| Mike Bickle | |
| Birth Name: | Michael Leroy Bickle |
| Birth Date: | 17 July 1955 |
| Birth Place: | Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America |
| Occupation: | Pastor, International House of Prayer |
Michael Leroy Bickle[1] (born July 17, 1955)[2] [3] is an American evangelical leader who was the founder of the International House of Prayer (IHOPKC). Once the leader of IHOPKC, Bickle oversaw several ministries and a Bible school. Bickle has written a number of books and served as the pastor of multiple churches.[4]
Bickle became an evangelical Christian at fifteen when his football coach paid his way to a Fellowship of Christian Athletes student conference in Estes Park, Colorado. After listening to Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach speak of his "personal relationship with Jesus," Bickle committed himself to become an evangelical Christian.[5]
During his ministry, Bickle claims to have had several encounters with God, including hearing the audible voice of God and being taken to heaven twice.[6]
In 1999, Bickle stopped working for the church that he was pastoring, Metro Christian Fellowship, then a megachurch of over three thousand members. He then started the International House of Prayer (also known by its acronym IHOPKC).[7] IHOPKC is most well known for its daily prayer meetings based on its "harp and bowl" worship model that are held 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year since September 19, 1999. IHOPKC also established a Bible college, known as the International House of Prayer University and several internships for young adults. In addition to these training programs, IHOPKC also organizes various evangelism and charitable programs locally and internationally. The ministry currently consists of approximately 2,500 full-time staff members, students, and interns.
IHOPKC organized an annual Onething conference at the Kansas City Convention Center. In 2010, the event saw over 25,000 young adults attend. The conference focuses on worship music and sermons on prayer, evangelism, and Christian eschatology.[8]
Bickle is known for dressing casually while preaching and for his avoidance of "charismatic self-referentiality".[9] [10]
Bickle endorsed Ted Cruz for president in 2016.[11] [12]
IHOPKC's leadership placed Bickle on sabbatical from public ministry in November 2023 due to allegations of abuse. After more allegations came to light, IHOPKC cut all ties with Bickle on December 23, 2023.
Bickle's teachings have primarily focused on prayer, worship, fasting, the Great Commandment, the Great Commission, spiritual gifts, and the Bible with a particular focus on passion for Jesus, the first commandment, and Prophecy, preparing people spiritually by understanding what Jesus said about the end times.
In 1988 Bickle began studying the Song of Songs, a book that he had dismissed in the past as being only for women. He interprets the Song of Songs as an allegory of the relationship between the body of believers (that is, the church) and God. After studying this book for several years, he began to focus his ministry primarily on the Great Commandment.[4]
Bickle teaches extensively on prayer. Bickle began teaching on the Tabernacle of David in 1983 after an experience in which he claims to have heard the audible voice of God.[13] He encourages churches and Christian ministries to develop a "culture of prayer" with worship and prayer meetings.[4]
Bickle has focused some of his teaching on God's spiritual purposes for Israel. He believes that it is important for Christians to pray for the spiritual salvation of the Jews.[14]
There has been criticism of aspects of Bickle's theology and ministry practices. Aspects of his ministry which have been particularly controversial include his view of the prophetic ministry.[15] Bickle's ministry has been criticized with focus on the sexual activities of some of the ministers that were closely connected with his ministry in the 80s and 90s, including Bob Jones[16] [17] and Paul Cain though neither has been directly involved with Bickle's ministry for several years as a result.
However, as of 2017, Bickle continued to praise Bob Jones and would credit him with the start of the International House of Prayer with no mention of the sexual abuse.[18]
In 1990 Kansas City pastor Ernie Gruen published a report entitled "Documentation of the Aberrant Practices and Teaching of the Kansas City Fellowship (Grace Ministries)". After the publication of this document, Bickle announced that he was submitting to John Wimber's oversight and joined the Association of Vineyard Churches in part to address the issues raised by his critics.[19] [20] [21] Bickle later noted that "We were tempted to say that the attacks were all of the devil. In retrospect, we see that God's hand in all of this - even using the things that came from Satan's hand as well. Some of the criticisms were valid (especially concerning our pride); others were not."[22] Since that time, Ernie Gruen and Bickle have reconciled and forgiven one another.[23]
Bickle's ministry has since been endorsed by several American charismatic leaders, including Dr. Jack W. Hayford, Bill Bright, Loren Cunningham, and C. Peter Wagner.
Bickle came under fire from the Anti-Defamation League for controversial statements deemed by them as antisemitic and intolerant of Jews.
On October 28, 2023, news broke that Bickle faced allegations of sexual abuse from several women over a span of decades.[24] [25] [26] The next day, International House of Prayer announced that Bickle had been placed on sabbatical from all public ministry pending investigation. IHOPKC subsequently contracted Stinson LLP to conduct the investigation.[27] [28] [29] Following criticism about its decision to hire Stinson LLP, the organization chose instead a local Kansas City law firm to lead the investigation.[30] On November 30, 2023 "Jane Doe" alleged that Bickle sexually abused her from 1996 to 1999, starting when she was 19 and he was 42.[31] [32] On December 12, 2023, Bickle confessed to past misconduct, while denying some of the allegations.[33] On December 22, IHOPKC announced that the internal investigation confirmed Bickle had engaged in "inappropriate behavior" of a nature that required IHOPKC to "immediately, formally, and permanently" sever ties with him.[34]
On February 7, 2024, the Kansas City Star published a first-hand account of Bickle's grooming and sexual abuse of Tammy Woods in the 1980s beginning when Woods was 14 years of age and Bickle was in his mid-20s. The article details Woods' experiences, her reason for not reporting until 2024, corroborating testimony from Woods' family and a close friend, as well as Bickle's attempt to communicate with Woods after the initial allegations were made known in 2023.[35]