International House of Prayer-Kansas City founder Mike Bickle committed sexual abuse or misconduct against 17 women — including minors — over decades, amid a thriving culture of systematic abuse and coverups, a third-party investigation has found.
“Throughout the investigation, we have identified and interviewed seventeen (17) Survivors who were either sexually abused or experienced sexually abusive misconduct, including sexual abuse, rape, clergy abuse, and spiritual abuse, perpetrated by Bickle beginning to our knowledge in the mid-1970s,” said the scathing report by Firefly Independent Sexual Abuse Investigations.
The report said Bickle was entrusted with caring for his followers’ spiritual well-being as a pastor and leader. “However, he betrayed this trust by misusing his position of authority to engage in sexual misconduct with multiple victims,” it said. “His actions not only violated the sanctity of his role but also caused profound harm to those he was meant to guide and protect.”
The investigation, an executive summary of which was released Monday night, also found that some members of IHOPKC’s Executive Leadership Team “were more focused on suppressing and minimizing reports of sexual abuse, misconduct, and rape rather than supporting the victims or staff who reported these incidents.”
Neither Bickle nor current IHOPKC leadership responded to The Star’s requests for comment.
The report said that “we have made multiple attempts to contact Bickle and have been unable to elicit any response from him.” Former members of IHOPKC’s leadership team and current board members also did not respond, it said.
The 68-page report names the woman identified as Jane Doe, whose allegations about Bickle were made public in October 2023, causing upheaval in the 24/7 global prayer movement and inspiring other women to come forward.
Deborah Perkins said that Bickle used prophecies to groom, sexually abuse and manipulate her from 1996 to 1999, starting when she was 19 and he was 42. She said Bickle told her repeatedly that God had spoken to him, saying his wife, Diane, was going to die and that they would then be married.
Two other women, Tammy Woods and Terry Hartley, later came forward and said Bickle used a nearly identical prophecy in grooming them.
Bickle, 69, issued his only public statement about the allegations on Dec. 12, 2023, admitting that he had “sinned” and “my moral failures were real.” But he was vague on details. In a lengthy note posted on X, Bickle said his “inappropriate behavior” occurred more than 20 years earlier, but he did not admit to engaging in any sexual misconduct.
Eleven days later, IHOPKC announced it was “immediately, formally and permanently” separating from Bickle.
Woods, who alleged last year that Bickle sexually abused her starting in the 1980s when she was 14, said she had mixed feelings about the report.
“Gratitude and disappointment ebb and flow in the wake of this report,” she said. “I’m grateful for every person who courageously came forward with their stories, both as victims and advocates. I’m grateful for the man-hours and financial investment from so many who cared.
“That said, I’m left wanting so much more in this investigation. The recommendations for safety to a board that refused cooperation with the investigation and even attempted to discredit it before it was released ring hollow at best.”
Major findings of the investigation
Firefly, a Pennsylvania company with law enforcement expertise, said 210 people were interviewed during its 4 1⁄2-month investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct at IHOPKC and cover-up by its leaders. Every survivor and witness included in the report came forward voluntarily to share their stories, it said.
In addition to the allegations against Bickle, the report said the investigation turned up 16 cases of sexual abuse and misconduct perpetrated by people associated with IHOPKC but not directly related to Bickle. “These findings highlight a broader issue within the organization that requires immediate attention and action,” it said. Among the investigation’s findings:
Bickle used prophetic language to speak to victims, isolated them from others, bought them gifts, visited them in church-supplied apartments where they lived, frequently touched and kissed them and created circumstances in which they would see him undressed and aroused.
Abuse was allowed to persist unchecked, often with perpetrators being protected rather than held accountable.
Many victims were subjected to “Matthew 18” meetings, a reference to a conflict resolution procedure laid out in the Gospel of Matthew. In those meetings, the victims “were pressured into face-to-face confrontations with their accusers to determine who was lying.”
“These meetings not only compounded the emotional distress of the victims but also undermined the integrity of the investigation process,” the report said. “Many victims felt intimidated and coerced, which led to further trauma and a sense of injustice. As a result, the credibility of the testimonies collected during these meetings was compromised.”
Bickle committed spiritual, emotional and sexual abuse starting as early as the 1970s, grooming and developing inappropriate relationships with women “while using ‘Matthew 18 Meetings’ to conceal, minimize, and silence victims of sexual abuse within the church.”
Bickle and IHOPKC’s Executive Leadership Team downplayed reports of sexual abuse, forced victims to confront their offenders and discouraged them from going to law enforcement authorities. “Their actions, or lack thereof, contributed to an environment where victims felt unsupported and vulnerable,” the report said. “ … This indifference not only exacerbated the trauma experienced by the victims but also allowed the perpetrators to evade accountability and continue their misconduct.”
Instead of being supported, staff members who reported sexual abuse of others to their supervisors often faced retaliation, such as being transferred to other positions or having their work hours reduced. Firefly said it reviewed more than 6,000 documents directly related to the case, and a Firefly representative visited IHOPKC to observe worship and praise activities.
“Given recent concerns, it is crucial to understand the proactive measures the board is taking to ensure the safety and well-being of church members,” the report said. “Despite multiple attempts to contact the current board of directors for comments on the proactive measures implemented within IHOPKC, we have received no responses.”
The report cited one witness as saying that “in a meeting, IHOPKC Board Chairman Kurt Fuller said, ‘The AGs were liars, and the sex abuse allegations were consensual.’” That statement, the report said, “added to the growing concerns about the handling of sexual abuse allegations within the organization, raising questions about accountability and transparency.”
The “AGs” are the Advocate Group, former IHOPKC leaders who supported those who came forward with allegations and pushed for an outside investigation.
“For so long, those seeking truth and accountability were met with obfuscation, denial and delay,” the Advocate Group said in a statement Tuesday. “Now, with this report, many survivors and advocates receive a sorrowful validation of their experiences.
“While words on a page cannot undo the pain and injustice suffered, we hope this acknowledgment affirms that these individuals have been heard, their experiences are believed, and they are deeply valued and loved.”
The former leaders said they are coming to terms “with the reality that we dedicated years of our lives to a system that, while doing good in some ways, also caused significant harm.”
“We grieve alongside those who have been wronged and humbly ask for forgiveness for the role the institution played — and continues to play — in perpetuating harm.”
‘Mike’s Team’
The report describes how it says Bickle groomed his victims — Woods at 14, when he was a pastor and she was a babysitter for his two sons; Hartley at 15, when she was a summer intern serving as her youth group leader at Colonial Presbyterian Church; and Perkins, who came to Kansas City at 19 to be an intern at the church he was pastoring.
The report said Bickle put Perkins on an informal research team in 1997 made up of 18- and 19-year-olds, most of them women.
“Victims and witnesses stated that Bickle would meet privately with the group, laying his hands on each of them and praying for them,” it said. “The group was required to fast and maintain celibacy, and many of the victims referred to this group as ‘BICKLE’S Team,’ ‘MYSTICS Team,’ or ‘MIKES Team.’ Victims reported that Bickle often crossed inappropriate boundaries, frequently coming and going as he pleased in the apartment they were staying at, buying gifts, and providing money.”
One witness told Firefly that Bickle ‘bred a secrecy’ among the group, using prophetic words to address them individually. Another witness said Bickle often described his marriage with Diane as ‘almost celibate’ and implied that he was exempt from typical marriage expectations.
Bickle’s manipulation of Perkins, the report said, went so far as to control her lifestyle and daily routines.
“By isolating her from others, he further entrenched her dependency on him,” it said. “The requirement to fast three days a week was another method of control, weakening her physically and emotionally and making her more susceptible to his influence.”
Bickle had a knack for gaining the trust of his victims’ families as he drew the women into his circle, the report said.
“This was a well-thought-out tactic that Bickle used within his grooming and selection process,” it said. “Everyone looked up to him and admired his ability to connect on a personal level. His charm and persuasive skills were instrumental in winning over the family, making them feel valued and understood. Bickle’s calculated approach allowed him to subtly influence their thoughts and actions, embedding himself deeply into their lives.”
Those actions also “created an environment of control and exploitation, where the victims were coerced into compliance and silence,” it said.
The report contained numerous examples of disturbing behavior regarding Bickle.
One person said that while with a group at a restaurant, Bickle was seen rubbing a woman’s leg beneath the table. Another observed an adult female with her hands inside Bickle’s pants in his office. One person walked into Bickle’s office and saw a woman rubbing his legs as he sat in his chair. And another “walked into Bickle’s office and observed an adult female on her knees at Bickle’s feet as he sat at his desk.”
And one man said he saw hundreds of secret messages between his wife and Bickle over six years.
“He noted that his wife would spend many hours alone with Bickle in his office and other locations, bringing him food and providing personal massages using essential oils on bare skin,” the report said.
One man said Bickle called him on Oct. 28, 2023, the day after the allegations against Bickle became public. The man said Bickle disclosed to him that he kissed Perkins on a trip to Paris in 1997 and that another time, “he had booked a hotel for Deborah Perkins to stay in for a night, stating that Diane was out of town.” Bickle told the man “that he had taken a shower, and when he got out, he had left the door open, and Deborah Perkins saw him completely naked.” The man said that when he questioned Bickle about it, Bickle stated that “he wasn’t the most righteous man.”
‘Troubling practices’ involving former leaders
The investigation also revealed what it called “troubling practices” involving several former IHOPKC leaders.
Olivia Bauman-Pousseur told Firefly that when she was an 18-year-old intern in 2010-2011, she was physically and sexually assaulted on multiple occasions by a man associated with IHOPKC. She said she contacted David Sliker — a member of the leadership team and president of IHOP University before stepping down in January 2024 — and his wife for help. Sliker wanted to meet with her, she said, and she took another person with her.
She said Sliker told her “this is all a considerable misinterpretation.”
She went to a second meeting at the Sliker’s home, she said, and was told to come alone. When she got there, the alleged abuser was there. She said she was told that the man had repented and she was warned not to tell anyone, including her parents, what had happened. Sliker told her, “‘Jesus doesn’t go spreading all of our sins, so we shouldn’t share the sins of others,’” the report said. It said Sliker also warned Bauman-Pousseur not to report the incidents to the police. Sliker declined to comment to The Star about the allegations.
The report said former IHOPKC executive director Stuart Greaves would silence victims by interrogating them in meetings and in many instances forcing them to apologize to their alleged offenders.
One woman was sexually assaulted and raped by a staff member of IHOPKC’s Nightwatch program, the report said. She reported it to her supervisor, and they met with Greaves, who at the time was director of the program.
She was told that “rape” was too strong a word for what had happened, the report said.
“She attended multiple meetings with different people who questioned her about the incident, which only crushed her spirit,” it said. “Church officials asked her to retract her story and apologize to the offender formally. They also told her that she should not go to the police.”
The woman told Firefly that “how the church handled the situation was far more traumatic than the rape itself.”
“Victims were often blamed for what happened to them, causing further trauma,” the report said. “In cases of sexual abuse, victims were advised that the investigation would be handled in-house and that law enforcement should not be involved. This approach not only silenced victims but also allowed perpetrators to continue their abusive behavior without fear of legal consequences.”
Greaves could not be reached for comment.
One person told Firefly that another member of the leadership team, Lenny LaGuardia — a former chaplain of the Kansas City and Grandview police departments — was contacted after witnessing “concerning interactions involving a minor child and other young children.” LaGuardia acknowledged seeing the same behavior and said it would be handled appropriately, the report said.
“However, no measures were implemented, and the incident remained unreported,” the report said. It said five others told stories of how they sought assistance from LaGuardia on disclosures of sexual abuse victims and were told that IHOPKC would handle the situation and they shouldn’t discuss the issues with anyone.
LaGuardia did not respond to requests for comment.
What happens next?
The Firefly investigation was led by Jim Holler, a former Pennsylvania police chief, and commissioned by Tikkun Global, a network of Messianic Jewish congregations and ministries in Israel and the United States.
Tikkun said an advisory group, the Pastoral Recommendation Team, will now study the report and come up with recommendations. The team is composed of three psychologists with expertise in sexual trauma and four pastors “with experience in adjudicating sinful situations among church leaders,” Tikkun said. None have ever had any involvement with IHOPKC, it said.
The recommendations will be non-binding, Tikkun said: “Neither do we at Tikkun nor the PRT have any organizational authority over IHOPKC.”
Tikkun said the proposals will be made public, and the IHOPKC board or other groups “can use the recommendations as they see fit, or post their own commentary, agreement, or differing opinions.”
“We see the PRT’s recommendations as a potentially significant contribution to a dialogue that can help bring a measure of healing to all impacted by this situation.”
