In the midst of controversy over “The Florida Outpouring” revivals, faith healer and leader Todd Bentley has unexpectedly left the revival meetings due to “personal difficulties.”

According to a Bentley media representative on August 12, “He has turned the revival over to Pastor Stephen Strader of Ignited Church.”

By mid-afternoon on August 12, Bentley’s ministry, the Fresh Fire Ministries Board of Directors issued a message as special prayer request addressed to “partners and friends” on the ministry Web site’s homepage about the nature of the personal difficulties—Bentley and his wife, Shonnah are now separated.

An excerpt from the statement said, “The Lord’s blessings and abundance have been so evident on the ministry during this season of intense activity and we rejoice in seeing and being able to participate in what we believe is only the beginning of a worldwide awakening. It is with considerable sadness then, that we must temper the jubilation we know you all feel with the sobering news that Todd and Shonnah Bentley are presently experiencing significant friction in their relationship and are currently separated. We want to affirm that there has been no sexual immorality on the part of either Todd or Shonnah, nor has there ever been. Undoubtedly the pressures and the burden of the Outpouring, which approaches 144 days on August 23rd, have helped to create an atmosphere of fatigue and stress that has exacerbated existing issues in their relationship.”

In spite of the controversy and personal difficulties, Fresh Fire Ministries has reported that this is the first revival in history to be broadcast live into literally millions of homes and churches across all five continents and into more than 200 countries. The “Outpourings,” as they have come to be called, are now continuing in many cities worldwide. The revivals began in the spring and are scheduled to continue until August 23.

“These ‘Outpourings’ in Lakeland reached a peak attendance of 10,000 during the tent meetings, and they are currently averaging about 600 to 700 attendees each evening,” said Bruce Merz, Fresh Fire Ministries' assistant to the media director.

Merz also said that the ministry has received as many as 6 million hits per month on its Web site. They have also been equally overwhelmed with phone calls and emails at their office based in Abbotsford, B.C.

While the events are free for attendees, Fresh Fire Ministries reported that the average daily cost to put on the revival at the tent was $35,000 per day, not including television and broadcast costs, which are paid for by GodTV. An offering is taken at each service.

Additionally, there is another revival slated to take place in Uganda, Africa later this month.

“We are still fully committed to our crusade in Uganda, Africa later this month, and though Todd will not be in attendance, our Fresh Fire Team and Associate Ministries will lead a team of almost one hundred people from around the world to share the love of God, the power of the gospel, and humanitarian aid with the people of Uganda,” continued the Board of Directors in its message.

Bentley, a Canadian who has been labeled as "a new faith healer," has become known for his claims of supernatural powers, violent healing techniques and angelic visions. He also suggests that he has raised people from the dead.

In one YouTube video, Bentley can be seen kneeing in the stomach a man with stage 4-colon cancer. As the man bends over in extreme pain from the blow, Bentley said, “I had to be obedient to the Lord, sir, but I believe that colon cancer is coming right out of your body now.”