Heaven Bent

Heaven Bent A podcast docuseries with a special focus on Pentecostal & Charismatic movements.

08/07/2025

Can this former Foursquare pastor help solve one of the biggest mysteries in American religious history? Find out on my new series 'The Rise of Sister Aimee'. I released S7 E4 for you today.

As I worked on S7, it was strange to realize how much I had in common with Aimee Semple McPherson. The theatrics and the...
06/07/2025

As I worked on S7, it was strange to realize how much I had in common with Aimee Semple McPherson. The theatrics and the tendancy for shenanigans, for sure. But where we really jive is radio. She was the first woman to preach on the radio and I was one of the first women to host a solo morning show in Vancouver. I mean, she preached and I tell you the weather & play smooth jazz - but the kinship is there. S7 E4 is out Monday.

This could get interesting. One of the most wealthy & influential leaders in the Charismatic Movement is running for Gov...
05/07/2025

This could get interesting. One of the most wealthy & influential leaders in the Charismatic Movement is running for Governor of California. Ché Ahn says the state is “at a crossroads and God has called upon me to lead.” I’m not super familiar with him, but he gets namedropped a LOT in the interviews I conduct for Heaven Bent.

This'll be really 'inside baseball', but almost nothing sparks my attention more then when Heaven Bent seasons collide. ...
02/07/2025

This'll be really 'inside baseball', but almost nothing sparks my attention more then when Heaven Bent seasons collide. Here's Bill Johnson with Steve Holmstrom, last weekend, in Alberta. They both took to the stage at the Dependently Wealthy Business Leaders Gathering. Bill is the founding-leader of Bethel Church (S2). And Steve's name hasn't come up on my pod, but he is a close supporter of Art Lucier (S5). Art is the the founding-leader of Kelowna Harvest Church, and he's recently stepped back from ministry, as he faces allegations of grooming and s*xual abuse---and Art was attending this event, too. And for your interest, in this photo, they are spreading the word about Steve's new app 'The Altar App'---and I guess now I am too. 🙃

📸: Steve Holmstrom/FB

  has passed away. He was 90. He was definitely part of my childhood TV experience, how about yours? 📺😵‍💫
01/07/2025

has passed away. He was 90. He was definitely part of my childhood TV experience, how about yours? 📺😵‍💫

Did she drown? Was she kidnapped? Did she run off with a lover? S7E2 is now available to my subscribers & patrons. It ex...
22/06/2025

Did she drown? Was she kidnapped? Did she run off with a lover? S7E2 is now available to my subscribers & patrons. It examines the 1926 disappearance of Aimee Semple McPherson. 💛🧐

Everytime I look at this photo something new catches my eye. It captures a moment in time, in 1935, at the Organ Pavilli...
20/06/2025

Everytime I look at this photo something new catches my eye. It captures a moment in time, in 1935, at the Organ Pavillion, in San Diego. The woman in the wheelchair is being prayed over by Aimee Semple Mcpherson, the most famous faith healer in the world, at that time. She's also the focus of S7, and I can't wait to share E2 with you on Monday.

Interested in a S4 development? Let me introduce you to Trey’s Law. And congratulations to the survivors & advocates who...
18/06/2025

Interested in a S4 development? Let me introduce you to Trey’s Law. And congratulations to the survivors & advocates who worked so hard to bring this to fruition.

Nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) for child s*x abuse victims are no longer allowed in Missouri, thanks to a piece of new legislation known as Trey’s Law. It is in memory of Trey Carlock, a victim of abuse at Kanakuk Kamps in southwest Missouri, who took his own life in 2019 at the age of 28.

Season 7 of Heaven Bent begins.E1: In 1923, Aimee Semple McPherson founded America's first megachurch, Angelus Temple, i...
12/06/2025

Season 7 of Heaven Bent begins.

E1: In 1923, Aimee Semple McPherson founded America's first megachurch, Angelus Temple, in Los Angeles, California. But how did this farm girl from Ontario become the most famous preacher in North America? How did she turn her sermons into showstoppers? And how did she influence the way religion & politics are entangling today?

This new season dives into Sister Aimee's rise to fame and her shocking 1926 disappearance—one of the biggest unsolved mysteries in American religious history.

👀 Early access: available now for subscribers & patrons.
🎧 Drops Monday for everyone else.

Where are all my former DC Talk fans at? For those of us who were Christian teenager in the 90s, we ate up this Christia...
10/06/2025

Where are all my former DC Talk fans at? For those of us who were Christian teenager in the 90s, we ate up this Christian rap group, didn't we?? But fast forward, former member Michael Tait has just released this "confession."

"Recent reports of my reckless and destructive behavior, including drug and alcohol abuse and s*xual activity are sadly, largely true. For some two decades I used and abused co***ne, consumed far too much alcohol, and, at times, touched men in an unwanted sensual way. I am ashamed of my life choices and actions, and make no excuses for them. I will simply call it what God calls it—sin. I don't blame anyone or anything but myself. While I might dispute certain details in the accusations against me, I do not dispute the substance of them.

When I abruptly left Newsboys in January I did so to get help. I was not healthy, physically or spiritually, and was tired of leading a double life. I spent six weeks at a treatment center in Utah, receiving help that may have saved my life from ultimate destruction. I have been clean and sober since, though I still have lots of hard work ahead of me.

I'm ashamed to admit that for years I have lied and deceived my family, friends, fans, and even misled my bandmates about aspects of my life. I was, for the most part, living two distinctly different lives. I was not the same person on stage Sunday night that I was at home on Monday. I was violating everything I was raised to believe by my God-fearing Dad and Mom, about walking with Jesus and was grieving the very God I loved and sang about for most of my life. By His grace, I can say that for the past six months I have lived a singular life—one of utter brokenness and total dependance on a loving and merciful God.

I have hurt so many people in so many ways, and I will live with that shameful reality the rest of my life. I can only dream and pray for human forgiveness, because I certainly don't deserve it. I have even accepted the thought that God may be the only One who ultimately and completely forgives me. Still, I want to say I'm sorry with everything in me. I hurt the people I love and let down the people who at least thought I have hurt will receive healing, mercy, and hope from the Merciful Healer and Hope-Giver.

Even before this recent news became public, I had started on a path to health, healing, and wholeness, thanks to a small circle of clinical health professionals, loving family, caring friends, and wise counselors—all of whom saw my brokenness and surrounded me with love, grace, and truth. This is a terrible thing, taking us where we don't want to go, keeping us longer than we want to stay, and costing us more than we want to pay. I accept the consequences of my sin and am committed to the ongoing and difficult work of repentance and healing-work I will do quietly and privately, away from the stage and the spotlight.

To the extent my sinful behavior has caused anyone to lose respect or faith or trust in me, I understand, deserve, and accept that. But it crushes me to think that someone would lose or choose not to put their trust in Jesus or His message because I have been a horrible representative of Him—for He alone is ultimately the only hope for any of us.

King David's prayer of repentance in Psalm 51 has been my prayer this year: "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness...Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me... Create in me a new heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." ~ Michael Tait

06/06/2025

Season 7 starts Monday, June 16th. 💛

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