“Wait until they discover what’s been going on at ATC!” I’ve seen this comment followed by a long string of conversations a few times from a couple of different sources. It hits heavy for me having kids who’ve enjoyed this camp in the past. The future though? While I understand statements like these have not yet graduated past the rumor phase… Far too many of the other tales have since proven true.
It’s been a hundred-plus days since the bomb dropped. The scandal involving Mike Bickle, founder of International House of Prayer KC, took possibly millions by surprise. Reactions hit the spectrum in great polarization. Many said it was an attack of the enemy. Others would dodge such distractions, noting the longevity in which he made his many, calculated devilments.
As the story unfolds more information continues to shine forth. This rabbit hole of bad news just keeps growing deeper and darker, seemingly by the minute.
If it isn’t Mike and his ongoing affairs, minced with teenage girls of 14 and 15 years of age, it’s manipulation ministerially, both behind the scenes and in broad daylight. It’s IHOP leadership’s alleged cover-up of rapes, etc. All in the name of maintaining good PR.
This level of manipulation spans far and wide. How far? How wide? Listening to others grieve has helped me discover just how regularly it happened in our classrooms - in our services. I couldn’t see it then. I can see it now. Could certainly use that neutral third-party investigation team right about 100+ days ago. “These things take time,” they say. Do they though?
Deny. Downplay. Deflect. IHOP leadership, while surfacing to appear the part of a concerned organization seems merely concentrated on covering their ass at any cost. Immediately, were they advised to hire a third-party investigation team. Two times did they elect a high-profile defense attorney to get the job done. “Not so fast!” cried the Advocate Group. The third time, they not so charmingly sought after a lawyer within their midst - a regular attendee of IHOP services (possibly more). Wonder how such an investigation would fare? This isn’t rocket science.
Recently, IHOP leadership owned the facts of Bickle’s actions. Not to mention his conjuring of fake prophecy (Black Horse) which Mike crafted as a get-out-of-jail-free card in case he got caught. Advocates uncovered how the messages he preached concerning “betrayal” in the lead-up to Jane Doe’s claims were due to the fact he had already been confronted by Jane, her husband, and several other former IHOP leaders. The veil was torn and the man behind the curtain was caught red-handed.
And isn’t this the problem? IHOP only seems to deal with the areas where they’ve been caught ‘red-handed’. This illusion of how they are compliant, still aiming at a third party is a stonewall tactic to the core. Will there be any end to the mirage - this smoke and mirrors wizardry?
Why are so many buying into this? Do we honestly want to restore a known pedophile to ministry? Is IHOP God’s sole source of prayer on the planet? Did He really place all His eggs in one basket? Is our God really not all that bright?
"Look how much good they’ve done!” Look how much evil they’ve done. Can you honestly tell me that Mike was having such wild encounters with God while simultaneously open-mouth kissing and fondling the breasts of teenage girls as a 40+-year-old man? Lies! It was all lies. And to know he is hanging out with our kids at Awakening Teen Camp…
Additionally, he, along with IHOP leadership, hired a formerly accused pedophile to IHOP staff despite the objection from the party they hired for counsel.
I’m sorry if this is inconvenient for you. I’m sorry if you’re at IHOP and heavily involved. I’m sorry if you’ve spent a great amount of time sowing and reaping the benefits of the prayer room. Me too. But get this, the ministry itself is founded and erected upon the material of a man who lied extensively to get his kingdom where it is today. It is built upon a prophetic history which turned out to be nothing but a bunch of hogwash. Will IHOP cleanse its hands of Mike's fallacies and restart from the Bible itself? Perhaps. And yet…
And yet there are leaders, even as of last week, coming out of IHOP swearing emphatically how Mike is indeed still behind the scenes running the show. “Don’t be deceived”, they urge. Don’t. Be. Deceived. It’s time…
It’s time we lay down our idols. This idea that there are God’s chosen ones/ministries who wear “crowns” and have been given “mantles” to play seller to us buyers is ludicrous. This is the New Covenant, not the Old. Do we think we need them to tell us what to believe because we’re not capable enough or have enough access to God where we might know Him on our own? I’m not against good teaching. But these are the types of situations Jesus flips tables for. Who are we to pick them up and turn them over again?
I jumped ship a while back. Wrote a blog about it. “How’s it going?” you ask. Thanks for inquiring! Well, the water’s just fine. Care to join me?
Thanks Ken