Bethel Church Orders Full Governance Review as Investigators Probe Ben Armstrong Sexual Abuse Allegations

Bethel Church Launches Independent Investigation Into Ben Armstrong Sexual Abuse Claims and Orders Full Governance Review

Bethel Church in Redding, California, has confirmed that Sintra Group Professional Investigations is leading an independent inquiry into sexual abuse allegations against Ben Armstrong, the church's Overseer of Prophetic Ministry.

Armstrong was placed on administrative leave in February 2026 after a former Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry intern, identified only as Sarah, appeared on a podcast alleging clergy sexual abuse dating back to 2009.

Sarah stated she was a 23 year old intern when Armstrong, a married father of three, allegedly groomed and sexually assaulted her under the guise of being a "spiritual father." Armstrong had previously characterized the 2009 incident as "an affair," a characterization Sarah disputes.

In an April 2 statement, Bethel leadership announced it is expanding its response beyond the Armstrong investigation by bringing in a third party expert to review the church's governance, leadership structure, and internal culture.

We want to ensure we have established clear accountability structures, prioritized the safety of all those engaging with Bethel, and upheld the standards that Scripture calls our leadership and culture to reflect.

Sintra Group, based in Ventura, California, is led by principal investigator Steve Bowman, a former Assistant Police Chief of the Ventura Police Department. The firm claims over 20 years of experience with trauma informed investigative protocols and employs primarily former law enforcement officers.

However, questions have been raised about whether the firm has direct experience investigating clergy sexual abuse or religious institutions. Bethel declined to answer how the firm was selected, details about the selection process, or funding sources for the investigation.

The church stated it is "not moving past it quickly" and that "this process matters deeply to us." The investigation remains ongoing with no completion date specified.

Bethel, historically led by senior leader Bill Johnson, has faced mounting scrutiny in recent months after also acknowledging failures in handling concerns about former minister Shawn Bolz, who was accused of fraudulent prophetic practices and sexual misconduct.

Sintra Group Investigation Into Bethel Church Pastor Ben Armstrong Raises Questions About Transparency and Accountability

Jenn Johnson, a senior worship pastor at Bethel, acknowledged the church has "very weird things" occurring at various leadership levels. The admission came amid growing calls for transparency from former members and watchdog organizations.

A second alleged victim, Rozanne Leigh, has also come forward with separate allegations against Armstrong, adding further pressure on Bethel's leadership to demonstrate genuine accountability.

The governance review represents a significant step for Bethel, one of the most influential charismatic churches in America, but critics say the true test will be whether the findings are made public and whether meaningful structural changes follow.

The Crusader's Opinion

Accountability is not optional in the Body of Christ. When a man entrusted with spiritual authority over young believers uses that position to prey on the vulnerable, it is not merely a "moral failure." It is a betrayal of the sacred trust God places in His shepherds. Bethel's years of silence and rebranding Armstrong's predation as "an affair" should disturb every Christian. The Church must be the safest place on earth, not a hunting ground for wolves in shepherd's clothing. If we cannot police our own pulpits, we have no standing to speak truth to the world. We pray for justice for the victims and genuine repentance from those who enabled this.

Take Action

• Pray specifically for Sarah, Rozanne Leigh, and any other victims who have not yet come forward. Lift them up by name in your prayer groups.
• Contact Bethel Church leadership directly and urge full transparency in the investigation findings: bethel.com/contact
• Support organizations that advocate for abuse survivors in church settings, such as GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment)
• If you or someone you know has experienced clergy abuse, contact the RAINN hotline at 1 800 656 4673 or visit rainn.org
• Support Christian persecution relief and shepherding through www.TheShepherdsShield.org