IHOPKC prayer room disassociates with church, board decides

The prayer room at the International House of Prayer Kansas City no longer operates under the umbrella of any church, the organization’s board decided. This decision follows the closing of other parts of the ministry, including Forerunner Church, in the aftermath of a sexual misconduct scandal involving founder Mike Bickle.

“It is the decision of the board of trustees that the prayer room will remain independent of any external church and continue to be the heart of IHOPKC,” the board announced last week in an email. “Further, the prayer room will remain in its present location at the Red Bride Center.”

Although the 24/7 prayer room won’t function under the governance of a church, the board noted that it will still require governance. The board is working on a plan to operate it independently of a church.

“We realize that the long-term health and well-being of the prayer room requires a formal governance structure for oversight, accountability and spiritual strength,” the email said. “We are exploring the best fit moving forward and are committed to ensuring systems are in place for solid decision-making and responsible leadership.”

In April, IHOPKC announced that the ministry would be restructured, including the shuttering of some aspects of operations this year, including the IHOPKC School of Ministry and Forerunner Church, led by Isaac Bennett.

“Since that time, our focus as a ministry has been the 24/7 prayer room and Intercession for Israel,” the board’s email said. “During the process of planning and carrying out these changes, incorrect statements were made about IHOPKC’s future and reasons for shutting down various ministry expressions. As we said earlier, IHOPKC is not shutting down.”

Tammy Woods, who is now a 57-year-old mother and grandmother, told “The Kansas City Star: that Bickle abused her in St. Louis where he pastored a church before moving to Kansas City and starting IHOPKC in 1999. Woods said Bickle abused her in his car, at her home, in the church and his office. She said the abuse, which began when she started babysitting his two sons, involved sexual contact but not intercourse. She revealed that the IHOPKC founder also told her several times that his wife, Diane, would die young and suggested that she could be the mother to his sons.

“Last year, a woman identified as Jane Doe by The Roys Report alleged that Bickle paid for her apartment, gave her a key to his office and engaged in sexual acts with him from 1996 to 1999 before he founded IHOPKC. She claimed Bickle wooed her with scripture at age 19 when he was 42.

Bickle initially agreed to step away from the ministry last October when allegations of sexual abuse involving multiple women were brought to light by an advocate group. Bickle confessed to engaging in “consensual sexual contact” with a woman connected to the 24/7 prayer ministry in addition to a previously confessed relationship with the Jane Doe, who alleged she was his kept woman for several years, according to an independent investigation report released in February.

In December, he admitted on Facebook to engaging in “inappropriate behavior” but not “the more intense sexual activities that some are suggesting.” The ministry permanently cut ties with Bickle two weeks later, saying its investigation confirmed “a level of inappropriate behavior.”

–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice