Tragically, there has been an inordinate number of instances in recent years of high-profile Christian leaders who have fallen from grace owing largely to sexual indiscretion (the most recent of which relate to allegations against Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, a longstanding evangelical). To many, another recent example, from the other side of the Atlantic – that of US charismatic leader Mike Bickle – might seem like just another instance of celebrity evangelical sex scandal. But the implications of this particular story are very wide reaching.

Vial of worship

Mike Bickle is the founder of The International House of Prayer (IHOP), a global prayer and worship movement based in Kansas City. With an emphasis on mission, prayer and fasting, bible study, worship and works of justice, IHOP is best known for its prayer room, where, from 19th September 1999, worship teams have ministered unto the Lord in an unbroken stream of 24/7 worship, propelled by live music and spontaneous songs, which is simultaneously broadcast via its website and YouTube.

IHOP states its purpose as “proclaiming the beauty of Jesus and His glorious return.” The organisation hosts scores of staff members, along with as many volunteers, and hundreds of students based at The International House of Prayer University, an unaccredited Bible college located in Grandview, Missouri. Prior to his involvement in IHOP, Bickle was famous for bringing together the so-called Kansas City Prophets in his Kansas City Felloship in the 1980s. 

Bickle and IHOP

As founder and long-term leader of IHOP, Mike Bickle Mike Bicklehas long been held in high regard by succeeding generations of charismatic believers across America and indeed, the world. Dr Sam Storms, Calvinist charismatic theologian and author, and a close friend and colleague of Bickle for many years, called him “a biblically orthodox, humble, Christ-exalting individual who lives an incredibly simple lifestyle.”

IHOP has had a high reputation within the charismatic Church at large, and it’s significant to note that a great many IHOP internees over several decades have expressed huge gratitude for their time spent on campus, saying how their faith increased in leaps and bounds. At the same time, however, a smaller but notable proportion of disgruntled IHOPers have complained of cramped living conditions, over-strict regimes of prayer and fasting, and, more notably, a prevalent spirit of authoritarianism at IHOP that stifles questioning and dissent.

One former close friend of Bickle’s stated; “(Mike) promises his followers a perfect love affair with God which appeals to young people because they are coming of age for romance. But the reality is that an inordinate amount of people that have been an intricate part of IHOP from its inception are now divorced or in spiritual ruin – a fact that is commonly ignored.

a smaller but notable proportion of disgruntled IHOPers have complained of ... a prevalent spirit of authoritarianism at IHOP that stifles questioning and dissent.

"You would be astounded", the former friend continued, "at the amount of relationships and families that I have seen decimated by trying to obtain Mike’s doctrine of a perfect love affair. The divorce rate is shocking as well as the future destruction that is continually wreaked upon the children that were abandoned in the care of strangers while the well-meaning parents sacrificed their lives in the prayer room, asking for things that never came to pass. For every one success story that comes out of IHOP there are hundreds of lives that lie in ruin, abandoned and strewn in the gutters of wannabes and tagged and bagged as bitter and angry because God wouldn’t promote them.”

IHOP began to face other problems too. Allegations that its leadership prioritised its image over the welfare of individuals became apparent following the mysterious death of IHOP intern Bethany Deaton in 2012, a member of a somewhat self-contained religious group within the IHOP camp. Fellow group member Micah Moore belatedly confessed to her murder, but later retracted his confession. His lawyers claimed that as the bizarre story gained international attention, IHOP leaders coerced the retraction from him. IHOP also insisted, against the evidence, that the small group was not connected to them. Charges against Moore were dropped weeks prior to his trial, and to this day Bethany’s murder remains unsolved.

Allegations surface

Events that heralded the beginnings of a seismic shift within IHOP took place in October 2023, when allegations against Mike Bickle were first made public. Over the succeeding five months, a string of alleged victims (all female) has come forward to accuse Bickle of abuse and misconduct, stretching back to the very start of his ministry in the 1970s. Some said that Bickle had used supposed prophetic pronouncements to manipulate and groom them into one-sided sexual encounters and relationships. Bickle belatedly admitted some “moral failures” but denied “more intense sexual activities”.

Some said that Bickle had used supposed prophetic pronouncements to manipulate and groom them into one-sided sexual encounters and relationships.

The dispute has been complex, and we’ll stick to the main points. In December 2023, IHOP asked an independent law firm to investigate – but some questioned whether it could be trusted, given it boasts on its website IHOP leadership teamof successfully defending Christian leaders from abuse claims and litigation. Nevertheless, two days before Christmas 2023, IHOP announced it had received new, unspecified information about Bickle which verified the allegations coming forward.

At least two more alleged victims have come forward so far in 2024 to accuse Bickle of inappropriate sexual contact. One said this began when she was just fourteen, and that it continued over many years; the other said she was fifteen when her affair with Bickle began. Several victims claimed, quite independently of each other, that Bickle used a prophecy given years previously, that his wife would die young, to manipulate them, telling them that when she died, he would be free to marry them.

IHOP’s response

Many well-known church leaders were quick to defend Bickle from the ‘attacks’, not least Rick Joyner, Chris Reed (Joyner’s successor at Morningstar), and Stephen Strang, founder of Charisma Media (notably, publisher of Bickle’s books). Initially, too, the IHOP leadership team was vigorous in defending their senior pastor.

Only later, when the evidence mounted significantly, did they say in a statement how horrified they were at what Bickle had done: “Words cannot express the anger, shock, heartbreak, and sadness we have experienced as we have learned of allegations and testimonies of sexual abuse and manipulation concerning Mike Bickle”, they stated. “His predatory and abusive actions are sick and violate the Word of God, the marriage covenant, and holiness; we condemn them in their entirety”.

The Bickle sex scandal, significant in its own right, is part of a much wider network of abuse.

Many have also expressed disgust at Bickle’s ‘repentance letter’, which attempted to cover up his sins, and at his preaching a ‘counter offensive’ sermon, in which he said he was under spiritual attack and spoke strongly against those bringing allegations against him. IHOP has since cut all ties with Bickle.

Network of abuse

The Bickle sex scandal, significant in its own right, is part of a much wider network of abuse. There are also allegations that Bickle’s son, Luke Bickle, engaged in an adulterous affair with the wife of an IHOP department head. When the matter was brought to the attention of Bickle and Stuart GreavesIHOP Executive Director Stuart Greaves, the two seemingly conspired to cover up the years’-long affair. Only later did it become apparent that for six years prior to Luke’s affair, Mike Bickle was engaged in “very questionable interactions” with the same woman.

Equally disturbingly, within the last few weeks, it has emerged that IHOP’s most prominent worship leader, Misty Edwards, has been in a longstanding affair with fellow worship artist, Kevin Prosch – very well known in Christian music circles. Prosch, who was formerly married to Mike Bickle’s sister, allegedly blackmailed her for a period of time in the relationship, during which both were said to have consumed drugs. In 2018 they were both charged with drink driving – to the point of hardly being able to stand straight when asked to by the police.

Additionally, IHOP has faced separate accusations of sexual assault by staff members over the years. All of the above is all the more tragic and ironic given these unsavoury incidents took place amidst a culture where such strong emphasis is placed on prayer, worship and fasting, and where a commendable spirit of ongoing worship has been maintained day and night for the past quarter of a century. (Bickle recently claimed that this constituted several million hours’ worth of worship across the various IHOP campuses).

Rewriting IHOP history

Some former IHOP leaders are convinced that one of the main reasons Bickle is adamant to retain the integrity of the IHOP narrative is because it centres around himself, making him out to be integral to God’s purposes for the Church in these last days before Christ’s return.

All of the above is all the more tragic and ironic given these unsavoury incidents took place amidst a culture where such strong emphasis is placed on prayer, worship and fasting

Indeed, according to Bickle, IHOP’s prophetic history all started when ‘prophet’ Augustine Acola first came into contact with him in the early 1980s. It was claimed by Mike that Augustine walked in off the street and prophesied that he was to return to Kansas City and begin a move of God that would sweep the nation. This has become well-known in IHOP folklore.

Yet a former friend of Bickle’s who witnessed the incident insists, “it was Live worship in the IHOP prayer roomnot that grandiose; in fact, it was very confusing at best.” He claims, rather, that “it came on the heels of Mike wanting to make a change from where he was because the leadership that he had formed had soured and rather than reform a new leadership he came up with a better idea which was to jump ship and return to KC with a fresh new perspective on how to start his own church un-tethered to any other denomination.”

The same friend went on to talk of Bickle’s ardent longing to be great in God’s eyes, by “always … building; first a church that he could call his own; then a movement that he could be the founding father of.” Bickle, it seems, used the prophetic history of IHOP to bolster his own position. He saw himself – and ensured that others saw him – as the Lord’s anointed – the one God has sovereignly appointed. That helped him to remain above scrutiny for so long.

Scriptural warning

It is not the point of this article to gloat over the sexual indiscretions of Mike Bickle, or any other person mentioned. Rather, my concern is more related to broader issues, including the implications of the IHOP scandal on the Kansas City Prophet narrative, and on the wider New Apostolic Reformation. These we will examine in Part 2, when further disturbing revelations will also require to be revealed.

It’s so shocking to see the darkness that has lurked inside for so long, now being revealed. And yet it seems very apparent that we are seeing the sovereignty of God in allowing all this to be brought to the light. The word of God makes clear that “The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all” (Luke 12:2). One can only wonder - is there more to come?

He saw himself – and ensured that others saw him – as the Lord’s anointed – the one God has sovereignly appointed. That helped him to remain above scrutiny for so long.

Other Scriptures are equally sobering. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (2 Cor 5:10). Who will receive a crown of righteousness from Christ on that day? It seems that, without repentance, Bickle’s crown in this life has become deeply tarnished.

There are many questions that are arising and which require an answer. What warning signs have been missed – or ignored? At what point do character failings detract from the gifting of Christian leaders and thus disqualify them from ministry? And are there links between this and the lack of discernment – with a failure to question whether something is from God, or in fact, deception?

We will continue to ponder these questions as we explore these issues further in a forthcoming article. Look out for ‘House of Cards Falling (Part 2)’ soon.