From New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements  

Canadian pastor, preacher, Bible teacher. William John Ernest Baxter was born June 22, 1914 in Saskatoon,Sask., Canada. Baxter’s parents were converted in a Holiness church and later became pentecostals. As a teenager, Baxter rebelled against what he saw as legalism and emotionalism in his childhood faith. In 1932, after serious illness, he recommitted his life to Christ. Baxter, a gifted musician, soon began to travel as the pianist for an evangelist, and on July 2, 1932, he received the Pentecostal experience of Spirit baptism.

Baxter later received an invitation to pastor Evangelistic Tabernacle in Vancouver, BC. Under his leadership the church grew rapidly and was at one time the largest church in Vancouver. In 1949, while continuing to pastor, Baxter became the campaign manager and Bible teacher for healing evangelist William Branham, with whom he travelled extensively for seven years. Pastoring and travelling left Baxter severely fatigued. He left Branham's ministry and soon resigned from his church. After a period of rest Baxter started a small storefront church in Vancouver, the Open Bible Chapel, which grew to several hundred members.

Baxter's first wife, Margaret, died in 1961. In February 1964, Baxter married his second wife, Ruth, and for the next six years he served as a Bible teacher in several churches in the U.S. while continuing to travel in ministry. Moving back to Canada in 1970, he continued to travel and preach worldwide in Pentecostal-charismatic churches and conferences.

At the Montreat, NC, Shepherds Conference in June 1974, Baxter became formally associated with the leaders of the shepherding movement: Don Basham, Bob Mumford, Derek Prince, and Charles Simpson. He moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in early 1975. While associated with the shepherding movement, Baxter continued his teaching ministry among charismatics and in 1980 moved to Mobile, Alabama, after a short stay in Southern California. He returned to the San Diego, California, area in 1984. After the shepherding movement’s dissolution at the end of 1986, Baxter continued his ministry from California until his death on July 9, 1993.

Baxter was known as a great preacher. Though without formal theological training, he became a self-taught theologian and avid Bible student. Baxter's Reformed theological orientation, along with his classical-pentecostal background, created a unique blend. Baxter participated directly or indirectly in classical-pentecostalism, the healing revival, the Latter Rain movement, and the charismatic renewal.  

D.Moore