Rory and Wendy Alec: God TV’s Response to Lakeland
The following statement is written by Rory and Wendy Alec and is their response to the Lakeland Revival. I do not include it, or any of the responses from key leaders for that matter, because I agree with it. It is included on this blog because I made a decision a while back to to post many of the key responses from Lakeland to help build a big picture of what the church thinks was happening.
This post, for me, is quite disheartening. While I’m not looking for Todd to be hanged for his sin, I am concerned about the lack of discernment and the high level of justification that there is in this response. Lakeland was a wake up call to the church, if Rory and Wendy are supposed to be prophets then as far as I can tell the prophets sleep and slumber and cry ‘peace, peace’ when there is no peace.
Jeremiah 23
The Righteous Branch
1 “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the LORD. 2 Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,” declares the LORD. 3 “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. 4 I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the LORD.
5 “The days are coming,” declares the LORD,
“when I will raise up to David [a] a righteous Branch,
a King who will reign wisely
and do what is just and right in the land.
6 In his days Judah will be saved
and Israel will live in safety.
This is the name by which he will be called:
The LORD Our Righteousness.
7 “So then, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when people will no longer say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’ 8 but they will say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the descendants of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’ Then they will live in their own land.”
Lying Prophets
9 Concerning the prophets:
My heart is broken within me;
all my bones tremble.
I am like a drunken man,
like a man overcome by wine,
because of the LORD
and his holy words.
10 The land is full of adulterers;
because of the curse [b] the land lies parched [c]
and the pastures in the desert are withered.
The prophets follow an evil course
and use their power unjustly.
11 “Both prophet and priest are godless;
even in my temple I find their wickedness,”
declares the LORD.
12 “Therefore their path will become slippery;
they will be banished to darkness
and there they will fall.
I will bring disaster on them
in the year they are punished,”
declares the LORD.
13 “Among the prophets of Samaria
I saw this repulsive thing:
They prophesied by Baal
and led my people Israel astray.
14 And among the prophets of Jerusalem
I have seen something horrible:
They commit adultery and live a lie.
They strengthen the hands of evildoers,
so that no one turns from his wickedness.
They are all like Sodom to me;
the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”
15 Therefore, this is what the LORD Almighty says concerning the prophets:
“I will make them eat bitter food
and drink poisoned water,
because from the prophets of Jerusalem
ungodliness has spread throughout the land.”
16 This is what the LORD Almighty says:
“Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you;
they fill you with false hopes.
They speak visions from their own minds,
not from the mouth of the LORD.
17 They keep saying to those who despise me,
‘The LORD says: You will have peace.’
And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts
they say, ‘No harm will come to you.’
18 But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD
to see or to hear his word?
Who has listened and heard his word?
19 See, the storm of the LORD
will burst out in wrath,
a whirlwind swirling down
on the heads of the wicked.
20 The anger of the LORD will not turn back
until he fully accomplishes
the purposes of his heart.
In days to come
you will understand it clearly.
21 I did not send these prophets,
yet they have run with their message;
I did not speak to them,
yet they have prophesied.
22 But if they had stood in my council,
they would have proclaimed my words to my people
and would have turned them from their evil ways
and from their evil deeds.
23 “Am I only a God nearby,”
declares the LORD,
“and not a God far away?
24 Can anyone hide in secret places
so that I cannot see him?”
declares the LORD.
“Do not I fill heaven and earth?”
declares the LORD.
25 “I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ 26 How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds? 27 They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget my name, just as their fathers forgot my name through Baal worship. 28 Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the LORD. 29 “Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?
30 “Therefore,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me. 31 Yes,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The LORD declares.’ 32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” declares the LORD. “They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least,” declares the LORD.
False Oracles and False Prophets
33 “When these people, or a prophet or a priest, ask you, ‘What is the oracle [d] of the LORD ?’ say to them, ‘What oracle? [e] I will forsake you, declares the LORD.’ 34 If a prophet or a priest or anyone else claims, ‘This is the oracle of the LORD,’ I will punish that man and his household. 35 This is what each of you keeps on saying to his friend or relative: ‘What is the LORD’s answer?’ or ‘What has the LORD spoken?’ 36 But you must not mention ‘the oracle of the LORD ‘ again, because every man’s own word becomes his oracle and so you distort the words of the living God, the LORD Almighty, our God. 37 This is what you keep saying to a prophet: ‘What is the LORD’s answer to you?’ or ‘What has the LORD spoken?’ 38 Although you claim, ‘This is the oracle of the LORD,’ this is what the LORD says: You used the words, ‘This is the oracle of the LORD,’ even though I told you that you must not claim, ‘This is the oracle of the LORD.’ 39 Therefore, I will surely forget you and cast you out of my presence along with the city I gave to you and your fathers. 40 I will bring upon you everlasting disgrace—everlasting shame that will not be forgotten.”
God TV Response
Beloved GOD TV viewer,
In the light of many statements having been released about the
LAKELAND OUTPOURING and concerning Todd Bentley’s marital situation,
we sensed that the Lord has released us to write concerning this
situation, so that you, our viewers would know our heart concerning
this matter.
The first thing we feel led to do is to state unequivocally that in
the same manner as the Lord instructed us to broadcast and serve
TheCall gatherings with Lou Engle; to broadcast what was happening at
the International House of Prayer with Mike Bickle; Rick Joyner and
MorningStar; the Solemn assembly in San Francisco; BattleCry and Teen
Mania with Ron Luce; Focus on the Family’s prayer event for America;
the Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem; and hundreds of other
anointed events over the past three years, we believe that the Lord
instructed us to broadcast the Outpouring services at Lakeland with
Todd Bentley.
It was not a mistake.
It was not by mistake.
We believe it was a clear instruction from the Lord.
Over the past twelve years, but especially since our launch in
America, we have in obedience to the Lord searched through the earth
for those events and anointings that the Lord has laid on our hearts
– to amplify their message and anointing to the Body of Christ in
this crucial endtime hour that we live in.
The Lakeland Outpouring with Todd Bentley was one of those events. We
received over 45 000 e-mails many, many of these heart rending,
powerful testimonies from viewers across the earth of their bodies or
their families bodies healed, their lives transformed and their hearts
revived.
None of us have ever seen such significant fruit in all the years of
broadcast.
Far more profound than that were the desperate cries for help. I
(Wendy), would go through the live inbox and see the desperate cries
from mothers, wives, sons and daughters, so many with TERMINALLY ILL
husbands, wives, children, sometimes babies in arms – sensing HOPE
in their situation that for so long had been without hope.
Just reading these prayer requests would bring one to tears –
We are often so cloistered from the agony of peoples day by day real
life agonies - and their agonies were written there.
So much so - that we both sensed that would need the word of the Lord
under the fear of God to stop these broadcasts with the life changing
impact they were having in homes not only in the UK and America but
all across the world. And the Glory of the Living God that was being
imparted.
We both kept a very close pulse on the revival since the start of its
broadcast - we had first hand knowledge of the enormous criticism,
persecution and reviling that Todd Bentley was receiving (often we
were second contenders for it) but it was Todd Bentley and the Fresh
Fire team who received the terrible weight of this.
Todd ministered each day as the revival continued but was
consistently and unrelentingly criticized, maligned, persecuted - the
attacks grew increasingly violent - and the heartbreaking thing was
that so much of it came from the Church.
At the same time, Todd was facing a second wave of attack. This was
from the covens, the warlocks - we heard firsthand concerning some of
these assignments. The enemy had heard of the great honoring of the
Lamb and was determined to destroy it - BY ANY MEANS POSSIBLE AND AT
ANY COST.
And the cost was Todd Bentley.
Was it because Todd was vulnerable and certain areas of his life were
not surrendered wholly? Yes – like so many of us - in all
probability.
Was it because the character of Christ was not yet formed in him in
the equivalent measure to his gifting? Yes - like so many of us - in
all probability.
Could it be the case that there by the grace of God go YOU AND I…
Yes - In all probability.
Some of the areas in our lives are watertight and have been honed and
refined and polished by the Lord while still other areas in our lives
are often still in desperate need of attention. We are an ongoing work
and we work out our salvation with fear and trembling.
Well - all ministers who preach should ensure their lives are in
order, you may be saying.
Yes - we and our board and our minister peers across the globe agree
wholeheartedly.
And yet, beloved - unfortunately, THERE ARE TIMES when satan comes
unawares and targets a vulnerable area whose weaknesses only become
apparent under the most enormous and unrelenting pressure brought to
bear.
We believe and of course this is just our personal opinion, that the
revival stirred up the satanic realms in a manner that has rarely been
seen and with a violent wrath.
It is difficult to understand the degree of spiritual battle that
comes against a leader. We have learned we need to protect the move of
God with greater prayer for leaders, including ourselves. The body of
Christ is growing in greater transparency and accountability, and this
too should be a subject of prayer.
Should all of us wait till we are as perfect and as watertight as can
be and mature in every area - that of course, would be the safest
course of action, but the truth is that most of us would be 90 years
old!
The Lord who made us and knows that we are as dust and yet looks on
us with His great mercies and compassions knows this and He the
sovereign God of heaven and earth still chooses to take a GOD-risk on
you and I every day of our lives.
That even under the most intense pressure that we would choose HIM.
That we would love HIM.
That in times of intense duress and temptation that we would follow
HIM.
And let it be so - even more in all our lives, but beloved - let us
not forget so many of those who walk in ministry across the earth
today with such COURAGE and FERVOR and lay their lives down for HIS
CAUSE at great cost to themselves - Todd and Shonnah sowed their lives
to sow the seeds of revival and we believe became a supreme target of
the enemy.
On the June 23rd, Todd actually spoke openly and with great
vulnerability of his and Shonnah’s previous marriage challenges and
how they had faced those challenges and the Lord had begun His work.
He did not try to hide their struggle but shared their ongoing
journey.
As Rick Joyner so wisely put it –
“In marriage, I have learned there are those who admit they have been
through times when they wondered if their marriage would make it, and
then there are liars. Relationships are hard, and the closer they are,
the harder they can be. I tell everyone that I give premarital
counseling to that the Lord has ordained their marriage in order to
kill both of them! That is true. It is also worth it! The greatest
gift He gave to man was marriage and family. However, to have a
marriage that is good, both will have to die to themselves. If either
one does not make the commitment to lay down their life for their mate
and their family, then what was meant to be heaven can be hell.”
It is an ongoing walk - and we all are ongoing works. But the Lord
said something to us some years ago - He said - When you hate sin
because it HURTS ME - then it will lose its grip on you. When you hate
sin because it displeases ME - its hold diminishes.
The Lord also shared with us that someone can be deceived in an AREA
of sin but it does not necessarily mean that in every area of his or
her life or ministry, they were walking in deception as some critics
of the revival may lean to believe.
And who is to judge that the Lord does not hold the violent
unleashing of criticism and faultfinding and tearing down and
divisiveness of the heresy hunters, as severe a sin as separation in a
marriage?
We will find out before the judgement seat in eternity.
One of our greatest grievings has been to see how many in the church
backtracked to protect their own reputations. We have been truly
refreshed by several close ministry friends with their uncompromising
love of truth and lack of a man pleasing spirit that has arisen in the
church in the light of the Lakeland aftermath. They have given us
fresh courage when we grew weary.
So beloved friend –
Do we at GOD TV refute the Outpouring? NO.
We are presently planning to broadcast other offshoots of Lakeland in
both the United Kingdom and America, including revival meetings in
Dudley, England.
We have determined in our hearts to follow the Lord with all our
might as courageously and as boldly as we can, to reject the pressures
to bow to a man pleasing spirit but instead to humble ourselves under
the Fathers leading.
For HE is our all in all.
He is our great desire.
Finally, dear friends, while we defend and rejoice in the many ten
thousands that God lifted and healed, we also know that there were
dear souls, sheep, who were scattered as a result of Todd’s personal
choices. The Bible says that “hope deferred makes the heart sick”
and this is the last thing GODTV would want to see happen. We
arepraying for any that stumbled and believing that the Lord will
restore them to Himself.
Remember: this was never about Todd Bentley. It was always about the
Holy Spirit and the fact that God loved you and I. It was GOD who
touched our lives.
One thing, we felt impressed upon our hearts thirteen years ago when
we first launched this ministry. That the Father will allow none of us
- whether in ministry or as a viewer to hold idolatry in our hearts
for any man.
For the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit alone are to receive our
worship.
We continue on the road to maturity.
We continue our efforts to serve an end time spiritual army.
We continue to try each day to humble ourselves under the mighty hand
of the ONLY one who is worthy of ALL adoration.
Of ALL HONOUR.
Of ALL WORSHIP.
Remember also, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Let’s turn our eyes toward Him and away from our trust in man.
He who sent His only begotten Son.
The Great Father of Compassions.
To Him alone we bow.
Personally we believe that the best is yet to come.
For our King and His Kingdom
Rory and Wendy Alec
October 12th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Over the years, I have not been in agreement with all of Rory and Wendy’s theology, however, there is alot of wisdom in their statement - no one is perfect, there is strong evidence that Billy Graham made anti Jewish, ie racist comments to President Nixon, if this isn’t true I would still be surprised, once I got to heaven, to find out the guy was perfect - none of us are in this sense ! Of course we are made perfect in our moments of repentance. John Newton continued as a slave trader for a number of years after he wrote one of his well known hymns . . etc etc Is repentance and restoration always and only a one time thing ? Maybe it is for some . .
October 13th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Hi Andy, thanks for your comments.
I’m guessing that you are responding to my statement about Rory and Wendy?
At the end of the day each person has a right to their interpretation of events. I dont dispute the fact that no one is perfect, I come from a reformed perspective, no where in reformed theology will you find perfectionist teaching.
I agree, all leaders have blind spots, Calvin had his, Luther had his and so it goes…
However, from a scriptural perspective we have to aknowledge two things.
1) From God’s perspective some areas of weakness/sin/rebellion/blind spot are more serious than others. This can be seen from Pauls letters.
For example, The situation in the letter to the Galatians, Paul was pretty scathing because 1) The Gospel was being perverted, subtly, yet powerfuly. 2) This was messing with God’s flock and God takes this very seriously. ‘If anyone peaches another gospel let him be eternally condemed’.
2) We, the people, are not called to tolerate/accept the sins/shortcomings/failings/weaknesses of leaders unconditionaly. The body is supposed to support and correct the body. It takes discernment and a knowledge of the truth to know what are the roots, and effects of many of today’s movements, doctrines and leaders. At the end of the day, there is a harsher judgement for those who ‘presume to be teachers’. There is a harsher judgement on the prophets who claim to speak on God’s behalf. Rory and Wendy are very, very influential. God TV is very influential, yet the sad truth is that that influence is often dangerous and negative to true faith.
We have not all arrved at maturity, but it is a dangerous thing when immaturity is given such a global platform.
November 9th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
I hadn’t read Rory & Wendy’s ‘response’ until today.
“Remember: this was never about Todd Bentley. It was always about the Holy Spirit and the fact that God loved you and I. It was GOD who touched our lives.”
That’s not how I recall GODtv promoting their live coverage of the Lakeland circus. Before he fell, it WAS all about Todd.
“One thing, we felt impressed upon our hearts thirteen years ago when we first launched this ministry. That the Father will allow none of us - whether in ministry or as a viewer to hold idolatry in our hearts for any man.”
Yet GODtv (and most other Christian TV) constantly promotes the preacher, the ministry, the latest ’star’ and their merchandise. Why so many names? When there should be only one NAME on our lips?
Wendy, Rory - the desparate people who write to you need Jesus. Plain and simple. They don’t need you, or GODtv, or Todd, or a book, CD or DVD. They certainly don’t need to waste their cash propping up your business.
You got your fingers burnt with poor Todd Bentley. Big time. You may think God is telling you broadcast this rubbish, but the evidence is to the contrary.
You told us Todd was anointed, filled with power, supported by the prayer of some of the world’s ‘top prophets’. You told us this ‘power’ could transform lives and be imparted via your TV channel. Yet all the while Todd himself wasn’t able to resist temptation whilst being at the very heart of this ‘power’.
Are you absolutely sure God told you to do that? Or are you caught up in your own publicity?
Yes. ‘Christian TV’ makes me very cross.
January 12th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
I was really in agreement with you John until your parting comment about immaturity. I don’t think anyone however mature we are or think we are spiritually is justified in judging someone else’s spiritual maturity as this is only fully understood by God who searches hearts as this is where maturity is found. Someone’s actions and words cannot even fully determine someones maturity in faith and in Christ because there are so many aspects to it. I would say with the exception of a pastor in reference to his congregation, or apostles with regard to those who they are responsible for, or those with the office of a prophet if God chooses to reveal that. But if he does reveal this, it will be for comfort, edification and encouragement only. not so he/she can let the whole church know and put someone down. correct me if i’m wrong, i’m trying not to be critical of your honest comments, i just feel you are being unfair to them
January 13th, 2009 at 12:54 am
Hi David, first thanks for taking the time to check out the blog and engage with the material.
I have taken some time to think about what you are saying.
I guess in effect what you are saying is that it is wrong to judge and that you feel that I am judging people in judging their maturity?
You do allow for pastors/apostles to judge the maturity of those they are responsible for? However, this is the very point I sought to make. When we talk about judging a persons maturity, we are judging their ‘character’, and ‘doctrine’, and ‘life’. Character judgements have to be made on those desiring a place of leadership (as Paul lays out in his epistles that deal with elders etc.) God TV is a global platform for ministtry. Their sphere of influence supercedes any local church and international ministry. Should they take the need to judge character any less than a minister ordaining another minister? The problem, which everyone seems to agree with now, regarding Todd Bentley is that his gifting took him to places his character could not. Had the character checks been done, perhaps this devastating damage could be avoided. Sadly, hype and a multitude of other desires overcame godly wisdom and ‘immaturity’ was given such a public platform. The results were seen all around the world this time. If ‘maturity’ had been the emphasis this disaster could have been avoided.
February 1st, 2009 at 12:41 am
I think Rory and Wendy gave the most empathic and kind response possible. I love Todd Bentley and I, too have fallen in some of the same things, so I’m the last one to condemn him.
The revival brought people to Jesus, to each other, and even back to Jesus and each other. It also taught people how to handle controvery and how to forgive one who stumbles in the site of the public.
Was this any different than the woman caught in adultery? Who is going to start pitching the stone? I’m certainly NOT. I watched some peoples’ lives radically change while the revival was going on…I would not trade their salvations to offer anyone justification for condemning Todd.
Todd, I love you brother. I bless you. I forgive you. Most importantly GOD FORGIVES YOU! Blessings as you continue to make your way back into His chambers!
~Laura
February 1st, 2009 at 7:49 pm
hello john. i think i misunderstood in thinking you were disussing bentleys spiritual maturity whereas you are commenting on his character, teachings and lifestyle so apologies for that. i think though it is worth considering the possibility that bentley had some issues part way through his ministry and that God chose him for the job he took on regardless of the way this particular phase has concluded. i also reckon he can only be held accountable for a small part of the troubles he has been through that were obviously hard to see coming. the thief does not come except to steal, kill and destroy, and we are all subject to his attacks, however, when someone is on the front lines and a ‘public’ minister the attacks are of a different sort than others, or perhaps the attackers are different. arguably the worst attacks come to those who are establishing brand new territory for the gospel of our Jesus. add to this the Alec’s comment above of knowing first hand of demonic assignments by witches and wizards.. the people around bentley and the church as a whole all hold a share in the responsibility for the problems occuring where proper brotherly support and prayer support is not sufficient to hold back and send back this kind of assault.
thanks for having a fair website with decent people making civilised true christian objective conversation on these important issues.
July 29th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
There are a couple of issues here> The first is accountability and submission. John’s remark - the people around bentley and the church as a whole all hold a share in the responsibility for the problems occuring where proper brotherly support and prayer support is not sufficient to hold back and send back this kind of assault - is a wise statement. It seems like gifting, signs, wonders, and the like often trump accountability with charasmatics (I’m one so I think it’s fair to comment.It seemed that way in this instance - it seemed like there was a fair amount “calling into account” going on, but it was brushed aside as”criticism”. Bentley’s advisors will be held accountable as watchers on the wall who did not respond.
The other issue is the idea of repentance. What I don’t get was why the “restorers” in Bentley’s life did not require him to abandon the illicit relationship and go home to work on his marriage. Joyners comment about marriage being tough was rather weak, pardon the irony. Marriage is tough, but that’s what needed to be restored in this situation, a marriage, not a ministry. Perhaps then, the body of Christ would be more willing to trust Bentley again. Repentance proves itself in the fruit of righteous actions.
September 22nd, 2009 at 3:48 am
Christians: You gotta stop naffing about!! Forget about revival meetings, or tent Crusades. I read the Gospels and then Acts and I see blokes walking around the streets and laying hands on the sick, and the sick getting well……there and then! Even when the very sick they had healed were actually after some cash (Famously, silver or gold we do not have..) I also notice that a couple of believers fall stone cold dead in a meeting when caught in a lie (Let’s have a crusade about that!). I also read that none of the believers went without ‘cos they all divied up what they had. That none believers noticed that these folk had a real love for one another (I wonder how they noticed that?) But notice it they did! That the leaders of these christians were beaten and some killed. Their experiences on their resume’s would have read like this: Shipwrecked, Snake bitten,Not a lot of dosh, sometimes plenty sometimes nothing. Glad to be insulted and whipped for Jesus’ name.Oh yeah….saw God heal a load of people when we laid hands on them!
I think that if a real out of the blue type healing miracle were to take place on the streets of any major City or Town…you know, if the bloke in the wheelchair who’s been selling you newspapers at the stand near the tube station was suddenly standing, the next time you went to get your paper, THEN YOU WOULDN’T HAVE TO LAUCH A TV NETWORK TO TELL THE WORLD. THE WORLD WOULD COME TO YOU!!!
Anyway…..What am I doing about it? God help me get my act together!! (so to speak in none christianese)
October 16th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
It’s interesting to look at this a year later. The Lakeland revival comes across as having been one massive deception, a manufactured revival promoted by someone with heretical beliefs who was exposed as a liar and serial adulterer. There is no evidence that any of the thousands of healings and dozens of resurrections actually happened, and the most credible explanation is that people were tricked through crowd manipulation and mass hypnosis.
As far as Rory and Wendy Alec are concerned, well, they have zero discernment anyway as they broadcast plenty of other heretics and deceivers. If they honestly believe that God told them to broadcast Lakeland, they’ll do Him more service by sweeping the streets rather than running a TV channel.
The only people who emerge from this sad episode with any credibility are the bloggers and discernment ministries, whose warnings about Lakeland were mostly disregarded by the charismatic and pentecostal wings of the church. They were vindicated in the end.
April 14th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
I would acknowledge that we all fall short and are in a constant state of learning and repenting etc. However, from what I understand Todd was living like this for some time, it wasn’t a one-off mistake so surely this was a deliberate choice on his part. Also, The Bible clearly says that a leader should be the husband of one wife yet I understand that Todd is in ministry now with his new partner. I also saw a clip of him talking about the things that were happening or coming against them. No sense here of taking responsibility. I would have expected a period of standing down to get right with God and living a single life if his wife would not take him back.