Mike Bickle is one of the most prominent figures in the New Apostolic Reformation also known as NAR. His organization, the International House of Prayer (IHOP) is the embodiment of NAR. On Saturday, the International House of Prayer released a statement denouncing Mike Bickle, disqualifying him from ministry.
Public Statement concerning recent allegations on Mike Bickle
October 28th, 2023
A few days ago, we made the leadership team of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City (IHOPKC) aware of serious allegations spanning several decades concerning its founder, Mike Bickle. Without going into details to protect the privacy of the victims’ identities, we have found these allegations of clergy sexual abuse by Mike Bickle to be credible and longstanding. The credibility of these allegations is not based on any one experience or any one victim, but on the collective and corroborating testimony of the experiences of several victims.
Prior to meeting with the leadership team of IHOP, we attempted to bring the allegations and the testimony of one of the victims directly to Mike Bickle in the spirit of Matthew 18:15-17. However, we were repeatedly rebuffed by Mike Bickle and we were refused any sort of meeting. Instead, Mike used manipulating and intimidating tactics towards the victims to isolate them and discredit them. To avoid further wounding of victims, we met with several members of IHOPKC’s Executive Leadership Team. There, we shared testimonies of these victims of Mike’s inappropriate words and actions.
When these allegations were brought to our attention, we were shocked. We could never have imagined that inappropriate conduct with women as something we would ever need to be concerned about. The allegations seemed out of character to the man we thought we knew, but they were so serious we could not ignore them.
The Scriptures inform us that leaders in the church, especially those who teach the Word of God, are held to a higher standard and stricter judgment. We believe that Mike Bickle’s actions were not above reproach and fall short of biblical standards for leaders in the church. To be clear, the allegations made about Mike Bickle’s misconduct were sexual in nature where the marriage covenant was not honored. Furthermore, the allegations made also reveal that Mike Bickle used his position of spiritual authority over the victims to manipulate them.
We do not share this process to fill in salacious details, but to protect the integrity of the victims and their experiences that were shared. We appeal to you to refrain from using names of any victims. These are women who have always been viewed as credible, trustworthy, and courageous. None of these victims had any intention to punish Mike Bickle and they had nothing to gain by sharing their experiences except the pursuit of truth, repentance, mercy, and grace.
Dwayne Roberts
Former Executive Leadership Team and Board Member, IHOPKC
Brian Kim
Former Executive Leadership Team and Board Member, IHOPKC
Wes Martin
Former Pastor, Forerunner Christian Fellowship and Former Vice President of Student Affairs, IHOPU
Analysis
IHOP refused to go into details. And while a married man in ministry committing adultery is bad enough, the framing of this issue as sex abuse raises multiple questions. Were the victims children or disabled, as would be necessary for this to be considered sex abuse? Instead IHOP simply has a “believe all women” mentality that has gotten the Southern Baptist Convention into a lot of trouble. By refusing to delve into details, answering questions such as whether it was fornication or “emotional affair” it’s hard to gauge the seriousness in which these claims were investigated.
Ravi Zacharias was posthumously denounced by his ministry over prostituting women at his massage parlor. Thus, the report, despite it’s flaws ie treatment of RZIM, was a more credible statement because it stated clearly what the sin was or was alleged to be. The nebulous term of abuse is not as helpful because of its widespread misuse by feminists in the church, of which an organization that supports female pastors is already overrun.
Adults committing adultery or fornication is sinful and Mike Bickle being a pastor does not victimize the other willing participant. If these allegations were rape, where is the police report? And if they were children, that’s an important detail left out.
Mike Bickle has a reputation for being a false teacher, and false teachers are oft sexual degenerates. His current reproach will possibly take him out for good, a consequence we should be thankful for. And despite the feminist overtones, this reproach will undermine the credibility of the NAR movement.
4 Responses
The allegations are still being investigated. The leadership team does not have to give the details that you demand at this time. I have had to address a couple of situations like this myself, and I remember how hard it was to use discretion when disclosing the events that occurred. Sometimes it is necessary to withhold some information in order to protect the victims or not interfere with a police investigation. Do not be so quick to accuse the IHOPKC team of being deceptive. They have to decide what is most beneficial for everyone involved at this time, and perhaps more information can be disclosed in the future.
Read the Roy’s Report for what Bickle (kind of) confessed to. Just like Swaggart Baker and others Bickle will never step down He will be back Expect it
Your headline and article is completely misleading. The letter you cite was written by FORMER IHOP staff members, who are bringing forth the allegations. CURRENT IHOP leadership has secured a third-party organization to conduct a thorough investigation. And IHOP has NOT denounced Bickle at this point.
Check out The Roy’s Report for the Truth for what Bickle (kind of) confessed to. Just like Swaggart and Baker, Bickle will never step down. He will be back. Expect it.