Leonard Bergen
Leonard Bergen was born in a jail cell in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada in January 1923, as the local hospital was overcrowded. Leonard was raised on the family farm on the Canadian prairies, and was influenced strongly by his father and mother on how to live a Christian life. As a young man, Leonard was asked by a minister to act as an usher during one meeting that William Branham held in the late 1940s in Saskatchewan. It was while acting as an usher in the meeting that Leonard witnessed the healing of a crippled boy and a lady with a hunch-back.
| And he laid his hands on her and her back just straightened up just as straight as a die. And she was completely healed. And she...there wasn't a dry eye in that whole auditorium. |
Before witnessing these miracles, William Branham asked the congregation to bow their heads and close their eyes. Being a respectful but curious person, Leonard bowed his head and asked the Lord to forgive him for watching as he wanted to see the healing first-hand. The following first-hand testimonies were captured on video shortly before Leonard's passing in 2005.
Leonard enjoyed a long and satisfying Christian life, and had the opportunity to minister through song as a member of the Bergen Quartet, which travelled across Western Canada and the Northern United States in the 1940s.
Healing of a boy with a club foot
<mediaplayer image='File:LBergen-click.jpg'>File:T_-_Len Bergen_1.flv</mediaplayer>
We were in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, at Bro. Branham's meetings, and they asked me to be an usher. Well he called this little boy out of the audience. This little boy had a club foot, and he had never walked. And so, he had brought up a box with him.
And Bro. Branham said, "What's in the box?" He says, "The Lord hasn't shown me what's in that box"
He said, "I got a brand new pair of shoes I am going to put on when I'm healed".
And so Bro. Branham, he cried, and he prayed for this little boy and he said "Oh Lord Jesus, please heal this little boy."
He named him, I can't remember what his name was. When he finished praying for him his little leg straightened out and he screamed. And the father knew what was wrong, he took the brace off. As soon as he took the brace off, his little boy's leg became normal like the other one.
Healing of a lady with a hunch back
<mediaplayer image='File:LBergen-click.jpg'>File:T_-_Len Bergen_2.flv</mediaplayer>
...a lady was healed of a hunchback. She was so bent over, she had a big hump on her back. ...Brother Branham said "Do you believe that Jesus can heal you?"
She said, "After that, I believe anything."
And Brother Branham said, "Don't believe anything, just believe that Jesus can heal you."
And so..."I believe it!" She started to cry.
And he laid his hands on her and her back just straightened up just as straight as a die. And she was completely healed. And she...there wasn't a dry eye in that whole auditorium.