GOOD news –Todd “Bam” Bentley’s assault-and-battery Fresh Fire Ministries in Florida starts this week with egg all over it face.
Todd Bentley, who has been to heaven and met the apostle Paul.
Christian “revivalist” Bentley – a beefy, bearded, tattooed biker famous for exclaiming “bam” as he physically beats or kicks disease out of frail dupes in search of healing – has allegedly been engaged in some inappropriate off-stage “bamming” with a woman who wasn’t his wife.
A few days back, according to this report, Fresh Fire Ministries announced that Canadian Bentley had separated from his wife, Shonnah.
It is with considerable sadness [we bring] the sobering news that Todd and Shonnah Bentley are presently experiencing significant friction in their relationship and are currently separated. We want to affirm that there has been no sexual immorality on the part of either Todd or Shonnah, nor has there ever been.
Oh, yes, there was!
This announcement was followed up with an embarrassing update:
Since our last statement from the Fresh Fire Board of Directors, we have discovered new information revealing that Todd Bentley has entered into an unhealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female member of his staff. In light of this new information and in consultation with his leaders and advisors, Todd Bentley has agreed to step down from his position on the Board of Directors and to refrain from all public ministry for a season to receive counsel in his personal life.
Time to rename this money-grabbing circus of cons and hard knocks “Flesh Fire”, we think.
On behalf of the Fresh Fire leadership and the Board of Directors we wish to apologize to our friends and partners and to the larger body of Christ and to ask for your forgiveness. We are truly sorry for the pain many of you must feel and so regret that in the midst of great revival, the enemy has found a way into our camp.
Well, what a surprise. Satan was responsible – again!
It could have been worse for Flesh Fresh Fire, of course. Many evangelists fall spectacularly from grace when caught “bamming” ladyboys or male prostitutes. Mercifully, Bentley is not one of those! He’s too damned unattractive to be out fingering soft furnishings. That said, we do know a few chubby-chasers who’d love a close encounter with him.
Todd Bentley is nothing if not colourful. Flesh Fresh Fire –“an international ministry called to global harvest”, whatever the hell that means – reveals that, in his late teens, Todd had:
A dramatic encounter with the saving and delivering power of God. This experience brought Todd out of a lifestyle of drug and alcohol addiction without cravings or withdrawal symptoms. He was also delivered from a lifestyle involving criminal activity, youth prisons, drugs, sex, satanic music and bondage …Todd was instantly transformed into a radical disciple and soul-winning evangelist for Jesus.
They forgot to mention that his criminal activities as a teenager also included:
More than one instance of ‘heinous’ sexual molestation.
He is also a terrible fantasy merchant.
Not only has he never produced a single shred of evidence to support his “miracle” cure claims, he asserts that he has made several trips to Heaven where he had meetings with Paul the Apostle.
Watch Bentley in action as he “cures” a man of cancer by kicking him in the stomach – hard!
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
August 19th, 2008 at 12:49 am
Absolutely loathe people like this with a passion. Unlike the frequently amusing and generally hopeless Christian fundies we get in Blighty, they are dangerous. A few years back a rich evangelist and miracle healer/conman named Morris Cerullo (who became mired in other fraud-related controversies) told a woman with epilepsy that he had cured her. She drowned in the bath during a fit after not taking her medication.
If the reported incident prevents just one poor ill person being ‘bammed’ with false hope and lies, I am delighted.
August 24th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Just another reason to be an Atheist. I will not hate these asshats as hate is an emotion that drains a person. Most of these xians must be drained dry by now
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:43 am
I have to say what I have read is shocking
but we are only human what Todd has apparently done is a shame but who are we to point fingers or cast the first stone. I will keep the Bentleys in my heart and thoughts we still love you and we do serve
a forgiving God. Todd get out of that relationship and go back to your wife and children that is where you belong. move into the will of God again.
then to all the people that have so much to say about Todd have you not done something that you are ashamed about, and have you had people sniggering behind their hands. I am sure it hurt, refrain from your judging of Todd lest you be judged.
Todd we love you and your family.
Beryl and Michael Van Niekerk
September 10th, 2008 at 8:01 am
Of course no atheist has ever broken a marriage promise and then regretted it??? Guess we are all human! Having read your comments above, just confirms that I want to live under a doctrine of mercy and forgiveness and not judgmentalism! Perhaps this is to much of a free thought for this web site?
September 10th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Thanks for your comment, Andrew. No “judgmentalism” in evidence there. Oh, hang on – yes there is. It’s positively dripping with it.
Such woeful lack of self-awareness might explain why both you and Todd miss the point completely. Oh here’s a hint: it’s the hypocrisy, stupid.