Post by lovelace on Aug 18, 2008 6:18:53 GMT -5
Words are words, but Fruit is Fruit! I had a feeling this would come out, but it came out sooner than later. This is from Fresh Fire Ministries, the one that Todd worked for and was part of the Florida revivals.
August 15, 2008 From the Board of Directors
We wish to thank all of our friends and partners for the overwhelmingflood of support and compassion we have received as a ministry onbehalf of Todd and Shonnah Bentley. The many phone calls and emails ofconcern from people who genuinely love the Bentleys and Fresh FireMinistries have been a great encouragement to all of us here duringthese past few days. In particular, the rallying of support and prayerfor Todd and Shonnah by prominent leaders within the Body of Christhas been a beautiful indicator of the maturity and grace the Lord isbringing to his Bride. We wish to acknowledge, however, that since our last statement fromthe Fresh Fire Board of Directors, we have discovered new informationrevealing that Todd Bentley has entered into an unhealthy relationshipon an emotional level with a female member of his staff. In light ofthis new information and in consultation with his leaders andadvisors, Todd Bentley has agreed to step down from his position onthe Board of Directors and to refrain from all public ministry for aseason to receive counsel in his personal life. On behalf of the Fresh Fire leadership and the Board of Directors wewish to apologize to our friends and partners and to the larger bodyof Christ and to ask for your forgiveness. We are truly sorry for thepain many of you must feel and so regret that in the midst of greatrevival, the enemy has found a way into our camp. To those who havestood by us, we wish to thank you for what in many cases has beenyears of support. Thank you for your financial giving towards thevision of this ministry, and thank you especially for your prayers.For those of our partners, friends and supporters who may bestruggling with the recent disclosures and finding continued supportof this ministry in conflict with either conscience or conviction, werelease and bless you with all our hearts and trust that God willredeem in your hearts the good that He has accomplished in your livesthrough this ministry. It is our sincerest hope and prayer that theLord bless you and bring you into your fullest destiny in Him. When this ministry was initially birthed in May of 1998, Todd had butone simple desire in his heart – to see the world come to know Jesus.Now, only 10 years later, Fresh Fire Ministries has grown to become aResource Center that is literally reaching out to all the corners ofthe Earth. There have been dozens of associate ministries, scores ofinterns and hundreds of graduates from the Supernatural TrainingCenter. Over 60 nations have received a combined total of more thanfive million dollars in humanitarian aid and we have seen well overone million conversions for Jesus Christ. And so, the question can well be asked... where do we go from here? Itis true that we are deeply saddened by these recent events, but ithasn't shaken our faith in either God or His goodness towards us andwith the help of wise and compassionate leaders within the body, wewill do everything within our power to see our brother and sisterhealed and restored. As a ministry, we can not forsake the vision and heartbeat upon whichTodd Bentley founded Fresh Fire Ministries which is simply this: Matthew 10:7-8And as you go, Preach, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand" Healthe sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freelyyou have received, freely give.While Todd and Shonnah each go through the necessary steps towardsrestoration and wholeness, we are compelled, with the resources withwhich God has entrusted us, to continue to spread God's love and powerall over the world. There are many noble activities and endeavors in which Fresh FireMinistries is involved, initiated by Todd, and to which we are stillcommitted. We have the Supernatural Training Centre, our school ofministry, already in it's fourth full year and with more than 50students already enrolled we're believing for an amazing year ofbiblical instruction, practical application and encounters with thepresence of God. Many mature and gifted speakers and associates,graduated interns and teachers filled brim-full with the DNA and fireof this ministry are ready to pour revelation and passion into thehungry hearts of this coming year's student body. We will continue to host conferences in our region with speakers andworship leaders from around the nation whose message and mandatesresonate with the vision and heart of Fresh Fire Ministries. Inaddition, we are committed to supporting the growing "OutPourings"across North America and around the world with our Associates, withencouragement and prayer support. In Todd's own words, "What God isdoing is bigger than one man", and we now have a golden opportunity asthe Body of Christ to pick up the baton and to run with perseverancefor His glory. Our missions department is progressing, as previously mentioned, withour major African crusade. With close to 100 team members inattendance, excitement is beginning to build and team members haveresponded that they are still believing God for the most amazingmissions trip ever! Our Uganda Jesus Village in Kampala is forgingahead with the recent acquisition of 35 acres of land 30 minutes drivefrom our present location. Two of the 15 homes planned for theproperty are nearing completion, and the expanded village, whenfinished, will house almost 150 orphans rescued from war torn northernUganda. So whether in our Children's Home in Africa, in our SupernaturalTraining Centre in British Columbia, in the revival meetings andoutpourings spreading around the globe, or in taking teams to ministercompassion and practical assistance to the poor in the far corners ofthe Earth, we have been and still are committed to bringing love, hopeand a demonstration of the saving, healing, delivering power of theGospel to a world in need. Thank you all once again for your prayers and support. We bless eachand every one of you in whatever decision you must make. Please knowthat our heart in all of this is to see the name of the Lordvindicated, and we take great encouragement from Psalm 23 and theLord's promise that He will "lead us in paths of righteousness for Hisname's sake." Together we look to the mercy and wisdom of our lovingFather and we remain as ever, your brothers and sisters in Christ. The Fresh Fire Board of Directors - Print Version of August 15th Letter - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------August 12, 2008Greetings Partners and Friends, The last four months have been some of the most amazing months in thehistory of Fresh Fire Ministries. We have witnessed God pour out HisSpirit in an unprecedented way in Florida and around the world in thefirst revival in history to be broadcasted live into literallymillions of homes and churches across all five continents and intomore than 200 countries. The "Outpourings" as they have come to becalled are continuing now in many cities worldwide. These fiery hotcoals of revival are sweeping through the Body of Christ, crossinggeographical, political and denominational boundaries as the HolySpirit brings the manifest presence of the glory of God back to Hischurch with tangible demonstrations of his saving, healing, deliveringpower. As a result, we as a ministry have experienced the blessing and theburden of exponential increases of activity and interest in ouractivities, functions and resources. Our website during the last fewmonths has received as many as 6 million hits in one month and ouroffice has struggled to cope with numberless phone calls and emailswhich have taxed our infrastructure and human resources almost to thebreaking point. We so appreciate the patience and grace many of youhave extended to us during this time, whether waiting for us to answerthe phone or process your donation or product order. To overcome thischallenge, we have hired more than a dozen new staff in our home basehere in Abbotsford in addition to the many staff temporarily hired tohelp with the administration of the Outpouring in Lakeland, Florida. The Lord's blessings and abundance have been so evident on theministry during this season of intense activity and we rejoice inseeing and being able to participate in what we believe is only thebeginning of a worldwide awakening. It is with considerable sadnessthen, that we must temper the jubilation we know you all feel with thesobering news that Todd and Shonnah Bentley are presently experiencingsignificant friction in their relationship and are currentlyseparated. We want to affirm that there has been no sexual immoralityon the part of either Todd or Shonnah, nor has there ever been.Undoubtedly the pressures and the burden of the Outpouring, whichapproaches 144 days on August 23rd, have helped to create anatmosphere of fatigue and stress that has exacerbated existing issuesin their relationship. We wish to stress however, that the Outpouringis not "to blame" for the current chain of events and that in effectwe have no interest in blaming anyone, but rather we deeply covet yourprayers for Todd and Shonnah and for Fresh Fire Ministries during thistime. We know that many of you will have questions, for most of which wepresently have no answers. We cannot see far down the path ahead ofus, but we have quiet confidence in the One who sees the end from thebeginning and promises to provide grace and strength for whatever liesahead. We are hopeful that the outcome will include restoration, butwe can make neither promise nor guarantee. We intend to take each dayas it comes and look intently for the new mercies promised us eachmorning. We will watch and pray and ask each of you to do the same,knowing that you will pray as you are led by the Holy Spirit. In the meantime, we encourage you to continue to participate incurrent Outpourings, whether the Florida Outpouring or one in yourarea and region, …or to become one if there are none nearby. As aministry, we continue to encourage and facilitate these growing GlobalOutpourings, providing Fresh Fire Associate ministries, resources, andinput wherever needed. We are still fully committed to our crusade in Uganda, Africa laterthis month, and though Todd will not be in attendance, our Fresh FireTeam and Associate Ministries will lead a team of almost one hundredpeople from around the world to share the love of God, the power ofthe gospel, and humanitarian aid with the people of Uganda. Whilethere, we will also connect with the Uganda Jesus Village, the FreshFire Children's Home where we shelter and provide for over 60 orphansrescued from war and poverty only a few years ago. We're excited aboutseeing the recently purchased 35-acre property that will contain botha school and homes for the children and their "mamas." As we stepinside the first home (being completed as we arrive) we will bestepping towards our dream of not only protecting and nurturinghundreds of orphans, but raising them up to become full-fledgedambassadors of Christ to the nation of Africa and beyond. With all of this in mind, we ask each of you to continue to pray withus, both for Todd and Shonnah and for this ministry, as we continue tobring the saving, healing, and delivering power of God to a dry andthirsty world, desperate for an encounter with the endless love of theliving God. We thank you again for your many prayers and support and we trulybelieve the promise of the Lord that He will indeed work all thingstogether for our good.With our sincerest blessings and gratitude, The Fresh Fire Ministries Board of Directors - Print Version of Aug 12 Letter-
August 15, 2008 From the Board of Directors
We wish to thank all of our friends and partners for the overwhelmingflood of support and compassion we have received as a ministry onbehalf of Todd and Shonnah Bentley. The many phone calls and emails ofconcern from people who genuinely love the Bentleys and Fresh FireMinistries have been a great encouragement to all of us here duringthese past few days. In particular, the rallying of support and prayerfor Todd and Shonnah by prominent leaders within the Body of Christhas been a beautiful indicator of the maturity and grace the Lord isbringing to his Bride. We wish to acknowledge, however, that since our last statement fromthe Fresh Fire Board of Directors, we have discovered new informationrevealing that Todd Bentley has entered into an unhealthy relationshipon an emotional level with a female member of his staff. In light ofthis new information and in consultation with his leaders andadvisors, Todd Bentley has agreed to step down from his position onthe Board of Directors and to refrain from all public ministry for aseason to receive counsel in his personal life. On behalf of the Fresh Fire leadership and the Board of Directors wewish to apologize to our friends and partners and to the larger bodyof Christ and to ask for your forgiveness. We are truly sorry for thepain many of you must feel and so regret that in the midst of greatrevival, the enemy has found a way into our camp. To those who havestood by us, we wish to thank you for what in many cases has beenyears of support. Thank you for your financial giving towards thevision of this ministry, and thank you especially for your prayers.For those of our partners, friends and supporters who may bestruggling with the recent disclosures and finding continued supportof this ministry in conflict with either conscience or conviction, werelease and bless you with all our hearts and trust that God willredeem in your hearts the good that He has accomplished in your livesthrough this ministry. It is our sincerest hope and prayer that theLord bless you and bring you into your fullest destiny in Him. When this ministry was initially birthed in May of 1998, Todd had butone simple desire in his heart – to see the world come to know Jesus.Now, only 10 years later, Fresh Fire Ministries has grown to become aResource Center that is literally reaching out to all the corners ofthe Earth. There have been dozens of associate ministries, scores ofinterns and hundreds of graduates from the Supernatural TrainingCenter. Over 60 nations have received a combined total of more thanfive million dollars in humanitarian aid and we have seen well overone million conversions for Jesus Christ. And so, the question can well be asked... where do we go from here? Itis true that we are deeply saddened by these recent events, but ithasn't shaken our faith in either God or His goodness towards us andwith the help of wise and compassionate leaders within the body, wewill do everything within our power to see our brother and sisterhealed and restored. As a ministry, we can not forsake the vision and heartbeat upon whichTodd Bentley founded Fresh Fire Ministries which is simply this: Matthew 10:7-8And as you go, Preach, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand" Healthe sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freelyyou have received, freely give.While Todd and Shonnah each go through the necessary steps towardsrestoration and wholeness, we are compelled, with the resources withwhich God has entrusted us, to continue to spread God's love and powerall over the world. There are many noble activities and endeavors in which Fresh FireMinistries is involved, initiated by Todd, and to which we are stillcommitted. We have the Supernatural Training Centre, our school ofministry, already in it's fourth full year and with more than 50students already enrolled we're believing for an amazing year ofbiblical instruction, practical application and encounters with thepresence of God. Many mature and gifted speakers and associates,graduated interns and teachers filled brim-full with the DNA and fireof this ministry are ready to pour revelation and passion into thehungry hearts of this coming year's student body. We will continue to host conferences in our region with speakers andworship leaders from around the nation whose message and mandatesresonate with the vision and heart of Fresh Fire Ministries. Inaddition, we are committed to supporting the growing "OutPourings"across North America and around the world with our Associates, withencouragement and prayer support. In Todd's own words, "What God isdoing is bigger than one man", and we now have a golden opportunity asthe Body of Christ to pick up the baton and to run with perseverancefor His glory. Our missions department is progressing, as previously mentioned, withour major African crusade. With close to 100 team members inattendance, excitement is beginning to build and team members haveresponded that they are still believing God for the most amazingmissions trip ever! Our Uganda Jesus Village in Kampala is forgingahead with the recent acquisition of 35 acres of land 30 minutes drivefrom our present location. Two of the 15 homes planned for theproperty are nearing completion, and the expanded village, whenfinished, will house almost 150 orphans rescued from war torn northernUganda. So whether in our Children's Home in Africa, in our SupernaturalTraining Centre in British Columbia, in the revival meetings andoutpourings spreading around the globe, or in taking teams to ministercompassion and practical assistance to the poor in the far corners ofthe Earth, we have been and still are committed to bringing love, hopeand a demonstration of the saving, healing, delivering power of theGospel to a world in need. Thank you all once again for your prayers and support. We bless eachand every one of you in whatever decision you must make. Please knowthat our heart in all of this is to see the name of the Lordvindicated, and we take great encouragement from Psalm 23 and theLord's promise that He will "lead us in paths of righteousness for Hisname's sake." Together we look to the mercy and wisdom of our lovingFather and we remain as ever, your brothers and sisters in Christ. The Fresh Fire Board of Directors - Print Version of August 15th Letter - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------August 12, 2008Greetings Partners and Friends, The last four months have been some of the most amazing months in thehistory of Fresh Fire Ministries. We have witnessed God pour out HisSpirit in an unprecedented way in Florida and around the world in thefirst revival in history to be broadcasted live into literallymillions of homes and churches across all five continents and intomore than 200 countries. The "Outpourings" as they have come to becalled are continuing now in many cities worldwide. These fiery hotcoals of revival are sweeping through the Body of Christ, crossinggeographical, political and denominational boundaries as the HolySpirit brings the manifest presence of the glory of God back to Hischurch with tangible demonstrations of his saving, healing, deliveringpower. As a result, we as a ministry have experienced the blessing and theburden of exponential increases of activity and interest in ouractivities, functions and resources. Our website during the last fewmonths has received as many as 6 million hits in one month and ouroffice has struggled to cope with numberless phone calls and emailswhich have taxed our infrastructure and human resources almost to thebreaking point. We so appreciate the patience and grace many of youhave extended to us during this time, whether waiting for us to answerthe phone or process your donation or product order. To overcome thischallenge, we have hired more than a dozen new staff in our home basehere in Abbotsford in addition to the many staff temporarily hired tohelp with the administration of the Outpouring in Lakeland, Florida. The Lord's blessings and abundance have been so evident on theministry during this season of intense activity and we rejoice inseeing and being able to participate in what we believe is only thebeginning of a worldwide awakening. It is with considerable sadnessthen, that we must temper the jubilation we know you all feel with thesobering news that Todd and Shonnah Bentley are presently experiencingsignificant friction in their relationship and are currentlyseparated. We want to affirm that there has been no sexual immoralityon the part of either Todd or Shonnah, nor has there ever been.Undoubtedly the pressures and the burden of the Outpouring, whichapproaches 144 days on August 23rd, have helped to create anatmosphere of fatigue and stress that has exacerbated existing issuesin their relationship. We wish to stress however, that the Outpouringis not "to blame" for the current chain of events and that in effectwe have no interest in blaming anyone, but rather we deeply covet yourprayers for Todd and Shonnah and for Fresh Fire Ministries during thistime. We know that many of you will have questions, for most of which wepresently have no answers. We cannot see far down the path ahead ofus, but we have quiet confidence in the One who sees the end from thebeginning and promises to provide grace and strength for whatever liesahead. We are hopeful that the outcome will include restoration, butwe can make neither promise nor guarantee. We intend to take each dayas it comes and look intently for the new mercies promised us eachmorning. We will watch and pray and ask each of you to do the same,knowing that you will pray as you are led by the Holy Spirit. In the meantime, we encourage you to continue to participate incurrent Outpourings, whether the Florida Outpouring or one in yourarea and region, …or to become one if there are none nearby. As aministry, we continue to encourage and facilitate these growing GlobalOutpourings, providing Fresh Fire Associate ministries, resources, andinput wherever needed. We are still fully committed to our crusade in Uganda, Africa laterthis month, and though Todd will not be in attendance, our Fresh FireTeam and Associate Ministries will lead a team of almost one hundredpeople from around the world to share the love of God, the power ofthe gospel, and humanitarian aid with the people of Uganda. Whilethere, we will also connect with the Uganda Jesus Village, the FreshFire Children's Home where we shelter and provide for over 60 orphansrescued from war and poverty only a few years ago. We're excited aboutseeing the recently purchased 35-acre property that will contain botha school and homes for the children and their "mamas." As we stepinside the first home (being completed as we arrive) we will bestepping towards our dream of not only protecting and nurturinghundreds of orphans, but raising them up to become full-fledgedambassadors of Christ to the nation of Africa and beyond. With all of this in mind, we ask each of you to continue to pray withus, both for Todd and Shonnah and for this ministry, as we continue tobring the saving, healing, and delivering power of God to a dry andthirsty world, desperate for an encounter with the endless love of theliving God. We thank you again for your many prayers and support and we trulybelieve the promise of the Lord that He will indeed work all thingstogether for our good.With our sincerest blessings and gratitude, The Fresh Fire Ministries Board of Directors - Print Version of Aug 12 Letter-
