" A document originally prepared by the group supposed to accompany the allegations does not contain any actual evidence from the supposed victims.
" The group's allegations were accompanied by a list of "demands and threats," which included dictating the use of IHOPKC funds.
" One of the alleged victims (using only initials) accused Bickle of "prophetically manipulating" her 25 years ago. The allegations were all nonsexual, but the other woman referred to some physical contact." - Larry Tomczak
This is the textbook definition of providing cover for your friend. What Larry, the intrepid journalist he pretends to be, missed is that the Report on Initial Findings was written by current IHOP leadership who is decidedly "pro-Bickle." They had canceled plans to hire an outside group to investigate and instead decided that should be their role, despite not being objective. They have instead, lawyered up, by hiring one of the most renowned defense lawyers in the country. Other minions have publicly spread distrust of the three former IHOP leaders, who are working with the victims. Suddenly, these once respected former leaders are now painted as villains who wanted to overthrow Bickle and take IHOP over for themselves. So, while I appreciate the opinions of the current corrupted leadership as to what constitutes evidence, I would just as soon rather hear that from someone who doesn't have a dog in the hunt. The citation of "lack of evidence" has been floated before and appears to be saying that because some of the accusations, which pre-date texting and email common usage, do not have these proofs they somehow must be summarily dismissed. As if the eyewitness testimony of the victims, means nothing. The demands and threats is more subterfuge from the current leadership as the monies to spend was to secure and outside organization to properly investigate.
As for this prophetic manipulation charge, I am unsure which one it is because I do not have the details of the investigation. Do you know who else doesn't have them? Larry Tomczak. What I do know is one of these charges, which was about 26 years ago was from a woman who was 19 at the time when Bickle used prophetic manipulation to encourage a sexual relationship that lasted for four years and into the startup of IHOP. While we are on this subject, can defenders of Bickle stop referencing the fact that the charge is 25 years old as if that somehow allow us to dismiss it? If all that comes from this is one woman who at the age of 19 was spiritually manipulated into a four-year sexual relationship by the married Bickle, who was 42 at the time, is that enough? Or is the memory of that time when Mike Bickle gave our kid some money or helped pack up the ministry van more important than that one soul? The rest of Tomczak's offering here was just an abuse of scriptures that were not very convincing or well thought out. He does correctly say that the Lord hates someone who stirs dissension among the brethren.
Mike Bickle is not my brethren and never has been. He was not when he lied about hearing from God to start IHOP. He wasn't when he developed the horrific 24-7 model of forcing kids to stay up until 3 am for school credit. He wasn't when he embraced the bridal paradigm and all of the sloppy agape, Jesus is my lover faux worship music. He wasn't when IHOP covered up the Bethany Deaton murder. He wasn't when IHOP defended their ministerial staffer who had once admitted to sexually abusing a teenager. Do you know who are my brethren? The sheep caught up in this storm of heresy, lies and debauchery. The victims are my brethren. The community of IHOP, lied to for decades are potentially my brethren. If someone would just preach the real gospel to them. Larry Tomczak stands with his good friend. He could have done that however without publicly bearing false witness against the victims. Then again, why let a little thing like the bible get in the way of a good ole boys cover up. Why indeed.
Reverend Anthony Wade - December 5, 2023
