Bethel Church Shuts Down 5,000 Member Alumni Facebook Group Amid Abuse Scandal Coverup

Bethel Church Locks Down Alumni Facebook Group After Abuse Allegations Surface

Bethel Church, the prominent megachurch in Redding, California, has temporarily locked its private alumni Facebook group with over 5,000 members, sparking outrage among former students of the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (BSSM).

The move comes amid escalating scrutiny over allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct involving church leaders. Bethel's prophetic overseer Ben Armstrong was suspended pending an investigation after accusations that he twice forced a BSSM intern into his bed 16 years ago, reportedly framing the alleged abuse as a "moral failure."

The church also faces fallout over revelations that prophetic minister Shawn Bolz allegedly faked prophecies and sexually harassed staff members for years while leadership, including senior pastor Bill Johnson and top pastor Chris Vallotton, remained silent. Johnson and Vallotton have since publicly apologized for their silence regarding Bolz.

BSSM alumnus Jesse Westwood, host of the Faith Reframed podcast, said his phone "started blowing up" after Bethel shut down the group.

The problem here is that Bethel is controlling the narrative. They don't want other victims to talk to each other. They don't want to have an open forum where people can talk about their hurt or what happened to them and highlight failures in leadership.

Jesse Westwood, BSSM alumnus

Bethel cited the need to "honor the integrity of the investigation" and prevent meaningful feedback from being lost in increased conversation volume. Critics were unconvinced, with one commenter calling the statement "a master class in gaslighting."

In response, alumni launched their own independent Facebook page to continue discussions and hold Bethel Church accountable for its handling of the allegations.

Bethel Megachurch Faces Backlash Over Silencing Former Students on Social Media

Westwood further argued that silencing the alumni group was counterproductive to accountability.

If you don't want something significant being missed, you would allow open discussion for the alumni.

Jesse Westwood

The controversy has intensified calls for transparency from the Redding megachurch, which boasts more than 11,000 members and operates one of the most influential charismatic ministry schools in the world.

The Crusader's Opinion

When a church silences the very people it was supposed to shepherd, something has gone deeply wrong. Locking a Facebook group does not protect an investigation. It protects the powerful. These are not strangers making accusations from the outside. These are alumni, former students who gave years of their lives to this ministry, now being told to sit down and be quiet while leadership figures out how to manage the optics. That is not shepherding. That is damage control. If Bethel's leaders truly fear God more than public opinion, they will open the doors, not shut them. Transparency is not the enemy of truth. Silence is.

Take Action

• Pray for the victims and former students of Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry who are seeking truth and accountability.
• Support organizations that advocate for abuse survivors in church settings, such as GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment).
• Follow investigative journalist Julie Roys at julieroys.com for continued coverage and accountability reporting on this story.
• If you or someone you know has experienced abuse in a church setting, contact the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1 800 656 4673.
• Support the work of Christian persecution advocacy and church accountability through The Shepherd's Shield.