Editing Brother Stair

{{Short description|Christian fundamentalist (1933–2021)}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| birth_name         = Ralph Gordon Stair
| birth_date         = {{birth date|1933|5|3}}
| birth_place        = [[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania]], US
| death_date         = {{death date and age|2021|4|3|1933|5|3}}
| death_place        = [[Canadys, South Carolina]], US
| other_names        = {{ubl|Brother R.G. Stair|Brother Stair}}
| employer           = {{ubl|Faith Cathedral Fellowship, Inc.|Overcomer Ministry}}
| occupation         = Radio evangelist
| website            = {{url|http://overcomerministry.org}}
}}

'''Ralph Gordon Stair''' (May 3, 1933 – April 3, 2021), also known as '''Brother R. G. Stair''', or simply known as '''Brother Stair''', was an American [[minister (Christianity)|minister]] and [[Evangelism|evangelist]]. He broadcast his preaching on [[Digital radio|digital]] and [[shortwave]] radio. In the 1990s, at the peak of his radio ministry, Stair was heard on 120 stations.

Stair founded the Overcomer Ministry in 1978, declaring that he was a [[prophet]]. He lived in a community with his followers at a compound in [[Walterboro, South Carolina]].<ref name="basedin">{{cite web |url=https://overcomerministry.org/contact_us/ |title=Overcomer - Contact us |publisher=Overcomerministry.org |accessdate=July 26, 2020 }}</ref> Over the years, Stair was involved in a number of controversies, including convictions for [[sexual abuse]],<ref name="pandc_01">{{cite news |last=Paras |first=Andy |date=December 1, 2004 |title=Religious commune leader pleads guilty in fondling case |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2482&dat=20041201&id=xWlJAAAAIBAJ&pg=1245,88463 |accessdate=July 26, 2009 |work=Post and Courier}}{{Dead link|date=April 2023|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> allegations that he caused infant deaths,<ref name="Parker">{{cite news |last=Parker |first=Adam |date=September 16, 2007 |title=Waiting for salvation |url=http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2007/sep/16/overcome16032/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006123336/http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2007/sep/16/overcome16032/ |archive-date=October 6, 2011 |accessdate=September 10, 2024 |work=The Post and Courier |location=Charleston, South Carolina}}</ref> and allegations that his ministry is a [[cult]].<ref name="mohavepaper_01">{{cite news |last=Tobin |first=Rick |date=April 21, 1988 |title=The Stair Way To Heaven: Local preacher Brother Ralph Stair attracts Pennsylvanians to Colleton County through national radio ministry |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-press-and-standard-the-stair-way-to/155031788/ |accessdate=September 10, 2024 |work=The Press and Standard |location=Walterboro, South Carolina |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-press-and-standard-the-stair-way-to/155031982/ 3A] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

==Early life==
Stair was born in [[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania]].<ref name="APapril">{{cite news |last=Gehorsam |first=Jan |date=April 23, 1988 |title=Evangelist predicting nuclear war wins followers, but alarms parents |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-evangelist-predicting-nuclear/155029825/ |accessdate=September 10, 2024 |work=The Herald |location=Rock Hill, South Carolina |page=3A |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He was ordained as a [[Methodism|Methodist]] minister, but later, he left [[organized religion]], stating "I just call myself a [[Christians|Christian]]."<ref name="AP">{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Bruce |date=May 1, 1988 |title=Evangelist denies allegations about Christian community |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-evangelist-denies-allegations/155030035/ |accessdate=September 10, 2024 |work=The Herald |location=Rock Hill, South Carolina |page=5A |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He moved to the [[Southern United States]] in the 1950s, stating that [[God in Christianity|God]] told him to move there because it would be "the safest place for Christians in the [[Christian eschatology|end time]]."<ref name="AP"/>

==Overcomer Ministry==
Stair led the Overcomer Ministry, officially incorporated as the Faith Cathedral Fellowship, a conservative [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]] Christian organization which runs a widely heard radio-based ministry.<ref name="Berg"/> Stair purchased a [[motel]] in Walterboro, South Carolina in 1978, and encouraged followers to move to the community, sell all their possessions, take a vow of poverty, and donate all that they owned to Overcomer Ministry.<ref name=yoder/><ref name="Parker"/>

The community of about 70 strives for self-sufficiency and simplicity, growing their own food and making their own clothes. Community members live in mobile homes and handmade houses, eating [[communal meal]]s and gathering for [[Sabbath in seventh-day churches|Saturday worship]] in the Tabernacle.<ref name="Parker"/> They [[outward holiness|dress conservatively]]. Women wear long skirts and men wear long pants and shirts with collars.<ref name="Parker"/> Typically, work is divided along traditional gender lines, with men performing farm/manual labor and women doing domestic chores.<ref name="Parker"/> Members primarily rely on bicycles for transportation within the community.

Stair objected to medical intervention, and he advocated the avoidance of doctors.<ref name=yoder/> Commune members typically followed Stair's teaching, and in the 1980s and 1990s, local authorities conducted investigations after three infants died at the community either during or shortly after birth.<ref name="Parker"/><ref name="coroner">{{cite news|date=July 13, 1988 |title=Official urges the pregnant to leave camp of R.G. Stair |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-and-democrat-official-urges-th/155030799/ |accessdate=March 17, 2012 |work=The Times and Democrat |location=Orangeburg, South Carolina|pages=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-and-democrat-official-urges-th/155030832/ 2B] |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

Evangelism was the primary focus of Stair's ministry. He broadcast from a solar-powered radio studio which is based in the community, often for hours at a time.<ref name="Parker"/> As of 2014, Stair leased airtime globally on five [[free-to-air]] satellites ([[Galaxy 19]], [[Hot Bird 8]], [[Optus D2]], [[Thaicom 5]], and [[Eutelsat 25B]]) and on seven international [[shortwave radio]] stations ([[World Harvest Radio International|WHRI]], [[WWRB]], [[WTWW]], [[WWCR]], [[WBCQ (SW)|WBCQ]], [[WRMI]], and {{ill|Media Broadcast|de|lt=Media Broadcast GmbH}}) to convey his message to listeners in the United States as well as listeners in locations as far-flung as South America, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Israel, Russia, and India.<ref name="Parker" /><ref name="Berg">{{cite book |author=Berg, Jerome S. |title=Broadcasting on the Short Waves, 1945 to Today |publisher=McFarland |location=Jefferson, N.C |year=2008 |pages=320, 343385 |isbn=978-0-7864-3674-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ux9fZj6izuEC&pg=PT385}}</ref><ref name=yoder/>

In addition to broadcasting worldwide via international satellite and shortwave, Stair broadcast worldwide via internet streaming from his ministry's web site.<ref name="netstreaminfo">{{cite web |url=http://www.overcomerministry.org/Listen.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605042112/http://www.overcomerministry.org/Listen.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 5, 2010 |title=Overcomer Ministry live internet streaming audio |publisher=Overcomerministry.org |accessdate=October 11, 2014 }}</ref> He also leased time on terrestrial AM and FM radio stations throughout the United States, some of which are large-coverage stations. In the 1990s, Brother Stair was heard on 120 such stations, though by 2007 and continuing through 2014, that total had been reduced to approximately 25.<ref name="Parker"/>

In 2016, however, the broadcast was dramatically increased due to a large contribution which allowed Brother Stair to purchase hundreds of hours of broadcasting time per day and produce one of the most extensive shortwave broadcasts in history. Broadcast expenditures of about $1.5 million are funded by donations from listeners. In 1993 and 1994, Stair and his ministry were partners in a failed ship-based radio project due to authorities raiding and confiscating both the ship and its equipment before it could set sail to international waters.<ref name="Berg" /><ref name=yoder>{{cite book |author=Yoder, Andrew R. |title=Pirate radio stations: tuning in to underground broadcasts in the air and online |publisher=McGraw-Hill |location=New York |year=2002 |pages=168–170 |isbn=0-07-137563-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vs_O3zeq-8wC&pg=PA168 }}</ref>

Stair's teachings place a strong emphasis on [[millennialism|millennial]] predictions of world-changing events which will result from divine judgment.<ref name=yoder/><ref name="Parker"/> In the year 1999, he said that there would be such changes at the dawn of the third millennium. "If the Lord God Almighty does not make a major move before the year 2000," he said, "I'll tell God to go to [[Hell]]."<ref>{{cite news|author=Andrew Gumbel|title=Cheer Up, End of the World May Still Be Nigh|work=The Independent (London)|date=January 3, 2000}}</ref> Stair also has received publicity over the years for several of his prophecies, including a nuclear confrontation prophesied for 1988,<ref name="AP"/><ref name=yoder/> and that [[Ronald Reagan]] would not complete his term as president.<ref name=coroner/>

==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>

==Death==
Stair died of [[heart failure]] at the age of 87 on April 3, 2021, at his home in [[Canadys, South Carolina]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Fleming |date=April 4, 2021 |title=Colleton County pastor accused of sexually assaulting women, children dies in hospice care |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/news/colleton-county-pastor-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-women-children-dies-in-hospice-care/article_9d37e042-957b-11eb-9707-a35b51ff4df4.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210404215210/https://www.postandcourier.com/news/colleton-county-pastor-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-women-children-dies-in-hospice-care/article_9d37e042-957b-11eb-9707-a35b51ff4df4.html |archive-date=April 4, 2021 |access-date=April 4, 2021 |website=The Post and Courier |language=en |publication-place=Charleston, South Carolina}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.live5news.com/2021/04/04/colleton-county-pastor-ralph-stair-dies/|title=Colleton County pastor Ralph Stair dies |website=WCSC |date=April 4, 2021 |accessdate=April 4, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://swling.com/blog/2021/04/brother-stair-of-overcomer-ministry-has-passed-away/|title=Brother Stair of Overcomer Ministry has passed away |website=SWLing Post |date=April 4, 2021 |accessdate=April 17, 2021}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.overcomerministry.org/ Overcomer Ministry website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stair, Brother}}
[[Category:1933 births]]
[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century apocalypticists]]
[[Category:21st-century apocalypticists]]
[[Category:American members of the clergy convicted of crimes]]
[[Category:American people convicted of assault]]
[[Category:Anti-Catholic organizations]]
[[Category:Anti-Catholicism in the United States]]
[[Category:Christian fundamentalists]]
[[Category:Christian new religious movements]]
[[Category:Critics of the Catholic Church]]
[[Category:King James Only movement]]
[[Category:Pentecostal denominations in North America]]
[[Category:Pentecostal organizations]]
[[Category:Pentecostalism in the United States]]
[[Category:People from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:People from Walterboro, South Carolina]]
[[Category:Prophets]]
[[Category:Anti-Catholic activists]]