As the Bicklegate saga spins out of control, Dr. Brown tries an old intervention that is not going to work...

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Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. - James 5:16 (ESV)

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The news from Bicklegate is now fast moving and changing rapidly. There remains disinformation being provided to muddy the waters, protect Mike Bickle, and preserve the cash cow of IHOPKC. Before going into the latest update from Dr. Michael Brown, it is important to recap where we are and how we got here. Sometime in October of last year, the story broke that Mike Bickle stood credibly accused of clergy sexual abuse and misconduct, spanning several decades. The reaction from the Charismaniacal Industrial Complex was swift and expected. They tried to minimize it, downplay it, and dismiss it out of hand. Charisma News mobilized their strike force against it and soon there were articles being written testifying to Bickle's humility, servanthood, and overall good-guy-ness. They faced an early problem though of not wanting to look like they were calling the accusers liars, when they were of course calling them liars. So, the IHOP forces decided to poison the well. Someone "leaked" two of the names of those abused by Bickle as being IHOP worship leader Misty Edwards and a woman named April Rose. The latter posted a long screed on Facebook insisting that she was never a victim and Mike Bickle was pure as the driven snow. Misty Edwards also quickly came out with a statement declaring that she was never a victim and that Bickle had always been godly around her. The reason for these lies, and that's what they were, was to allow Bickle defenders to point to Edwards and Rose as proof that there was something "wrong" with the alleged victims. Look back to that time period and see the articles written by Steven Strang and Larry Tomczak and you will see they used these quotes to dismiss out of hand any of the accusers.

In December, IHOP leadership reneged on a previous promise to bring in an independent outside entity to conduct the investigation. They instead pointed to Rose and Edwards to say that there were problems with the victims' accusations that they needed to vet first before anyone from the outside should be brought in, which is completely absurd. IHOP leadership could not conduct a fair and impartial investigation of itself. Soon after, one of the victims released their story. It detailed how a then 42-year-old married Bickle, lured a 19-year-old sheep and daughter of a Bickle friend, into bed. He did so by lying about a prophecy that God told him his wife Diane would die so he could marry the 19-year-old. Bickle used this lie and other prophetic manipulations to engage this woman in a four-year adulteress relationship. He eventually paid for her apartment and started telling her who she was allowed to spend time with and what was allowable discussions. He did all of this mind you, WHILE he was building IHOPKC. Eventually the woman was able to get out from the relationship and even when she found someone to marry, Bickle would try to interfere in the marriage.

After this story was released and everyone who knew the woman insisted that her story was beyond reproach, the Bickle backed IHOPKC leadership cut all ties permanently with Mike Bickle. The new leadership however seemed just as committed to the cover up as the previous. They recently brought in General Fuller to lead, hoping he could bring some credibility to such a compromised and deceptive practice. He has not. This past week the advocacy group has finally spoken into the ongoing deception at IHOPKC. First it was revealed that Misty Edwards was NEVER named as a victim. This proves the poising of the well strategy and leaves Misty as either a confirmed liar or a duped fool that needs to publicly apologize. The advocacy group also released a series of roundtable videos with several former IHOP leaders and followers lending even more credibility to the accusations made against Bickle. In response, General Fuller feigned outrage that they did not share these with him first. Why would they? The group also revealed this week that when this all started, they shared a working document with IHOP leadership that they then inappropriately shared with Mike Bickle! The IHOP leadership, in whatever form, has consistently worked against the victims and smeared them so why in the world would General Fuller think they should have shared these with him first? So, Fuller used this to break off negotiations and insist that IHOPKC will simply move forward with their own investigation, which no one in their right mind could possibly trust.

Throughout this debacle, Dr. Michael Brown has tried to mediate. Unfortunately, Dr. Brown never holds anyone to account and is always trying to split the bill. His goal initially seemed to be to want to provide some cover for his friend, but he quickly realized he was guilty as sin and since has switched to be more focused on protecting the brand. It seems Dr. Brown can read the handwriting on the wall, and it does not look good for Mike Bickle. So instead, Brown wants to preserve the rotten tree of IHOP that has produced all of this rotten fruit. The link above is to an emergency announcement from Dr. Brown so let us once more reason together, through it.

"This is a heartfelt announcement in light of General Fuller saying IHOP will proceed with their current investigation and not bringing in another third party. I want to dispel a few myths as best I can. There are lies and myths about the advocacy group that they had long term plans to bring down Mike Bickle or this was some kind of coup. That is absolutely false. Every single time I have spoken to IHOPKC, including general fuller they have all said the same thing - we want the whole truth to come to light, no matter how ugly it is. We don't want to cover up anything. To this point the actual investigation IHOPKC has underway is independent. General Fuller is not even allowed to speak with them. The investigator was not approved by the advocacy group." - Dr. Michael Brown

Let me start by saying I do not doubt the sincerity of Dr. Brown and I rarely have. I just think he refuses to see things that are plainly in front of his face. It is great that he is now publicly stating that the advocacy group has been honest this entire time. The problem is twofold. First of all, why did it take nearly four months to conclude what anyone not trying to protect Mike Bickle has known all along? Why allow the smearing of these victims and of the reputations of the former IHOP leaders who represent them? Where was the condemnation of IHOP leadership in December when they were all saying that this was a coup? The second point, is what about your friends and associates? Michael Brown enjoys writing for Charisma News but the CEO, Steven Strang, has mercilessly lied about the victims, claimed the former leaders hated Bickle and wanted to just seize the mighty power of IHOP. Where is the denouncement and demands for Strang to apologize for declaring Bickle was exonerated in December! Where are the calls for his repentance for the false witness he bore against the women whose lives were destroyed by the predator Bickle?

The second point here is we must question Michael Brown's discernment at this point. Who cares if IHOPKC has always said they want the truth when all of their actions bear out the opposite? Did they want the truth when they shared confidential reports with the accused? Were they seeking the truth honestly when they poisoned the well with the Misty Edwards nonsense? What about when they lied about wanting an independent outside entity? What about just this week when General Fuller used the fact that the advocacy group released videos damning IHOP to break off all negotiations and pretend their bogus sham investigation was sufficient. They swore they don't want to cover anything up? Are you serious? That is all they have been doing! Stop trying to protect the institution! If the investigator was not approved by the advocacy group, I am sure they had a reason. What did Dr. Brown expect them to say to him? "Yeah, sorry Dr. Brown but we have been trying to undermine this the entire time. Your crack questioning finally broke us" Unbelievable.

"I want to be the loudest voice saying a new direction is needed, I can attest that mistakes were made on all sides. People trying to do the right thing, not malicious." - Dr. Michael Brown

No, no. no. Stop trying to split the bill! On one side you have the VICTIMS. They have been VICTIMIZED! It appears their only serious mistake is in assuming the leadership of IHOPKC would ever take this seriously and in a godly fashion. The former leaders who have tried to help them loved IHOP and were friends and associates of Mike Bickle. Secondly here, stop trying to minimize what the IHOPKC leadership has done. Not malicious? Who are you kidding? The fake leaking of people never mentioned as victims, the sharing of the confidential report with Bickle, the constant smearing of the victims and pretending the former leaders had agendas? All they have done is act maliciously! Dear Lord, and we wonder why no one trusts the church anymore? The story of the 19-year-old has been confirmed already and it led to the most pro-Bickle folks of cutting all ties with him. Stop pretending that there is some kind of equity on both sides. There is not. IHOPKC leadership needs to shut up, accept the true outside source, and get ready to shutter the doors to one of the worst and falsest fake moves of God in the history of the church.

"I can attest to mistakes being made, mistrust coming in, and the devil came in big time. I was on consecutive phone calls this week with the IHOP leadership side and the advocacy group leadership side, both broken hearted feeling they were betrayed by the other. Satan got in and separated brothers. This is the work of the devil." - Dr. Michael Brown

This is often used by Christians as a convenient out. The devil did not create this mess, Mike Bickle did. The devil did not make the IHOP leaders lie, smear the victims, and try to bury the truth - they did that all on their own. This atmosphere of distrust is entirely of IHOPKC's doing. The devil didn't make them do anything. It is also not helpful to keep trying to split this bill. I understand that maybe the IHOP leadership told Dr. Brown they feel betrayed, but he should have shot that down right away. The advocacy group was under no obligation to release the videos to IHOP when all they had previously done was act unscrupulously. It was not a "betrayal." What is betrayal is taking the confidential working documents, which had the initials of the victims, and give it to the perpetrator without permission. What is betrayal is allowing the character attacks upon former trusted IHOP leaders and claiming they had ill motives for helping the victims. What is betrayal is acting like there was only one partially credible victim but hey, it was 25 years ago so who cares? This is not the work of the devil. It is the work of sinful men.

"And here's the deal, the body of Christ is hurting terribly right now. The name of Jesus is suffering terrible reproach. The Holy Spirit is being mocked. People are losing their faith in Jesus over this. People don't know what's up and what's down. What's right and what's wrong. who can be trusted. What can be trusted. What's real and what's not. This is an international crisis and no servant of God has the right to their own opinion. We all have to humble ourselves and come together and find a path forward." - Dr. Michael Brown

The entire body of Christ is not suffering over this because we can discern that IHOP was a disaster from the start, not just because Mike Bickle is a false prophet. The apostate church might be suffering because they have been lied to for so long and now people they respected as leaders are found to be predators or protecting predators. Brown is right that the name of Jesus is suffering reproach, but that reproach started long ago in Kansas City. It began when people believed two false prophets named Bob Jones and Paul Cain told another false prophet in Mike Bickle that he was called to ministry in Kansas City. Both Jones and Cain had their own sex scandals to deal with, Cain involving a 13-year-old. People do not know up from down because leaders like Dr. Brown's boss at Charisma are telling them that Bickle is exonerated, the victims are liars, and the advocates are just staging a hostile takeover. Any servant of God does have the right to the correct side. The side of the truth. The problem is people like Michael Brown keep pretending both sides are somehow to blame for the predatory nature of one man. Stop the cover up. Stop trying to save IHOP. It is over.

"I pled with General Fuller to accept whoever the advocacy group puts forward. He felt that they already had an independent investigation and they were going forward with it. I believe with all my heart that the advocacy group has been trying to do the right thing on behalf of the victims and I truly believe that General Fuller wants the truth to come forward but we have reached an impasse." - Dr. Michael Brown

I separated this out so we can see the stark problems with the way Brown presents this. He presents this as if both sides are reasonable. They are not. General Fuller is turning out to be just as much as a shill for IHOPKC as all the ones before him. As long as he does not accept an approved outside source, then IHOPKC will remain untrustworthy in this matter. How in the world can Dr. Brown believe Fuller is sincere when he holds such insincere positions? If he really wanted the truth to come out, he would stop fighting with the advocacy group and bring in an independent party. He won't because he does not want to. Period. End of story.

So, I will be reaching out to senior respected leaders, people who do not have a dog in the fight. I will ask them to come together and reach out to the advocacy group and to find a third part that is acceptable to the advocacy group." - Dr. Michael Brown

Dear Lord no. This is the Todd Bentley fiasco all over again. In 2019, the absurdly false preacher Todd Bentley was again caught with his pants down and Dr. Michael Brown got involved in the subsequent kerfuffle. He convened what he called a panel of respected leaders to determine if the married Bentley sexting with congregants presented some sort of issue for the church. Never mind that his entire ministry since the Lakeland demonic movement has been a sham. Nonetheless, Brown convened what I referred to as an NAR clown car of false teachers to make this determination. Apparently, he thought it went so well, he wants to do it again? Exactly who will these senior respected leaders be? Who will be the ones respecting them? Last time, two of the chosen were Joseph "I lead all apostles" Materra and James "absurd false prophet" Goll. I hope the advocacy group is smarter than this. The plan is to shuffle off the responsibility to this new panel and simply claim that they tried to bring in folks without a "dog in the fight." Except all false teachers are in the same fight. We do not need more NAR false teachers coming in to defend the industrial complex, split the bill, or provide cover. For example, the Bentley panel determined he was unfit for ministry. So, what does Todd Bentley do today? Ministry. He never missed a day. That's the real purpose here. No matter what this prestiged panel finds, IHOP will be allowed to continue as if it was not founded upon mountains of lies, false prophecies, heresy and sexual assaults. Hallelujah, pass the offering plate and open the 24-7 prayer room!

"If Mike is guilty, then its up to that leadership group to call Mike to repentance, show fruit and be restored in his personal life. Where he's been falsely charged then he needs to be cleared

He's very jealous for his people and the reputation of His Son. Let's work together to bring some redemption out of this. Let this be a time when the refiner's fire comes and does a housecleaning in all of us. Lord, start the work in me. Let the refiner's fire come and let us move forward with greater purity, and greater honor in the days ahead." - Dr. Michael Brown

If??? This is why Brown is simply untrustworthy. There is no doubt in at least the one story of the 19-year-old! IHOP leaders who were serving Bickle thought it so bad they broke ties with him! There is no more "if." Brown is right that God is very jealous for His people, not people who say Lord Lord and for the reputation of His Son. It was just revealed this week also that the wife of an IHOP administrator was "involved" with both Bickle and his son, Luke. The affair with Luke was even brought To Bickle's attention but he buried it. He also did not reveal that he himself had "very questionable" interactions with the same woman for six years before he was handed off to his son. What was that again about refiner's fire?

"Let the movement of prayer continue. Just a few months ago, this prayer movement out of Kansas City rallied more people together to pray for Israel to my knowledge in history. Now Israel is in the battle of its life. The whole region is in turmoil and pain." - Dr. Michael Brown

There is now a palpable shift from trying to save Mike Bickle to trying to save IHOP and it needs to be shut down now. IHOP was born as a lie. It was born on a mountain of lies. Bob Jones and Paul Cain were also predators and were not prophets. The entire premise upon which Bickle founded IHOP was false. It was not of God. Who cares if they were able to mobilize and army to pray? What if the Mormon church organized its members to all pray? Would we venerate that or dismiss it? We would dismiss it! Just look at the example Brown gives. So, they got a million people who have been under false teaching to pray for Israel. How has that gone? Oh right, the whole region is in turmoil and pain. The key verse teaches us that the prayer of the righteous avails much but what about the prayer of the unrighteous? Not so much. If a million Jehovah Witness folks got together to pray, I am going out on a limb that it will not avail much. IHOP is just as much of a cult, and it was a cult led by a lying false prophet predator. Why do you think his ideas resulted in so many false theologies and bad practices? The bottom line here is that the current IHOP leadership remains compromised and unable to do the right thing. They do not want an honest investigation. Impaneling another clown car of NAR false teachers is not going to help this situation. Nothing will until a truly independent, outside agency is brought in so we can trust the report will not be an attempt at whitewashing how deep this black hole goes.

Reverend Anthony Wade - January 26, 2024

Authors Bio:
Credentialed Minister of the Gospel for the Assemblies of God. Owner and founder of 828 ministries. Vice President for Goodwill Industries. Always remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.