By Rebecca Hopkins
Mike Bickle preaches at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City in July 2015. (Video Screengrab)
Mike Bickle, founder of the International House of Prayer-Kansas City (IHOPKC) groomed and sexually abused 17 women, some of whom were minors, according to an independent investigation released tonight. In some cases, the abuse constituted rape, the investigation found.
“Throughout the investigation, we have identified and interviewed seventeen (17) Survivors who were either sexually abused or experienced sexually abusive misconduct, including sexual abuse, rape, clergy abuse, and spiritual abuse, perpetrated by BICKLE beginning to our knowledge in the mid-1970s,” stated the report by Firefly Independent Sexual Abuse Investigations. “These acts of abuse have had profound and lasting impacts on the lives of the victims, causing significant emotional, psychological, and spiritual harm.”
Bickle and his Executive Leadership Team (ELT) also responded to reports of sexual abuse with “deliberate indifference” and discouraged victims from involving law enforcement, the report added.
“This indifference not only exacerbated the trauma experienced by the victims but also allowed the perpetrators to evade accountability and continue their misconduct,” the report stated.
The Roys Report (TRR) reached out to Bickle for comment, but he did not immediately respond.
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TRR also sought comment from IHOPKC’s press office but received no immediate response.On October 29, 2023, members of IHOPKC’s Executive Leadership Team — (left to right) Lenny LaGuardia, David Sliker, Stuart Greaves, and Isaac Bennett — addressed allegations against IHOP-KC founder Mike Bickle. (Video screengrab)
The investigation into allegations of sexual abuse at IHOPKC since the 1990s was commissioned and funded by the Messianic Jewish network Tikkun Global. Firefly conducted the investigation, which resulted in a 68-page report.
Since late 2023, multiple women have come forward, accusing Bickle of sexually abusing them, beginning when some were just teenagers. Three women reported their abuse to the press. An investigator that IHOPKC hired found an additional “Jane Doe.”
However, this is the first investigation to reveal that Bickle had more than a dozen victims.
“Today marks a new season: Accountability,” wrote former IHOPKC staffer Susan Tuma today on X.
Firefly’s report is a full, unedited, unredacted report, as Tikkun previously promised. Firefly conducted more than 220 interviews for their investigation, wrote Ron Cantor, member of the Tikkun Global Investigation Coordination team on X today.
Bickle also used prophecy with his victims, but then would also isolate, control, and touch their bodies, creating situations in which they would see him “undressed and aroused,” the Firefly report stated. Bickle also used “Matthew 18 Meetings” to “conceal, minimize, and silence victims,” the Firefly report stated.
Amidst allegations, in December 2023, IHOPKC “formally and permanently” separated from Bickle for “inappropriate behavior.”Mike Bickle (Photo: Facebook)
Alleged victims of other instances of sexual abuse by other IHOPKC staff have also accused IHOPKC of mishandling their reports of abuse. And several alleged victims refused to cooperate with an earlier third-party investigation commissioned by IHOPKC, saying it was not truly independent.
As a result, an Advocate Group of 16 former IHOPKC leaders asked Tikkun to commission an investigation. However, IHOPKC has chosen not to endorse the investigation, according to Tikkun’s statement from last September.
The embattled IHOPKC has shrunk in size and closed its associated Forerunner Church in the past year. But it has continued its 24/7 prayer room that Bickle founded, based on his claim of a prophetic vision.
In anticipation of the report being released, former IHOPKC staffer Susan Tuma reached out to those who still remain at IHOPKC on X today.
“If you’re still at IHOPKC and you see this, take good care of yourself today and tomorrow—and all week, really,” she wrote. “Rest. Eat food that nourishes you. Check in with people who feel safe and supportive and who let you feel what you’re feeling. In moments of heaviness I have often needed someone to tell me that. I know it feels like we are from different worlds, but I hope there’s a bridge that lets a little bit of love cross over from us to you.”
Last month, Tikkun Global was accused of a “massive breach of trust” for removing Ron Cantor, a trusted voice for survivors, from its senior advisory team.Ron Cantor (Source: Courtesy photo)
Cantor had publicly stood with survivors and called for accountability for Messianic apologist Michael Brown who has been accused of sexual misconduct. Firefly is separately investigating Brown. Brown’s board with his Line of Fire ministry has commissioned Firefly for a third-party investigation of Brown.
Tikkun apologized and reversed course, reinstating Cantor.
Tikkun Global has gathered an eight-member Pastor Recommendation Team (PRT) to review the report and make recommendations to IHOPKC, according to Tikkun’s Jan. 30 statement. However, Tikkun has no authority at IHOPKC, so it can’t dictate that IHOPKC act on the report, stated Tikkun’s investigation coordination team and advisory team. The recommendations will be made public, Tikkun stated.
“At that point the IHOPKC board, the Advocacy Group—or any other group for that matter—can use the recommendations as they see fit, or post their own commentary, agreement, or differing opinions,” Tikkun Global stated. “We see the PRT’s recommendations as a potentially significant contribution to a dialogue that can help bring a measure of healing to all impacted by this situation.”
The PRT members include psychologists who specialize in sexual trauma and pastors with experience in handling misconduct by church leaders. The members are Jerry Dirman, Mark and Nicki Pfeifer, Steve Prokopchak, Rich Nichol, Monica Mouer, Kim Vastine, and Wanda Morgan.
Comment by Truth Uncensored Afrika: Please download the Ebook Dominionism THE RACE TO RULE THE WORLD from this website. Read about Mike Bickle and IHOP.
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