Todd Bentley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Todd Bentley
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Bentley in 2008
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| Born | January 10, 1976 Gibsons, British Columbia, Canada
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| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation | Evangelist |
| Employer | Fresh Fire USA |
| Spouse(s) |
Shonnah Bentley
(m. 1995–2009)Jessa Bentley
(m. 2009) |
Todd David Bentley (born January 10, 1976) is a Canadian evangelist, a type of Christian preacher who travels to different places to share their beliefs. He became well-known for leading a large event called the Lakeland Revival. He was also the leader of a group called Fresh Fire Ministries Canada.
Contents
Life and Ministry
Early Years
Todd Bentley was born in Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada, and grew up in the small town of Gibsons, British Columbia. He had a difficult childhood. When he was 18, he decided to change his life completely after becoming a Christian. Soon after, he began his work in Christian ministry.
Fresh Fire Ministries
In 1998, Bentley started leading a small ministry group that grew into a larger movement. He began traveling to countries in Asia, Africa, and Europe to lead large prayer and worship events called crusades and revivals. This group became Fresh Fire Ministries Canada.
Bentley led this ministry until 2008. The next year, he started a new ministry in the United States called Fresh Fire USA with the help of another church leader, Rick Joyner.
The Lakeland Revival
What Was the Lakeland Revival?
In April 2008, Bentley was invited to lead a week-long revival at Ignited Church in Lakeland, Florida. The event became so popular that it lasted for four months instead of just one week. Thousands of people came each night to hear Bentley preach.
The revival was known for its exciting atmosphere, with colorful lights and loud Christian rock music. A major focus of the event was faith healing, where people prayed to be healed from sickness. Many people who attended said they experienced miracles.
Gaining Worldwide Attention
The revival used modern technology to reach a global audience. The meetings were broadcast live on the internet and were watched by over a million people in the first five weeks. A Christian TV channel, GOD TV, also began showing the revival every night.
Because of the revival's popularity, other church leaders took notice. A group of leaders held a special ceremony to publicly show their support for Bentley and his work.
Questions and Criticisms
The revival also faced criticism. Some news reporters, like those from ABC's Nightline, said they could not prove that anyone had actually been healed. However, other newspapers, like the Charlotte Observer, spoke to people who said they were healed at the revival. Church leaders said they couldn't share medical records because of privacy laws.
Bentley's energetic style was also questioned. He was known to sometimes push or hit people during his prayers. Bentley said he was led by the Holy Spirit to do these things and that miracles were happening at the same time.
In July 2008, Bentley announced he would be leaving the revival. He left a few weeks later in August. The end of the revival caused many Christian leaders to discuss what went right and what went wrong.
Later Years and Controversies
Personal Changes and New Beginnings
In August 2008, Bentley announced that he and his wife, Shonnah, were separating. He stepped down from his leadership role at Fresh Fire Ministries. The board of the ministry said he would take a break from public work.
A group of well-known pastors, including Rick Joyner, was formed to help guide Bentley. In 2009, Bentley remarried. By 2010, Joyner announced that Bentley could return to a limited role in ministry, and he eventually started preaching again.
Ministry Challenges
In 2012, Bentley was not allowed to enter the United Kingdom for a planned visit. The UK government said it did not believe his presence would be good for the public.
In 2019, new concerns were raised about Bentley's behavior by people who had worked with him. In 2020, a panel of respected pastors reviewed his ministry. They stated that they saw a "steady pattern of [immoral] behavior" over many years. The panel declared that he was not fit to be a minister. Bentley's church attendance dropped after this.
Beliefs and Preaching Style
Bentley's sermons often focus on passages from the Bible. He teaches that people can have supernatural experiences as gifts from the Holy Spirit. He has said his main goal is to help people feel the presence of God.
His preaching style is very unique. He is known for having many tattoos and facial piercings, which is not common for an evangelist. He often wears T-shirts instead of suits and is known for shouting words like "Bam!" during his sermons.
See also
In Spanish: Todd Bentley para niños
