Todd Bentley Update
“For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely…Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush” Jeremiah 6
“They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD” Hosea 5
This evening I was going to put together a post on some information received this afternoon concerning the latest on Todd Bentley, but I see that our friend Mariam, at EndTimesPropheticWords, has done the hard part already by compiling the links and info into a couple posts. God bless you Mariam, I know it takes time and effort to put those together–you saved me the time and your comments are right on target!
As I wrote the friend who sent me this info along with the link earlier today, Bentley must love the limelight and adoration of his fans. He must thrive on it. That’s the only explanation for why he would have started a personal page on MySpace now, when he is due to start his ‘restoration’ process with Joyner and company in January.
Sounds to me, by reading his page concerning ‘his ministry’ today, Todd believes he’s still an active Evangelist: So any restoration process will be nothing but a sham. (The music on his MySpace page gives me a headache…be warned, its more of his weird preferred rock music about demons and dying, sigh…)
You won’t find anything on his page concerning his recent troubles–including his separation, impending divorce [he lists himself as 'single'] or the fact he is continuing to live in adultery. Its the same ole Todd: delusional and living a lie.
Todd Bentley’s Mistress, Jessa, Revealed
quote..
The third picture of a ‘friend’ currently on Todd Bentley’s new myspace website is of someone called ‘Jessa’. If you click on her name there, it takes you to ”Ravishmyheart’s” Myspace profile.
I suspected by the picture’s prominence that this ‘Jessa’ may well be the elusive former live-in nanny and Fresh Fire intern that Todd Bentley did more than ‘holding hands with’ at Lakeland, so I did a bit of googling and found this information posted by former NAR apostle Robert Ricciardelli that confirms that Jessa is indeed the ‘lady’ – and more than this, the adulterous affair between Todd and Jessa precedes Lakeland by at least three months.
Robert Ricciardelli:
“Todd has been together with Jessa since January.”
- Read the rest of this disturbing post and see the photo HERE
Mariam’s second post: Todd Bentley is Ba-a-a-ck!!! says it all. I’m beginning to wonder if he really ever left!
quote…
All links towards Fresh Fire Ministries are removed and books and CD’S, the earthly treasure’s of the Prophetic Movement, are now plugged. And you no longer need Fresh Fire to supply them.”
The sales now are directed through “Sound of Fire” of which Todd claims to be the company president of, but which is technically owned by Todd Bentley’s dad, Dave Bentley and his step mum…
I am not surprised Todd Bentley is attempting a comeback without acknowledgment, let alone repentance, for his many wrongs. I am not surprised he is still lying and is, if anything, even worse than before. What I am a little surprised by though is the amount of people who still openly support this unrepentant liar and adulterer…
The new Todd Bentley myspace page only started on 16th December 2008. You’ll note the continued lies about his being a healer and miracle worker on there – and his use of the present tense to describe his ‘ministry’.
- More HERE
**
How fitting that Lakeland, Bentley and the whole fiasco was center-stage on many blogs for months in 2008, and I’m now finishing out the year with an update on him 1 minutes before we enter 2009.
I am sure these verses fit this batch of fools:::>
Psa 81:8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you! O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
Psa 81:9 There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
Psa 81:10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
Psa 81:11 “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me.
Psa 81:12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.
What still continues to amaze me, is the lack of shame, Godly sorrow or repentance on Todd’s part.
Michael, did you go over to Mariam’s blog and see the photo; is that the young lady you saw him with recently?
Let me tell you being an ex-fresh fire partner, and someone that once “followed” Todd Bentley. There is no reality outside himself and the ministry. Right now I tell you that Todd is busting to get back onto the platform. He cannot operate in the real world. If Todd goes and stays with Rick Joyner once Rick puts him on stage in Todd’s mind the show is back on, and probably with a greater anointing or so you will be told.
His ego is off the scale. He writes in the third person and gives HIMSELF glory, glory, and glory. AD – NAUSEA.
And there are still people who fawn over him.
Whew. In Jesus’ love.
Bonnie
Todd is too typical of the unrepentant evanagelical pastors, Persons I have met in Canada
http://witnessed.wordpress.com/2009/01/01/the-ostrich-form-of-christianity-that-contradicts-the-bible/
Just an interesting note:
From Todd’s myspace page…
uummm …I recall Todd claiming, on numerous occasions to have already ‘met’ both Jesus and Paul, during his many trips to heaven, after being ’swept up’ in fire tunnels. The guy even encouraged others to pray for ‘open portals’ so they TOO could have the same ‘trips’ to heaven…
And how can we forget one of the many claims made by Todd, in which he gives a physical description of ‘Jesus’ in detail, saying he had ‘eyes like Bambi’ ….
The whole third person thing weirded me out – sounded like an ad advertising his services!
I was stunned to see the way he’s using his blog – I think I expected to see something (ANYTHING) about what has happened and newsy type stuff like going to stay at Rick Joyners or what he did at Christmas (like phoning his children maybe?). I certainly didn’t expect that he would be ‘teaching’ and instructing the gullible masses on a blog!
PJ,
yes I did and it may be her.
When I saw him and her walking past me that afternoon, I only saw a profile briefly and mostly the backside. She was about the same height as the girl in the video clips I linked too from Miriam’s blogsite, the one where a girl is standing next to him holding the microphone when he was supposedly “baptising” those in the portible pool shouting bam, bam. That certainly is odd for me to hear someone refer to the Holy Ghost as bam, don’t you think, baptising someone in the name of the Father, the Son and bam while they are flopping or jerking around in the pool being baptised? These folks have no clue as to the disgrace that brings the Church.
I went looking at other youtube videos of portions at Lakeland gatherings to see if the same one who was next to him on that stage is the same one profiled, looking to see them facing in the same direction as that day at Costco. I haven’t seen anything though. Maybe the guy who is confirming that one in the photo on his blog can point to or link to a youtube clip where she is clearly seen standing next to him that I can view?
Did I tell you that my son and I were in BC in June? We were on the Island of Vancouver and there are “Costcos” up there. It was a surprise to me as well that there were also “Safeway” stores. So that is why I wasn’t to surprised or suspicious that it could be him walking through the Costco here where I live. When I saw the Costco there in Canada, my son and I went in more curious to see if there was going to be the same kind of merchandise and layout as here. I was also in Ladysmyth where I believe his dad and stepmom lives.
In any event Bud sent me an email last night with the photo also of “jessa”. The hair is the right color in both the video, the photo and the body build height is the same as the one I saw in Costco that afternoon in the youtube video. Again I emphasize that they were moving and he was closest to me and she was on his right side and mostly what I saw of her was a brief profile and the rest of the brief time was her backside. I was more focused on him and those gaudy tatooed arms, his height and build, looking much bigger in person than on youtube clips and the ring in his ear and something in his nose. The picture Bud sent and the one on Miriam’s blogsite could be her as the one in the video where the one holding the microphone, the one identified as Jessa? In the photo and on the youtube clips this girl is facing the other direction than when I saw the two walking past me.
I think his mistress is the girl holding the microphone during Todd’s infamous baptism video. Isn’t this her here?
Todd Bentely Part2 Super Amazing Water Baptism
I read that her name is Jessa. I wonder if her middle name is Bell? Get it? Jessa-Bell? Yuk Yuk
I feel sure that many knew they had been together since January. Did they really think they could keep it under raps forever?
Of course, we all knew Todd wouldn’t be able to avoid the limelight for long, as he seems to thrive on it. I do wonder if he will submit to ‘restoration’ under Rick Joyner this year, or if he will just go it alone.
By the way, I was channel surfing last night and came across Joyner’s New Years meeting on God TV. I noticed that Jason Upton was performing there. But I didn’t hear any ‘angels’ singing along with him. hahaha
Sick. It all leaves me feeling very ill. Even my young teeanage daughter can see through all this very clearly. I can not understand how anyone could support or give this man any pulpit from which to “peddle his wares”. He should be run out of town.
Yep….Todd’s back. As many predicted.
I have not seen it mentioned, but it is obvious to me…
Todd is wanting an American woman so he can move to richer$$$ pasture to deceive more people and make more $$$. Todd wants to become and American citizen. That is why he cannot get a VISA. That is why he has failed to return to Canada.
That is why he is whoring himself.
Planned pride, greed and god complex.
That is Todd Bentley.
So if enough bloggers inform customs of
Todd Bentleys intentions to marry himself into
the USA, well, the cat is out of the bag, I’d say.
Keep that crazy Canadian in cold Canada.
Email US customs and immigration.
Lisa, yes…it looks to be the same young woman at his myspace page. (good find!)
I’m not willing to say this is the same woman he left his wife for and has been carrying on an affair with since last January (you do realize folks, that means he was involved in this affair prior to and all during the Lakeland nightly meetings) only because im not 100% sure…
I would hate to say it was “positively” only to find out later it wasn’t. Though Mariam has some pretty good proof it is, substantiated by Robert Ricciardelli:
She sure looks young, doesn’t she? And pretty. To be honest, if this is the woman, what in the heck would she see in him??!! LOL….(forgive me)
Another fact which may substantiate this is the girl is she lives in California, and this is where Todd ran to after leaving Lakeland–and has continued to live there since.
Time will tell…
Michael,
You had mentioned in another thread about seeing him recently and how he looked ‘big’….did you notice on his blog he lists one of his favorite things as working out at the gym? He may be ‘pumped up’ more now…
“She sure looks young, doesn’t she? And pretty. To be honest, if this is the woman, what in the heck would she see in him??!! LOL….(forgive me) ”
You know, I’ve been wondering that myself!
Nothing has been “substantiated” by Robert Ricciardelli. He made the comment you quote on my blog in September but refused to provide any kind of evidence of this. As such it is an unsubstantiated rumour or gossip which should not be spread. I note that in Romans 1:29-30 etc gossip is listed together with sexual immorality as serious sin.
It would be really nice if this man would just go away. Canada can have him.
Peter,
first thanks for dropping by…
Yes i understand that there isn’t, at this time anyway, 100% solid proof other then Robert’s post of ‘a’ Jessa….along with the fact of the girl’s (Jessa) photo on his blog, plus the fact of this girl in the photo is seen working along side Todd during last years Lakeland fiasco…etc.
Though the evidence is substantial, i still have held back from saying its her, as you’ll see in my previous post.
There’s no accounting for some peoples taste.ahahahah
On a serious note though, from reading the comments left under Mariam’s threads on this topic, many of the young people who worked ‘with’ him at Lakeland were young interns [in training under him] from Abbotsford B.C. and FreshFire ministry: And the photographer who took the young woman’s photo posted on his blog is listed as located in Abbotsford as well.
Just my opinion, but i think Todd was/is some type of guru to these young people who worked with him…a spiritual leader or spiritual ‘father’…
He then used them and abused them, if this is true. Drinking, wild all night parties, etc etc etc, with these interns.
How many other ’so-called spiritual leaders’ have we seen revealed through the years, who have done the same thing? many….they prey upon those whom they have convinced to follow them, instead of God.
Its obvious Todd has a huge ego–even now. And seeks to stay in contact with his followers, most of them young,… he can’t help himself: It feeds his ego and perception of himself as a great spiritual leader…he needs his ‘fix’…
Joyner will have him back on ’stage’ publicly, soon…watch and see…
>>”To be honest, if this is the woman, what in the heck would she see in him?”<<
I think it’s obvious what she sees in him. – $$$$$$$!
If this is ‘the woman’, I have no respect for her whatsoever. Anyone who would work as a nanny for 3 children of a crippled woman and her evangelist husband, and then proceeds to ingratiate herself right into the arms of said evangelist husband, proves that she has no morals whatsoever. She obviously cared nothing at all for the children in her care, and proceeded to become a homewrecker. I remember seeing the kids onstage at Lakeland, and noticed at the time, that the little boy, in particular, looked very sad and uninterested. I chalked it up at the time to the possiblility of him being tired. But now, I think he knew that the whole thing was a sham, and not all was well with his mom and dad. And now that this woman is living with Todd, you would think, having been nanny to his kids, she would at least encourage him to visit his children, or at least financially support them!
I know it takes two to tango, but every woman knows better than to go after another’s husband. And this woman claimed to be Christian. If this is not bad enough, she knowingly stood on stage with him, knowing that all was a fraud, and helped him perpetrate that fraud upon the sick and the desperate. Despicable!!!
I’m sorry for ranting, but this sort of thing really gets my goat. This ‘affair’ really has served its pupose in getting people’s attention diverted from the original problem of false theology being preached at Lakeland, hasn’t it?
PJ, I agree that there is good reason to think that the young woman whose photo we have seen is the same former nanny with whom Todd has admitted an inappropriate relationship. What is no more than gossip is the suggestion that there was anything inappropriate happening before July last year, the date given by Todd. Todd has not given her name presumably to respect her privacy, and we should also respect this.
It is of course common for charismatic (in both senses) Christian leaders to surround themselves with a group of interns etc who see them as a bit of a guru, or in more Christian language a spiritual father or mother. A bit like Jesus and his disciples. In most of these cases I presume that it is all quite innocent and is genuinely spiritually beneficial. I am sure that at least initially it was so with Todd and his interns. But it seems clear that things did get out of hand at least with this one girl. I don’t think we have any evidence that there was more general wrongdoing and abuse of interns. So let’s not speculate where there is no evidence.
Is having a Myspace page and several friends, many younger than oneself, evidence of having “a huge ego”? If so, I must repent and take down my Facebook page immediately!
PJ:
“….Michael,
You had mentioned in another thread about seeing him recently and how he looked ‘big’….did you notice on his blog he lists one of his favorite things as working out at the gym? He may be ‘pumped up’ more now…”
I was making a, “overweight”, not “physically” fit and solid weight comment and observation as to how big he is when you see him in person at the distance I saw and reported on in here.
Also, youtube, proportionally, gets height and weight and appearance a bit off. To see someone in person is far different than watching them on a t.v., computer, or movie screen. There is always a profound difference.
An example is General Alexander Haig. I had seen him on T.V. during the Nixon and Reagan years and on talk shows from time to time after he retired to private life. But several years later I was with him in person. I was shocked at how “short” he was. He is shorter than me. And if you didn’t know “who” he was, you would never put two and two together that this was the most powerful military man of his time! Also, I never knew he smoked. I never saw him on t.v. ever smoke a cigarette. But he smokes and smokes alot!
So, my apology if my visual characterization of Bentley led to some mischaracterizations of him by me.
Quite honestly, I am hoping God will get this guy, Todd, set him on Fire for Jesus and let him go at NAR and all the charlatans that are being dealt Light blows by the children of Light in here and in other blogs I frequent!
Wouldn’t that be swell? It certainly would be a modern day Saul/Paul kind of scenario. Bentley, if redeemed and God then “truly” uses him would break open a whole new mindset in this quote post modern Christianity in America. Although, if my memory serves me correctly, Lazarus, after being raised again from the dead, well, he had to die a second time, but he certainly did not suffer the second death!
I think this young, pretty impressionable girl probably sees this in Bentley …$$$
There are still so many people supporting this joker, so the dough still rolls in. Or it will soon. I would like to ship him back to Canada…
PJ I am so glad you mentioned in his post how he wanted to meet Jesus and Paul, I did not put that together….and lol to Lisa at the Jessa Bell comment.
That was funny!
Hi B….hope you had a great Christmas!
Yes that was the first thing which came to me…how he claimed to have met Jesus or been visited by him, many times. And of his trip[s] to heaven, when he claimed to have met, sat and talked with Paul about so many things [didn't he also say Paul took him to his 'home' in heaven? or was that Abraham...]
Maybe Todd ‘forgot’ about those meetings when setting up his blog
Freshfire was one ministry which came forward admitting there was wrong doing by Todd with his young staff:
Other ministries followed suit after the directors at Todd’s own ministry sent out the letter…
The evidence of Todd’s huge ego was seen every night [he was at Lakeland] on GODTV.
If you’d like, type in his name at the top of my blog–during the time i watched it nightly, i posted quite a few posts about what i observed.
OK…when i read he likes to work out at a gym now, i thought perhaps he was ‘muscled up’ when you saw him…
This ‘affair’ really has served its pupose in getting people’s attention diverted from the original problem of false theology being preached at Lakeland, hasn’t it?
Lisa that is an excellent observation!
We shouldn’t forget why many knew the move was not of God–the false doctrines, extra-biblical teachings, and the ‘impartation’ he and those there wanted to pass on to everyone (”Come get some!”- remember?)
Lisa that is an excellent observation!
We shouldn’t forget why many knew the move was not of God–the false doctrines, extra-biblical teachings, and the ‘impartation’ he and those there wanted to pass on to everyone (”Come get some!”- remember?)
This was posted tonight at Western Standard.ca
Todd Bentley, Inc.
quote..
more here
Lara Merz took Jessa’s photo, she also took photos of Todd at the Lakeland Revival and sold(?) them to Christian Week in Canada.
http://www.christianweek.org/editions.php?vol=22&num=09
Sound of Fire Productions has been online for awhile and listed admin contact is Todd Bentley’s step mother.
Sound of Fire Productions
Darcia Bentley
Ladysmith, BC V9G 1A8
Canada
The Sound of Fire Productions site is owned by Steve Stanczyk, a BC artist who still has Fresh Fire Ministries/Todd Bentley listed on his studio page. He does work for Heidi and Roland Baker for Cry Africa who are with Global Harvest Ministries.
Bentley’s former Abbotsford Church Global Harvest Centre Association is where his manager and road crew come from. The Global Harvest Canada site is registered to Abbotsford City Church Society. (same group)
http://www.stevestanczyk.com/Pages/bio.html
I didn’t check the new Bentley MySpace page to see if any other of Mrs. Merz’s portraits are there.
I don’t know if this young woman is the girlfriend, I do however agree with Rick Hiebert who wrote in The Western Standard awhile ago that Sound of Fire Productions was not listed as a charity and was a private company. Now that Fresh Fire Canada has removed all of Bentley’s product I think Rick is correct – it is now Todd Bentley Inc.
http://westernstandard.blogs.com/shotgun/2009/01/todd-bentley-inc.html
The question still stands. What happened to the money?
PJ, thanks for the evidence that things were going wrong with more than one of Todd’s staff members in the later stages of Lakeland, presumably in July which is when the specific inappropriate relationship started.
I note that you edited out of the Western Standard blog post the part where the author is sceptical about Robert Ricciardelli’s alleged revelations:
I am glad to see some ethical journalism there, as well as on this blog but not in all the comments.
Bene, what money are you talking about? If you are referring to gift income received at Lakeland, most of that went on expenses – towards the end they were having trouble covering these. If there was any surplus I presume it was split between FFM and Ignited Church. None of it, beyond his salary and expenses, would have gone to Todd personally.
It wasn’t edited out for any reason other then to save space here, LOL….we were already discussing that issue..I tried to just post any new info from that particular article which might have been relevant. (plus, i figured people interested would follow the link provided)
“None of it, beyond his salary and expenses, would have gone to Todd personally.” (peter kirk)
OH!!
And just what facts do you have to substanciate
your assumption?
I strongly disagree with your words.
For years Todd Bentley has had people
stuffing $$$ into his pockets, and giving him the
“pentecostal handshake”.
Fact, not fiction, should be written here.
I personally know of these two events happening.
I encourage all people who have given to Todd Bentley or FreshFire Ministries, who have NOT received a tax receipt, to report their giving to
Revenue Canada.
Unreported income is illegal and criminal.
This is not just $20.00 dollars here and $100.00
dollars there. Many many people have given their
hard earned money to this con-artist and not received a receipt. (I know of 6) So let justice be done.
I also brought to light the fact that Todd supported
and endorsed POT SMOKING.
A credible friend witnessed Todd telling his father
it was OK to smoke pot on his breaks from the
sales table. Which he did.
Other facts are: copied from Fresh Fire website,
1. Fresh Fire Ministries
Todd Bentley has demonstrated himself unfaithful to his wife by entering into a relationship with another woman while still legally married. …
2. In light of our lack of communication, some of you have felt the need to withdraw your partnership with Fresh Fire Ministries; we completely understand and
(release you)
Fresh Fire is still a cult.
Good for them for the promo denouncing
Todd Bentley.
Bad for them for the brainwashing people into believing that Fresh Fire Ministries posseses their soul and they must be
“released” (or they are in rebellion and sin)
What a blantent and cultish control mechanism.
Todd Bentley and Freshfire ministries are still a cult,
and are still very dangerous.
Guard your hearts.
Guard your money.
Serve the Savior of your soul,
Our Lord, Jesus.
Randy – if you know six people who have not received their tax receipts you can still report what you know to Rev Can. It’s against the law for FF not to issue tax receipts for donations.
I phoned FF Canada. Needless to say they didn’t get back to me so I phoned Rev Can, I’ve looked at all their filings.
Peter: I’m asking about each organization involved in Lakeland starting at the beginning of 2008.
Bank loans due, assets etc.
Steven Stader – Ignite.
Any of his family involved in working Lakeland.
I suggested some time I ago you look at FF Rev Can statements including the salary hikes Bentley took. (2008 isn’t out. yet)
Did God TV (Angel Christian Television Trust Inc?) receive its IRS approval? (last I saw it was pending)
What countries has God TV had charitable status approved in? What companies do they have that are not charitable?
Who paid for the Fresh Fire property in the Lakeland area? You can look it up, it’s in Polk County.
Where are the statements of revenue (offerings) received for Lakeland?
I’ve never heard of ‘the pentecostal handshake’ put that way.:^)
Of course I am asking where the financial statements are for the organizations involved in Lakeland.
Bentley managed to sever ties with FF Canada before their financial year end and has had his private company running since 2004.
Product income 2008 – funnelled through how many countries and how many ministries?
I’m asking about 2008 – and gift revenues from Lakeland is part of the question.
Peter if you have the financial statements from organizations involved in Lakeland, would you be kind enough to share them with us?