Bethel pastor suspended after former student alleges sexual assault

Published February 17, 2026 By admin

A pastor at Bethel Church has been placed on leave after allegations of sexual assault surfaced in a YouTube video.

In a February 15 statement, leaders of the charismatic megachurch said they had become aware of a video “containing serious allegations of clergy sexual abuse” against pastor Ben Armstrong, dating back to 2009.

In a separate statement issued two days earlier, the church said that “an accusation from 2008-2009 involving Ben Armstrong and a former BSSM student” had been made, and that it pre-dated what the church described as “a known moral failure in 2009″.

For that earlier matter, leaders said Armstrong “publicly repented, was removed from ministry, and walked through a multi-year healing and restoration process”.

Citing what it called “new and previously unknown allegations”, Bethel said Armstrong has now been placed on “administrative leave” pending an investigation.

“He will not be ministering while an independent third-party investigation takes place,” church leaders said.

“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.”

Bethel added that it is “actively engaging outside counsel and independent experts to help ensure thorough, impartial, and trauma-informed processes”.

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