Todd Bentley wanted the attention. He got it on a US network - ABC’s Nightline.

UPDATE: After this story aired on “Nightline,” Fresh Fire Ministries released a statement announcing that preacher Todd Bentley would be taking time off “to refresh and to rest” after having spent four months in Lakeland, Fla., leading revival meetings. In the meantime their Lakeland broadcasts on GOD TV are put on hold.

Nightline did what any investigative show would do - asked questions. There have been plenty of bloggers focusing in on this Canadians theology, his connections to a heretical charismatic fringe, a few minor fluff pieces in Florida media, but once he was off stage facing a seasoned news team, he couldn’t hide his lies and deceptions. Bentley, from Abbotsford BC was promoted by Strang Communications, The Strader family, GodTV, and for the most part the silent complicity of mainstream leaders in Pentecostalism/Charismatic organizations.

Bentley has been on the fringe charismatic preaching circuit for a few years, but it was his contract with the UK’s God TV, with the streaming of the videos of his healing shows (think Benny Hinn on steriods) and the co-ordinated efforts what he called his revival online with tightly moderated pro Lakeland sites that that sent hundreds of thousands of needy people flocking to Florida. And made a pile of money for all concerned, no doubt. No one involved wants to talk about how much has been raked in. (photo: Abbotsford blog)

Night after night, blogs have exposed his lies and unbiblical teaching. A few weeks ago Bentley appeared on Geraldo Rivera’s show on Fox. Bentley did not fare any better than he did on Nightline. This leave comes in the the time June 22 - July 22, 2008 prophesied by Bentley and Bob Jones to be “the best and biggerst outpouring of God’s presence since Acts 2, when the Glory would fall fullest.”

Here is the spin PR God TV released after Bentley ducked for cover after the Nightline expose:

Fresh Fire Ministries announced yesterday that Todd Bentley would be taking some time off to refresh and to rest from the Florida Outpouring after nearly one hundred days of ministry. The Lakeland meetings will continue and Todd will remain the leader of this move of God.

GOD TV as the exclusive broadcast partner in the outpouring knows our viewers have been incredibly blessed through our nightly broadcasts with many lives changed, bodies healed and souls refreshed - we have received thousands of e-mails testifying to the work of God in your lives.

We will continue to stream the LIVE services from Lakeland every night on our dedicated Florida Healing Outpouring stream, (click on Watch Online on the left and select the Florida Healing Outpouring stream) and also make available the most recent service via our on demand platform. However we will take the opportunity to rearrange our broadcast schedules and bring you some incredible primetime programming - including the 2008 Hillsong Australia Conference EXCLUSIVELY on GOD TV, Rodney Howard Browne’s Summer Campmeetings LIVE and many more programmes - PLUS highlights of some of the best nights from the Lakeland Outpouring - this will also all form part of our Battle For Britain initiative in the UK.

We will make another announcement once Todd is fully refreshed and rested about the resumption of our LIVE broadcasts from Lakeland - but until then, you can continue to enjoy the nightly meetings LIVE at www.god.tv/stream and if you are watching on GOD TV then you have lots of great programmes to look forward to plus highlights from the outpouring.

Eli Miller, a senior leader of Fresh Fire Ministries and a long time associate of Todd Bentley announced today that Todd Bentley, leader of the Florida Outpouring, will be taking some time off. “We are grateful for our partnership with GOD TV that has allowed this revival to go around the world”, Miller said. While the revival will continue, the leaders of Fresh Fire believe it is important for Todd to take some time to re-fresh and to rest.

During this time, the revival broadcast will still be available LIVE on the GOD TV website and at Fresh Fire’s website.

I’ve no doubt Todd Bentley will be back. Think Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakker, Peter Popoff. Benny Hinn, Richard (typo.apologies.BD) Reinhard Bonnke. There will be no transparency and honesty coming from the Fresh Fire crowd or God TV about finances, lies, heresy, and we won’t be seeing repentance unless it suits the powers behind Lakeland to get the show back on the road; it’s easier to get him out of the way for awhile until the public shock and outrage dies down. There are 50 more ‘apostles’ ready to take Bentleys place, but they don’t have the crowd manipulation skills Bentley has. Yet.
Meantime as seen on the Fresh Fire site, Bentley has a full summer schedule elsewhere.

I commend US bloggers for stepping forward and exposing his false theology, many have been solid discernment sites, many have been walkaways from earlier manifestations of these false teachings (Holy Trinity Brampton, Toronto Blessing, Gainsville, Pensacola) and I commend ABC for giving him the attention he deserved.

A letter to a Florida paper by a medical professional sadly shows a young man who went to Lakeland did not fair well after Bentley told him he was healed.

I’ll be posting the rest of Roger’s story. Part one, the video. Roger begins his story here. We’ve been in touch, I’m waiting for answers to a few questions and a picture to confirm he is the gentleman people saw being assaulted by Bentley. Roger went to Lakeland unaware of the heresy being peddled, seeking God for healing as thousands have done. The video of Roger being kneed by Bentley has been one of the most watched on YouTube.

I wrote about the Abbotsford BC native two months ago, directing readers to resources on why his theology is heretical.
I’ve posted about God TV and Sarah Posner digging into the origins of GodTV.

Fresh Fire Canadian Charity filing
1) Charity Listings
2) Canadian Registered Charities
3) Search

a) Charities Listings drop down: Charities listings
b) Charity name: Fresh Fire Ministries
c) City: Abbotsford
d) Province: BC
e) Postal Code: V2T 6R3
f) Designation:
g) Category Code: 47
h) BN/Registration: 880636428 RR000l

Nightline: July 9th, 2008 Part one
Nightline: Part two
Todd Bentley on Fox

Lakeland postings and comments at connexions in Wales, a blog I participate on. Scroll down to related for the varied and mature discussions under the posts.

Update: James Goll a long time IHOP/Wagner ‘apostle’ is filling in at Lakeland.

Local Pastors video: Bentley on Nightline 1:25