Bethel Church pastor and Overseer of Prophetic Ministry at Bethel Church in Redding, California, Ben Armstrong, has been placed on administrative leave following new allegations that he engaged in clergy sexual abuse.
Bethel Church in Redding, California, led by Bill Johnson, is reaping the whirlwind after more and more allegations of a cover-up culture emerge, with the church being battered from all sides for its lackadaisical approach to sexual abuse and its propensity to hide behind NDAs and bad narratives.
In 2009, Armstrong publicly confessed to having a “moral failure,” which he and church leaders described as a “mess” and framed as a consensual and willing “affair.”
He was removed from ministry, went through a multi-year repentance and restoration process, and was eventually reinstated to a leadership role, being featured in Bethel Church videos and promo material as a success story and an example of God’s grace in their lives.
Then the Wake Up and Win podcast featured an interview with the woman, Sarah, speaking up for the first time. Rather than framing it as an affair, it presents their relationship as a devastating example of clergy sexual abuse and deliberate predation.
She describes duplicitous behavior, gaslighting, and manipulation by Armstrong, along with all the ways he slowly and methodically broke down her physical and emotional defenses by abusing his role as her “spiritual father.”
In particular, Sarah shares detail of the only two instances of sexual sin that occurred between, the latter of which involved him inviting her over under the guise of taking care of the kids (whom he had surreptitiously sent away)then getting her drunk and sexually assaulting her-dragging her to the bedroom while she told him “no.”
This is the one of two instances that Bethel leaders framed as a consensual "affair" and "moral failing" for more a decade and a half.
— Protestia (@Protestia) February 16, 2026
Listen carefully at this interaction between Ben Armstrong, a pastor and Overseer of Prophetic Ministry at Bethel Church, and 'Sarah.' pic.twitter.com/2lHSyojhRy
"He pulled me into the room… dragged me into the room with him…he's pulling me and I remember saying 'no' out loud.'
— Protestia (@Protestia) February 16, 2026
For years Bethel Church leaders framed this as a consensual affair. 'Sarah' details the second of two interacations between her and prophet Ben Armstrong. pic.twitter.com/ysyzwVPjpd
While the Bethel church initially posted a tepid letter on their website on February 13 regarding Armstrong’s “known moral failure,” the tone changed after they watched the video, releasing a second statement two days later, writing:
Late on February 13, 2026, we became aware of a video containing serious allegations of clergy sexual abuse pertaining to Ben Armstrong and events that took place in 2009.
Earlier that day at 1:30pm PT, we released a statement on our website based on the information that we were aware of at that time, and our understanding of Ben’s lived repentance since that time. However, in light of these new and previously unknown allegations, we have placed Ben Armstrong on administrative leave. He will not be ministering while an independent third-party investigation takes place.
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. We are also currently reaching out to those who have brought these allegations to light.
We are actively engaging outside counsel and independent experts to help ensure thorough, impartial, and trauma-informed processes. We are committed to health and accountability as we pursue spiritual, physical, and emotional safety across our organization.
At this point Armstrong has not publicly commented on ‘Sarah’s’ characterization of these interactions a decade and a half ago.
Clergy sexual abuse survivor advocate Alyssa DeGraff shared her assessment of this incident on X, writing:
Bethel says Ben Armstrong will step down while an independent third-party investigation transpires. First of all, who is setting the terms of that investigation, and will leaders involved in his “restoration(s)” have any influence in those decisions?
Second, many institutions hire outside third parties to perform investigations. However a truly independent one in this context will demonstrate that victim* safety, truth, and public accountability are prioritized.
She notes what she wants to see from an investigator:
-A multi-disciplinary team that prioritizes victim* care
-Experience in clergy abuse and religious trauma
-Transparency/clarity regarding scope and terms
-Attorney/client privilege waived, if applicable
-A final report that will include a cultural assessment and resources. This is a redemptive key that can foster healing in the community and reform that prevents future harm
-Transparency regarding the investigator & scope
-A proactive openness to survivor/alumni feedback
-Leaders committing to submit to the investigative process
– An agreement that the findings be made public & without institutional interference
-A willingness to expand the scope of the investigation should the investigator recommend it
Add on all ‘staff released from the NDA’s,’ and we co-sign unreservedly.
Editor’s Note.
*Protestia has a long-standing policy of reserving the language of “grooming” to refer to behavior toward minors. While the framing of this incident by Armstrong and Bethel Church leaders as an “affair” is laughable and patently false, we do not believe it is appropriate to frame the entirety of their relationship and behavior in a way that removes all moral culpability from Sarah for at least *some* of what transpired.
Though she was manipulated and exploited by Armstrong over an extended period of time, she is still an adult with the ability and moral necessity to say ‘no,’ and we believe one can be a victim of clergy sexual abuse while also not being completely sinless or blameless.
