John and Jed discuss the tragic and mysterious death of Bethany Deaton, a woman connected to a sub-community affiliated with the International House of Prayer (IHOP). They explore how her death, initially ruled a suicide, became entangled in claims of murder, spiritual manipulation, and institutional failure. Jed recounts the background of the Deaton community led by Tyler Deaton, a charismatic figure who allegedly exercised control over the group through coercion, communal living, and highly charged spiritual practices. They reflect on the broader implications of this case for the IHOP movement and its inability to address trauma with practical, responsible care.<br /><br />The conversation delves into how deliverance theology and cult-like dynamics contributed to psychological distress and confusion, both before and after Bethany’s death. Jed critiques the response from IHOP leadership, particularly their reliance on spiritual warfare narratives, while John connects the case to broader patterns within Pentecostal and charismatic history. They share similar stories from other fringe movements, cautioning against movements that isolate individuals from reality in the name of spirituality. The story serves as a sobering example of how hyper-spiritualized environments can fail to protect their most vulnerable members.<br /><br />00:00 Introduction<br />02:00 Setting the stage for the Bethany Deon case<br />03:15 Initial details of Bethany’s death<br />05:32 Cult psychology and secrecy<br />07:50 Challenges in telling abuse stories<br />10:23 Structure of the Deon community<br />13:00 Sexual misconduct and marital strain<br />15:41 Discovery of Bethany’s body<br />16:48 IHOP’s intervention and deliverance sessions<br />20:49 Historical context of deliverance practices<br />21:39 Risks of meeting cult activity with more cult activity<br />22:54 Micah Moore’s confession and recantation<br />25:48 IHOP leadership’s intentions and limitations<br />27:20 Ongoing investigation and lack of closure<br />29:10 Parallels to other cult tragedies<br />33:43 Why the scandal resonated in IHOP circles<br />36:05 Isolation, hopelessness, and internal crisis management<br />41:00 Institutional problems and prior red flags<br />44:48 Missed intervention opportunities<br />47:01 Normalization of toxic behaviors<br />48:10 The problem of spiritualizing abuse as “witchcraft”<br />54:52 Refusal to own harmful “fruit” within the movement<br />56:03 Closing reflections on recurring patterns<br />______________________<br />Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR:<br />Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962<br />Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCGGZX3K<br />______________________<br />– Support the channel: https://www.patreon.com/branham<br />– Subscribe to the channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBSpezVG15TVG-lOYMRXuyQ<br />– Visit the website: https://william-branham.org<br />– Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WilliamBranhamOrg <br />– Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@william.m.branham<br />– Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/wmbhr<br />– Buy the books: https://william-branham.org/site/books
