And the Award For Best Christian Blog Post of 2008 Goes To:

Endtimespropheticwords for this gem about Fresh Fire Ministries and the rank deception they loosed on the body of Christ:

The Anointing’s Bad for You! Excuses From Fresh Fire Directors Re: Lakeland Revival & Todd Bentley Affair

From a bulk emailing sent out on November 28, 2008. Bold emphasis is mine.

 ”Fresh Fire Ministry Update:Greetings FFM Friends & Partners – Past & Present.
Fresh Fire Ministries – Board of Directors

November 28, 2008

Greetings to our FFM Partners—past and present.

Please allow us to begin by sincerely apologizing for the long silence between our first two letters and this one. We will do our best to help you understand why it has taken us so long to respond to your many legitimate requests for information. Please also know that we write this letter as an explanation of our silence and not a defense of it.

We have received letters, emails and phone calls from many of you during the last three months, expressing sympathy and support as well as frustration and disappointment. We ourselves have been on an emotional rollercoaster for some time now and have found that looking to the Lord for His new mercies every morning enables us to make it through the day.

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 both release and bless you in your walk with God. Others have been compelled to discontinue their giving as a result of the economic crisis in America and in other countries around the world. We thank you for the many years of faithful support, and wish you to know that it was not in vain; more on that later. Nonetheless if you must go, for whatever reason, we trust that the Lord will lead you in connecting with the many other excellent ministries out there faithfully advancing His kingdom. Some of you have received so much good word and powerful impartation through FFM, that you might consider starting your own ministry.

{Endtimes note – so why really this emailing now after all this time- four months later after the adultery was outed and there is STILL no apology from Todd Bentley about it – even crocodile tears? For money?]

“Moving on,

{You cannot just move on without dealing with this properly …. this is the trouble with the modern day church shoving sins under the rug and whitewashing everything …]

“… let us first say that we know, without a shadow of doubt, that Lakeland was and is an authentic move of God. Having known Todd well for many years, both his amazing strengths …

{Endtimes note: which were what exactly? Lying and cheating?  Also bear in mind that even if Todd Bentley were a genuine man of God, which he was not, one does not point to and glory in natural human strengths but in GOD’S supernatural power working in the yielded humble man.]

“… and his areas of weakness,

{If they knew his weaknesses before then why did they still let Todd minister?  Or not watch him more closely?  Todd’s adultery and ‘excessive drunkeness’ were not the main thing wrong about Lakeland, they were symptoms of a much greater problem – but Todd Bentley is a known serial offender in these areas, having been restored to ministry before far too quickly and after prior cover ups. He was never restored properly then and he is not being restored properly now. The people who supported him, such as within Fresh Fire Board of Directors are culpable for this – not just Todd Bentley himself.  They knew what he was before, they knew what he was still during the spring and summer of this year, they know what he is now…. many covered up knowing full well what Todd was up to sexually, morally, ethically, spiritually. And it was and is disgusting and I rebuke them all for it.]

“… we can say without reservation that the move of God in Lakeland, which began at Ignited Church, was genuine.

{I have already supplied much evidence showing that the Lakeland Outpouring was NOT genuine or a move of God. It certainly was not ’spontaneous’ either bearing in mind the evidence of the expensive P R agency’s involvement right at the very beginning, and the other media output – it was hyped and manmade from the start.

I do not wish to go over old ground again about all the deception, heresy, blasphemy at Lakeland etc as this topic has been discussed in great detail already in hundreds of posts [literally] chronicling the deceit, but those new to the blog who do not realise Lakeland was false, and the reasons why, need to do some researching before the throne of God and in the word of God with an open mind, then read on this blog and others like it the evidence, while all the time asking God for wisdom and discernment.]

“We have never seen, in the history of this ministry, a greater quantity and quality of the miraculous demonstration of God’s healing power.

{Remember why Lakeland folded, folks. Because there were noverified healings, miracles or raisings from the dead. The miraculous was not demonstrated, nor was God’s healing power, despite all the hype. Lakeland did not end because of the news of Todd Bentley’s adultery and drunkeness which came out much later, AFTER Lakeland had suffered the fatal two blows that actually brought it down. These two blows in my opinion being the Wendy Alec false prophecy that Jesus was to appear on stage at Lakeland on June 8, and then the ABC Nightline report in July showing there were no documented healings.]

“As the Lord began to pour out His glory in Ignited Church and in the many venues that followed, Todd’s spirit was as pure as it has ever been ….

{Wow. This takes some nerve and audacity – and deceit – to say this!]

“… and he was intensely hungry for more of God’s presence. He would spend hours soaking each day before the evening meeting, and once the worship had begun, Todd would become lost in the presence of God.

{Or so he said. But he said a lot of things. Many of them contradictory. Todd has been lying and contradicting himself and more importantly God’s word for many years and I have documentation of this – the proof – on this website.  Just because a man claims to pray, encounter angels, have visions, bilocate, talk with Jesus etc does not make his claims true! Especially when the evidence is in that the guy is a pathological liar.  Hey even C Peter Wagner of the NAR has called Todd a demonised mess, a liar and deceiver…

Regardless, being in the presense of God changes people irrevocably – for the good. Todd Bentley just got worse and worse so what exactly what he was ’soaking’ in – even if we accept their theology about soaking is sound?

And even if he did genuinely spend 24/7 with the One True God, which he did not, it does not cancel out or nullify his SIN. His numerous sin. Sin is sin and he is accountable for it, regardless how long he soaks in God or boasts about his religious experiences.

Added to that there was a lot – and still is even here in this email - of bragging about spending time with God – the typical kind of spiritual one-upmanship evident within the NAR that led to more and more extravagant and far fetched claims. [The more one boasts of their religious activity and experiences, the less likely they are telling the truth. It also qualifies somebody for 'pharisee status'.]. pp ‘I spend six hours with God.’ ‘Well I spend seven so yeah! Well I, Todd, spends 23 hours and go on third heaven experiences and meet angels called Emma so beat that…..ner ner nerrrr!’]

“The manifestation of amazingly accurate words of knowledge and astounding miracles flowed effortlessly night after night.

As the Outpouring continued, the Board of Directors and other leaders in Lakeland suggested that Todd take a few days off each week to rest and refresh.

{If the anointing flowed ‘effortlessly’ then why would Todd Bentley need to rest and refresh for a few days each week? This is a contradiction!

Apart from the fact that if this were genuinely of God, this work schedule would not have been detrimental to anybody that God had genuinely called for the task, Todd Bentley was evidently NOT on stage every day anyway. Many came and spoke in Todd’s place on many nights.

Note what they are trying to do here, which is what they and their cronies have done before – blame all Todd’s SIN aka ‘failures’ or ‘weaknesses’ onto ‘God’!]

“We learned from experience, however, and the post-Lakeland counsel of Christian leaders, that the anointing can be addictive.

{So they only discovered the ’anointing can be addictive’ AFTERWARDS?!  Note that Lakeland was not unique. Todd Bentley [and many others] has been doing this stuff for years in the same ‘anointing’ claiming the very same stuff. The only difference is this year at Lakeland Bentley had a PR agency on board from the beginning, as well as God TV, the NAR bigwigs and the internet - and Todd Bentley’s heart was even more sold out to the evil one.  And the deception was on a much grander scale. But it was the same of the same of.

The Toronto Blessing that Lakeland was spurred from started in January 1994 – and before then these manifestations existed  for hundreds of years within false cults and sects – that is 14 yearsago.  Toronto, Brownsville, Sunderland and many other places had several meetings a day, almost 7 days a week – some for years. IHOP do some of this stuff around the clock 24/7. Lakeland only lasted 4 months.

They had at least 14 years to find out before Lakeland what the anointing was and what it could do – yet they claim to only now know in retrospect that the ‘anointing’ is addictive?! THEY ARE ADMITTING THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DEALING WITH OR PASSING ON?!

I have to agree with them to a degree – though I know they say it deceitfully for deceptive purposes in order to try and justify Todd Bentley. The Lakeland/Toronto anointing is addictive. I know, I was sucked in at the time of the Toronto Blessing – the same spirit aas Lakeland wuth the same people, the Latter Rain inspired Kansas City prophets behind the deception – and became a junkie going to many meetings for ‘more’. I have written before about it on this site and how I came to wake up to realise ’the anointing’ was not from God or godly. And how there was much bitter fruit that I paid for for years from Toronto – not just in my own life but I saw the same in other Christians and churches. And Toronto was not nearly so overtly heretical and sinful as Lakeland – though it was the same bad spirit. 

But crucially, regarless of the past, the true Spirit of God is not bad for you!  Nor does He create or encourage addiction, let alone related to Him, or encourage running from place to place or man to man to get the next fix {The word of God spaks against this]. Toronto was a grand diverter and timewaster – for as I have said before the true Spirit of God does not encourage people to go from meeting to meeting to get ever-more experiences. In the Book of Acts the people were filled once at Pentecost and then the church were irrevocably changed. Their experience was for a purpose, not for experience’s sake. They did not then run from meeting to meeting to get more experiences and ‘more’ – they went out into the world and preached and did signs and wonders and good works. Their God was always the focus, not the experiences. Toronto as well as being a diversion from true prayer, teaching, evangelism and spiritual activity also acted as a gateway for deception and over time as the fruit manifested led to a great falling away and sin. Lakeland was addictive but it led away to another gospel and another god, and focus on self. It led astray and led to experiential religion and not truth. Already bad fruit has manifested and even worse shall manifest in time from the Lakeland anointing.

Was Todd Bentley addicted?  Yes but to power and satiating his lusts. To seeing the money pile up. To see the people hoodwinked and under his spell. But NOT to the true Spirit of God.

Anyway, I think the biggest point that I can make that will destroy their false argument is this - Todd Bentley was claiming to be basking almost 24/7 in the anointing/’honey glory’ anyway, even long before Lakeland, so please can they explain how his having any time off from being on the Lakeland stage [he did take time off anyway, but for the sake of this argument] would solve that addiction problem to the anointing – especially as it was during his time off he was claiming to be having lots of amazing experiences and being visited by angels and dead saints while basking in the glow-ry/or popping up to the third heaven for the odd gold coin or two? 

Can you see the glaring contradiction here? Time off would have solved nothing – even by their own logic – and would have actually worsened it if we believe them. THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE DEMANDED/ENFORCED TODD NOT SPEND TIME WITH GOD AS IT WAS BAD FOR HIM OFF STAGE. Hmmm. Which we know is not right but that is exactly what they are saying if we follow the logic through. Someone is OBVIOUSLY lying somewhere. And recall Todd claimed he had no control over the angels electrocuting him, prodding and poking him – or dead people visiting him – so what can any of them have done to protect Todd from this dangerous anointing or burnout?!

Added to that, this was claimed to be going on long before Lakeland, so why did these issues not surface before?]

“Significant personal issues in Todd’s life and make-up…

{Significant “personal issues”? Why not call SIN, sin, REBELLION, rebellion, LYING, lying, DISOBEDIENCE, disobedience, PRIDE, pride, GREED, greed, MOCKERY, mockery, BLASPHEMY, blasphemy, HYPOCRISY, hypocrisy, MERCHANDISING, merchandising, FALSE PROPHECY, false prophecy, HERESY, heresy, ADULTERY, adultery, ADDICTION, addiction, DRUNKENESS, drunkeness, LUST, lust, PERVERSION, perversion, DEBAUCHERY, debauchery, LAWBREAKING, lawbreaking, FRAUD, fraud, OCCULTISM, occultism, FOOLISHNESS, foolishness etc?   And their cover up of all these things – and more – for what it is – SIN.

Note also earlier on they said Todd’s spirit was pure. So this contradicts. And Todd claimed instant holiness and how righteous he was and how healed his family was – so he lied repeatedly.]

“… as well as, flaws in the functioning structure of our leadership resulted in an impossible pace to maintain… seven nights a week for more than 15 weeks on end.

{But it was not seven nights a week for more than 15 weeks on end for TODD as previously discussed! They are yet again blaming it on God and his anointing!  They also forget if this were God it does not matter how many men there are supporting Todd or not, or their ‘flaws’ or heavy schedule and pace, and all things are possible!  Otherwise they confess they did it all in the flesh – which we know is true, but do they admit it?

THERE WERE MANY MEN AND WOMEN INVOLVED IN THIS DECEIT. WHO KNEW IT WAS DECEIT. AND THEY BACKED IT ANYWAY.

Note also Todd claimed to be in amazing communion with God/angels – if this alleged schedule were so bad for him and Todd’s god knew it in advance, as of course He should have if he were really God, then do you not think this ’god’ would have told Todd this in one of his trips to the third heaven, or sent the angel Emma, or the dead ’saints’ William Branham or John G Lake or Aimee Semple McPherson to say to Todd, “calm down son you’ll burn out?” Or manifested a gold note with a ticket to a spa?!  Or even spoke through one of the other ‘prophets’ or ‘apostles’?!

Their claim yet again contradicts itself. It just does not work because it is lies. Can men – even true ministers of God – burn out? Yes of course they can when they start walking in the flesh and not in the Spirit. But Todd claimed to be in the spirit 24/7, the most anointed man alive, to minister ’effortlessly’ and get amazing prophetic words and angelic encounters blah blah and was allegedly told in advance what ‘god’ wanted in each meeting through Todd. So Todd’s god apparently wanted that schedule or he would have said ‘let Che Ahn or Bill Johnson take the meeting tonight’ or Todd disobeyed his god and went on stage anyway and his god still allowed him to lie about that meeting that he was to take it OR Todd’s god is a cruel taskmaster who wants to burnout and embarass himself and his servants OR Todd was lying and it was all a hoax. 

Can you see where their lying logic inevitably leads  – apart from to even more lies?  ALL OF IT CANNOT POSSIBLY BE TRUE. By their testimony, either Todd lied repeatedly and it was not God a lot of the time at Lakeland hence his burnout OR Todd was telling the truth all the time and it was ‘god’ but this god did not care about his burnout, his addiction to the anointing, his sin etc, and this god then contradicts himself now in the leader’s advice post Lakeland as well!

Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we attempt to deceive.  And deeper and deeper. These guys should just come clean and REPENT.]

“We fully accept the responsibility as a Board of Directors for this lapse in judgment;

{If that is the case why make excuses for it then? I hear no actual repentence here, though it gives the pretension of being that. And anyway this alleged heavy schedule was not the issue they lapsed the judgment in. It was allowing a liar, false prophet, false teacher, false evangelist, apostate, heretic and blasphemer and unrepentent sinner to fleece and to mock the saints and to lead them astray.]

… we should have required that not just Todd and the team, but the entire Outpouring rest a minimum of one day a week. God himself rested after six days work as a pattern for His creation, and if the yoke of the Lord is easy and His burden is light, then He has no need to exhaust His people in a fresh encounter with Him.

{’Exhaust his people in a fresh encounter with Him’. See the contradiction here? Times of refreshing lead to exhaustion and burnout? They are not what they claim to be, they are lying signs and wonders then!]

“As fatigue began to set in, significant personal issues in Todd and in his relationship with Shonnah were exacerbated.

{Sin, this is called. They are blaming this on the Todd’s fatigue now. Look, even if this were really true and the guy was exhausted it is NO excuse at all for sexual sin. Let us also remember Todd was lying and lying and lying long before he allegedly burnt out and slept with the other person. So what’s their excuse for that?! And note their remarks toward the bottom of this email that Todd is still with the other person. He has had months to recover from burnout while being pampered – are they still blaming burnout or the Lakeland schedule/anointing for his continued sin NOW?

And the alleged heavy Lakeland schedule and ‘addictive anointing’ also does not explain how Todd was caught out having cheated on his wife sexually at least twice before Lakeland – and by some accounts MANY times before.

Instead I am hearing more and more excuses and blameshifting and no actual repentence and acknowledgement of guilt.]

This, together with his increased familiarity with a female staff member …

{Increasing sexual familiarity more like - I quote C Peter Wagner here: ’it went to far more than just holding hands’ - the Fresh Fire board of directors are making out it is just an innocent friendship here!]

… created more tension in the Bentleys’ relationship.

{So poor old Todd was just the victim of this ‘tension’? Excuses.]

As the pressure of leading the revival continued, media attention increased resulting in less and less personal time.

{Blame it on the media now…. Excuses]

With the development of more friction in his marriage relationship, Todd began to make irrational decisions.

{’Irrational decisions’? This is called sin. They are almost making out he had no control over himself in their attempts to fall over themselves excusing him!]

“Alcohol, movies and leisure time spent with a few of the younger, more impressionable members of his staff and road-crew

{They are hinting now it is the ‘younger, more impressionable’ staff to blame for leading him astray. Excuses.

And note the amazing glaring contradiction here that a few sentences ago Todd Bentley had apparently sinned because he did not have time off and was burnt out. And yet now they say he sinned because he spent time off  involved in alcohol, movies and leisure time with young impressionable staff members!]

“.. began to replace the hours of soaking in the presence of God in which Todd had engaged during the early days of the Outpouring.

{Or had claimed to do but was a lie. It is my contention that Todd was up to no good – sexually, with drink and morally in his personal life – long before Lakeland even started. And never soaked as he claimed to. He is a liar. He was involved in debauchery right from the start – and was mocking the saints with his deceit.

And anyway if Todd did not spend hours of his time each day soaking any more - by their logic – then he was not so addicted to the anointing as they claimed he was! He also had lots more spare time for leisure so should not have burned out! And they also ADMIT HE LIED BECAUSE TODD BENTLEY PERSISTED IN CLAIMING TO THE END HE SPENT HOURS EACH DAY SOAKING.]

“Finally, Todd began to burn out…

{Even if true, so what… Sin is sin]

… and things came to a head in his relationship with Shonnah. He was unwilling to put distance between himself and the female staff member

{Note they have not mentioned sexual sin here at all or the words adultery – why not!]

… and ultimately told Shonnah he wanted a separation.

{Note the way they have worded this and reported this – it is intentionally excusing what happened.]

“The fact that the revival was in Florida, three thousand miles from our home office in Abbotsford, BC Canada, meant that the entire administration for the revival was provided by a rotating stream of church leaders and Board members who would assist behind the scenes and on the platform for a few weeks at a time and then return to Canada, usually on the verge of total exhaustion. Trying to keep up with the logistics of administrating the revival, including the massive challenge of moving from venue to venue until we finally arrived in the tent along with the media circus that ensued shortly afterwards, meant that communication was greatly inhibited between the leaders involved. Many early signs that something was drastically wrong were overlooked. By the time we became fully aware and/or were willing to admit how dysfunctional things had become behind the scenes, the damage had already been done.

{Nonsense. It just took a couple of minutes to discern something was seriously amiss right at the beginning of Lakeland – and long before.  In front of the scenes not just behind them!

Some knew about Todd’s previous sexual liasions with members of Fresh Fire staff – plus about other of his debauchery. But chose to shut their ears and mouths and to lie and cover up.

Added to that, they were all aware of the criticism of Todd Bentley – especially on the internet by bloggers – and were running scared. They knew whatthe bloggers were saying, and why they were saying it. This website, among many others, gave specific reasons and direct citations where and why Todd Bentley was false and lying.  And these guys knew it. And knew we spoke the truth.

Just one thing would be bad enough but there was literally hundreds of bad things with Bentley. And this was long before news of his aduletry broke. But what did they do? Rather than repent and correct Bentley, they heaped burning coals into their laps by lying and attempting to cover up after Bentley. By deleting information about angel Emma from the Fresh Fire website as well as the other of the most embarassing information. Then they changed angel Emma’s name and even her sex in Todd Bentley’s new book and issued outright denials. And then they were issuing lengthy ‘apologetics’ to try and contend with the bloggers’ criticism, or silly shrill false prophecies about ‘touch not my anointed’ or ‘the critics are all satanists and witches’ or ‘don’t want to miss it for a religious spirit’. Finally they sent in the Wagner brigade for the ridiculous apostolic alignment ceremony BECAUSE OF THE CRITICS. It takes far more than one person to do all this! It is a conspiring web of corruption.]

As to our long silence in writing to you, please let us explain.

[No need to - you have been waiting for the heat to go down and for people to forget. Even Rick Joyner said this. Others have given excuses about people being out of the country etc - for four months?!]

We have been in much contact with Rick Joyner, Bill Johnson, John Arnott and other members of a team focused on restoring Todd, seeking to do all within our power to encourage him to embrace a process of counseling and genuine accountability.

{If the guy was sorry he would have sorry already.]

In deference to these leaders we have refrained from communicating at all until we could be assured that we were all on the same page. At the same time, senior members of the leadership team here at Fresh Fire as well as members of the Board of Directors have been stretched to the breaking point in attempting to deal with all of the attention created not just by the revelations of Todd’s marriage problems and personal issues, but also by the five months of revival preceding their disclosure. Since then, many false accusations and rumors surrounding both Todd and the Lakeland Outpouring have attempted to use Todd’s failures as a springboard to question the legitimacy of the revival.

{Err no. THIS IS A FALSE COVER STORY TO TRY AND UNDERMINE THE CRITICS. This is a totally false ’strawman’ argument claiming something that is not actually happening to my knowledge by the main Lakeland critics I know of – and there are not that many of them, and added to that, most of them stopped blogging in August when Lakeland finished.  So what has arisen since then but for the claims of the NAR apostles and prophets themselveswhich very conveniently came out only after Lakeland ended?!

The legitimacy of the whole revival was questioned many months before this news of Todd’s sexual behaviour/drunkeness came out. Todd’s sexual behaviour has been VERY convenient as it taken the focus off the real subject  – false revival with false manifestations from a false prophet and false teacher – and taken the heat off all the other people complicit in this false revival – the myriad of false prophets and false apostles. If Todd is hung out to dry for lewd reasons that sadly the public and media most remember, they forget the realreason Lakeland fell – the lies and no documented healings or miracles – and they in one dirty fell swoop clear themselves and their false revival and silly manifestations remain unquestioned and can carry on in other guises.  Todd will be forgiven far quicker for sleeping with another woman than for lying and lying and lying and deceiving and fleecing the flock. And nobody questions the false manifestations that never did do what they promised. Or the other NAR players.

As for ‘many false accusations and rumors’, in terms of the adultery and drunkeness and the demonisation and lying, I have only directly reported NAR key players such as C Peter Wagner, Doris Wagner, Rick Joyner, John Arnott, Che Ahn, Bill Johnson, Stephen Strader, Patricia King, Dutch Sheets, Robert Ricciardelli etc directly – so are the Fresh Fire directors saying these guys have been spreading ‘false accusations and rumors’ – the same guys they defend earlier as being on the same page as them? But then in this post they confess this drunkeness and adulterous relationship are true, so what other accusations or rumors are there that were not made before? I am not aware of any other rumors.

Furthermore, if some people have questioned Lakeland’s legitimacy after the news broke - as I know some have who were hoodwinked before- it is based on what has been already admitted by the NAR - eg the drinking and adulterous relationship – so it is not by FALSE accusations or false rumors is it these people are questioning and re-evaluating the legitimacy of Todd Bentley and the Lakeland revival?! Unless the board are admitting the adultery and drinking is a lie of theirs. But either which way they are lying to us once again.  See the continued contradictions here. Folks, you do not get such contradictions if you tell the truth.]

Consequently, key leaders have had to step back and rest in order not to burn-out themselves.

{Look, if you sin, you say sorry straight away. It is not rocket science. Nor does confession and repentence lead to burnout.]

This, coupled with the busy schedules of the restoration team, all of whom travel internationally, has made getting everyone on the same page difficult.

{What nonsense – what excuses – what deceit]

We so appreciate all those who have stepped in to assist the FFM Board in a process of restoration for Todd, but what we have come to realize is that ultimately, the buck stops with the FFM Board of Directors. No one knows Todd better, or has more access to all the facts from both sides than we do.

{Ok, so where is the repentence?  All I still hear is excuses – lying and hogwash]

Again, we apologize for not writing to you sooner.

{This is the only apology thus far.]

We struggled for a while with the question of how to satisfy two important obligations – that of honoring Todd,

{Why would you ‘honor’ such a liar and crook?]

… while believing for his restoration

{without sorrow, confession or repentence?]

and at the same time, our obligation to be completely honest and open with you as our partners.

{Completely honest and open? – oh please! This is a JOKE.]

Through much prayer and with the Lord’s help, we hope to satisfy both those obligations with this letter.

{Sheer hypocrisy. They know what true repentence is and this ain’t it.]

There is a difference between covering Todd and covering for him. We refuse to expose explicit details of his failings over the last few months, but neither will we pretend there haven’t been any.

{And this is biblical how? Without confession there cannot be restoration. A fallen leader needs to be rebuked and corrected openly – for the sake of the leader and also for the flock. What about this transparency they all harp on about?!

Recall also, it is not sin over the last few months, but more like years.]

“Covering” is a biblical term as in “love covers over a multitude of sins” or as in the case when Noah’s two sons draped him in a blanket when he unwittingly discovered what happens when you drink too much fermented grape juice.

{This is scripture twisting, for love does not cover unconfessed, unrepented or whitewashed sin – in Todd or his associates.  Covering over someone’s private parts as per Noah is very different to covering others sin!]

“Cover for” is a contemporary idiom meaning to lie or misrepresent the truth in order to enable another to get away with or to continue to be involved in illicit behavior.

{Or to excuse or whitewash.

And there is plenty of illicit behaviour ongoing now by Todd’s associates – in whitewashing his numerous sins, and also their own.]

We have been slow in responding up until now, because we wanted to bring you a positive report, full of

{Excuses]

…. hope and the promise of restoration.

{Hope? How can I have that when there are so many lies? And nobody acknowledges sin or says sorry? The only sorry in this whole email is about the delay in sending it out – nothing else! And no sorry from Todd or his fancy woman.]

All of that is still entirely possible and we pray to that end, however, further silence on our part would be misrepresenting the truth by allowing you to believe that what we said in our first two statements (which were true to the best of our knowledge at the time of their writing) is still the case. Unfortunately that is not so.

Here are the facts:

1. Todd has yet to enter into a clear system of accountability with the leaders he identified that would be involved in such a process. Todd has visited Rick Joyner in Fort Mills, South Carolina, and indicated early on in September that he would be moving there soon to become a part of the community there and to receive counseling from Rick Joyner, Jack Deere, Bill Johnson and others that Rick might feel to bring alongside. Todd is in regular contact with Rick Joyner and has agreed together with Rick that he will move to Fort Mills during the first few months of 2009.
   {Endtimes note - what I don’t understand is all the past hoohah about apostolic alignment to the Revival Alliance of Che Ahn, Bill Johnson and John Arnott. How the NAR spiritual fathers were all crowing because of this alignment Todd could be helped and healed etc. But it NOW seems to be more about Rick Joyner and Jack Deere and not the others - as has been evident by Rick Joyner’s emails too. So this makes a complete mockery of the alignment/accountability process! Can’t these guys keep their stories straight ever?!]

2. Having spoken with Todd in recent days, he is resolute in his intentions to divorce Shonnah, and in his mind, the restoration he is seeking is one which would not include reconciliation with his wife. Todd admits to being 100% responsible for the divorce.             {End times – So that is no restoration at all. He is obviously unrepentent and he still has not said sorry.]

3. It also needs to be clarified that Shonnah has in no way initiated this divorce and has no present intention to do so at any time in the future. She is understandably hurt by Todd’s infidelity, but is not asking or pressing for a divorce. The legal separation from Shonnah was initiated completely by Todd and he has not seen her or the children since the last week in July.   {endtimes note – what kind of father is that? The poor kids.]   To our knowledge, Todd’s relationship with the female staff-member, who was a former intern{endtimes note – what does this say about their interns?]  and also, at his initiative, a live-in nanny in his house for over a year, is still ongoing. {so he is still unrepentent.]  We believe that there are currently no biblical grounds for Todd to leave his wife and children. While it has been maintained that no physical contact happened between Todd and the former female intern until after he filed for legal separation from Shonnah, in the Boards’ eyes, the nature of the present relationship between Todd and his former staff member is that of adultery.

Having said all that, our sincere desire is to see Todd first restored to Shonnah and the children, though at present this seems unlikely. We are optimistic that should Todd keep his word and move to Morning Star, Rick and his team are well equipped to be the Lord’s instruments in a process toward restoration.

{endtimes note – how so when they are liars and responsible for the same kind of false prophecy, false manifestations and false teaching? Notably Rick Joyner knew about Todd’s adultery yet allowed Todd to still minister. And none have defellowshipped him now despite his continued brazenness.]

With genuine accountability, inner healing, counseling and deliverance we are confident that it is entirely possible for Todd to come through and gain victory over a number of significant personal issues with which he is struggling.

{I agree – but he needs to be converted first]

We love Todd dearly and so appreciate the ground he has broken, not just for us, but for many tens if not hundreds of thousands within the body of Christ. Todd’s genuine love for the Lord,

{If Todd loved the Lord he would obey his commands…. added to that he would not mock Him or His saints]

… his hunger and passion for

{Money}

souls and his tangible demonstration of the love of God in miracles, signs and wonders will be remembered for many years to come.

{Do these guys live in a parallel universe?!]

Todd is a champion in the Global paradigm shift

[Oh my goodness they do! From one of reason to one of delusion.

Note the new age term here]

…. from a lethargic and dunamis-deficient church to an empowered body of believers carrying out the Great Commission in a mighty demonstration of the Spirit’s power.

{The Great Commission involves the true gospel and true signs and wonders – and also discipleship obeying God’s commands. And Lakeland is struck out for all those reasons.

Added to that, though the western church is floundering it is not all dead or deficient.

And also, we have to say, 14 years into the Toronto Blessing, they claimed the church was still ”lethargic and dunamis-deficient” – what does this say of all their revivals, outpourings, conferences and meetings in the interim?! And all the anointings passed on by the prophets and apostles? They are contradicting themselves and testifying against themselves again.]

That’s how we, and we think many others, will choose to regard Todd even if he doesn’t allow the Holy Ghost to work a process of restoration in his life. If he will, and we pray sincerely for that, then only God knows what can be accomplished through this young fire-brand’s life.

{How can he be a firebrand if he be so patently rebellious?]

It is our deep desire that our brother Todd should be restored,

{Todd’s not my brother. Never has been. He is one that pretends to be, but is a wolf on the outside peering in and hunting the next lamb to savage.]

… and we are still hopeful that this will be achieved. Please let us make it clear, that although what Todd has done is inexcusable, it is not unforgiveable.

{I agree but WHERE is his – or their – REPENTENCE?]

We do not judge him unworthy of a second, third or even fourth chance, and we hope that you don’t either.

{This is not the biblical model of leadership. They are not given unlimited chances – their character most be proved and if they keep failing in the same areas they have proved what their character is not fit to lead – and possibly not even fit to be in the true church.]

The Lord spoke clearly that those desiring mercy themselves would be well advised to give it to others, and the Lord has brought amazing goodness and life out of far worse circumstances.

{This is a classic cult control technique of turning this around on you and making you feel bad/guilty to take the heat off the subject in hand. We only give forgiveness, mercy and restoration to those who ask forgiveness and repent. Otherwise we shun and have nothing to do with such men!]

The Lord has been speaking to us about sins of commission and sins of omission. Many may look at Todd and judge him for what he has done and excuse or justify themselves on the basis that they have not failed or sinned (missed the mark) in the areas in which Todd has failed. But if we are going to judge Todd by what he has done, then we need to include all that he has done. And if we will excuse ourselves on the basis of what we have not done, then we must also take into account all that we have not done.

{This is unbiblical nonsense. Are we all sinners? Yes of course. Do well all miss the mark? Yes we do. But we are all accountable for it – especially and even more so a leader. Demanding that a leader repent if he wishes to become a leader again in the church is only hypocritical of us if we tolerate and excuse the same sin within our own lives. If we use the same plumbline against out own lives as we do others, we have every right to demand that a leader live a godly life and have a godly message.]

Todd Bentley has demonstrated himself unfaithful to his wife by entering into a relationship with another woman while still legally married. He has consumed more alcohol on a few occasions than is prudent or becoming a Christian leader (or any believer for that matter). His sins have been sins of the flesh and we do not defend them.

{And the rest of his sin – the lies don’t matter then?

And yes they do defend them, as this whole email has been justifying and making excuses and making light.]

He has, however, also seen over 1 million people make decisions for Christ in the 10 years of his ministry.

{Nonsense. I have seen those kind of ‘decisions for Christ’. People went forward to get anointing/healed/touched by him in those evangelism lines – and also his gospel was warped. Remember the baptism ceremony where people got baptised as they wanted healed or anointed? They were already believers! People also do not get saved because they feel tingly or they manifest so his false gospel was a real danger as people who are going to heaven could think themselves saved and heaven bound! 

He is also a proven liar, and these directors of Fresh Fire seem little better, so why should we trust such a figure of one million souls when we cannot trust him - or them – about anything else?

And besides which even if he had seen ten million saved, this in no way excuses his SIN SIN SIN]

He has been instrumental in seeing the Lord heal tens of thousands of people (if not more) of all manner of sickness and disease through the personal laying on of his hands and who knows how many others vicariously through television and the internet, or though the prayers of those who received the healing anointing through Todd’s ministry.

{yet not ONE documented account]

He has been used by the Lord to give countless accurate prophetic words and words of knowledge to thousands of people around the globe, and his testimony and passion for God just since April 2 in Lakeland, Florida has touched literally millions through the internet and television.

{Accurate?! This is ridiculous, we have touched on Todd’s so-called prophetic ability before. That Fresh Fire continue to defend Todd – especially in the light of all the evidence – shows how corrupt they really are]

Jesus said, “They are my children who obey my commandments”, and if the theme of the Ten commandments in the Old Testament is “Thou Shall Not”, then the theme of the Two Greatest Commandments as outlined by Jesus in the New Testament in Mark 15: 30-31 is most definitely, “Thou Shall!”

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength… (and)…You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (NIV).

As is also said in 1 John 4:20-21

“If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.”

How many believers have become almost vicious in their attack against Todd, demonizing not only him but his ministry and everything he has ever done?

{Ah, here we go, the only harsh words are for Todd Bentley’s critics.  Apart from the blatant hypocrisy here, note also its unscriptural nature. For the Bible commands to contend with and warn about false prophets, false teachers, heretics,  merchandisers, blasphemers, super apostles, unrepentent sinners etc – and Todd Bentley is all of these things – and more.

As for ‘vicious’, this is their using deceitful loaded language in order to try and nullify the critics – a typical cult technique. I do not know any major critic of Todd Bentley who has been ‘vicious’ – though they have been honest and Fresh Fire obviously hate the message. The word of God shows up these folk for what they are and they HATE it.

As for demonising Todd Bentley – well apart from it was C Peter Wagner and Doris Wagner who said, quote, that Todd Bentley was a ‘demonised mess’, [are the Fresh Fire directors saying that the Father and Mother Moon of the NAR are in the wrong? Who they earlier  were on the same page as them?]  – if demonic activity ensues from an individual, and the spirits that are tested are shown to be antichrist and demonic, then how else should one word it?! As for demonising everything Todd has ever done, as far as his ministry goes, I can only find record of lies and deceit going back many many years – so what would they call that?

Also I have to say this is like the pot calling the kettle black – bearing in mind it is THEY that demonise the critics as those with ‘religous spirits’ or divisive spirits or worse still witches and satanists.]

What sort of spirit do you think is behind this?

{What Spirit testifies according to the word of God? And which spirit doesn’t?]

And how many around the world are sick and dying and unsaved because of what we, the global body of believers, have not done? Because we have not been obedient to preach the gospel, heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead and cast out devils (Matt. 10:8).

{Here is another strawman argument they love to use against their critics. They claim that anyone who criticises anyone who purports to have a supernatual ministry are not supernatural themselves/are fearing of the supernatural/are not ‘doing the stuff’ as John Wimber would put it. This is not true. Indeed the main critics I know of Lakeland were from people who believe in, and operate in the supernatural gifts of the Spirit. The criticism was mainly from believing but discerning ’charismatics’ [of the unecumenical sort] not cessationists and unbelievers as they falsely claim. It is because I believe I defend!

And anyway. even if the critics did not do the stuff, it does not necessarily make what they say about Todd Bentley untrue!

Plus also crucially it must be remembered that Todd Bentley DOES NOT DO THE STUFF. He makes pretensions he does and fleeces the flock, but when all said and done they are lying signs and wonders and lying prophecies. And worse still he lies about raising the dead etc.

What is worse? Someone who is honest and admits they cannot raise a dead and makes no pretensions, and someone who lies they have raised 35 and fleeces the flock?]

Nothing is defined by what it is not, but rather by what it is; not by what it does not do, but by what it does do.

{This is nonsense and also contradicts by what they said a moment ago.]

What Todd has done should not only be defined by his present failure. He has raised the bar on what is possible. He has broken a barrier of sorts for all of us and made a pathway into new possibilities.

{For what though? Seriously?

Todd Bentley has opened the gate for more deception. And lying prophets have got worse since then as they know they can get away with it. He has shown how gullible the ‘church’ are, and how people will defend evil and attack good. He has shown you can say anything, however unbiblical, and blaspheme before millions, and they will still love you and send you money.]

This is what you partnered with – not a man but a transferable anointing

{A transferable anointing that is addictive and dangerous?! And does not do what ‘it’ promises? And leads to sin and delusion?

This transferable anointing idea is unbiblical anyway.

And it is all about the man  himself and not partnership with God]

… and an ability to reach into a combined realm of prophetic revelation and signs and wonders manifestation!

{Why would I need someone like Todd Bentley to partner with for these things instead of going direct to God – even if Todd were true and not a liar? Do I need such a priest and prophet to mediate on ym behalf when I have Christ?!]

Guard your deposit and don’t let the enemy’s backlash rob you of what you have already received.

{Which is? Lies? Heresy? False prophecy? Delusion? Addictive unbiblical counterfeit anointing that does not do what it says on the tin?]

At the same time we openly admit that what Todd has done at the height of his supernatural breakthrough has resulted in a tragic breakdown in the natural causing great pain to many, but to none so deeply as to his wife and children.

{Anyone seen the contradiction here?!]

Yet in all this we have been challenged and chastised by the Lord to remain gentle in our hearts toward him while we pray and encourage him to do the right thing and to come into accountability.

Galatians 6:1 is very clear in its instruction on how and with what attitude we are to restore one who has fallen,

“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted” (NIV).

[Don't you just love the way they miss out all the rest?]

Maintaining gentleness of heart towards Todd means that we do not write him off or wish any manner of evil upon him. We need to continue to pray for him and to keep a door of relationship open to him. We are willing to assist in the process of his restoration, messy though it may be. Neither does a gentle heart towards Todd mean condoning what he has done nor enabling him to live in sin by either our support or our silence.

So please pray for Todd and also for Shonnah and their family. Pray with fervency that the Lord would do a mighty miracle for the number one purpose of bringing vindication to His Name, but also that we might see our brother restored. We cannot control a person’s choices, nor have we any desire to do so. What we can control is our response to their choices and see the Lord take what the enemy means for evil and work it together for good.

We at Fresh Fire Ministries are presently in a season of waiting on God. We are in the process of re-defining our government structure with assistance from leaders in Bethel (the church pastored by Bill Johnson in Redding, California) and others affiliated with Morning Star—Rick Joyner’s ministry in South Carolina. In August, Todd verbally stepped down from the FFM Canadian Board of Directors and has recently given written notice of his resignation.

{Is he still on the payroll?]

With Todd no longer at the helm we are looking to identify vision-casters from within and to refocus the ministry’s endeavors in keeping with the original mandate of Fresh Fire Ministries. In the coming weeks we will provide you, our partners with a detailed update of our vision and emerging leadership structure.

There is one area of the ministry that is seeing increased activity, and of all the many ventures and endeavors FFM has been engaged in, we believe this one to be closest to the heart of God. The Uganda Jesus Village in Africa is continuing to expand, with the building of homes on our recently purchased 35 acres of land just outside of Kampala, Uganda. Over the course of the summer, two brand new homes which will house eight to ten children each have been completed and construction is beginning on two more this week.

The purest expression of our faith as defined by the Lord in James 1:27 is to look to the needs of widows and orphans. Many FFM Partners and Missions’ Team Members have visited our children’s home in Uganda, commenting on the amazing transformation in the lives of these children orphaned by war and disease. Currently we are housing over 60 children in Kampala with a long-term vision to rescue as many as 500 children from the war-torn northern part of Uganda. We are in regular communication with our missionaries in Africa, Luke and Suzanne Jones and their family, and there is so much excitement in their hearts at the prospect of being able to rescue more children.

In this interim period as we wait on the Lord for clarification of our governmental structure we will continue to press forward in the work of supporting and expanding our Uganda Jesus Village. We thank all of our Partners that have given to this work and all of you that have sponsored and continue to sponsor the children in the homes.

Again, our sincerest apologies in having taken so long to respond and communicate to you, our beloved Partners. We thank you all for the grace you have extended us in this difficult season and together we look forward expectantly to brighter days ahead.

God poured Himself out in Florida and through the internet and television, around the world. Not on a man alone, but on a hungry body of believers has He given the seal of His Holy Spirit in power to be witnesses of His saving grace throughout the world. Through the weakness and failure of man, the enemy seeks to defame and discredit what God has done in empowering and authenticating his Church as carriers of His power and anointing to accomplish His purposes in the earth for His Glory.

Let us do as Elisha did when standing alone after a season of mentoring and impartation.

[From Todd?!!! - oh please!]

Let us swing the mantle that we now carry, the mantle of God’s Glory, and together cross over to the other side.

{The mantle of a false prophet. Why should anyone want that but to burn it.]

God is waiting for us in 2009—certain to be our greatest year yet!

{Because?  Why without repentence would you expect the best?]

We understand you may have questions and concerns that you want to express to us. We love you all so much in Christ, and we welcome you to contact us by phone at 604-853-9041 or email info@freshfire.ca . We look forward to hearing from you.

Blessings in Jesus name!

Fresh Fire Leadership and Board of Directors”