Ps. Stephen Tan Wei Shan of the Gospel Coalition of Australia, published a long Facebook post about his meeting with Ben Fitzgerald. The meeting was in response to his article here:
At What Price Awakening? Examining the Theology and Practice of the Bethel Movement
You can read Ps. Shan’s entire Facebook post here:
Stephen Tan Wei Shan’s naive decision to now publicly endorse Ben Fitzgerald?
It’s interesting to note Shan’s reporting on Fitzgerald’s insistence that Awakening Australia has no link with Bethel:
“i) Awakening is not Bethel
The first thing that Ben wanted to address is the connection between Awakening and Bethel. Ben felt that it was unfair for me to closely link Awakening to Bethel as Awakening is an inter-denominational evangelistic event which calls on Christians and churches to lay aside secondary theological differences for the sake of advancing the gospel in Australia.”
As we are about to see, this is a fabrication on Fitzgerald’s part.
Bethel Supernatural School of Ministry Alumni
A simple search on Facebook makes Ben Fitzgerald’s protest appear dishonest. There are a series of posts from Bethel Supernatural School of Ministry Alumni promoting ‘Awakening Australia’ to their elite students, encouraging them to get involved at Fitzgerald’s event.
In their adverts, the Alumni advertise their trip to Fitzgerald’s ‘Awakening Australia’ as a ‘family trip’. It is important to note that Bethel have always considered Ben Fitzgerald as ‘family’ as he is a Bethel pastor and often speaks at Bethel Church, Bethel events or BSSM events. As we read further, Bethel Alumni are not attending as spectators:
“FAMILY TRIP: We’re going to Australia, November 10th-20th!
Partner with Steve and Ruth Moore in Sydney where you will minister in local churches before flying to Melbourne for an alumni Summit. Then, join the team of Flood Melbourne followed by Awakening Australia with Ben Fitzgerald. Help set this nation ablaze with revival fire!
Register Here: https://trips.ibethel.org/trips?by_group=114
#bssmalumni #alumnitrips #awakeningaustralia #stayconnected #stillburning”
Source: BSSM Alumni, Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/bssmalumni/photos/a.1652771541660720/2180782738859595/, October 04, 2018. (Accessed October 19, 2018.) [Archive]
If you visit the ibethel link above to register for the trips, both ‘info’ sections state:
“Thousands from all over Australia and around the world are coming together with one purpose: Australia for Jesus! You are invited to be part of this calaytic event to see Australians come to know Jesus in 2018!
Over the past few years, the Alumni department have taken teams to Awakening Europe in Sweden, Prague and Latvia and to Portland 2018. We’ve seen multitudes saved, healed and set free as well as having great team and connection time. This trip will provide great opportunities to connect with other Alumni and further fuel your fire and passion to see Jesus move through you in ways that shape history.
In Australia, we will meet in Sydney to minister at multiple churches, be equipped and launched in prophetic/healing ministry. After Sydney we will fly as a team into Melbourne to heal lead outreach teams in the streets, you will have access to the Alumni Summit and will serve on the Awakening Australia team. You will be activated, stretched, empowered and encouraged as we unite with each other and feed on what Jesus is doing across the planet.
By joining this trip, you will be able to connect with other revivalists, be celebrated, and see God move powerfully through you. What better way to encounter the goodness of God than expanding the kingdom with your BSSM family?!
The cost for this trip will be $950, which includes accommodation (in a hotel in downtown Melbourne, right next to the stadium), all food, transportation during the trip, tickets to Awakening Australia and Alumni Summit, a fun day and travel insurance while in Australia. You will be responsible for your own transportation to/from Australia. We hope to see you there!
Source: Apply for a Mission Trip, Bethel Trips, https://trips.ibethel.org/trips?by_group=114, Accessed October 19, 2018. (Emphasis added.) [Archived]
Bethel Alumni not only advertised Ben Fitzgerald’s event on Facebook, they announced they are “taking a radical team to join this prolific event” – encouraging those who are in their alumni to be in this team. Of course, they have to register at ibethel.org and not Awakening.
“YOU SHOULD KNOW
1. A mass of speakers, denominations, and people groups will gather in the now Marvel Stadium as Ben Fitzgerald and team tear it up during Awakening Australia!
2. BSSM Alumni is taking a radical team to join this prolific event and want you to take part! Both extended and short trip options available. It’s Australia time!
Register: https://trips.ibethel.org/trips?by_group=114
#bssmalumni #alumnitrips #awakeningaustralia #fire”
Source: BSSM Alumni, Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/bssmalumni/photos/a.1652771541660720/2188381584766377/, October 11, 2018. (Accessed October 19, 2018.) [Archived]
This advert from the BSSM Alumni informs the group that “as a family”, they will “sit under awe-inspiring leaders such as Ben Fitzgerald and others from the Awakening Australia event.” Of course they have to register at BethelRedding.com to “sit under” Ben Fitzgerald and his Awakening Team.
“Fire, power, glory, family, revelation! What will not be imparted at this prestigious summit? We will connect as a family to share stories, break bread, worship, and sit under awe-inspiring leaders such as Ben Fitzgerald and others from the Awakening Australia event. BSSM Alumni are coming together like never before, creating strong community across the globe and we want to see you there!
Register Here: https://my.bethelredding.com/default.aspx…
#bssmalumni #alumnistrong #thesummitmelbourne #awakeningaustralia“
Source: BSSM Alumni, Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/bssmalumni/photos/a.1652771541660720/2188381584766377/, October 18, 2018. (Accessed October 19, 2018.) [Archived]
So how is Bethel not linked to or involved with Fitzgerald’s Awakening events? Even the way they advertise it, their heretical NAR dominionist agenda is on full display in their adverts.
Furthermore, the BSSM Alumni regard Ben Fitzgerald and his Awakening Team as ‘family’ and are themselves intrinsically involved in Fitzgerald’s events. It is worth reading what Bethel’s BSSM alumni again reveals about their involvement with Fitzgerald’s events:
“Over the past few years, the Alumni department have taken teams to Awakening Europe in Sweden, Prague and Latvia and to Portland 2018. We’ve seen multitudes saved, healed and set free as well as having great team and connection time. This trip will provide great opportunities to connect with other Alumni and further fuel your fire and passion to see Jesus move through you in ways that shape history.”
Ben Fitzgerald himself acknowledges this. In another video, Fitzgerald advertised an BSSM Alumni event he was speaking at and even mentioned that Daniel Hagen (his Apostle), from the ‘Awakening Band’ at the event:
“Hi guys. We cannot wait for August twenty-nine, just around the corner. We have the Alumni Summit with myself, Kris Vallotton, Jean-Luc Trachsel, Paul Manwaring. It’s going to be an amazing time. Also, a great friend Daniel Hagen from the Awakening Band will be leading worship. And it’s just going to be a wonderful time of connection and us really partnering with you of how you’re destiny can be fulfilled to serve the Lord Jesus Christ in the earth. There’s going to be such fire that day. We encourage you to register and we can’t wait to see you very soon.”
Source: Ben Fitzgerald, Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/bssmalumni/videos/1666584143452433/, Published August 23, 2018. (Accessed October 20, 2018.) [Archived]
Below the above video, Fitzgerald also has this to say (emphasis added):
“Alumni Summit at Awakening Baltic happening soon! “Don’t miss out as we partner with one another to see destinies fulfilled and serve the movement of Jesus throughout the Earth.” Ben Fitzgerald
Register Here: https://my.bethelredding.com/default.aspx…
#bssmalumni #bssm #bssmredding #alumni #alumnilife #
#bethelredding #awakeningeurope #baltija2018 #thesummit #thesummitlatvia #livefully #comeconnect #stayconnected #bringculture #beculture
Ben Fitzgerald has publicly linked Bethel, Bethel’s school, Bethel’s school’s alumni and Bethel’s school’s alumni’s events to his global Awakening event. The BSSM have even advertised in their FaceBook group a video of their “Alumni Summit with Ben Fitzgerald! Live from Riga, Latvia!”
Fifty seconds into the video, Ben Fitzgerald states (emphasis added):
“Well guys I love you. It’s good to see you. There’s many familiar faces I can see here, which is really cool. And every year at Awakening Europe, we have a BSSM Alumni. So we are so thankful to BSSM and to Steve and Ruth. I don’t know if they are on this trip. Are they on this trip? Where are they? They’re not here on this trip. Okay.
Okay. Well I am thankful for them either way. Maybe they’re watching home on this thing. But we’re very thankful for our house, our family at Bethel. And um- yeah. I’m just so stoked that I get to be with you guys again.”
Source: Ben Fitzgerald, Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/bssmalumni/videos/666660680377128/, Published August 29, 2018. (Accessed October 19 2018.) [Archive] [00:50]
Ben Fitzgerald has a well-documented history for taking the Lord’s name in vain by claiming to see and hear from God – and speak on His behalf. His own words prove Ben Fitzgerald to be a deceiver by telling Ps. Stephen Tan Wei Shan that Bethel has no link with his Awakening events.
If Ben Fitzgerald wants to be taken seriously, he needs to ‘awaken’ and repent of his deception.
Email all comments and questions to c3churchwatch@hotmail.com
Categories: Awakening Conferences, Bethel "Church"