More Controversy at Bethel Church: Ben Armstrong Placed on Leave

New allegations of sexual harassment arise after alleged victim shares story.

Ben Armstrong, pastor and “Overseer of Prophetic Ministry at Bethel Church, Redding,” was placed on administrative leave February 15 amid new allegations of clergy sexual abuse.

Bethel Overseer Ben Armstrong / Video screenshot

According to a statement on the Bethel Church website, the events allegedly took place in 2009 and were previously unknown to the leaders at Bethel. Upon learning about them, leaders placed Armstrong on leave pending a third-party investigation.

“This step forward is not a verdict, but a necessary measure intended to reflect the care and sobriety with which we approach matters of this nature and our desire to operate in transparency and truth,” the statement reads. “We are also currently reaching out to those who have brought these allegations to light.”

In a lengthy YouTube video posted February 13, a victim named Sarah alleged that Armstrong, whom she considered a “father figure,” groomed her, and eventually “cross[ed] sexual boundaries.”

That same day, Bethel leadership said it had been made aware of allegations by a former Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry student in the 2008-09 time frame. The leaders said they knew about a “moral failure” by Armstrong, for which he publicly repented, was removed from ministry, and “walked through a multi-year healing and restoration process.”

Despite that previous restoration, leaders said they were considering the allegations with “fresh eyes.”

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“We are taking time to reflect, seek counsel, and learn how we can more fully walk in truth, accountability, compassion, and restoration,” the February 13 statement reads. “We are reviewing this with a more informed understanding of appropriate interactions and relationships between leaders and congregants, and the power dynamics and resulting responsibilities that may factor into these interactions. We are also reviewing our processes and pastoral care to ensure our response to victims reflects compassion, integrity, and support.”

Then on February 15, the church released its new statement acknowledging they had placed Armstrong on leave.

Armstrong’s removal comes just weeks after Bethel Church leaders Kris Vallotton, Bill Johnson, and Dann Farrelly asked for forgiveness for the way they handled Shawn Bolz, platforming him as recently as 2019 despite allegations of sexual harassment and false prophecy made against him.

“We platformed him because we believed in him, and when he failed, and failed to repent, it was our responsibility to tell people that we no longer trusted him in order to protect them,” Vallotton wrote.

In 2025, Bethel leadership released a statement addressing allegations of sexual harassment that an employee made against Bolz. When confronted, Bolz acknowledged the behavior but said it had stopped, the leaders claimed. They then recommended those affected to seek a remedy through the justice system. They also took a “step back” from their ministry connection with Bolz.

The letter also addressed accusations that Bolz had used social media to form prophetic words for people. Bolz has denied that accusation as well.

“I specifically want to apologize to victims of Shawn: those who experienced Shawn’s inappropriate and sexually harassing culture, and those who struggled to process or made life decisions as a result of prophetic words that they’d received. I am very sorry,” Vallotton wrote in January 2026.

“We must realize that we need to care more about character than we do about gifting in the leaders who grace our podium and are promoted by us,” Vallotton continued. “We need to take steps to have greater accountability within our own leadership teams and ensure that together, we live out our core values and call one another to account when we fall short. We are committed to doing this better moving forward.”

The apologies from Bethel leadership came after Mike Winger, an apologist who runs the website Bible Thinker, released a lengthy video examining the false prophecy and sexual harassment claims against Bolz.

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