Todd Bentley (born 10 January 1976) is a Canadian Christian evangelist. He was a key figure of the Lakeland Revival

Early life
Bentley was raised mainly in Gibsons, British Columbia, a small community on the western coast of Canada. Bentley's parents divorced while he was a child and he struggled with drug and alcohol addiction. He engaged in criminal gang activities which resulted in a 1991 conviction for sexually assaulting a seven-year-old British Columbia boy. Bentley credits his conversion to Jesus Christ for a change of lifestyle at 18. It was at this point that he began his Christian ministry.

In 2001, the now-defunct Report Newsmagazine, (a secular conservative publication), disclosed Bentley's teenage criminal activities. It reported multiple instances of sexual molestation in graphic detail, calling Bentley's behavior "heinous." In Canada, the criminal records of juvenile offenders are normally protected from public disclosure. Bentley later said that the Report Newsmagazine article was, in substance, true. This led to heated debate in the Christian media, asking whether Report NewsMagazine had acted correctly in publicizing Bentley's crimes, and whether this affected Bentley's position as an evangelist. Bentley comments: "I was involved in a sexual assault ring [...] I turned around and did what had happened to me. I was assaulted too."

Ministry
In 1998, the Fresh Fire Ministry group asked Bentley to give his testimony at one of their weekly meetings. Soon after, Bentley took over the leadership of the group, which became more of a revival movement. (Revivals, in comparison to other kinds of religious services, are intended to renew the faith of believers and to convert nonbelievers. They are usually marked by passionate and vibrant preaching, music, and dramatic descriptions of salvation and judgment.) Bentley's talent for this kind of charismatic preaching made him popular as a guest evangelist and speaker. He traveled to India, Africa, and South America taking part in religious crusades and revivals.

Lakeland Revival
Main article: Lakeland Revival
Beginning on April 2, 2008, Bentley was invited by Stephen Strader, pastor of Ignited Church, Lakeland, Florida, to lead a one-week revival. The revival quickly became a religious and media phenomenon, attracting up to 10,000 attendees nightly with Bentley as the primary preacher. In addition to showcasing Bentley's evangelism, the revival featured colorful light shows and power-chord Christian rock music. The Ignited Church also took a multimedia approach to publicizing the event, posting webcasts online. The revival streamed live via Ustream - which received over 1 million hits in the first five weeks of transmissions. After the initial weeks, GOD TV, a religious satellite channel, decided to pre-empt its primetime programming and broadcast the Lakeland meetings nightly.

On 9 July 2008 ABC News' Nightline broadcast an investigative report on Bentley focusing on his faith healing claims, finances, and criminal past. Following the report, Bentley took time off from the revival but returned on 18 July 2008. Five days later, Bentley and Strader announced that Bentley would be leaving the revival permanently and that his last day would be 23 August 2008.

Faith healing
An important aspect of many of the meetings that Bentley has led, involves prayer for miraculous healing. The New Testament records many incidents of Jesus healing the sick; belief in its contemporary practice is important for Pentecostal and charismatic Christians. Healing testimonies were common at the Lakeland meetings. The hope of supernatural healing explains some of its popularity, as there were many first-person accounts of miracles. The lack of medical corroboration of the healings was questioned by mainstream media; an ABC Report concluded "not a single miracle could be verified."

Theology
While Bentley highlights scriptural passages in his sermons, he emphasizes that spiritual or supernatural encounters in an individual's life are gifts from the Holy Spirit. He has stated that his priority is to help people experience the presence of God. He wants the "Holy Spirit to manifest His glory in such a way that people can't deny the presence of a living God and they have a true born-again experience". He also says: "Miracles and healings are evidence [...] they are signs of the Kingdom, and if we don't have signs then all we have is a bunch of theology."

Bentley's testimony includes a visitation to Heaven and meeting with Paul the Apostle. He has also preached about an encounter with an angel he called 'Emma' at an Assemblies of God church in 2001. The female angel gave him a vision of gold coins, and Bentley states this was a sign of his future financial stability. In response to criticism about the Biblical inspiration of a female angel, Bentley wrote that it was God's choice, and not his own, that an angel appeared to him in that manner.

Pastor Strader of Ignited Church who invited Bentley to Lakeland said: "We watch over everything. Everything that happens on the platform is scriptural [...] The nightly message has been totally 100 percent nothing but Jesus. People are saved, people are healed, and Jesus is being glorified. [...] Even some of my so-called friends are questioning my integrity, but they never come to the services. It's not fair just to watch [them] on TV."

Bentley has sponsored an internship program called 'Joel's Army' to train believers to "take ground for the Kingdom of God under the authority of Jesus Christ." Perhaps the most obvious theological allegiance is displayed in his operating within the tradition of William M. Branham and the healing revivals of the 50s, his commitment to the "Joel's Army" concept, and therefore overlapping with Latter Rain Movement theology. His association with Paul Cain, an associate of Branham and himself a healing evangelist of the 50s, illustrates the connection to some extent.


Appearance
Bentley's physical appearance has been noted for being very unconventional for that of an evangelist. He has dozens of tattoos, multiple facial piercings, and a preference for t-shirts over ties. Bentley's preaching style is also flamboyant, known for mannerisms like shouting 'Bam!!' during his delivery. Bentley has "Joel's Army" tattooed across his sternum with military dog tags,[34] showing his commitment to the Latter Rain doctrine of the Manifest Sons of God, (or Man-Child Generation) as preached by William M. Branham and George Warnock. This doctrine springs from an idiosyncratic interpretation of Revelation 12, and states that in the last age before Jesus returns, there will be a generation of especially endowed Christians who will be able to do many miracles, and will usher in the reign of God. This has nothing to do with political influence or physical warfare, as some have mistakenly implied.


Personal life
Bentley announced his separation from his wife, Shonnah, in August 2008, and resigned from the Board of Fresh Fire. A statement released by the remaining Board members said 'Todd Bentley has entered into an unhealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female member of his staff', and that he will 'refrain from all public ministry for a season to receive counsel in his personal life'.

In the wake of this some Christian commentators referred to their belief that the Bible holds ministers to high standards, and that marital unfaithfulness is incompatible with Christian leadership. Leaders who had aligned themselves with Bentley, have spoken of their desire to see him and his family spiritually restored; a committee made up of Rick Joyner, Jack Deere, and Bill Johnson has been formed to oversee this process. However, on November 28 the Board of Fresh Fire stated that Bentley was not currently submitting to this process, and was in their opinion, guilty of adultery. It later became apparent that "his relocation to Fort Mill was repeatedly delayed due to problems securing a permanent visa."

On March 9, 2009, Rick Joyner announced that Bentley had remarried. Bentley has relocated to Joyner's ministry in Fort Mill, South Carolina where he will be involved in a "process of restoration," although the authenticity of this will be debated.

Charisma Magazine reported:

Joyner said Bentley and his new wife admit that their relationship was "premature," but say it did not begin until Bentley was convinced his first marriage could not be saved."They have both expressed that it was wrong and premature," Joyner said in his statement. "They do not want to try and cover this up even though they know many will never accept them for it. Even so, they are married now and are resolved to make the most of their marriage, their lives, and to continue to serve the Lord in the best way that they can."

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