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In the summer of 1990 my eight year old son Robert and I were standing in the registration line at the Ohio Youth Camp. I felt a tug at my shirt and looked down at Robert who motioned me lower to whisper in my ear, “Dad, why does this man in front of us have a cassette tape that says Richard Milligan on it?” I looked at the cassette he held loosely in his hand along with his Bible and camp registration paperwork. Staring back at me was the stark label “Pentecostal Deliverance, Brother Richard Milligan.”
Being totally unaware of the cassette’s existence, I quietly stood in amazement pondering my next move. I held our position in line and watched for a moment longer as everyone was talking and fellowshipping with one another including the young Asian fellow in front of us holding the mysterious tape. I finally decided to enter into their conversation, and I asked the young man, “Where did you get that tape?” He spoke with great excitement, “That’s Richard Milligan! That’s Richard Milligan!!” I was stunned with further amazement as he continued, “You’ve never heard of Richard Milligan? Our pastor gives us these tapes to use to witness to people who are still in Pentecost!” At this point the young man put out his hand to greet me. I could not hear his name above the bustling of the crowd. When I said my name, Richard Milligan, he jumped back shouting with great fanfare “You’re Richard Milligan! You’re Richard Milligan!!” He jostled recklessly through his possessions until he placed a hand on his camera and began snapping pictures. After a moment or two, he calmed down a bit and said he must introduce me to his Pastor. Without consideration of the long line he had been waiting in, he abruptly turned and set out to find his Pastor.
Until this day I don’t know where the young man came from or where he went. I only know that God perfectly directed the events in order for me and my son to be behind this young man who had just arrived from another part of the country at this precise time. There he stood with a copy of the cassette at Robert’s eye level, and he happened to hold the cassette with the label out, not in. There were just too many factors for it all to be a coincidence. Interestingly, I never saw the young man again nor did I meet his Pastor, but I would love for him to know how our Lord Jesus used him that special day to show supernatural love, kindness and grace to me. He certainly loves us, dear friend, and knows our every thought.
My prevailing thought on that particular day as I stood in line watching all the activity was an overwhelming feeling of non-productivity. A year had passed since God graciously opened my eyes to further revelations of His Word through Brother William Branham’s ministry. In an ironic twist, for me to more closely adhere to my revelation of God’s Word, I was compelled to resign from my position as Pastor of my Pentecostal church. It was an uncomfortable time in my life as God led me back into the business world despite my desire to do His work. I spent many fulfilling years doing God’s work and now I felt as if I were doing nothing for God.
A year had passed since the tape the young man was holding had been recorded. The message on this tape was of my testimony, how God delivered me from the Pentecostal organization into His glorious truth for this day. I was asked to deliver
my testimony following Brother Billy Paul Branham in St. Augustine, Florida at a camp meeting there. When my son and I found the young man holding the tape, our Lord Jesus, out of His love and concern for my personal feelings, used that situation to let me know I was doing more for the Kingdom of God now than when I was preaching hybrid doctrine. That day, God delivered me from that unfulfilled state of mind, and I have never felt non-productive again. I’m still in awe of how our loving Lord did that especially for me. He didn’t have to but He did.
Everyone that God has sought and awakened to the truth of the Gospel has a supernatural testimony to share. One testimony is no greater than another, only the preliminary circumstances in life differ until we all reach the same glorious conclusion. I have been asked many times to share my testimony because my life in the ministry offers insight into “behind the scenes” realities of several prominent Pentecostal ministries I was associated with. If you are in Pentecost and are curious about inconsistencies in your Pentecostal church and doctrine, or already have a full revelation of the message of this hour, I pray God uses my humble story to give you strength, stamina, courage and inspiration to draw from in your walk with Him. I attempted to conjure a good title for this testimony, but none seemed quite right until I realized God titled “Pentecostal Deliverance” 17 years ago as labeled on the tape. May God richly bless you in all things as you strive to serve Him and read this text of my Pentecostal Deliverance…
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