Dear Community,

The Firefly Independent Sexual Abuse Investigation into the International House of Prayer-Kansas City (IHOPKC) has concluded, confirming a long-standing pattern of abuse, cover-up, and institutional suppression within the organization. Below are some key findings of the 68-page report, which is publicly available to read and download here. 

Key Findings:

• Mike Bickle, IHOPKC’s founder, engaged in spiritual, emotional, and sexual abuse spanning multiple decades.
• Seventeen survivors have come forward with allegations against Bickle.
• An additional 15 survivors reported sexual misconduct by other individuals within IHOPKC, bringing the total to 32 documented survivors.
• Sixteen IHOPKC staff members were implicated in sexual misconduct, highlighting a broader pattern of abuse beyond Bickle.
• The IHOPKC Executive Leadership Team (ELT) not only failed to act but actively enabled abuse—suppressing reports, coercing victims into silence, and discouraging law enforcement involvement.
• The investigation found a systemic cover-up, revealing that IHOPKC leadership used “Matthew 18 meetings” to conceal, minimize, and silence victims of sexual abuse within the church. Leadership prioritized protecting the institution over the vulnerable, fostering an environment where victims felt unsupported and abusers were shielded from accountability.
• The true number of victims is unknown, as many additional survivors remain unnamed due to fear, anonymity, or secondhand reports that were outside the scope of formal interviews.

This moment brings both clarity and grief. We are grateful for the survivors who bravely came forward, making it impossible for these realities to remain hidden. We also mourn the profound harm inflicted—not only by individuals who abused their power, but by a system that failed to protect the vulnerable. We also ache to know there are many stories of abuse, both sexual and spiritual, that were not included in the scope of this investigation. 

To every survivor—both those named in this report and those who have yet to share their stories—we see you. We stand with you. 

Additional Updates:
A lawsuit has been filed by Lawrence Lucky against The Kansas City Star, reporter Judy Thomas, and public abuse survivor Justin Werner, alleging defamation in their August 2024 article. Werner is a former IHOPKC member who has publicly shared his experiences of abuse within the organization. While IHOP is not named as a party, the lawsuit could be viewed as retaliatory, reinforcing the institution’s longstanding pattern of silencing those who expose the truth, only now making it materially costly.

Despite efforts to suppress it, the truth continues to rise. The silence that once protected abusers is fracturing, and no matter what is done to contain it, those who have been harmed are no longer willing to carry that silence for them. We will continue to update you as this situation unfolds and as other relevant developments arise—especially if Bickle or other implicated leaders attempt to return to ministry.