Editing Brother Stair (section)

==Criminal cases==
While he was hosting a revival in [[Muskogee, Oklahoma]], Stair was arrested in late December 1963 on charges of [[outraging public decency]], including using obscene language and performing obscene actions in front of a [[Minor (law)|minor]].<ref name="Muskog19630123p5">{{Cite news |date=January 23, 1963 |title=Preliminary For Evangelist Set For February 6 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/muskogee-times-democrat-preliminary-for/155034728/ |access-date=September 10, 2024 |newspaper=Muskogee Times-Democrat |location=Muskogee, Oklahoma |page=5 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

Stair, then aged 69, was arrested in Walterboro on May 16, 2002, on two counts of criminal sexual conduct in the second degree; two women who were associated with Brother Stair, ages 17 and 20, alleged that he coerced them by "enforcing his religious/personal beliefs" on them.<ref name="Pressa20020517p1">{{Cite news |last=Roerig |first=Libby |date=May 17, 2002 |title=Tarnished cross: Former followers accuse 'prophet' of wrongdoing |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-press-and-standard-tarnished-cross/155035044/ |access-date=September 10, 2024 |newspaper=The Press and Standard |location=Walterboro, South Carolina |pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-press-and-standard-tarnished-cross/155035359/ 10], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-press-and-standard-tarnished-cross/155035396/ 12]–[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-press-and-standard-tarnished-cross/155035442/ 13] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In 2004, Stair pleaded guilty to the charge of assault and battery and was sentenced to time served, a total of 77 days in custody.<ref name="Parker" /><ref name="pandc_01" />

During his incarceration, recorded programs continued to be broadcast.<ref name="Berg" /> Stair's conviction caused division in the community. However, about 70 residents remained loyal to him and there are two small branch communities which are part of his ministry.<ref name="Parker"/>

On December 18, 2017, Stair was arrested on eight counts, which included three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and single counts of assault with the intent to commit criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping, second-degree assault, first-degree burglary, and third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 18, 2017 |title=Arrest of Brother Ralph Stair confirmed on multiple charges |url=http://walterborolive.com/2017/12/update-arrest-of-brother-ralph-stair-confirmed-on-multiple-charges-news-the-press-and-standard/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222002746/http://walterborolive.com/2017/12/update-arrest-of-brother-ralph-stair-confirmed-on-multiple-charges-news-the-press-and-standard/ |archive-date=December 22, 2017 |access-date=September 10, 2024 |work=The Press and Standard |location=Walterboro, South Carolina}}</ref> Stair came to the attention of authorities because of YouTube videos showing him touching a 12-year-old girl's breast during service and then saying, "I'm gonna touch them things till nobody else can touch them."<ref name=":0" />

Another video showed a 16-year-old girl accusing him of sexually assaulting her over a five-month period.<ref name=":0" /> Four women described assaults including groping and rape. Stair reportedly told the women that the acts were "God's will".<ref name=":0" /> He was released on a $750,000 bond a month later on condition he not leave the property and was electronically monitored.<ref name=":0" /> Stair later admitted to the touching allegations during production of a documentary about [[Craig Mack]], a musician who joined Stair's commune in 2011 and died in 2018.<ref name="DailyN20190313p21">{{Cite news |last=Torres |first=Ella |date=March 13, 2019 |title=Tale of Craig Mack: Late rapper's life focus of documentary |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-tale-of-craig-mack-late-rapp/155036817/ |access-date=September 10, 2024 |newspaper=Daily News |location=New York, New York |page=21 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

On January 1, 2018, the Overcomer Ministry ceased broadcasting its show on radio stations as a result of what it called 'legal difficulties'. Currently, the Overcomer Ministry continues to stream its show on its website, and it also continues to broadcast its show on satellite radio stations.<ref>[https://swling.com/blog/2017/12/overcomer-ministry-to-halt-radio-broadcasting-in-2018/ Overcomer Ministry to halt radio broadcasting in 2018] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229052425/https://swling.com/blog/2017/12/overcomer-ministry-to-halt-radio-broadcasting-in-2018/ |date=December 29, 2017 }} ''The SWL Post'', December 28, 2017</ref> {{As of|November 2020}}, the station can also be heard on the 7.49 MHz shortwave station [[WBCQ (SW)|WBCQ]].<ref>[http://wbcq.com/schedule/ WBCQ The Overcomer Ministry Frequencies and Sites Currently On-Air] ''WBCQ'', April 17, 2021</ref> In June 2025, Overcomer announced plans to end its radio broadcasting agreements, stating that it no longer had the donations coming in to support its massive [[brokered programming|airtime purchases]] ([[WRMI]] noted that the ministry was buying hundreds of hours of airtime per day at the time of the discontinuation).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Adrian |last2=Robinson |first2=Ray |last3=White |first3=Jeff |date=June 15, 2025 |title=Episode 851 |url=https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/wavescan/episodes/2025-06-14T17_00_00-07_00 |access-date=2025-08-02 |website=Wavescan}}</ref>