Dear Church Family,
On July 13, 2022, Beni Johnson passed away surrounded by family and friends. As Pastor Bill communicated last night on his Instagram account, “She is healthy and free.” In our prayers for Beni, we felt called to fight the good fight, full of faith to the end—that is how she taught us to pray. Upon her death, we declare with all of God’s Church that He is good, even as we grieve together.
We have been running so hard for a breakthrough as a congregation, and had planned successive nights of prayer. However, with her passing, we thought some of us might appreciate an opportunity to be together tonight before the Lord in a moment of worship and faith, in the face of great mystery and loss. It's not a memorial service or a miracle/resurrection prayer time, just connection with God and one another. So, please join us tonight, Thursday, July 14 at 7:00pm in the Twin View Sanctuary.
Also, Bethel Music is hosting a worship night called “After Hours” with their students, and you’re welcome to join. It will be happening on Friday, July 15 at 10:00pm in the College View Sanctuary.
Sincerely, thank you for how you stood with Beni with faith-filled prayers, and for continuing to pray for her family and our church. We look forward to remembering and celebrating her life and impact in the days to come. A celebration of life service is a couple of weeks out, and we will communicate those details with you as soon as possible.
We look forward to seeing you at church this Sunday.
Grace and Joy,
Dann Farrelly
July 13, 2022 Update
In February 2022, we called the global Church to pray as our beloved Senior Leader, Beni Johnson, wife of Bill Johnson, has been contending with cancer.
Hundreds of thousands of you have been praying regularly for her complete healing. Here is the current situation: Late last week, Bill, Beni, and their doctors felt that the time had come to transition from treating the cancer with chemotherapy to relieving her symptoms. Beni is now at home with hospice care.
We continue to stand with the Johnsons for Beni’s complete healing. Medicine is a blessing and a great help, but in this moment we need a miracle from the Lord. Please continue to pray for a total deliverance from all cancer, and for Beni’s strength to be renewed.
Beni Johnson is a mother to this house, and has been for over 25 years. She has led the charge in a passionate pursuit of prayer for our movement, and has taught us to intercede with joy and confidence. She has led both from the front and behind the scenes. She has consistently made herself known in the spirit as a warrior, a fighter, and a woman of love and truth. For decades, she has contended for us, and for the global Church, in prayer. So much of who we are today as a house and a movement is because of her.
Here is our prayer: Jesus, we ask that You would heal Beni’s body and extend her life. We declare this is not her end—there is more to come and You are speaking a better word over her. Father, we ask that You would revive her body, redeem this season of sickness, and renew her life in Jesus’ name.
For those who are currently in Redding, we will be hosting five nights of prayer for Beni, starting tonight at 7:00pm in the Twin View Sanctuary.
May 19, 2022 Update
Join us on Friday nights at 7:30pm in the College View Great Room for a time of partnering with heaven as we pray, believe, and contend for Beni Johnson’s full healing! No registration required.
We will meet every Friday night through the end of July, with the exception of June 10 and July 15.
February 6, 2022 Update
On Sunday, February 6, 2022, Dann Farrelly preached about the grace for the persistence in prayer and called the Church to commit to continuing to pray for Bill and Beni Johnson. Thank you for partnering with us to see breakthrough in Beni's health! Click the link below to sign up to commit to praying for the same 15-minute time slot every day.
Be led by the Holy Spirit as you pray for Beni, but here are some specific prayer points:
Founded in 1954 and previously a part of the Assemblies of God, Bethel Church is a non-denominational church in Redding, California with a congregation of almost 10,000 people (including members, regular attendees, students, and children) in a city of approximately 91,000. To learn more about Bethel, we invite you to read our statement of faith and core values, discover our weekend service times, and listen to recent messages.
November 22, 2020
After much prayer and consideration, Eric Johnson and Candace Johnson have resigned as the Senior Pastors of Bethel Church of Redding, and will be planting a church in Greenville, South Carolina.
March 17, 2020
Bethel Church's Coronavirus Response: We do not partner with fear, but choose to lean into faith and hope, as well as practicing wisdom and safety.
December 22, 2019
Olive Alayne Heiligenthal, age two, passed away unexpectedly on December 14. Over the past week, the Bethel Church community, both local and global, has come together at the request of Andrew and Kalley Heiligenthal to pray for her resurrection.