Todd Bentley Separates From Wife
This letter was recently posted to Todd Bentley’s web site. Like Fox News; I report, you decide. Whatever comes of this, or whatever conclusions are drawn from it, we should all remember that many people’s lives are involved here, in many different ways. When things like this happen, no matter who it is, I always consider myself and pray for God’s grace and mercy in the situation.
There is alot more going on in this situation than it seems and more than I will discuss here about Todd’s family life and ministry. I will not go into it all here. This is not the purpose of my blog. There are alot of other blogs focused on discussing it! I just wanted to make some of you aware that may not have known. May God help us draw lessons for our own lives and ministries through these costly examples.
Here is the letter from the board of directors that includes men such as Bill Johnson, Che Ahn, C. Peter Wagner, and others:
August 15, 2008
From the Board of Directors
We wish to thank all of our friends and partners for the overwhelming flood of support and compassion we have received as a ministry on behalf of Todd and Shonnah Bentley. The many phone calls and emails of concern from people who genuinely love the Bentleys and Fresh Fire Ministries have been a great encouragement to all of us here during these past few days. In particular, the rallying of support and prayer for Todd and Shonnah by prominent leaders within the Body of Christ has been a beautiful indicator of the maturity and grace the Lord is bringing to his Bride.
We wish to acknowledge, however, that since our last statement from the Fresh Fire Board of Directors, we have discovered new information revealing that Todd Bentley has entered into an unhealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female member of his staff. In light of this new information and in consultation with his leaders and advisors, Todd Bentley has agreed to step down from his position on the Board of Directors and to refrain from all public ministry for a season to receive counsel in his personal life.
On behalf of the Fresh Fire leadership and the Board of Directors we wish to apologize to our friends and partners and to the larger body of Christ and to ask for your forgiveness. We are truly sorry for the pain many of you must feel and so regret that in the midst of great revival, the enemy has found a way into our camp. To those who have stood by us, we wish to thank you for what in many cases has been years of support. Thank you for your financial giving towards the vision of this ministry, and thank you especially for your prayers. For those of our partners, friends and supporters who may be struggling with the recent disclosures and finding continued support of this ministry in conflict with either conscience or conviction, we release and bless you with all our hearts and trust that God will redeem in your hearts the good that He has accomplished in your lives through this ministry. It is our sincerest hope and prayer that the Lord bless you and bring you into your fullest destiny in Him.
When this ministry was initially birthed in May of 1998, Todd had but one simple desire in his heart – to see the world come to know Jesus. Now, only 10 years later, Fresh Fire Ministries has grown to become a Resource Center that is literally reaching out to all the corners of the Earth. There have been dozens of associate ministries, scores of interns and hundreds of graduates from the Supernatural Training Center. Over 60 nations have received a combined total of more than five million dollars in humanitarian aid and we have seen well over one million conversions for Jesus Christ.
And so, the question can well be asked… where do we go from here? It is true that we are deeply saddened by these recent events, but it hasn’t shaken our faith in either God or His goodness towards us and with the help of wise and compassionate leaders within the body, we will do everything within our power to see our brother and sister healed and restored.
As a ministry, we can not forsake the vision and heartbeat upon which Todd Bentley founded Fresh Fire Ministries which is simply this:
- Matthew 10:7-8
And as you go, Preach, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
While Todd and Shonnah each go through the necessary steps towards restoration and wholeness, we are compelled, with the resources with which God has entrusted us, to continue to spread God’s love and power all over the world.
There are many noble activities and endeavors in which Fresh Fire Ministries is involved, initiated by Todd, and to which we are still committed. We have the Supernatural Training Centre, our school of ministry, already in it’s fourth full year and with more than 50 students already enrolled we’re believing for an amazing year of biblical instruction, practical application and encounters with the presence of God. Many mature and gifted speakers and associates, graduated interns and teachers filled brim-full with the DNA and fire of this ministry are ready to pour revelation and passion into the hungry hearts of this coming year’s student body.
We will continue to host conferences in our region with speakers and worship leaders from around the nation whose message and mandates resonate with the vision and heart of Fresh Fire Ministries. In addition, we are committed to supporting the growing “OutPourings” across North America and around the world with our Associates, with encouragement and prayer support. In Todd’s own words, “What God is doing is bigger than one man”, and we now have a golden opportunity as the Body of Christ to pick up the baton and to run with perseverance for His glory.
Our missions department is progressing, as previously mentioned, with our major African crusade. With close to 100 team members in attendance, excitement is beginning to build and team members have responded that they are still believing God for the most amazing missions trip ever! Our Uganda Jesus Village in Kampala is forging ahead with the recent acquisition of 35 acres of land 30 minutes drive from our present location. Two of the 15 homes planned for the property are nearing completion, and the expanded village, when finished, will house almost 150 orphans rescued from war torn northern Uganda.
So whether in our Children’s Home in Africa, in our Supernatural Training Centre in British Columbia, in the revival meetings and outpourings spreading around the globe, or in taking teams to minister compassion and practical assistance to the poor in the far corners of the Earth, we have been and still are committed to bringing love, hope and a demonstration of the saving, healing, delivering power of the Gospel to a world in need.
Thank you all once again for your prayers and support. We bless each and every one of you in whatever decision you must make. Please know that our heart in all of this is to see the name of the Lord vindicated, and we take great encouragement from Psalm 23 and the Lord’s promise that He will “lead us in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” Together we look to the mercy and wisdom of our loving Father and we remain as ever, your brothers and sisters in Christ.
The Fresh Fire Board of Directors
The body of Christ is to exemplify two essential attributes – love and forgiveness.
These two essentials are the foundation of our faith!
With love and forgiveness, we are required by our Heavenly Father to “do to others as you would have done to yourself”.
If you are a believer and stumble and fall – there is a heart problem that needs to be addressed. We are to forgive and offer assistance in the path of restoration – that is true ministry. Todd Bentley apparently has sinned – even a couple of times – and need to be forgiven by the body of Christ – but needs to submit to Godly counsel and healing before he is restored to ministry, What are the issues here? He has excellent people who have ministries and love him – they can mentir him and speak into his life.
Todd’s responsibility is to humble himself and receive counsel until issues are resolved. Perhaps deliverance is needed – who know’s – God does. there are many true believers whose gifts allow them to speak into others lives and bring the Holy Spirit’s anointing to be the Samaritan to the body of Christ.
We are all imperfect – all subject to sin if we are not careful – we all need spiritual fathers and mothers who oversee us in the body.
Let’s pray – not knowing all of the details – don’t accuse – don’t throw away – pray!
Cindy, you sound very lovely. And I agree that we should pray for one another when we stumble and hold each other up. However, we have allowed serious sin to enter into the ministries and have accepted these peoples explainations. It is a special calling of God that allows these people to be in the place they are. Now, God calls the saints to pray for them and to support them financially. However, how many times do they get to commit adultery and be a drunkard while still ministering to the saints until we say enough is enough? A person has to be extremely upright, the husband of one wife, have integrity, etc., to be a deacon or else he is dismissed. Why don’t those rules apply to the preachers? We have many preachers who have left their wives and children and started families with another wife. Yet they preach from the pulpit that divorce is a sin. Wait? Is it a sin only for the saints and not the preachers? We need to be merciful, but let’s not allow these wolves to be our leaders. Soon their sins become allowable just as they are in the world and the church looks no different than any other organization. Yet, we invite the unsaved to join us. I am not sure we followers of Jesus look that appealing.
You cannot expect to minister in the Power of The Most High God with fire until you (the Minister) are purged by the Fire of the Holy Spirit. satan will come with all his force to bring that minister into sin. God is calling people to the fire to be purged from sin….for when I decrees then He is able to increase in me! When you go through Revival forsaking yourself then and only then can you bring forth Revival for it is not you that do it, but God for God commands us to enter into His Righteousness and His Holiness and as we abide in Him, then He is able to abide in us and God builds a Hedge of protection. If we sin, God is able to forgive us and deliver us from our sins through Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah. There is no other choice for those in leadership to be above approach. This revival that God is going to bring about will be done through Holy and Righteous People who will not stumble nor fall into sin for they have been brought through the fire and is looking only and only to the Author and finisher of the Faith who is Yeshua The Messiah!
Shalom, In the Name of Adoni Yeshua The Messiah
C. Peter Wagner is NOT on the Board of Fresh Fire Ministries.