonable number of miracles, but when one considers that during some of the greatest days between two and three hundred people were prayed for, and he sees one after another healed, it makes one feel that he is living near the gates of Heaven. . . .

Brother Branham had little opportunity for rest. We were forced to slip him away from the multitude in order to help him to conserve his strength. He has great compassion for suffering humanity. He is a Baptist minister, filled with the Holy Ghost, and has baptized over 5,000 people in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. He preaches a straight gospel without fear or favor, but with such love that everyone who meets him has the highest regard for him. He gives all the credit to the Lord, stating that he himself is only a man and that his duty is to get the people to believe that God's power has not changed and that he Lord still heals.