The response to our announcement that Todd had begun a restoration process was even greater than expected. It seems that not only is Todd’s restoration of great interest, but restoration in general is too. That is encouraging. This Special Bulletin is about much more than Todd, and it touches on some issues that may be the most important for Christians to examine in these times.
Todd Bentley was used to spark the Lakeland Outpouring, which raised the faith level of much of the body of Christ. Testimonies of healings and miracles from it are now virtually all over the world. When Todd’s marriage failed, he abruptly stopped all ministry and virtually disappeared for almost nine months. In the meantime, his divorce was finalized and he has recently remarried.
A new type of Christian is beginning to emerge. They are prophetic and devoted to an uncommon depth of knowledge and understanding. They are not unique in history, but because there could be so many, they are. They are also practical and want to apply their revelation and understanding to the times. These prophetic thinkers, who are also hard-working builders, are cause for great hope. We are obviously getting close to when the gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the world, as the Lord said it must be before the end of this age can come (see Matthew 24:14).
President-elect Obama won the election because he seized the high ground of hope for the future. The hope he gave was mostly undefined and superficial, which only goes to show the power of hope, especially in difficult times. This is a lesson we must learn. One of the most tragic mistakes of Christianity has been to focus on the prophecies of judgment about the end of the age instead of fulfilling the commandment to preach the gospel of the kingdom. Gospel means “good news,” and it is the greatest news the world has ever or will ever hear.
I just returned from a three week trip to several countries in Europe, and I was amazed at how believers everywhere I went had been touched by the Lakeland Outpouring and the Outbreak Meetings at MorningStar. They were not just encouraged by what they had seen on television and by web streaming, but also because their own faith was now rising for the same miracles and healings, which they are now seeing in their own midst.
The number one question I am asked is, “How is Todd Bentley doing?” Todd came to spend a few days with us, and in general I was encouraged with how he’s doing. He is deeply sorry for the problems that his problems have caused others. He is well aware that he made some mistakes and foolish choices. Todd wants to express this as clearly as he can in a letter, which should be coming in a few weeks. It will take that long because I will be helping him with this, and I will be out of the country for three weeks.
Over the last couple of weeks, there has been an increasing swirl of controversy regarding Todd Bentley. I have had almost daily contact with him, and he asked me to post the following:
We knew that our gathering on 8/8/08 would be significant, and we were not disappointed. Eight is the number of new beginnings, and we had many prophetic indications that this day was going to release a new beginning for us. It did.
Last Sunday morning in one of our services, I polled those attending by asking the following questions:
There were roughly a thousand people in that service. The following are the approximate results to these questions:
