Why So Many Witches, Psychics, and Skeptics End Up at Bethel Church | Kris Vallotton Interview

When miracles are normal, what do you do when God doesn’t answer the way you hoped? In this raw, funny, and deeply honest conversation, I sit down with Kris Vallotton (Bethel Church) to talk about miracles and criticism, witches and warlocks getting saved, why people think Bethel is a cult, the rise of a new Jesus Movement in America, and what it really means to just stand when you want to give up. Kris opens up about: Growing up in trauma and being pulled out of obscurity How Bill Johnson believed in him when nobody else did What most people misunderstand about Bethel, revival, and “weird” miracles Why witches, psychics, and desperate people keep showing up at Bethel Apostles, the five-fold, and why the Church needs a School of Apostles A prophetic word that stopped him from getting a PhD How God is moving through CEOs, founders, and marketplace “kings” The brutal season of COVID, loss, and criticism that birthed his book Just Stand If you’ve ever battled discouragement, misunderstood seasons, or online hate, this conversation will put courage back in your heart. ⏱ Timestamps / Chapters 0:00 – “The criticism never stops” – opening thoughts with Kris Vallotton 0:44 – Why Kris loves Nashville, Tennessee & Governor Bill Lee 3:00 – Bethel people moving to Nashville & the power of a creative city 4:50 – Legacy, BSSM, and raising unlikely giants for God 7:15 – From mechanic to global leader: Bill Johnson believing in Kris 10:00 – Learning to trust again after abuse & violent authority figures 13:30 – Stepping onto a public platform and the shock of constant scrutiny 16:45 – Social media, online hate, and building emotional armor 18:40 – Miracles, metal disappearing, and why desperate people come to Bethel 21:50 – “Bethel is weird” – signs, wonders, gold clouds & oil on the walls 24:40 – Witches, warlocks, psychics, and what happens when they meet Jesus 29:40 – Why people think Bethel is a cult & the truth about control 32:55 – Are we in a new Jesus Movement? Revival stories from America & Brazil 36:40 – The Joshua Bell story: recognizing the extraordinary in the ordinary 40:50 – Pacemakers dissolving & mass baptisms: revival breaking out in churches 44:00 – How Redding really sees Bethel: love, backlash, and city politics 48:30 – Civic center controversy, drag shows, and accusations of “dominionism” 52:30 – Dominion, spiritual warfare, and what Kris actually means by “taking ground” 55:50 – Apostles, prophets, pastors & teachers: why the five-fold still matters 59:40 – What an apostle really is (and isn’t) – culture transformation 101 1:03:30 – Could there be a School of Apostles? Kris’ frustration & dream 1:09:10 – Kings, priests, and prophets: God’s move in the marketplace 1:13:50 – Serving CEOs & founders: why “kings” have had nowhere to belong 1:18:40 – No such thing as “secular” work & why “laypeople” is a broken idea 1:21:10 – 18 rules of nobility: bringing out the best in others like Barnabas 1:25:20 – How Kris chooses who to mentor & why he can’t father everyone 1:29:50 – The story behind Just Stand – fires, COVID, loss & rebuilding 1:33:40 – When cancer is healed sometimes… and sometimes it isn’t 1:37:10 – Learning to stand in mystery, grief, and unfulfilled prayers 1:40:00 – Former critic repents: the documentary story that made it worth it 1:42:20 – Final encouragement + invitation to visit Bethel & BSSM