Todd Bentley takes Sabatical from Ministry; Leaders Comment on Lakeland

Across the church spectrum, leaders are expressing opinions about recent events that have transpired in the life of Todd Bentley and at the Lakeland Revival. After originally claiming no third party was involved in his filing for separation from his wife, Bentley confessed to his ministry’s board of directors last week that he had engaged in “an unhealthy relationship” with another woman -- the second person he has been involved with outside his marriage in the past three years.

The Fresh Fire Ministries’ board released a statement explaining that Bentley had “entered into an unhealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female member of his staff.”

Another statement was released by Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship pastor John Arnott, who was one of the three leaders appointed during the Lakeland Outpouring to oversee Bentley. Arnott's statement added reports of “excessive drinking.”

Bentley has resigned from Fresh Fire’s board of directors and will “refrain from all public ministry for a season to receive counsel in his personal life.”

“I am deeply saddened for the body of Christ that has been disillusioned yet again,” Arnott said. “Had any of us known what was just ahead, perhaps we would have been able to intervene before things went into crisis.”

Click here to read John Arnott's full statement on Todd Bentley.

Dutch Sheets Apostolic Letter

Another statement that deserves particular attention, in my opinion, is an apostolic letter to the Body of Christ from Rev. Dutch Sheets. In a frank, and in my opinion humble letter, Dutch addresses what he considers to be major weaknesses in the Charismatic segment of Christianity, which were highlighted in the Lakeland revival.

Did leaders handling the Lakeland situation make mistakes? Yes—huge mistakes. Beyond the obvious fruit of salvations and healings, can good come from Lakeland, as some have suggested, even with the recent revelations concerning Todd Bentley? Yes, but only if there is complete honesty and transparency, the removal of all attempts at self-preservation, and absolute humility from all sides.

Dutch goes on to point out how the Church must always look beyond the short-term fruit of miracles and healings to the long term issues of character and holiness when judging a move of God.

…looking past some of the immediate and positive results, I, like many, also looked ahead to the possible fruit from questionable doctrine and experiences, exaggeration and hype, youthful pride, character issues and the frightening potential of a 32 year “young” man leading a movement that could shape the future of the Church. These things were frightening, very frightening, to others and me.

When something has the potential of setting precedent, birthing a movement and being reproduced as a prototype, we are no longer simply endorsing good brothers, good intentions and miracles. Doctrine and foundations will be built on these events. Teachings and paradigms for future ministries will be formed—in short, the next generation of the church and the move of God in the earth could be greatly impacted. This is why I stopped short of endorsing everything at Lakeland.

Dutch states that it was a mistake to publicly endorse Bentley's ministry with a commissioning service.

Should those who “aligned” Todd with spiritual fathers (which was a good thing and positioned him to receive help if he chooses to accept it) have realized to do so publicly was a mistake and could be interpreted by those watching in no other way than as a complete endorsement? Yes, they should have, especially when the event became a commissioning ceremony, complete with decrees and prophecies of going to higher levels, predictions of Todd’s increasing world-wide influence and leading a world-wide revival, emphatic and prolific endorsements of his character, etc.

How could those watching believe the evening was anything but an aligning, endorsing and commissioning ceremony? It was. It really doesn’t matter who laid their hands on Todd—all share responsibility. This was unwise at best, naïve at least and at its worst, foolish. And should the leaders involved have realized that those of us connected to them relationally, ministerially, and as movements—some even in alignment with them apostolically and as sons and daughters—would feel minimalized, if not betrayed, by the fact that they were in essence taking us onto the stage with them? Yes.

In the end, however, Dutch points out that we must learn from these mistakes, and the mistakes of other moves of God in the past century, so that we can build a movement within Christianity whose fruit will remain forever.

In order for the coming great awakening to bear maximum fruit we must have both, as well as a course correction that sets us on a path of wisdom leading to life. There is no doubt that past moves of God have been aborted, ended prematurely and contained error or heresy that have wounded, if not destroyed, many. The healing revival of the 40’s and 50’s, the charismatic movement, discipleship movement and Jesus movement are all examples. My heart is to help shape a movement, the fruit of which will last for decades—better yet, forever.

Read Dutch Sheets' Statement Regarding Lakeland

My Observations and Response

We are all saddened for Todd and Shonnah Bentley. I pray that God would intervene and bring healing and restoration.

Like many, I had mixed feeling about the Lakeland revival. As reports of unorthodox doctrine and ministry practices emerged I began to feel more uneasy about what was taking place. I was relieved when I heard that apostolic fathers were stepping in to bring oversight to the revival. These are men of wisdom, maturity, and integrity, and I was happy to see them enter into the picture.

I will be interested to read the statements of these men as the days and weeks commence to see how and why they got involved and how they saw the events unfolding. While I was happy to see these men become a part of the oversight team, in hindsight, like Dutch Sheets, I believe they moved to quickly to publicly endorse the revival without thoroughly investigating all that was going on.

After hearing mixed reports on the revival in Lakeland, I wanted to go and see for myself what was happening. But Todd Bentley had already stepped back from the revival for a season by the time I was able to attend in July, so I didn't see him there.

I was in Florida for the Christian Booksellers Convention and I ran into J. Lee Grady, the editor of Charisma magazine. We spoke for a few moments and I told him that I was grateful for his frank assessment of the revival. Grady and the staff at Charisma did a very good job, first in reporting on the beginnings of the revival, and then in urging caution, and finally warnings about the excesses of the revival.

The night I went to Lakeland the worship was powerful, the teaching was biblical, and there was an atmosphere of joy and peace in the room. But behind the scenes the news of Bentley's marital problems was already surfacing.

More from J. Lee Grady on Lakeland: "Life After Lakeland: Sorting Out the Confusion"

Related Grady Article: Angels, Deception and a Cry for Biblical Truth

I wrote this in an earlier ChurchWatch blog, but I believe it bears repeating. Whether you loved or loathed Todd Bentley and the Lakeland Revival, now is a time to pray for Todd and his wife, Shonnah. Yes, there are questions that need to be answered. Yes, there are lessons that need to be learned. But the Church must walk in grace and truth, just as Jesus did. To walk only in truth without grace and love is to be a clanging symbol or a noisy gong. Let love be our highest goal, for love never fails.

"The History and Future of the Present Revival" by Rick Joyner of MorningStar Ministries