Yes, which is why it deserves better than a clown car trying to save an institution built upon lies and predatory practices. The victims deserved better than to be smeared and disbelieved. The advocates deserved better than to be maligned and have their motives questioned. I think it is important here to recognize that while Dr. Brown pulls this faux-piety fiasco off, he still remains a shill for Steven Strang, who literally exonerated Bickle months ago, and continues to spread the lie that this was just a nasty church fight. He had Brown on his podcast recently where these and the spurious accusation of the devil trying to tear IHOP down were met with Kumbaya instead of correction. Sorry, but until Dr. Brown rebukes Strang and stops doing business with him, he has zero credibility on this issue.
"Second, after considering the reports we have reviewed, we must state categorically that he is, sadly, unfit to lead a ministry. Even with full repentance and personal restoration in the Lord, he is disqualified from public ministry. (Restoration to full fellowship is of course possible.) Mike himself, in his statement of December 12, 2023, acknowledged that his stepping down from ministry "may be long and it may even be permanent," and that was before the most serious charges against him had even been raised. We say this with agony of heart, as Mike has been a dear friend to some of us and a respected co-worker for years, and it is hard to believe that the man we knew was capable of leading such a double life. Yet we cannot deny the evidence that spans many decades and which continues to accumulate, some of which has been confirmed and some of which awaits a formal investigation and the adjudication of a panel of elders We also write these words aware of our own shortcomings and failings - as Solomon said, each of us knows the affliction of our own hearts (1 Kings 8:38) - walking in the fear of the Lord as daily recipients of His mercy. But there are lines that cannot be crossed without severe consequences, and tragically, it appears that Mike has crossed these lines time and again." - The Bicklegate Eight
Why is it sad that Mike Bickle cannot return to ministry? Why is he being treated as a brother when he was obviously a wolf? These are questions that deserve answering. So, in the Dr. Brown Bicklegate Eight's mind, Mike Bickle has always been saved and trying to do God's work, while first luring a 14-year-old into a sexual relationship when he was 20. A few years later, he lured a 15-year-old into the same, when he was now married. This included visiting her at her high school as her boyfriend and having the girl's father drive to KC to tell him stay the hell away from his daughter. Then, he lied with two other false prophets/sexual predators to pretend God spoke to him about starting the 24-7 prayer model that would become IHOP. While starting this up, he lured a 19-year-old sheep, a friend's daughter, into another adulterous affair that lasted four years including false prophecies of his wife dying, spiritual manipulation, and life bullying. Oh, and after fooling around with the wife of an IHOP Manager, he apparently passed her off to his son to have an affair with, while telling the husband to basically deal with it. Keep in mind there are at least seven other women in the advocate group who allege abuse. Where exactly do you see fruit in keeping with repentance Dr. Brown? This is not a one-off. It is not an oopsie. It is not a mistake. This is a pervasive, continued lifestyle opposite of Christ. Can Mike Bickle be saved? Absolutely but he would need to hear the gospel first and actually repent. It is painfully obvious here that the Bicklegate Eight seem not equally torn about Bickle being disqualified than they are for the victims.
"Third, while we know that many fine believers and leaders have served at IHOPKC and are part of the related, global prayer movement we recognize that the evidence points to some dangerous cult-like tendencies that emerged over the years that need to be addressed and adjusted. There has also been a lack of a formal structure of accountability for those serving in various capacities at IHOPKC, overseen by local elders, resulting in a failure to deal properly with serious sexual sins, and not just pertaining to Mike. We do not deny that the broad outline of the IHOPKC history was credible, but it appears that, in some ways, it has crossed over into areas of spiritual elitism. IHOPKC has also admitted that its structure was woefully deficient in handling serious sin allegations and now professes to be changing its whole structure to address this. We acknowledge that many faithful intercessors and worshippers ministered before the Lord over the years in IHOPKC with purity of heart, great sacrifice, and authentic passion for His purposes who were totally unaware of what was transpiring behind the scenes. We want you comforted and encouraged. Your hours of prayers and devotion were heard, regarded, and honored by God." - The Bicklegate Eight
At least it took them to the third point to completely go off the rails. Spiritual elitism? Is that the best you can come up with? The broad outline of IHOPKC was not credible at all! That's the entire point here! Bob Jones and Paul Cain were two other false prophets who turned out to be sexual predators, just like their buddy Bickle. They all conspired to lie and say God gave them this vision when He obviously had not. IHOP was a carnal idea by carnal men. The fact that so many were duped does not change these facts. It was not God's idea or His plan and the fact that He is utterly destroying it now should give everyone pause but not when you are trying to protect the brand. It is also very difficult to believe that no one knew behind the scenes. You mean no one dared question the cult leader. These were not "tendencies." IHOP was a dangerous cult, period, full stop. The good thing about the authentic people, with pure hearts, caught up in all of this is they can find a real ministry and be just as passionate. We see here that the Bicklegate Eight are issuing this statement in a clear attempt to save the 24-7 model and IHOPKC.
"Fourth, we recognize and grieve over the lack of accountability structures in the larger, independent, charismatic church world, where there are no real courts of appeal, few, if any, boards of city-wide or trans-local elders to consult, and no formal structures in which serious allegations can be heard and adjudicated. We have been aware of this need for many years, and it is our hope that now, at last, a united, biblically based, Spirit-led effort can be made to address this gaping hole in our midst." - The Bicklegate Eight
No, no, a thousand times no. We do not need more oversight from blind men. This is the same problem with organizing the second clown car. This reference by the way, is to a few years back when uber-huckster Todd Bentley was caught in yet another extra-marital sexual abuse scandal with his sheep. Dr. Brown organized a panel of what he called respected leaders but in reality, they were just other compromised church leaders, to evaluate the situation and decide Todd's fate in ministry. This clown car took a few weeks to determine the guy sexting with his sheep, should be disqualified from ministry. With an open bible, that should have taken all of a hot minute but there were bigger problems. First, Bentley basically thumbed his nose at them and is still ministering today. More importantly, is how someone like Todd Bentley was even in a position to be a minister in the first place. As if kicking little old ladies in the face to "impart healing" was not somehow disqualifying all on its own? Either way, we do not need another clown car. Why? Because this is not just about Mike Bickle. It is about IHOP as an institution and the apostate church. Bringing in people like James Goll, who was in the first clown car, or Patricia King, who is part of this statement defeats the purpose. We already know they will find all things Charismatic just fine, maybe some good old accountability will be recommended so everyone feels like they were properly critical. Oh, and Bickle has to go. Once minors were involved his fate was sealed. Do not be deceived beloved. This proposal is designed to protect the brand of IHOP and the 24-7 prayer movement, no matter how ferociously God is currently tearing it down.
"Fifth, we recognize that many younger believers now feel disillusioned with our generation of leaders, feeling let down by us or, worse still, perceiving us to be part of the "old guard" that is determined to protect our interests or, even worse, enabling serious clergy misconduct. This, too, breaks our hearts, as we have spent decades investing in the younger generations - right until this day, considering it a sacred privilege - and we carry a fatherly (or motherly) burden for your wellbeing. God Himself knows!" - The Bicklegate Eight
