Malcolm Wicks' death was 'the Lord's justice', claims preacher banned from UK

A CANADIAN evangelist barred from entering the UK after the intervention of MP Malcolm Wicks has described his death as "the Lord's justice".

Todd Bentley, who believes he can heal people by kicking them in the face, was due to hold an event in Croydon before the late Mr Wicks raised concerns about his controversial techniques and criminal past.

The former Croydon North MP said Bentley, who was convicted of a sex attack on a seven-year-old when he was 14, was a "menace" and urged the Home Office to do everything in its power to ban him from the UK.

The Home Office said the pastor's tour 'would not be conducive to the public good' and he was denied entry to the UK.

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The ban forced the pastor to cancel his tour of the UK, including a three-day visit to Croydon in August.

Mr Wicks, who had been battling cancer, passed away on September 29.

Now a video has emerged in which the evangelist claims that God visited him in a dream and told him to mark the date in his calendar because something "very significant" was going to happen.

"I think one thing that's significant is the Lord's justice," he added.

"On September 29, I was preaching in Ohio and just before midnight, I got a report that the man who led the ban and the campaign against us in England had died suddenly of cancer.

"I almost started weeping. I thought, Lord, this man had been battling stage four cancer. He led the campaign. All the news reports were 'faith kicking evangelist that cures cancer'."

Bentley, 36, is known for his controversial preaching techniques, including intentionally kicking an elderly woman in the face and pushing a man over, causing him to lose a tooth.

The pastor claims the Holy Spirit tells him to use such "unorthodox" methods as part of his "miracles".

In the video Bentley mentions 13 "isolated" incidents but claims no one has ever taken legal action against him.

He also references the headline of the Advertiser story which broke the news of his planned visit to Croydon Conference Centre in Surrey Street.

Rick Joyner, head of MorningStar Ministries based in South Carolina, is also seen sitting on the couch with Mr Bentley in the video.

He said Mr Wicks' death was an example of God "removing opposition from his people".

He added: "Look at some of the crazy people that get in that country, like terrorists. But, mark this day. God is removing opposition. He is going to take the opposition out of the way."