By Rick Hiebert. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission
Thanks to a heads up by commenters–thanks–I can mention that Todd Bentley, according to a story on The Guardian newspaper’s website, has been banned from entering the United Kingdom on the grounds that it would be against the public good in some way.
[Note from Rick--I'm trying to update on the fly, so please check back on this post. Thanks.]
Bentley, Tweeting his indignation, is promising a press release later today.
Brag about being violent in ministry, as I posted last night, and see what will happen, eh Todd?
At work, but will try for quick updates as time permits today.
The hounds of the English press may well start to hunt now. “Nine day wonder” on the way?
FIRST UPDATE Todd, on his way to Norway right now, tweeted this four hours ago:
Follow Following Unfollow Blocked Unblock Pending Cancel
Todd Bentley
?@IamToddBentley 5h @ianjmatt @samhailes I know I have been in the UK a 12 times previous and my record from when I was 13 is erased. It’s not on record!
Oh really? It seems that I recall different facts. According to the relevant court documents as reported in The Report newsmagazine, he was 14 when this happened.
If immigration authorities have this information in front of them, Bentley has been caught in a lie. He may no longer have a penalty, but lying about something that he was jailed for must raise some eyebrows.
He’d better not be trying to lie about how many “violent ministry incidents” there are. That would cause the immigrations authorities to wonder as well.
Did similar fudging cause him to be banned from Australia?
I don’t know, but that is a good guess.
2nd Update: A statement from Britain’s Home Office regarding their decision to ban Bentley’s entry, courtesy Christian.co.uk:
In a statement the Home Office said: “We can confirm that Mr Bentley has been excluded from the UK. The government makes no apologies for refusing people access to the UK if we believe they are not conducive to the public good. Coming here is a privilege that we refuse to extend to those who might seek to undermine our society.”
Bentley’s first response, in which he complains of not having the courtesy of a hearing before the ban, is there on their site as well. Hat tip as bloggers like to say.
3rd Update: The brief statement sent out by Bentley 45 minutes ago by e-mail to his supporters e-list:
Statement from Todd Bentley regarding the U.K.
Greetings Friends and Partners,
Todd and Jessa Bentley are currently travelling to Norway for the anticipated Miracles Signs & Wonders event. At this time, we are requesting your prayer and support as they continue to do what the Lord has called them to. Please read the below statement from Todd Bentley on the recent decision made by Home Secretary Theresa May to ban Todd from entering the UK.
I am deeply saddened by the recent decision of the UK government regarding my entry into the country. At this point, we are thankful to God for the support from our friends in the UK who truly love Jesus and embrace the supernatural, faith and healing. We know and believe that the UK has a great destiny and we are praying for the leaders and those in government. Please continue to stand with us in prayer regarding this decision and our return to the UK.
In Him,
Todd Bentley
Update: (BD here) Todd Bentley made this statement about being refused entry into the UK:
What about all the other celebrities, musicians and others with a more colorful past than me that are permitted into the UK for shows … Is this really about my past and fear of potential violence or Freedom of Religion and attack on Faith, God & Healing?”
The Home Office statement:
“We can confirm that Mr Bentley has been excluded from the UK. The government makes no apologies for refusing people access to the UK if we believe they are not conducive to the public good. Coming here is a privilege that we refuse to extend to those who might seek to undermine our society,”
The UK Border Agency Guidelines, p. 20, the er, not conducive to the public good part…
Rats, pipped at the post by another blog, but extra thanks to the commenters who helped us to get this uop really fast.
That’ll teach me to go get a haircut before work and wait to log onto the net.
More are catching on is what Fresh Fire is suspicious of to begin with.
They guard against persons looking at them closely but some persons finally did.
But this reason is about behaviour that Todd Bentley really puts out in the open.
The aggressiveness am all too familiar with in these groups.
The Fresh Fire in Abbotsford in 2004 did have a good amount of really nice people but at the same time had an undercurrent that was questionable seemed like a conflict going on here
Todd was quite well behaved up in the Abbotsford Penecostal Church back in 2004 at the Fresh Fire Venue event.
This aggressive behaviour has seemed to have become more spontanious as time has gone on.
There are others as well who do this
Worship Invasion under Ed & Wendy Rubuliak
Extreme Prophetic Vancouver then The Cry under Faytene Kryskow then Faytene Kryskow Grasseschi
They’re really into this ‘I rebuke you in the name of Jesus’ sort of thing.
@ John Payzant, It sounds like you know a good deal about Todd. I’d be interested in knowing more about what he got up to before Lakeland in 2008. There’s very little been published about this period. Thanks for any help you can give.
One of Bentley’s former local papers has picked up the Postmedia story from this weekend for its webistr today, if not the print edistion as well:
http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/news/British+looks+block+Bentley+entry/7121055/story.html
I feel like I am working for a wire service like CP or AP this afternoon.
The statement from Todd can also be seen at
http://www.freshfireusa.com/email-template/email-banner/8-20-2012-email-blast.html
Bud Press has a screencap of the notices that Fresh Fire put up after the Australia ban and now the UK one, up at his own website:
http://www.christianresearchservice.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/TODD-BENTLEY-BANNED2.png
1…3…4 guess I was sleeping during math class. Fixed now.
Rick is being modest – he was the author who interviewed Bentley about his past and wrote it up in 2001.
Todd Bentley:
“What about all the other celebrities, musicians and others with a more colorful past than me that are permitted into the UK for shows … Is this really about my past and fear of potential violence or Freedom of Religion and attack on Faith, God & Healing?”
From the UK Home Office website.
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk
Look at this section in the UK Border Agency General Reasons for Refusing (page 20):
http://tinyurl.com/8ryrlxl
“If it is conducive to the public good not to admit a person to the UK because of their
character, conduct or associations you must consider refusing entry or leave to
remain.”
The next paragraphs are restricted (internal UK Border Agency Only) – do not disclose
Such a person may include:
- a member of a proscribed group
- a person suspected of war crimes or crimes against humanity
- a person whose presence is undesirable because of their character, conduct
or associations
- a person whose presence might lead to an infringement of UK law or a breach
of public order, and/or
- a person whose presence may lead to an offence being committed by
someone else.
Early Wednesday now in Britain, and the Belfast Telegram is reporting the ban on Bentley with their hook being that his visit to Northern Ireland is cancelled. Apparently, Bentley was to speak at a place called Portadown.
Their story:
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/violent-preacher-refused-visa-ahead-of-portadown-talk-16200919.html
I’m guessing there will be at least a couple more. The Daily Mail is probably a lock for a follow up story of their own.
Having a look at Todd’s Twitter feed and saw this from a Sam Hailes that he knows, 17 hours ago:
Sam Hailes?@samhailes
MP @MalcolmWicks has failed to stop @IamToddBentley for coming to the UK in 9 days time. http://www.christian.co.uk/notable/bentley-to-visit-britain-after-ban-attempt-fails-p11207 …
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The ban was announced 3 hours later.
For my “Why gloating is a bad idea” folder.
I got so sick of this I went to TB’s website and saw he is going to Pakistan in October. I know Paul rejoiced in the gospel being preached from wrong motives but I am not that spiritual yet, that mature yet, that loving yet, that trusting yet, so I emailed 5 Pakistan embassies with a letter and video links about TB. Lord, forgive me. I guess someone might get saved through his ministry there. I just got tired of it all. I don’t like this guy never repenting for all those lies and false claims and going on and on and on with no one caring about it.
The above comment meaning that I emailed the embassies telling them to deny his visa like the UK did. I am a sinful woman. I feel like the sisters in the Sound of Music who tore the parts out of the car engine so the family could escape from the Nazis.
Two more reports from the UK:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19343732
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9491508/Canadian-punching-preacher-banned-from-UK.html
Todd isn’t attracting much coverage in the media or blogosphere – he seems to be a bit of a non-story.
It’s not clear which exact bit of UK law has been used to exclude him. I think one of the options gives the government the power to exclude someone at their discretion with virtually no right of appeal!
Thanks for the additions, BD…
Rick:
You’re welcome.:^)
Tod Bentley is strange man.