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Ministry: 'Unhealthy Relationship' Behind Preacher's Exit

Tribune file photo by JASON BEHNKEN

Todd Bentley's services grew gradually larger, eventually meeting in a baseball stadium.

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By MICHELLE BEARDEN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 16, 2008

For months, he drew thousands of people to Lakeland for a religious revival that got international attention.

Sick and disabled believers came and claimed to be healed and restored by the touch of Todd Bentley, a tattooed, body-pierced, former drug-abusing evangelist from British Columbia who led super-charged services.

Last week, a notice on Bentley's Fresh Fire Ministries Web site dropped a bombshell. The preacher and his wife, Shonnah, had separated, blaming the pressures brought on by the "fatigue and stress" of the long-running revival.

Now the board of directors has released another revelation that gives more insight into the marital woes: 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," the statement said.

Attempts to reach Bentley or a Fresh Fire spokesperson were not successful.

According to the statement, Bentley founded Fresh Fire in May 1998 with this goal: "To see the world come to know Jesus."

The board's statement refers to that outreach effort, claiming "there have been dozens of associate ministries, scores of interns and hundreds of graduates" from the ministry's Supernatural Training Center.

Bentley, 32, first came to Lakeland on April 2 at the invitation of Stephen Strader, pastor of Ignited Church. It was supposed to be a five-day stint.

But as the crowds grew to the thousands, the two men decided to extend his stay. Services sometimes ran twice a day, and were moved into a larger Auburndale church, then The Lakeland Center and finally, to Lakeland's Joker Marchant Stadium, where the Detroit Tigers play spring training baseball.

In May, members of Bentley's staff claimed they had inquiries from NBC and CNN, and that someone affiliated with evangelist Benny Hinn, who is under investigation for possible tax abuses by the Senate Finance Committee, was interested in the revival.

No one was answering the phone at Ignited Fire regarding Bentley's early departure. He was supposed to continue leading services through next week.

The board's statement noted that Bentley and his wife will "each go through the necessary steps toward restoration and wellness." The ministry will also continue with its planned African crusade, which involves building homes for orphans in a "Jesus Village" in Kampala, Uganda.

"It is true we are deeply saddened by these recent events, but it hasn't shaken our faith in either God or His goodness towards us," the statement said.

In May, Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute, was skeptical of the frenzied revival, which was being compared to the famous "Toronto Blessing" in 1994 and the Pensacola Brownsville Revival that followed the next year.

"We're in desperate times and we've got desperate people. And they're looking for a quick fix," Hanegraaff told The Tampa Tribune. "But all they're getting is false hope."

Today, the Web site was still promoting sales of the upcoming DVD series on "The Florida Outpouring," the name given to the revival.

Michelle Bearden can be reached at mbearden@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7613.

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