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Paul, in his letter to the church in Galatia,[1] admonished them not to accept a different gospel and those who preach such that they be cursed. Similarly, in his letter to the church in Corinth, he spoke about those who come and preach a different gospel, another Jesus.[2] Moreover, scripture admonishes us not to seek friendship with the world, as this is enmity to God.[3]
For some time, the church has sought new ways to proclaim the gospel in a way that is relevant to a world disconnected from God. To this end, the Archbishop’s Council in 2004 sought to re-think church within a contemporary context due to changing cultural patterns and dwindling church attendance[4] which is beyond dispute.[5] For decades, people have rejected the traditions of past generations, choosing to make their own decisions independent of their heritage.[6] Thus, it was out of this cultural quagmire of fresh expressions of church following the decline in attendance and the rejection of one’s Christian heritage that the filling station emerged.[7]
In this article, we will examine the fresh expression of the “Filling Station” to determine whether it offers authentic Christianity or, in its attempt to be culturally relevant, has embraced a different gospel, making spiritual junkies rather than biblical disciples. It is not offered as a comprehensive analysis. Rather, it offers insight to encourage people to question and not be passive, but to be good Bereans.
What is the Filling Station?
The filling station is a network that seeks to offer people something extra to complement the church. It seeks to engage in evangelism, worship and equip people.
What are its Links?
The official Filling Station website outlines who it is associated with, endorsed, or linked to that may interest people.[8] On this page, there is a link to the infamous Bethel Church, overseen by Bill Johnson. Bethel is a hyper-charismatic, experiential church that promotes grave soaking, fire tunnels, angelology, and its highly controversial prophetic school, which allegedly equips people to prophecy.[9] It promotes a kingdom now theological view, emphasising that believers should move in the miraculous.[10] Before I proceed, I must stress that I am not a cessationist. I believe in the supernatural and in miracles. I have experienced them. However, I do not believe in the hyper-charismatic Pentecostalism preached by Bethal et al.
However, just because the Filling Station has a link on its site does not mean it agrees with or ascribes to Bethel’s expression of Christianity. Well, let’s look at what the Filling Station does.
Prophetic courses
The Filling Station runs causes, similar to Bethel’s, called “All shall prophecy” a prophetic mentoring course.[11] The causes allegedly supernaturally equips people in the prophetic. Helps people grow in confidence to hear from God as they encounter the Holy Spirit more and as they learn to prophecy in a free space for them to try.
Now, the reality is not all can or should seek to prophecy. Sadly, like many, they have misinterpreted Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church when he stated:
Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up. 1 Corinthians 14:5
Paul is not admonishing everyone to prophecy. On the contrary. Paul is taken out of context as his words are twisted by ignorant people, just as Peter mentions.[12]
Furthermore, Bethel, in their prophetic school, propagates that it does not matter if you prophecy and get it wrong. In fact, Bill Johnson states we encourage people to get it wrong.[13] Such practices and teachings go against the word of God. Scripture informs us to be cautious when we utter a prophecy and equate to God. For the false prophet should be stoned.
Moreover, the prophetic causes do not teach prophecy but rather the channelling of demons. Why do I say that? It is because often what is uttered is contrary to the Word of God. Therefore, it cannot be the Holy Spirit of God who is communicating. The Bible instructs us to test what is said and not to believe every spirit.
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John4:1
Furthermore, if it were the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Truth, a person would not get it wrong.
The filling station is also linked to Jarrad Cooper, who himself highly favours Bethel and Bill Johnson. Cooper also teaches at Behtel’s Training in Miracles events.[14] Bethel is also part of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), whose teachings are evident within those of the filling station. The filling station also had links to the so-called prophet council of the UK and Emma Stark.
The Filling Station does seek to offer people an encounter with God. But the question is, what God? Some reading this will be offended by that, but what we see in the filling station is that it seeks to proclaim the gospel it has reshaped, through making it socially acceptable to a society that is emotionally driven and seeks spiritual encouragement. If we reshape the gospel and proclaim a different version of Christianity and the God of the bible then that is not authentic faith in the living God. On the contrary, it is what the children of Israel did when they made the golden calf.
Percy (2010) asserts that the filling station accommodates rampant consumerism and thus is merely a religious form of expression that colludes with the contemporary cultural obsession with novel alternatives and gimmicks.[15]
Fresh expressions of Christianity are sought to combat the decline in attendance and make the gospel message and Christianity palatable and engaging to the unchurched. However, such fresh expressions are not required. The reason for church decline is, in its simplest form, the result of the watering down of the word of God.
Moreover, Jesus Himself never compromised or sought to make the Gospel message palatable or applicable to society. Jesus never ran after the religious leader whom He instructed to sell everything and then follow Him. On the contrary, the word goes forth and achieves the purpose it is intended. It is either accepted and brings life or rejected and brings condemnation.
The solution to the problem of declining church attendance is not to make the gospel relevant. On the contrary, it is to proclaim it in truth without showing partiality while also seeking to live it out daily as we walk humbly before God in fear and trepidation. For the gospel, the word of God remains eternally relevant.
Sadly, there is no fear of God in the church today. We have biblical illiterate Christians who are being formed into spiritual junkies bereft of any spiritual maturity or fortitude. What is needed is biblical discipleship, not spiritual performances.
Is the filling station Kosher? Personally, due to the association with Bethel, Cooper, Stark et al., and its overemphasis on hyper-charismatic spirituality, it is high questionale and controversial. Does that mean people who attend are not Christians? No, the reality is Christians are seduced because they lack maturity. Many fail to test the seductive spirits operating within the church, a reality we should not be alarmed by due to the prophetic times we live. Nonetheless, we should be gravely concerned and seek to remove the leaven from within the church as we all examine ourselves before God.
The reality is that the filling station, while seeking to equip people, instead creates spiritual junkies and not disciples of the word of God.
Consequently, let us not seek spiritual gimmicks or highs. Instead, let us seek the true presence of God and His word. Let us fear God and seek His wisdom and not a spiritual experience. Yes, we have a supernatural God. Yes, God still does the impossible. However, our focus should not be on them but on the Living God, as we humbly walk before Him seeking to proclaim the undiluted gospel of Jesus.
We do not need a fresh expression. Neither should we need to attend a service to be filled up – get a top up, our spiritual fix. What we need to know is God and His word. To do that, we must humble ourselves as we seek His wisdom. Something that starts with seeking the fear of God, which will cause you to become alienated from the world, not a symptom of it.
Please consider supporting the work of waking people up. You can either buy me a coffee – click here
To purchase the Book – Unlocking Bible Prophecy: A gudie to the days we live – click here
[1] Galatians 1:6-9
[2] 2 Corinthians 11:4
[3] James 4:4
[4] Nell, I., & Mellows, S. (2017) The Filling Station as a Fresh Expression of church for consideration in the local congregational context: A practical-theological investigation. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies, 73(4), 4544. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v73i4.4544
[5] Gibbs, E., & Coffey, I. (2001) Church next: Quantum changes in Christian ministry, Inter
Varsity Press, Leicester.
[6] Giddens, A. (1991) Modernity and self-identity: Self and society in the Late Modern
Age, Polity Press, Cambridge.
[7] Nell & Mellows
[8] The Filling Station (n.d.) Links, The Filling Sation, online, available from https://thefillingstation.org/links/
[9] Hunter, B. (2025) Bill Johnson and the Extrabiblical Teaching of Bethel Church, Christian Research Institute, online, available from https://www.equip.org/articles/off-map-bill-johnson-pursuit-extrabiblical-authentication/
[10] Carter, J. (2018) 9 Things You Should Know About the Bethel Church Movement. The Gospel Coalition, online, available from https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/9-things-you-should-know-about-the-bethel-church-movement/
[11] The filling Station. (2025) All shall prophecy, The Filling Station, online, available from https://thefillingstation.org/all-shall-prophesy/
[12] 2 Peter 3:16
[13] Wade, A. (2019) Bill Johnson — His False Prophets Cannot Graduate before Getting Three Prophecies Wrong, 828 ministries, online, available from https://www.828ministries.com/Diary/Bill-Johnson–His-False-by-Anthony-Wade-Christianity_Faith_God_Prophecies-190807-52.html
[14] CSSM (n.d.) CSSM Thursday evening, Celebrating Supernatural’s School, online, available from https://celebratesupernaturalschool.org.uk/thursdayevening/
[15] Percy, M. (2010) Shaping the church: The promise of implicit theology, Ashgate, Nashville, TN.