news from lakeland

Todd Bentley, of Fresh Fire Ministries, as been at the helm of the Lakeland "Revival" for months, until now.

On August 12, the Board of Directors at Fresh Fire announced that Todd and his wife had officially separated after months of marriage counseling. Three days later, a new letter was posted on the ministry's website that included the following:

We wish to acknowledge, however, that 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.

The activities in Lakeland have been hotly debated for months, as this latest news is now. I'm going to continue to keep my opinion on the whole thing to myself out of fear. There is plenty of opinion out there on Lakeland and Todd if you want it.

I'm going to ask that we take a minute and pray for Todd and his family. This is one of those crucial moments where the Church gets to show the world what she's made of. Do we walk on and over people who are experiencing hardship? Do we argue among ourselves, throwing "I told you so's" and "Don't touch God's anointed's" back and forth?

Or do we rally together - aware that our enemy is well seasoned in the art of divide-and-conquer, and pray for people?