Katie, an IHOP intern exhibiting strange manifistations
We’ve been reporting about and warning of the dangerous teaching of Mike Bickle’s spiritual influence over young vulnerable students, many of whom are willing to give up everything just to come live at his campus at IHOP (International House of Prayer) in Kansas City. Now we have more testimony of the strange happenings. This personal story is very important. It was shared by a young woman named Ariel, who spent time as an intern at IHOP. It is reprinted here in its entirety, along with some signs to look for if you are concerned that someone you love may be involved with a cult. (Need more background in IHOP? Check out the related articles after Ariel’s story):
Ariel’s Testimony
It was the year I turned 23.I was bright-eyed, excited and full of hope & anticipation.Sure, I’d been through some rough stuff, but I knew that the Lordwas the keeper of my life and I was heading into a new season of trusting Him deeper.
I was moving to Kansas City! My long-awaited (14 years) dream of being in Kansas City to be a part of Mike Bickle’s ministry which had now branched into an International House of Prayer was finally materializing into reality. I had big hopes and dreams and wanted nothing but to serve my God with everything.
Since I was 12 years old, my family and I had driven the 3 hour trek to Kansas City for conferences at the church Mike Bickle pastored at the time (It is known by various names as they changed at different stages: Kansas City Fellowship, Metro Vineyard Fellowship & Metro Christian Fellowship). My spiritual roots had, in many ways, grown from the times that I spent in these gatherings and what I felt God imparted to my life while I was there. I had been around…marinating in the environment for about 14 years; so I knew a lot about the history that led up to what is now known as IHOP (the International House of Prayer). I remember one of the first times Mike shared his vision for starting IHOP. Many left Metro with Mike when he stepped down as senior pastor to help support it’s start-up.
So fast forward…IHOP was still within its first 5 years of operation and I was captivated by what I saw and heard. If there was a “poster child” that endorsed IHOP and who was convinced it was the best thing going, that would have been me. I say all of this to lay a back drop for what follows.
A long journey and a lot of waiting preceded the decision to move to Kansas City. My family and I unanimously agreed that after much prayer, it was the right timing so we sold or gave away half of what we owned, packed up the rest and moved to the Utopia of what we thought would be the greatest spiritual adventure of our lives. I had a background in the arts…music, dance, etc and couldn’t wait to get involved so I could really feel like I belonged there…not just a visitor hanging in the periphery and coming for conferences. I wanted to get “in”.
When we arrived on moving day, the “community” we were hoping to be a part of and the support of those we knew from IHOP appeared to be quite lacking. We were told that to obtain moving help from IHOP, we had to hire them at a ridiculous hourly rate ($20/per person, per hour) which we could not afford. When the neighbors who lived next door found out that it was just us and we had NO help moving in, their family came over and helped us unpack our moving truck for approximately the next 3 hours–for no charge–just to be good neighbors. Oh…and did I mention they weren’t even believers? They had compassion on our predicament and carried boxes and hauled furniture without complaining once. They simply smiled and said “welcome to the neighborhood”.
The un-relational climate we had seen hints of in the past became rapidly obvious upon our relocation to IHOP-KC. There was a lot of talk about “community” but everyone I met was so tunnel visioned on “always being in the prayer room” that they didn’t want to socialize or make time to build real relationships with people. There was a relational vacuum and the disconnect I felt upon my arrival was overwhelming. This was a significant concern of mine and my family but we rationalized it away with “oh, we just haven’t been here long enough. Eventually, we’ll feel more connected and involved and we’ll see the relational community that IHOP advertises here. Just give it time.”
Within a month, I joined the One Thing internship (which is an intensive 6-month long internship program for 18-25 year olds). I had really felt it was what I should do and had the support of my family that this was a great thing for me. They also felt it was a great way for me to connect to the ministry we had all moved here to be a part of. So our family’s income tax return went toward the steep $4,500 tuition fee for the program and I came on board in August. I was full of excitement and felt that things were finally coming together for me. At least that’s how it appeared.
This is where it all began for me….
A cult? Strong word you might say…and you are correct. It is not a word I use lightly or carelessly to label anything. But much prayer, time and years of research and personal experience have brought me to the conclusion that I can say confidently that the root system–or foundation–that IHOP is built on follows the basic premises and signs of a cult religious group. When I first left IHOP, I went through a severe culture shock that is hard to put into words. When I began studying the signs of cult fallout and the things that cult members go through after leaving a cult, my eyes began to open to what I had been a part of and recently come out of.
Below I have listed some common signs of cult operation. Below them I cite in underlined text short examples of my personal experiences as IHOP which illustrates these particular signs in IHOP’s day to day practice. After 6 years of being out of IHOP I still hold to my position that it is a dangerous place for people’s hearts and I have seen much destruction of families, relationships and marriages of those who have been involved with this movement.
I appreciate your taking the time to read and prayerfully consider the research and personal testimony I have included below.
1. A destructive cult tends to be totalitarian in its control of its members’ behavior. Cults are likely to dictate in great detail not only what members believe, but also what members wear and eat, when and where members work, sleep, and bathe, and how members think, speak, and conduct familial, marital, or sexual relationships.
As an intern at IHOP, our day to day lives were closely monitored and dictated. I was not allowed to go anywhere or leave IHOP premises without express verbal permission from a community leader except on our one day off. Our schedules started early in the morning with hours in the prayer room, then classes, then back to the prayer room. Our nights often ran late with required attendance at EGS (Encounter God Services) or any other special event Mike spoke at that we were required to attend. Sometimes we had to attend worship sets that ended at 10 pm or midnight. Sleep was minimal and was often un-restful when I did get it. Sleep deprivation is a commonly used tactic in many cult groups to weaken the mind and make a person more susceptible to the embracing of the doctrines taught by that cult. There are many biological and psychological effects of sleep deprivation on the mind.
2. A destructive cult tends to have an ethical double standard. Members are urged to be obedient to the cult, to carefully follow cult rules. They are also encouraged to be revealing and open in the group, confessing all to the leaders. On the other hand, outside the group they are encouraged to act unethically, manipulating outsiders or nonmembers, and either deceiving them or simply revealing very little about themselves or the group. In contrast to destructive cults, honorable groups teach members to abide by one set of ethics and act ethically and truthfully to all people in all situations.
Anyone who rebelled against IHOP’s rules went through a strict disciplinarian process. At its most minimal level of discipline, for an intern, this meant the loss of having a day off and having to do manual labor. Everyone was kept on a short leash. We also had weekly groups as interns that we were required to participate in where everyone was“interrogated” and pressured to open up and share their personal struggles, etc and answer personal questions about their lives, struggles, thoughts, fears, and walks with G-d. It often felt like going to some kind of confession (as in Catholocism) and some interns out and out refused to be so vulnerable and disclosing in front of people they did not know. We were all given journals and told that we had mandatory writing assignments to complete. We were to record details of our IHOP prayer room times, things God spoke to us, dreams, visions, or whatever else that happened in us spiritually and then had to turn in our journals weekly to have an internship leader review/read them. In the last month or so I was at IHOP I paid particularly close attention to the fact that internship leaders ironically prayed things over me in prayer times or at the altar in the prayer room that related directly to things I had put in my journals. So what often might have seemed prophetic was the result of the information about me they already had access to.
3. A destructive cult has only two basic purposes: recruiting new members and fund-raising.Altruistic movements, established religions, and other honorable groups also recruit and raise funds. However, these actions are incidental to an honorable group’s main purpose of improving the lives of its members and of humankind in general. Destructive cults may claim to make social contributions, but in actuality such claims are superficial and only serve as gestures or fronts for recruiting and fund-raising. A cult’s real goal is to increase the prestige and often the wealth of the leader.
There were always an underlying pressure to bring people into IHOP. We were encouraged to invite others and get them to join what we were doing. IHOP campaigns big time to recruit new interns. At every conference, advertising and marketing videos are used to this day to promote the internships. They are played on large TV screens like presidential campaigns and are just part of the propaganda used to “sell” young people on this new version of what walking with God is supposed to look like.
Each intern paid $4,500 to attend a 6 month internship. This covered some books/teaching material we were given as well as food, lodging etc. Check this out though: Every intern lived in the Hernhutt apartments (located next door) which IHOP owned anyway so the only expense was utilities and general upkeep. There was no rent. Plus when there was a mandatory fasting day, weekend, week, etc. no meals were served. So those who didn’t choose to fast had to go out and buy food and no interns were not allowed to have jobs so this got to be a big expense since there wasn’t extra money to live on.
I lived in a 2-bedroom apartment. It housed 6 girls from the ages of 20-23. 4 of us shared one room and 2 shared another. The prayer room costs nothing to attend and is free and open to the public. So hmmm….$4,500 for meals, my electric bill and some IHOP books. I currently live in my own apartment, pay all of my own bills including rent, food, gasoline, renter’s insurance, credit card bills, student loans, electric, cell phone, etc etc and ALL of that costs me approximately $1,500 a month. So basic math says that someone was getting a big paycheck because my expenses would have never cost that in an internship program where we were given so little.
4. A destructive cult appears to be innovative and exclusive. The leader claims to be breaking with tradition, offering something novel, and instituting the ONLY viable system for change that will solve life’s problems or the world’s ills. But these claims are empty and only used to recruit members who are then surreptitiously subjected to mind control to inhibit their ability to examine the actual validity of the claims of the leader and the cult.
In the time I was there Mike often used “them and us” types of statements when referring to “the church” or those outside of IHOP. We were given a sense of being on the “cutting edge” because we were ahead of the church and were doing something new & innovative that was going to sweep the world. It all sounded good so everyone wanted to be in on it as a “forerunner” and liked the label of being on the front lines. So no one dared questioned it.
5. A destructive cult is authoritarian in its power structure. The leader is regarded as the supreme authority. He or she may delegate certain power to a few subordinates for the purpose of seeing that members adhere to the leader’s wishes. There is no appeal outside his or her system to a greater system of justice. For example, if a schoolteacher feels unjustly treated by a principal, an appeal can be made to the superintendent. In a destructive cult, the leader claims to have the only and final ruling on all matters.
Our family became friends with a Jewish couple who were in KC for a conference. They were part of an orthodox Jewish congregation in Israel and were missionaries in the US. They had some grave concerns and red flags (regarding IHOP’s theology, the model that is used with everything IHOP related, etc) that they attempted to meet with Mike and discuss. After being brushed off by Mike multiple times in his refusal to meet with him…even though they were Jewish leaders from Israel and Mike knew of them, he finally told these friends of ours that “This is how we do things here. This is just how IHOP is. It’s not for everyone.” If there was something you didn’t like or didn’t agree with, you were basically told “IHOP wasn’t for everyone so if you couldn’t handle it, maybe you shouldn’t be here.” There was no actual accountability for anything deemed wrong/un-Biblical. We were told that IHOP has its own “culture” and you must assimilate into that culture and language to really understand it. If you had a problem with something, you were told that you just had not been around long enough to understand how they did things OR that you just weren’t a good fit. These were the answers I was given when I met with internship leaders right before leaving. There was never actual admittance of wrong doing or hurting anyone who was caught in the crossfire.
6. A destructive cult’s leader is a self-appointed messianic person claiming to have a special mission in life. For example, leaders of flying saucer cults claim that beings from outer space have commissioned them to lead people away from Earth, so that only the leaders can save them from impending doom.
Every intern was required to listen to the 12 hours of IHOP’s recorded history on CD footage. Much of this content was heavily edited before its publication. These tapes told of “prophetic words” and signs that were given to some of Mike’s mentors (Bob Jones, Paul Cain, etc)—who were all naming him as the leader of the next “big thing” God was doing. Over and over and over again I’ve heard it said (both directly by Mike as well as from others) that he (Mike) would be the leader of a movement that “changed the nature and expression of Christianity in the earth”. Every time, all recognition points to Mike. His “mission” to transform the church and capture the hearts of America’s youth has been his declared goal since the early 1980’s. One of the major dangers is that these grandious sounding claims and “prophetic” words are laden with flattery, narcissism, elitism and are a perfect guise under which anything Mike introduces through IHOP can fall under the heading of being a “new thing” God is doing.
This elitist teaching puts Mike on a pedestal and he has a Messianic-like devoted following of people who would do anything if he told them to without a moment of questioning or hesitation. From my observations and experiences on staff, IHOP members do not think for themselves or question Mike’s interpretation of scripture or the slant in the way he teaches it. At any conference, one will easily observe that if Mike recommends a book or promotes a teaching, a t-shirt or a speaker, at the next break, ALL of that item will be sold out in their bookstore. When I was on staff, I heard people continually sing Mike’s praises around the clock and quote more of what Mike says or thinks or teaches than actual scripture.
Mike has an alluring charisma and many seem to be instantly drawn to his convincing appearance of direction and purpose. He teaches with passion and emotion rather than truth and it’s that charisma that draws and hooks people causing many to blindly follow (and defend) his message.
I believe that the IHOP lifestyle by and large sets people up for disillusionment through the false hope that its deception provides. It is a pseudo, manufactured reality where people are told “you can live in Nirvana and enjoy the ‘high’ of being in God’s presence 24/7 and that can be ALL that you live for” so people sell all that they have, buy into a dream and move across the country to be a part of a ministry that makes captivating claims…and then their world often crumble to ashes when things aren’t as they seem once they arrive.
Mike’s primary target and focus is on the young people. His appeals from the pulpit and his well-polished speeches aim at capturing the hearts of America’s youth. Children and youth are not told or encouraged to respect or honor the parents G-d gave them. Instead, wedges are driven between families and a seed of pride, rebellion and elitism gets planted into the hearts of youth when they are told things like the following…
This is a very close paraphrase of what I’ve heard many, many times at One Thing, IHOP conferences and in teachings by leaders:
“YOU are called to be on the cutting edge. Come here and join a community of other people who are like you, called to what you’re called to. We understand you. You’ve been mis-understood in the church. You’ve had your wings clipped, your gifts misunderstood. Here you can fulfill your forerunner calling that your family just hasn’t understood about you. You might feel like you don’t fit back home, you’re on the outside, no one understands the fire in you. Well we get it. Youare the leaders that G-d is raising up in these end times and you will be kings and queens on the earth—reigning with Him. You were made for this place. IHOP is an incubator for people like you.”
Narcissistic speeches like this instill a sense of pride, arrogance and elitism in the hearts of youth who hear it and it feeds their need for validation and identity. They run to IHOP, leave their families, join internships…hoping that what they’ve heard is true. They go to IHOP looking for identity…instead of finding it in Jesus.
Once outside of the IHOP environment, they are terrified and overwhelmed by the “real” world and don’t know how to function in it when they’ve been in an intensive internship environment. There is a degree of re-acclimating to normal life that feels like an IHOP detox afterward. It’s a severe emotional drop because the hyped up services and conferences that were your manna are now gone and when there is no prayer room, your life in God feels empty and lifeless. Many simply don’t know how to engage with God in a real day-to-day basis once they’ve left. I experienced this and heard the exact same thing from a handful of my friends after they left IHOP and the internship. At that point when disillusionment sets in, I know many interns that walked away from God completely upon leaving the internship and went back into lifestyles worse than the ones they left when they came to IHOP originally.
7. A destructive cult’s leader centers the veneration of members upon himself or herself.Priests, rabbis, ministers, democratic leaders, and other leaders of genuinely altruistic movements focus the veneration of adherents on God or a set of ethical principles. Cult leaders, in contrast, keep the focus of love, devotion, and allegiance on themselves.
I believe my statements above illustrate this so I won’t be redundant.
8. A destructive cult’s leader tends to be determined, domineering, and charismatic. Such a leader effectively persuades followers to abandon or alter their families, friends, and careers to follow the cult. The leader then takes control over followers’ possessions, money, time, and lives.
Youth are pumped up at conferences and then go home to tell their parents they are moving to Kansas City to join IHOP, be part of an internship, etc. At the time, sadly, they don’t realize how much more they are giving up and leaving behind than just their families. I was hurled into a system that took control of my time, when I ate, slept, had time alone, etc. Picking up the pieces of my heart and rebuilding a Biblical view of God after getting outside of IHOP was quite a long process. I hope that by sharing all of this, I am able to spare others the heartache of what I went through.
You may or may not have been in a cult-like environment but here are some potential signs to watch for in safe/unsafe group leaders.
“I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be as wise and cunning as snakes but innocent as doves.” –Matthew 10:16
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Research by Rick Ross,Expert Consultant and Intervention Specialist
Ten warning signs of a potentially unsafe group/leader.
1. Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability.
2. No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry.
3. No meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget, expenses such as an independently audited financial statement.
4. Unreasonable fear about the outside world, such as impending catastrophe, evil conspiracies and persecutions.
5. There is no legitimate reason to leave, former followers are always wrong in leaving, negative or even evil.
6. Former members often relate the same stories of abuse and reflect a similar pattern of grievances.
7. There are records, books, news articles, or television programs that document the abuses of the group/leader.
8. Followers feel they can never be “good enough”.
9. The group/leader is always right.10. The group/leader is the exclusive means of knowing “truth” or receiving validation, no other process of discovery is really acceptable or credible.
Ten warning signs regarding people involved in/with a potentially unsafe group/leader.
1. Extreme obsessiveness regarding the group/leader resulting in the exclusion of almost every practical consideration.
2. Individual identity, the group, the leader and/or God as distinct and separate categories of existence become increasingly blurred. Instead, in the follower’s mind these identities become substantially and increasingly fused–as that person’s involvement with the group/leader continues and deepens.
3. Whenever the group/leader is criticized or questioned it is characterized as “persecution”.
4. Uncharacteristically stilted and seemingly programmed conversation and mannerisms, cloning of the group/leader in personal behavior.
5. Dependency upon the group/leader for problem solving, solutions, and definitions without meaningful reflective thought. A seeming inability to think independently or analyze situations without group/leader involvement.
6. Hyperactivity centered on the group/leader agenda, which seems to supercede any personal goals or individual interests.
7. A dramatic loss of spontaneity and sense of humor.
8. Increasing isolation from family and old friends unless they demonstrate an interest in the group/leader.
9. Anything the group/leader does can be justified no matter how harsh or harmful.
10. Former followers are at best-considered negative or worse evil and under bad influences. They can not be trusted and personal contact is avoided.
Please don’t just take my word for it. Start doing your own research. Ask the Father to lead you as you pursue what is TRUTH. Don’t just stop at the facts–look deeper. Do Google searches on cults and ask the Lord to unveil deceptions.
Blessings to you on your journey of walking with Him.
Related articles
- What Mike Bickle IHOP Believes (raymondjclements.wordpress.com)
- What’s the Difference Between a Religion and a Cult? (mindi.authormeanders.com)
- Manifesting: Which spirit? (standupforthetruth.com
- What about IHOP? (standupforthetruth.com)
- What About IHOP? (Part II) (standupforthetruth.com)
- Mike Bickle of IHOP-KC instructs followers on contemplative prayer(sheepyweepy.wordpress.com)
- International House of Prayer leaders infested with contemplative prayer(christianresearchnetwork.com)
- What is the Latter Rain movement? (standupforthetruth.com)
Do the folks at IHOP go out and preach the gospel to the lost?
HI, I am very fascinated by thios article, and can honestly somewhat relate to her thoughts from attending confrences and summer camps throughout hihg school at IHOP. to answer your question, from what Ive experienced, there is hardly, if any evangelism. At one of the Awakening Teen Camps I attended, there was a group that you could join as an elective for preaching, and going on evangelistic excursions, however, we never once went out and put this to use. If these people are so “pumped up on God”, wouldnt they want to share it?
The last list of ” Ten Warning Signs Regarding People Involved In/with A Potentially Unsafe Group/Leader” strongly reflects one of a church right here in the Valley. The congregants that are blinded see this leader as their all in all and his authority can’t be challenged by anyone. He is essentially accountable to no one because he can never be removed from his position. People who question his authority are labeled as rebels! If you recognize this in your church … RUN!!! God be with you!
Really appreciated this insight about IHOP. Acquaintances of our joined the group and gradually disassociated themselves from the “normal” church life altogether, and ending up living off the financial help of family and friends. Little or no ethical accountability. I experienced a related spiritual issue some years ago about the “Absalom” spirit that seems akin to the issue you raised here Amy.
See http://www.issacharministry.org.au/teachings/identifying-the-absalom-spirit/
I am new as a subscriber to “Stand up for Truth” and am greatly enriched by the insights. Blessings and grace in Jesus.
Peter McArthur, Australia
Thanks for this info. It is very concerning
So she prayed to the Lord that she was suppose to Go….and He told her to Go…..and she prayed to the Lord that it was cult…so it was a cult? Slight contriction. I know of numerous people that have been there or are there now. I’ve never heard of a moving fee. Ever. Out of the thousands of people that see the ministry as a blessing around the world, there’s always the few that didnt get what they want out of the ministry and now they want to destroy it. She shouldn’t have been trying to go there trying to seek “utopia” or have the “greatest spiritual adventure”. Utopia doesn’t exist on earth. That’s an unbiblical mindset to begin with. This was a personal dissatisfaction. She should have been trying to find all of this in GOD! Not in man and not in a ministry! Of course it would destroy her, she had Mike Bickle & IHOP as an IDOL in her life! Pay attention to what she is saying people! This would be Mike Bickles response …… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oR33LYFeUM&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Hi Kay, we’ve played this before too on our Facebook page. Thanks for sharing it here! It is always good to go to the source as we try to do.
Unfortunately there are a lot more concerns about IHOP than just this story. I encourage you to click on the links of related stories in this post, and invite you to share your thoughts with me about the research that others have done to lay out the many different concerns about this ministry and its roots.
Amy i’m glad you are creating some sort of balance by sharing both sides….and I would hope you are sharing other stories of people speaking of the ministries benefits instead of creating some sort of propoganda. I’m not trying to sound harsh, but I believe if we would spend as much time sharing the Truth of the Gospel instead of trying to Cause division in “uncertainty and speculation” more people would be able to discern truth! Our job is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If this is what you do, I would urge you to go visit Kansas City for a few days and create your thoughts behind that..because form blogs behind hurt people isn’t beneficial at all. You can go to “any” ministry and find people that were hurt by the church because they didn’t get what they want or think it was what it should have been . That is so obvious in this and again, they should have never ever had mike buckle and IHOP as an IDOL in their life in the first place. That’s obvious in this. They went into this thing exalting this ministry before Jesus. You will always be set up for failure if that’s the case.
I completely agree with you comment Kay.
I have been to many churches and they had cult type signs, but it was the members looking to the pastor or leader and then letting themselves be condemned or intimidated not by the congregation or the pastor but by the enemy which is Satan. He accuses us day and night. He puts thought in our kinds which we must cast down as the Bible instructs. Maybe anyone who has a bad experience at IHOP needs to get on their knees and see where the problem is coming from. Satan does not want Christians to grow or mature as they have a larger impact on the world around them. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers in the heavenlies.
Blessings RaymondTheBrave
Kay, you are right in this. If you read Ariel’s testimony carefully, the worst of IHOP’s problems were mainly negative interpretations of otherwise pretty benign situations. For example, Ariel complains alot about the $4500 charge for SIX MONTHS of a program that included room & board! Yet, she tried to make that seem excessive. That should be an indicator of how out of touch she is to the expenses of running a ministry which MUST not only pay its bills but have some funds left over for expansion.
The intensive time commitment was another example. It’s great that the program was packed with activities and expectations. What was she there for – a vacation? It tells me that IHOP was very serious about wanting to make the time as valuable as possible for training and ministry.
Most of what she wrote negative interpretation and innuendo. And it is completely out of character with what thousands of others say about IHOP. IHOP has a GREAT reputation among Christian leaders across the nation and all of Mike Bickle’s teachings are online for anyone to evaluate. They have done and are continuing to do great work for the Kingdom.
It sounds like Ariel herself was expecting heaven on earth and she was dissolutioned when she discovered that the leaders of IHOP have their treasure in vessels of clay. (II Cor. 4:7) Welcome to exactly what scripture says about all of us! No program is perfect, no leader is perfect but IHOP has done an incredible job discipling people and there are thousands who will directly contradict what Ariel has written about IHOP.
I know alot about false ministries – the Copeland’s, the Hagin’s, the HInn’s, etc. I graduated from Oral Roberts University, for goodness sake! But I’ve also seen a lot of genuine ministries that are making a major impact for Christ and every single one of them have attackers who take everything out of context and seek to exaggerate every shortcoming. Ariel’s testimony about IHOP reads like one of those.
paying attention to what you are saying, sounds like you have been brainwashed.
Here’s the problem with IHOP supporter’s premise… that IHOP is full of CHRISTIANS and are following the One True God and Jesus Christ whom he sent!!! But they aren’t…they are basically deceived, narcissistic personalities following a narcissistic leader and are subdued with some spirit, but it isn’t the Spirit of God!!! It isn’t about division, it’s about TRUTH!!! And I love the folks who can’t “explain” why it isn’t a cult; that you just have to go there and “experience” it…and get sucked into the emotional whirlwind and have your brain washed with the hypnotically orchestrated 24/7 prayer room. There are powers and principalities at work…AT IHOP, not TO IHOP!!!
Oh goodness, not one of her examples is anything like a real cult. Real cults…aren’t something you just walk away from anytime you don’t like it. Real authoritarianism in cult fashion doesn’t give you a few chores to do on your day off if you break the rules, they drastic horrible stuff. There is evangelism and out reach all over the city because of IHOP, and all over the world! yes it’s extreme, but if they were a cult do,you think they would openly announce to the world that they know they are extreme? Mike is a great teacher but he shares the teaching with others, name ONE just one cult in the world where the cult leader is NOT THE CEO one cult that shares the teaching? Mike is not the CEO of IHOP. There are also houses of prayer all around the world that he has no influence on or control over and he rejoices in their success. Calling it a cult is a ridiculous stretch! There are over a thousand staff at IHOP and you want mike to stop what he is doing to hear some guy complain? Try and get your Jewish friend an appointment with Donald Trump! I’m sorry that this family did not want the sermon on the mount lifestyle. The thing is some people don’t want to be told that Christianity is not a do whatever you feel like adventure. Don’t move to KC to get your needs met but go,there to help and serve and you will be less disappointed. It is about obeying the one who has the right to tell us what to do, Jesus. Of course there will be many who walk away sad as the rich young ruler did when Jesus challenged him at something difficult. Jesus will challenge us to the core. Jesus said dont put your hand to the plow and turn back. If others are reading this, join me in prayer for this family and others.
Wendy -thanks for your points. Very well made. If IHOP is a cult then we are in big trouble because the night and day prayer model is biblical and sprouting up all over the world at a rapid rate. IHOP is interested in ‘One Thing’ -exalting Jesus and drawing all men to Jesus. They are extremely radical and focused and look so different to the majority that it probably does look odd to onlookers. Legalistic and controlling have been used to describe IHOP and how it (they) operate.
I have been there and totally disagree -they are nothing like a cult. They are strong in what they believe and will not budge – Jesus first place!
Hey guys I understand your concerns, and appreciate you being watchful for people that are deceptive, but I’ve been to IHOP and been in IHOPU personally I know some of the things they do/teach can be confusing, but it usually can be explained, their doctrine is very sound and Biblical.
Can I encourage you to go to their website for information instead of taking opinions and potentially spreading gossip? It’s always best to go to the source.
Here’s their statement of faith.
http://www.ihopkc.org/about/statement-of-faith/
Their statement of faith doesn’t mean anything. In fact, they do not believe in a penal substitutionary atonement and 99% of leadership there doesn’t even understand what penal substitution is. They actually use John Stott’s book in their excellence of Christ class. The book is extremely biblical but they deny its content and it is manifested in the preaching and proclamation of the gospel. Sure they post their statement of faith and it is orthodox, but ask them a few questions and scratch below the surface and you will find a totally different story. They stand fundamentally opposed to the doctrine of the Moravians, John Huss and many of the other great reformers of church history. They are great at fancy rhetoric and hip catch phrases that make people believe they are passionate and focused on Jesus but when you see through the rhetoric you discover that Christ is missing.
IHOP is a cult. I came out of it, it was terrifying, it drove me insane for a while and almost killed me. What is going on there, is no joke. I’m not kidding, lying, or crazy. Stay the hell away from IHOP.
Although the writer documents some excesses in IHOP’s ministry, her case for IHOP being a cult based on the eight criteria she laid out is unconvincing at best. I’m not involved in IHOP, not particularly a fan of them, but I am a committed Christian who has been around the block a few times and can offer a critique of her claims from a relatively unbiased standpoint. I answer her claims in the order she listed them.
1) The “internship” program involves a sizable number of energetic young men and women away from familiar settings. From my experience with university teaching (and work with teenagers), I would hope that there’s a lot of structure and not a lot of free time, especially in a program designed to quickly get people from a variety of backgrounds to focus on the Lord. Of course there are expectations of behavior – to get accepted for a spot there, she presumably had to demonstrate that she was serious about God. The program is intended to be an immersion, and that’s what she got. Her documentation of ‘totalitarian control’ of people falls way short of what actual cults practice.
2) She presents no evidence of a double standard, nullifying this claim.
3) the ‘recruitment’ of new members is intrinsic to evangelical Christianity, and is not unique to IHOP. Also, her claim that the internship’s 6-month’s $4500 cost was excessive is not supported by the facts she presented – she got room and board as well as teaching materials at a cost of $750/month. Not bad, I’d say. The apartments, while owned by IHOP, aren’t free – presumably they have a mortgage, taxes, and maintenance to pay for. (Of course, the thought that an internship nowadays is not only non-salaried but is something you’d actually pay for is another story – they should call it something else)
4) The ‘superiority’ mentality is, again, commonplace among many groups of people. It only becomes problematic when used to induce or reinforce paranoia (e.g., “they’re persecuting us (or “the devil is battling us”) because we have the truth”) and to manipulate people into not leaving. I’ve seen situations where this has happened, but her evidence for it at IHOP is thin.
5) Her story of the alleged brushoff of the Jewish visitors as an example of “authoritarian power structure” is unconvincing. Another person commented on this already. It’s not clear what she was looking for with regard to evidence of accountability or acknowledgment of wrongdoing; does she know if they’re accountable to an oversight board or not?
6) The elitism charge, to me, rings true. This is common in this kind of ministry, though, and again doesn’t necessarily indicate IHOP is a cult. Also, recruitment of young people is a logical strategy if the organization is thinking long-term: young people have relatively few attachments or responsibilities, and are at a formative time with regard to their career and lifestyle choices. But these are young adults, not teenagers, and presumably they are responsible for making informed choices. No evidence of ‘mind control’ or other undue pressure to adhere to IHOP’s agenda is presented. I do agree that some sort of ‘re-acclimation’ should be emphasized by IHOP toward the end of the 6-month program.
7) Repeat of #6
8) No new information is presented. Again, if IHOP is a cult, the writer falls way short of demonstrating it. Her pain is real, and she has my sympathy and prayers, but the charge of “cult” is a serious one that demands serious evidence.
This entire missive is silly. Almost every point is a twisting of reality, and is clearly written by demonic forces, substituting this “Ariel” person as a drone. Does anyone know who “Ariel” is? Every criticism is easily refuted…as if a really immature person cannot handle real life. I have a son who is on staff at a HOP in a different state, and I have been to IHOP and have friends at IHOP. Mike Bickle has given teachings on what a cult is and expounded on it’s definition in various teachings and settings. It seems that this “Ariel” person wants reasons to be offended, and is merely making things up and adding massive sophistry for effect. The internship “divides families”? Reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllly???? My son’s time on staff at a HOP has actually brought us closer. He is much more mature in the things of God and his character is amazing. I could brag on him all day long. I have heard Cory Russell say with my own two ears that they train people NOT TO BE DEPENDANT. They raise up leaders to HEAR GOD FOR THEMSELVES. I’ve even heard Corey say that he makes people go pray before he just automatically counsels people. So what “dependance on leaders” is this Ariel person talking about? Seriously. What kind of person deliberately twists what IHOP does, and how they operate? This “Ariel” person, is clearly a demonic plant just making things up, or doesn’t understand what IHOP is all about. The “paranoia if you leave” is just an outright lie. Mike Bickle couldn’t care less if you want to leave. It’s between the individual and the Spirit. In terms of “the outside world” being scary. Good grief. Has this person read their bible? The world is getting darker. Sorry if that hurts your feelings “Ariel”, but the bible is the bible and Mike Bickle didn’t write it. The structure of IHOP and the accountability may seem overbearing to someone who is used to living on their own, or to someone who has lived a hedonistic lifestyle. Matter of fact, at the HOP my son is on staff at, they had people coming out of drug addiction in his internship. *THAT’S WHY* the activies are so highly structured; different people from different backgrounds and lifestyle choices have to be given boundaries. For many young adults, spending hours on Facebook and generally wasting time is seen as normal (this describes my son’s life before he did his internship). Providing structure gives them more of a sense of how to steward their time properly. It is not unusual for my son to be at home and spend hours in the Word and prayer, without any prompting from me. What God-fearing parent DOES NOT want their for their child? Can someone tell me? My son was busy but never felt over-burdened with the structure and boundaries during his internship. As time goes on, more freedom is given
It seems to me that this is a ridiculous website planted by the enemy. Those who lap it up are being duped. Every point is an outright lie. I know what I’m talking about. You could probably criticize anyone or any Church group because we are all flawed human beings, attempting to serve Jesus as best we can. But to literally make things up or have perceived grievances, then to anonymously post such easily-refuted charges, is a demonic plot. Matter of fact, the “points” are so ridiculous, it shows to me just how demonic this really is.
Here is a great teaching by Mike Bickle concerning cults:
How to Recognize Cults: 7 Characteristics
http://mikebickle.org/resources/resource/3427
I have been involved with IHOP since it was in a double wide trailer and now live close to the IHOP Atlanta. I can completely understand some of their structured rules as they are mainly dealing with young adults. However, I would state clearly that IHOP is not an enviroment for free thinking. The reason for this is because their theological beliefs are structured in such a way that is a house of cards. One card falls and whole system is destroyed. They are very careful at preserving their theology and do so through social manipulation because they cannot through solid exegesis of the scriptures. Their end time message is systemically weaven through all their theology and is absolutely necessary due to their prophetic history. This prophetic history has a foundation laid by false prophets, who have had multiple & serious demonstrations of unrighteousness. Not to mention repeated false and carnal prophecies that are not congruent with the nature and work of Christ. I was 20 when I began in this movement and only a Christian for 3-6 months. During this time frame I was tossed to & fro by all their intriguing and dynamic teachings. Luckily through their excellencies of Christ class I was introduced to the puritan writter John Owen. Through his excellent writtings on Christ God called me out of the movement all together. I now realize how little of Christ was preached and how the leadership had no grasp on church history or solid doctrine. I am thankful that I am no longer being tossed to fro by every wind of doctrine but have come to understand that Christ is sufficient and in that true Christian growth comes.
Wow, where shall I start? Never heard of someone complaining about an organization “forcing” you to pray, fast, journal, and otherwise learn to get closer to God before. Doesn’t look like anything took though. She was looking for a good time, to hang out with a new set of friends, receive free labor when moving into her home in KS (most people are unbelievers by the way, and yet most are nice people), and whatever other delusions that her and her family talked themselves into. And $4500 for 6 months is more than a fair deal — take it from me, I live in New York.
This entire story just make her sound like she isn’t even born agan (what’s with the “G-d” references — God has give us a spirit to be able to refer to him as Abba Father, not some far-off, pseudo reverential, pre-revelation show of knowing who He is). I’m definitely NOT convinced that IHOP is a cult. Perhaps some of their methods need to be communicated clearer so that youth who don’t know God or that are perhaps not even saved can more readily understand whether they have the mettle for an intense training in learning to hear from God. Furthermore, her comments about former interns facing culture shock at not having a prayer room to go to….what?! Quite obviously she doesn’t “get it.” YOU ARE THE PRAYER ROOM….you should be able to pray in a closet at home and still find your way into The Secret Place.
I hope someone from IHOP reads her story. They need to vet out their candidates a bit more thoroughly, by the Spirit, not just based on whether someone can convince you that they know who God is.
I have read the story of the gal we’re giving feedback on and it’s very inspirational at high quality !!! I know what a “CULT” is and an “OCCULT”. I was force fed Mormanism, given harsh prophecies of hell, growing up by members of family who were Nazarene…totally against Catholicism, and were even seemingly racially hindered due to false teachings and beliefs fed to them themselves !!! So,my extreme was turned into Arianism, the brain washing power of Nazism,national socialism and even the “Deeper secrets” of Satan’s hatred for all man kind and his own Father, among witch craft/ “wica” and sorcery, shamanism, spiritists. (Not by them, but was a catalyst unto it !!!). I’ve read stuff such as the Koran, Qumran,the Lost books of the bible, such as Enoch and The Infancy, The book of Thomas and Mary Magdaline…among others’. When I went to prison, my studies took me through all the so called “Religions” and beliefs. I went through the A.A / N. A style of “Higher Power”. Yet,I done it with the mind,heart and all attitude that Christ was going to lead me into truth cause “Man errors”. My main focus was “God in Christ and Christ in me to become as He is and One with and in THEM !!! ( John 17: 21-23) and ( Eph 2: 19-22). and the two scriptures that read : ; “And they will no more teach each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for they will all know Me [ recognize,understand,and be acquainted with Me], from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord…… ( Jer 31: 34) and ” But as for you, the anointing, the appointment, the unction) which you received from Him abides [permanently] in you; [so] then you no longer have no need that anyone should instruct you. But just as His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is true and is no falsehood, so you must abide in (live in, never depart from) Him [ being rooted in Him, knit to Him], just as [His anointing] has taught you [to do]. ( 1 Jnohn 2; 27). “You can do nothing apart from Me ” SO many other proofs !!!
Anything can be used by GOD to call you to Himself. It’s “The calling” that hands you 1st the gift of faith, and then it’s Wisdom given for the production of discernment with the absolute trust in Christ / God, alone, and from there on in / out !!! Some one or something has been used to call you and it’s up to you to “Heed” that calling for yourself FIRST, and then can you be used as a tool for God / Christ to harvest the field. Think on Paul. All true followers of Christ are and were persecuted… if you think that you won’t be then you have been suckered !!!!
My reflections upon this Mike character is the same as I was given about the “House of God” to be ” a house of prayer”… Jesus Himself had thrown people out of the temple due the false ways and teachings they were in. Paul, Peter, etc… were first sent to be teachers and then went on to other places to teach again even still, adding upon as many who were called and sending them out. In Acts the ways of the church’s dealings were written about and where was that bad then to be bad now ? Giving the church their possesions and selling them to be One and even Peter told them it was still theirs !!! Jesus said that “Seek The Kingdom first and ALL things will be yours cause it’s all MINE to give !!!!”, ” What is My Fathers is Mine !!!
Jesus sent people you didn’t consider to be Disciples cause they weren’t the 12, yet one betrayed Him even. Jesus was, and is THE LEADER / Head Cornerstone. He was called a cultist by that generations standards of beliefs and He said; ” Beware to not blaspheme against the Holy Spirit” by calling a man or congregation evil in its works when the works are of and by God and not of and by mere men !!! Calling Peter Satan right after He Told Him he was blessed cause mere man hadn’t revealed Jesus as the Christ !!! He said ” those who hear my voice know Me and will hear your words as well… if you are truly Mine. If not, kick the dust off your feet and move on to the next city” !!! ” Those who aren’t against us are for us, so don’t hinder them “..( when the disciples said they saw some guy teaching the gospel but not of their group…) He told His group; “I will manifest Myself to you”, and “This is for you to know and not the world”, He spoke only in parables to separate the “sheep from the goats”, and even said ” I came to cause division; you from your families cause if even they are more than Me, you aren’t worthy of Me !!! “. ” Let the dead ( In sin) bury the dead !! “( Put it together people ! ).
My other point, in this attack upon a fella I’ve NEVER even met, is If he thinks he’s Christ incarnated and not just a tool, then he is a false prophet, and a true anti Christ. But If he knows his role, and is a servant, then his reward and glory are already bestowed. ” A disciple is not above his teacher, nor is a servant or slave above his Master…& on into the next 4 vs.
I agree with the statement that this fella became an idol to this young woman and that a utopia / uphoria expected was the fall. It reminds me of My reasons for drugs and the people that I hung around,…the Elijah times and the false idols and the fact that he mocked them for their expectations in a false god to appear and would not, even through the cutting and wailing !!! HA HA HA HA !!!!! And what about the angel who came and said; ” See that you don’t do it ( worship me).. ” for He was only a messenger…? You can find fault in anything and anyone if that’s what you want to do !!! But wrong IS wrong and right IS right !!! You choose….
Why does any one go to church or seek fellowship ? To get close to those who are “The washers’ of the feet ,by the example of Christ, a support, worshiping GOD / CHRIST, by actions, based upon faith that it’s grace and mercy, through the blood that saved / saves, and not to worship by rite, ritual or ceremony but in spirit and in TRUTH and by prayer !!!
My teen and early 20 years were lived in those apartments. I used to drink and raise HELL in the bar that used to be right there. I washed my clothes in the laundromat, groceried at the Thrift way and shopped at the dollar store. I have been saved and I know the truth !!!
I think I can stop her cause you know I can go on and on……
If I seem to have left my thoughts unfinishe…you can guess…
Actually I do have to say one more thing….When I got free from prison I was ALONE !!! I didn’t have any body in this world to lean on as support cause they ALL thought I was false and Should go to school to learn the Truth !!!( Paul didn’t,…Jesus DIDN’T !!!!)…I gave up on any one and any place as a supporting need cause they just weren’t there !!! I realized that CHRIST was then, when learning and still is, my only TRUE reliance,…for “There will come a time when they will kill you thinking they do God a service…” the name Christian isn’t any different than Gentleman when they clearly are not either one in character or under title of religion !!! We need to have rules and regulations in the setting of the church guided by and relying upon the ways and character of Christ, as even written about and shown throughout the new testament. I was called to do such a thing as Mike and his buddies started and are doing,but my fear of persecution from those who claimed the name were worse than those I wanted to be separated from to begin with. Now I’m not scared of either one of them !!! Discipline and structure is the first wise act upon the gift of any knowledge given to be used by and for others’ well being. Cause for real ….The only thing you take with you from this life on into the next is your knowledge but more importantly the attitude and character you learned it all in !!!
My children have begged to go to IHOP because some of their friends went and said that God is really moving down there. So as a parent (it takes a parent to rasie a child, not a village….I ascribe to this Biblical mandate), I researched IHOP and spoke with people who have attended this religious system. After researching, praying, and searching the Scriptures, it was easy to share with my children what I have learned.
If a prophet prophesies and it does not come to pass, then he is a false prophet. Thankfully, by God’s mercy and grace, we do not stone false prophets any longer under the New Covenant, Jesus Christ. IHOP if full to overflowing with false prophets, false prophecies, and many of the people associated with IHOP are themselved false prophets seeking extra Biblical revelatory knowledge. In my local area, those who have attended IHOP seek experiences not found in our Holy Scriptures; one woman boasted of an experience called “birthing” where she was slain in a spirit and fell onto the floor and had “birthing pains’ and “went through all of the motions as if she were really giving birth to a baby.” Another woman claimed to have had “visions of Jesus” while singing during worship. So I asked her if she had those visions while they were singing the same phrase or word over and over for an extended period of time, and her response was “Yes.” I had already done the research on hypnosis and how this new repetitive so called worship music preys on the mind and the power of suggestion….it is not of God. I asked another woman, does the preaching at IHOP continuously speak of an “end times army?” She replied, “Yes,” so then I asked her what that meant to see if she clearly understood its implications. She responded by saying that God is doing a new thing building up his army to take over the earth for his kingdom here on earth. So she did understand their teachings and by God’s mercy and grace, I was able to help her to understand this is false theology, inciting man does not build the kingdom of God here on earth, this is dominionism, but instead our citizenship is in heaven and only God has built His kingdom of which Jesus Christ is the Head. To even remotely imply that man has the authority and ability to build God’s kingdom puts man in the seat of God instead of Jesus Christ.
There are many excellent discernment ministries on the internet that are warning and helping parents like me to make an informed decision. I Praise our Lord for these people who are doing the research and comparing everything with the Word of God.
One of the character traits from these people who attend IHOP is elitism. And when you question IHOP, its theology, and their practices, these church people become angry and they will hate you with their hearts and slander you with their tongues because they believe they know God more intimately than you do. To which I respond, these are cultic signs and I do not want my children, nor my friends involved with a movement that lacks sound doctine.
Marie, your comment is very valuable because one of our very good friend couple strongly recommend us to send our daughter to the IHOP summer camp this year. From reading those blogs that support IHOP here, I only feel hostile, negative reactions not rational, caring attitude that Christ followers should have. But Marie’s detailed summary pointed a lot of concerns about IHOP that have been shared in many Christians and they are very reasonable. I will not send my daughter to the camp if these concerns are true.
Greeings Keith,
It everything, test the spirits as we are commanded to do via Scriptures. You, as a parent, can go to IHOP’S website and read through the information presented. Then research the resources they recommend on their site, and you will discover that many their authors resonate with the new age moverment as well as gnosticism, mysticism, and contemplative practices
A red flag for me was this; when I dared to question the teachings and belief system of IHOP with my brothers and sisters in Christ, I received a backlash of hostility that you mentioned in your entry. Their veneer of love turned to hatred and gossip, backbiting and the slandering of my name because I dared to question this movement.
Keith, I want to encourage you in your faith in Jesus Christ; Him alone. Instead of spending volumes of mammon (money printed with masonic freemasonry occult symbols), why not have a Bible study in your home with your children, with you leading your family in reading the Scriptures, asking God, the Holy Spirit, to reveal His truth to you. This kind of Bible Study, devotions and prayer has brought our family closer together in our home and I have witnessed the softening of my children’s heart towards us as parents and towards one another. Most importantly, this form of worshipping together has encouraged their faith in Jesus Christ, preparing their souls for eternity.
You are a good Dad, Mr. Keith.
And may I add another point of concern to you, Keith. My husband and I have paid for our children to attend “Christian” conferences with their friends, which has been quite costly. I, too, have attended Christian conferences for a price…..and now, I must admit to you, that I grieve in my spirit because Jesus never meant for man to charge mammon to hear His glorious Word. In our culture, we have made a mockery of the Gospel of Jesus Christ of which we NEED to repent, for when we read our glorious Holy Scriptures, nowhere in the Bible have I ever read where Jesus, or His Apostles, charged a fee at the gate to hear the Word of God……..the Gospel was free, is free, and always will be free.
The the true born again believers gave from their hearts as the Holy Spirit prompted them, giving to the distribution of taking care of those in need.
Praise and worship from the Bible in your home will prepare your souls for eternity in the presence of Jesus Christ far more than spending money to send your children to “Christian” conferences. I cannot stress this enough, because of the errors that we have made as parents….and that is this…..before you send your children anywhere, it is of great importance to research what doctrines those in authority teach and preach. It may surprise you that much of it is “doctrines of demons” as the Word proclaims.
I agree with Kay. You say after praying about, you’ve decided it’s the right time to go. Then you pray about it, and it’s a cult? It makes no sense. I have been there, and it has changed my life. I fell madly in love with the Father. After leaving IHOP, you just cannot expect the world to be such a surprise. It’a up to you to get engaged with Abba daily and have your devotions. Or did you expect someone to guide your relationship with Him? Also, you claimed to get all your “manna” from the hyped conferences and services, along with the prayer room. You were being dependant on those services and conferences to get your satisfaction, and not on the Father. You can have your prayer time in your very own room. So I get that you’re saying you only had your devotion time in the prayer room and only remembered God in conferences and services and any other time they did not service or a conference you forgot Him. You should learn to engage with the Father on your own time also, instead of always waiting on just those services.
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I am glad you are no longer involved with ihop. I have been and loved it. I don’t know where u were but it wasn’t ihop. I hope The Lord blesses u and helps u to be free from bitterness, u really have that spirit on u. I will pray for you that u will be delivered from bitterness.
Ok. I read the whole article now. I am scared now. I know some people there and now I’m afraid they are in a cult. Good article. Well written. May God have mercy on us.