(Opinion) Bible teacher and podcaster Mike Winger has released a bombshell, a 5-hour 50-minute video that has sent shock waves through the charismatic movement. Called “The Skeletons in Bethel’s Closet are Now Going to Speak,” it exposes fraudulent prophecies and sexual misconduct by southern California prophetic minister Shawn Bolz.
Winger provides a convincing case that Bolz’s ministry — which was strongly promoted by Bethel Church in Redding, California — was based on data mining Facebook and other public sources. Winger also documented several cases of alleged sexual misconduct by Bolz.
This was known to Bethel in 2020, and steps were taken in private to distance the church from Bolz. But in public, Bethel leaders continued to endorse Bolz and didn’t publicly distance themselves from Bolz until February 2025.
Winger released the video on Jan. 17. A day later at a Sunday service, Bethel pastor Kris Vallotton responded.
Revealing the Bethel operating system
Assuming he got to listen to all of Winger’s revelations only 30 hours after the video dropped, Vallotton was processing in real time.
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Instead of a response that would at least signal awareness that the accusations are serious enough to warrant careful handling, Vallotton gave an unscripted but revealing response.
And it is damning.
It shows how Bethel leadership thinks when confronted with documented patterns of abuse, false prophecy and institutional failure to protect victims.
They didn’t ask, “What did we miss?” or “Who did we fail to protect?” Instead, they asked, “Why is leadership so hard?” and “Why won’t people give us more grace?”
Here is the question that cuts to the heart of the matter: Do you love the body, or do you love your movement?
Vallotton’s Sunday evening sermon sadly answered that question. The movement must be protected. The prophetic ministry worldwide must not be damaged. The reputations of leaders must be preserved.
And the sheep? They can wait.
The wolf vs. broken person distinction
Vallotton sees the problem as divided into two categories of sinful leader: “wolves,” who are intentionally evil and “broken people,” who are unsafe but redeemable family members deserving extended grace.
How does someone qualify as a wolf? Almost every abuser has a broken background. Every predator can construct a narrative of trauma that “explains” their behavior.
Mass murderer Ted Bundy had a difficult childhood. Serial sex abuser Larry Nassar was described as kind by colleagues. The most dangerous people are often the most skilled at presenting their harm as woundedness.
Broken people who are promoted to positions of authority, and abuse that authority, become wolves, regardless of their intent. It is simple wisdom not to place broken people in roles where they can hurt others.
When leadership elevates someone, whose brokenness is known, and that person then damages those under them, there is intentionality in that harm. And the intent belongs to the leaders who placed them there.
Sin happens, but what happens when the church does nothing?
This is the thread running through nearly every recent church abuse scandal. The original sin is often not the biggest problem. People sin. People abuse. That’s grievous, but it’s not what destroys faith and leaves lasting devastation.
The deeper wound comes when victims summon the courage to report to those they believe will make it right. They go to the shepherds. And the shepherds, rather than protecting the sheep, make the original wrongdoing infinitely worse.
They minimize. They delay. They urge forgiveness without repentance. They keep the matter confidential. They question the victim’s motives or memory. They protect the institution. And through it all, they allow the wolf continued access to the flock.
This is where hope dies. The abuse itself is traumatic. But the betrayal by those who were supposed to protect you is soul-destroying.
Vallotton’s sermon follows this pattern: Extended mercy. Confidentiality. Reluctance to expose. Concern for the accused’s reputation. Sympathy for how hard it is to lead. Not a word about the victims whose trust was doubly violated, first by the abuser, then by the shepherds who should have stopped it.
Confidentiality – mercy or a shield?
Vallotton argues church leadership must maintain silence, even when accusations of wrongdoing happen. That breaking confidence can “end a minister’s life.” Leaders must rather “stay silent in the midst of accusation.”
This creates a system where the accused’s privacy always trumps the congregation’s safety. A pastor learns of predatory behavior in confidence. Under Vallotton’s framework, exposing it “ends” his ministry. So, he stays silent and more people are harmed.
Winger’s investigation includes leaked texts showing Vallotton himself privately banning Bolz from Bethel ministries, starting in 2020. But Bethel leadership never publicly warned the millions who follow Bolz’s teaching. Moreover, Bethel lead pastor Bill Johnson endorsed Bolz publicly as a “trusted friend” in 2023 on TBN.
How many more victims accumulated during those years of extended mercy? Every month of “time for repentance” is another month the congregation isn’t warned, another month potential victims are unprotected, another month the pattern continues.
Does Vallotton believe the words of the New Testament?
“As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear” (1 Timothy 5:20). Public sin requires public address. The purpose isn’t revenge. It’s protection and warning.
Social media as the villain
Vallotton spent significant time lamenting how social media allows “unvetted stories” to spread globally, mixing truth with “fake news” and destroying reputations permanently.
Interestingly, he says victims and whistleblowers could at least go to the news media. I can state clearly from personal experience that when victims have gone to the news media, it has elicited the same response from church leaders.
Many survivors go public precisely because internal processes failed them. When “biblical processes” become mechanisms for institutional self-protection, the press or social media becomes a sad necessity.
Plus, Winger’s video isn’t “unvetted.” It’s the product of many months of research, victim interviews, leaked texts, and documented evidence.
Does Vallotton believe Jesus was correct when he called out the Pharisees publicly by name and practice? Paul publicly named Alexander the coppersmith as a troublemaker. Exposure of harmful leaders is a biblical pattern when private confrontation fails.
Extended mercy without boundaries
Vallotton admits Bethel erred by “waiting too long” but frames this as having the “right heart.” He cites Revelation 2:21, giving Jezebel “time to repent” as justification for extended grace periods.
But he didn’t include the rest of the passage: “but she refuses to repent … I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation” (Rev 2:21-22). Time for repentance has limits. Ongoing tolerance of unrepentant sin isn’t mercy; it’s enabling.
Gifts separate from character
Citing Romans 11, Vallotton argues gifts persist despite character flaws. Judas ministered under Jesus. Solomon had wisdom despite immorality. Failed leaders’ past work isn’t invalidated, he says.
This brings up two questions. Can God use flawed people? Obviously yes. But should flawed people remain in leadership? Scripture says no.
Does Bethel follow Paul’s requirements for being an overseer? “An overseer must be above reproach” (1 Tim 3:2). “He must have a good reputation with outsiders” (1 Tim 3:7). Gifts are irrevocable; leadership positions are not.
Why this isn’t merciful
Vallotton frames his approach as “overly merciful,” erring on the side of grace. But mercy to whom?
It’s not mercy to victims. Every month of extended grace is another month they’re unprotected, unwarned, unbelieved.
It’s not mercy to the congregation. They’re kept ignorant of danger in their midst.
It’s not mercy to employees subjected to sexual misconduct by a leader everyone trusted. Their suffering continues while leadership waits for repentance.
It’s not even mercy to the abuser. Keeping someone in their sin isn’t mercy. It’s abandoning them to eternal consequences.
Vallotton’s response was a real-time window into how Bethel’s leadership processes accusations of cover-up: defend the institution, extend indefinite grace to the accused, reframe scrutiny as persecution, and never quite get around to the discipline Scripture commands.
What they believe is a framework where wolves are theoretically bad but practically impossible to identify. It’s where victims are theoretically valued but practically silenced, and where church discipline is theoretically biblical but functionally nonexistent.
The biggest scandal in the church today isn’t that people sin. It’s that when the wounded come to the shepherds for help, the shepherds hand them back to the wolves.
This commentary does not necessarily reflect the views of The Roys Report.
Jonathan “Jono” Hall is a former leader at the International House of Prayer of Kansas City (IHOPKC). In fall 2023, he was one of several former leaders calling for transparency and accountability within the charismatic movement after standing with numerous abuse victims. Jono and his wife, Shari, have five children and reside in Colorado.
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30 Responses
I am kinda surprised that Jono didn’t talk about Shawn’s time with Bickle.
Wait a minute Bethel distance himself over five years ago from Boltz. You reported on it back then.
Right but they did it quietly without a public explanation, and then the leader of the church later went on TBN and endorsed Bolz as a prophetic preacher of unimpeachable character, so somewhat of a mixed message to say the least.
He apologized specifically for doing that this Sunday.
I praise the LORD that HE continues to expose and remove the wicked from the body of Christ.
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”
— Abraham Lincoln
Bethel leadership has failed this test. They exercised their authority to protect their positions, their movement, and their sinful decisions. Now it’s all come to light. Mike Winger has done the Church a great service.
Lincoln didn’t say it, but the person who spoke the quote did have Lincoln in mind.
There are no “true” shepherds in the Church, only hirelings. There is only one Shepherd, Jesus, all others are hirelings.
Romans 11:28-29 (NIV) 28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.
A verse taken out of context is a pretext for a proof text. – Don Carson
Contrary to what many believe, verse 29 is not talking about current ministry leaders who have fallen in sin, usually sexual, e.g. Shawn Bolz, Mike Bickle, Phillip Yancey, and the list could go on and on. It is clear that the context of these verses, in fact the entire context of Romans 9-11, is fallen Israel. Despite their failure, Paul is teaching that Israel’s gifts and calling are irrevocable, and therefore they, the natural branches that were broken off because of their disobedience and unbelief, will one day “be grafted back into their own olive tree.” Verse 29 is NOT saying that Shawn Bolz’s gifts and calling are irrevocable.
This “exposé” is last years news. It’s really been done to death. This Shaun Boltz personality was never a staffer and this piece implies he was, he was only ever a friend & affiliate and he is responsiblefor his own sin. The fact that this piece spend more time blaming one church that was affiliatedabd no other is suspect. This opinion piece was clearly written by an unobjective individual deeply hurt by the IHOPKC church scandal.
A level of strong rebuke is warranted since Bethel endorsed Bolz, but sadly the enemy may use this situation to discredit and neuter Bethel a powerful force for good within the Church. Praying for God to work in this situation.
This reminds me of the situation a number of years ago with Eileen Gray. She was condemned by leadership at deceased pastor John MacArthur’s church for being unwilling to stay in marriage in which her children were being sexually abused by their father. Obviously an untenable situation.
The cover-up culture in the church needs to be rooted out, exposed and confronted in the church. The victims need to be believed and be allowed to confront wolves like those referenced in this article.
God bless Mike Winger. He did his homework.
Bethel and the charismatic movement are without excuse. They’ve tolerated and promoted every prophetic fraud that has crawled out of the sewer. They’ve created a form of Christianity that is nothing more than a cheap magical system. Millions have been deceived by them.
I hope the entire house of cards collapses.
TRR sounded the warning on this gaslighting pattern at Bethel almost a year ago.
https://julieroys.com/bethel-church-raises-concerns-shawn-bolz-fabricated-prophecies-using-social-media/
At the time, I realized that the entire Bethel structure would be the next to implode, after IHOPKC.
And I noted the ghost of false prophet and sex offender Bob Jones lurking behind both of them. Bethel’s reverence for Jones was equal to that of IHOPKC.
https://youtu.be/nTaABvdI6-A
Bookmark the name… Bob Jones had a hand in the formation of many prophetic ministries, and the Lord has to uproot them all. So there are more crashes to come.
Excellent commentary and summary. This has been both a shock and a sad chain of events. This is systemic and thankful it is coming to light. I am hopeful this will bring a sea change of accountability. Judgment begins at God’s house.
Such a profound commentary on these patterns of behavior. Thank you.
As I read this, it occurred to me that the line, ‘Hurt people, hurt people.’ Is a pet phrase promoted by abusers and their protectors.
They promote this in order to garner sympathy for the abuser, not to help him get help.
This is an excellent assessment of the church leadership model where the motive is to protect those in control. I especially appreciate Mr. Hall’s appraisal of ecclesiastical authority that tolerates ”a framework where wolves are theoretically bad but practically impossible to identify. It’s where victims are theoretically valued but practically silenced, and where church discipline is theoretically biblical but functionally nonexistent.” I support few ministries with whom I do not have a direct relationship. The Roys Report is a notable exception. I do not agree with many of the viewpoints and what I see as biases of the reporters and have at times considered terminating my support. Yet I realize that, in the body of Christ, there will be differences of opinion and perspectives which are secondary as long the core essentials of the faith are promulgated. I must commend you Ms. Roys for your comments that are always thoughtful and measured. Your exposure of Ravi Zacharias perfidy, who I had esteemed, has been the catalyst of my continued support. The prideful and unrepentant church leadershiap culture necessitates advocates to admonish the church just as Jesus did with the Pharisees and the 7 churches in Revelation. I very much appreciate the news of the persecuted church around the world. Thank you.
PROFOUND article. Well written. Well researched. Just a breath of fresh air I could go on and on.
But these two hit my heart the most.
-How does someone qualify as a wolf? Almost every abuser has a broken background. Every predator can construct a narrative of trauma that “explains” their behavior.
– The biggest scandal in the church today isn’t that people sin. It’s that when the wounded come to the shepherds for help, the shepherds hand them back to the wolves.
When attending my home church, while in seminary, a pastor was defrocked for getting a deacon’s wife pregnant. The “minister” in question found sanctuary in a Vineyard church. He was forced to leave that church for demanding that he be allowed to counsel Vineyard women.
How on earth can you ‘restore’ the church when it’s divided into hundreds of denominations and thousands of independent churches and organizations many of whom refuse to make changes to their operations to prevent abuse and discipline/remove the abusers?
The truth is always restorative. How it is accepted and applied may vary from organization to organization. But as Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis said, “Sunlight is the best disinfectant.”
Worth reading Bethels response: https://www.bethel.com/news/an-important-letter-from-bill-kris-and-dann-on-behalf-of-bethel-leadership
Bethel church has a doctrinal problem . They strip Jesus of his divinity and chase signs and wonders and healing at the exclusion of sound teaching and biblical truth. Godliness is ignored as the misinterpretation of scripture is continually embraced by bethel leadership to promote the new apostolic movement. Any church embracing the apostolic and prophetic as the their leadership and promoting generals or those special people they are courting is bound to become corrupt.
The same thing happened when the #metoo movement happened. Knee jerk reaction was dreadful. Eventually Mr. Valotton recanted but it took effort to get him to see the victim before the movement.
You should spend your energy focusing on the kingdom and spreading the good news instead of trying to be a junior Holy Spirit. God is the judge, and he did not give you the responsibility of being a fruit inspector.
I wonder how many of those mentioned in this article rightly excoriated the Catholic Church for their decades long coverups of abuse, quietly moving priests around and prioritizing the name and reputation of their institution above the victims and their flock.
And now it’s happening to their organization, and they somehow believe that theirs is different.
Utter disgrace, but as is being demonstrated in the news these days, any institution with enough power and influence can get away with murder, and not just metaphorically.
Good work. Organizations claiming to be free of ‘outside’ accountability, as many churches typically have done need to be viewed with clear-minded skepticism. Why are leaders protected from criticism and accountability? Ask the question. Even if something is called a Church, ask. If they ‘do their own discipline’, run. There is no obligation to give your time, money, and loyalty to such a place. Start seeking and you will find. Truth matters, and no one is above the law. Report unlawful acts to the authorities. Think, people, think.
This needs a follow-up over what was finally(!) brought into the open at today’s (25 January) Bethel services. Finally(!) something clicked.
With Bethel’s January 25 acknowledgement that they needed to be better, I just have to ask the obvious, since Bethel proudly brands itself regarding its prophetic identity: Why didn’t Bethel’s leadership see this coming long before now? /s
So well said. Bravo, Mr. Hall.
The term “extended mercy” seems more like code-speak for “sweep it under the rug”.