IHOPKC Separates Prayer Room From Church
After extensive deliberation, the board of the International House of Prayer Kansas City (IHOPKC) has decided that the renowned 24/7 Prayer Room will operate independently from any church affiliation. This decision follows the closure of several parts of the ministry, including the Forerunner Church, due to a scandal involving sexual misconduct by founder Mike Bickle.
The board communicated this decision in an email update to the IHOPKC community, which was later shared by The Roys Report. The email clarified that the Prayer Room would not be incorporated into a church structure or moved to the Grandview Plaza facility. Instead, it will remain at its current location at the Red Bridge Center, continuing as the core of IHOPKC.
Despite this, the board acknowledged that the Prayer Room will need a formal governance structure to ensure effective oversight, accountability, and spiritual guidance. They are working on developing an independent governance plan to maintain strong leadership and decision-making processes.
In April, IHOPKC had announced a restructuring plan that included shutting down several ministry operations, including IHOPKC’s school of ministry and Forerunner Church. The email addressed rumors and incorrect statements about the ministry’s future, reiterating that IHOPKC is not closing but focusing on the Prayer Room and its intercession for Israel.
The recent upheaval at IHOPKC was triggered by allegations of sexual abuse against Bickle. In February, a woman, Tammy Woods, came forward with accusations that Bickle abused her in the 1980s. Additional allegations from other women emerged, leading to Bickle’s permanent separation from the ministry in December after an investigation confirmed inappropriate behavior. Despite Bickle’s previous confession to some misconduct, the ministry concluded that the allegations justified a complete severance.