Nearly two years have passed since Mike Bickle, founder of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, was slammed with a stunning series of sexual abuse allegations that brought down his ministry.
But to the horror of multiple victims this past Sunday, his youngest sister, Lisa Bickle Stribling, dismissed the accounts as “exotic trash.”
“There has been a narrative that has surrounded Mike’s situation,” she said. “This narrative is a false narrative. The Lord is retrieving this narrative right now . . . Concerning Mike Bickle, this is the most integrous-filled, righteous man that we know.”
She said she was speaking “on God’s behalf” at HopeCity, a prayer ministry and church led by Stribling and her husband, Ray.
She was referring to an independent investigation published on Feb. 3 that found Bickle had groomed and sexually abused at least 17 women, including some who were minors at the time.
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Reaction was swift.
Deborah Perkins, an presunta víctima of Mike Bickle starting about 25 years ago, when he founded the International House of Prayer Kansas City (IHOPKC), told El Informe Roys (TRR) she felt “a flood of reactions” to Stribling’s message. “I felt initial incredulity at the brazen use of God’s name and the marring of prophetic utterance,” she told The Roys Report (TRR).
Tammy Woods, who was 14 when she alleges that Bickle first abused her, dicho TRR, “I felt anger at my personal testimony and those of other victims and the anguish experienced in bringing them forth being diminished as ‘exotic trash.’”
(She noted that Stribling likely meant to use “erotic” rather than “exotic” in her message.)
Woods, who remains involved in Christian ministry in Michigan with her husband, added, “And I felt sadness at the deep delusion being exposed and the potential it has for further great harm to God’s people.”
Elizabeth Herder, a former longtime IHOPKC staff member-turned-whistleblower, said, “Lisa’s words were patently blasphemous. She told her listeners she was speaking for God and proceeded to ramble profoundly unbiblical ideas.”
The Advocate Group, an informal coalition of former IHOPKC leaders including Herder, Jono Hall, and Allen Hood, emitió una declaración via Hall’s X account.
The statement notes the leaders were “deeply troubled” by Stribling’s statement and assertions that “misrepresent the pursuit of truth and accountability as contrary to God’s will.” They add: “Ms. Stribling’s message wrongly paints survivors as liars while perpetuating untruths.”
In that post and a follow-up post, Hall unpacks a theology of how a biblical commitment to truth and justice comport with a New Testament understanding of forgiveness.
“To suggest that the church should never investigate or expose wrongdoing—especially when it involves harm to others, or in this case, the sexual abuse of a minor—contradicts the scriptural mandate to protect the vulnerable and uphold righteousness,” he states.
‘Disgusting’ cover-up culture
HopeCity, a prayer room, community center, and church in Kansas City, Missouri, has sought to uphold Mike Bickle’s past reputation as a Bible teacher and prophet.
A post by The Advocate Group mentions this as an aside, stating, “Ms. Stribling’s statement likely stems from deep personal pain and a desire to defend her family’s honor. We extend grace and understanding to her as she navigates this difficult situation.”
In May 2024, HopeCity’s 25th anniversary service reflected its close alignment with Bickle, as TRR previamente reportado.
At that service, leaders played video clips of Bickle and disgraced prophet bob jones.
They also prophesied the impending fulfillment of Bickle’s “prophetic history,” a series of often-told stories that IHOPKC ha dicho it is “reevaluating” in public statements. In a formal apology last February, former IHOPKC leader Allen Hood fijado, due to “spiritual manipulation” and other “negative dynamics,” that “the ‘prophetic history’ should be permanently set aside.”
On Sunday, Stribling began her message by saying, “We are going to have a family conversation. And I’m speaking directly to the body of Christ all over the world.”
However, within 24 hours, her message was removed from HopeCity’s social media channels.
An X user with the handle Andy Hailstone comentado, “Is it a true message from God if you have to delete it after a wave of pushback?”
Other leading evangelical-charismatic voices also commented on her message.
Ron Cantor of Messiah’s Mandate fijado he rejects Stribling’s supposed prophetic word.
“The Bible tells us to test prophecy,” Cantor wrote. “At no point does Lisa Bickle say that she is submitting this to the Church to be tested. Instead, with an offended tone, she is rebuking the Church for seeking to hold her brother accountable for sexual sin, and that, allegedly, against minors.”
Similarly, Mike Winger, a theology YouTuber who has recently produced investigations of church abuse, stated on X, “This is cover-up culture, and it is disgusting on every level.”
He added, “Please note that she bases all of this on her being a prophetess and speaking for God. Bickle has long abused prophecy for his own purposes and what we have here is more of that, from his sister.”
And Lee Cummings, senior leader of Radiant Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan, called her message “cultish propaganda and the exact opposite of a word of the Lord.”
The local minister addressed part of his X post directly to Stribling, writing, “Lisa, if nothing else disqualifies you from ministry leadership, this message does. You’re re-injuring victims and excusing disgusting sin. Mike Bickle is a false teacher/prophet.”
Shame, foolishness, and mockery
In a bizarre admission, Stribling claimed that she has no familiarity with the extensive, decades-long reported allegations against her brother.
“I have never read the story, and I will never read the story or ask questions about the story,” said Stribling. “. . . It has been reported to me, however, that the story is exotic trash. That’s what it is.”
She continued: “The story and stories like it should never be investigated by the church. I have had people ask me, does it matter whether it’s true or not? It does not matter.”
In their statement, The Advocate Group responded that her admission “undermines the credibility of her defense.”
The leaders noted, “This approach risks perpetuating a culture of denial and enablement, which has caused significant harm within the wider IHOPKC community.”
Woods referenced a Scripture in emphasizing why believers should be informed with facts and evidence. “Proverbs 18:13 makes it abundantly clear that, ‘One who gives an answer before he hears, it is foolishness and shame to him,” she said.
Herder, who worked closely with Bickle for years in cultivating IHOPKC donors, observed that Stribling’s statement about not reading the story is “a classic Mike Bickle move.”
She explained, “(It’s) intended to impress the listener and invoke the association that he has positive character traits like restraint, forgiveness, mercy, acceptance, and not gossiping.”
This tactic solidified Bickle’s “spiritual influence and control” for decades at IHOPKC, she said.
But widespread evangelical-charismatic mockery signals Stribling’s message seems to have backfired, in what Herder called an “emperor-has-no-clothes” moment.
“What Lisa spews shows the naked truth about how Mike thinks and the system he built,” she said. “This is the worldview and behavior system that survivors and advocates have been up against.”
Perkins, who condemned the manipulation, pride, and “dark delusion” apparent in Stribling’s message, said it may prove to be “a wakeup call and an object lesson for the church.”
She added: “This is not over until the One who sees the deeds done in secret has flipped over every table and His justice rolls down like a river.”
Correction: This article was updated to accurately state details of Cummings’ church and a past statement of IHOPKC.
Josh Shepherd is production editor at The Roys Report and a journalist who escribe sobre fe, cultura y políticas públicas para varios medios outlets. He and his family live in central Florida.
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30 Responses
The four most frightening words in the English language, “The Lord told me.”
It’s a loaded phrase. In the context of this story (And others like it) it can mean…..
“Don’t question what I tell you”
“To go against me and what I say is to go against God”
“I’m right and you’re wrong”
With “GOD SAITH!” and/or “SCRIPTURE! SCRIPTURE! SCRIPTURE!” as the Ultimate Weapon.
That expression can be misused too.
I’ve had JW’s tell me that Jesus was a created being and followed it up with a verse or two and then they used the expression “But that’s what the Bible says”
“Don’t question what I tell you”
“To go against me and what I say is to go against God”
“I’m right and you’re wrong”
“If you question what I say or do
¡USTEDES SE REBELAN CONTRA EL PADRE TAMBIÉN!”
— Steve Taylor, “Yo manipulo”
God has ‘told’ ALL of us through the incarnation – the life, teachings, death & resurrection of the divine Son Jesus Christ – who is most tangible and clear revelation of the character and will of God. This is the unique aspect of Christianity that even ‘educated’ and self proclaimed agnostics and atheists are fully aware of. Hence, phrases like, “Doesn’t sound or look like Christianity” or “And they call themselves Christians”.
Any willful and continuous words and behaviour & life style that is contrary to Gods will and not underpinned by the fruits of the Holy Spirit as clearly revealed through Jesus is of this world
and will eventually come to nothing. Not 🚀 science.
I wonder what the Apostle Paul would say . . . about Ms Stribling’s words . . .
People wake up. These are profit centers run by unskilled entertainers. Story after story and I’m convinced I must be the smartest Christian on the planet. Why? Since the eighties Gods discernment has opened my eyes. My spiritual growth comes from small groups or reading the Bible then asking God for guidance when I see and hear these grifters. It’s not that hard. Don’t assume large followers mean the pastors are spiritually strong. Wake up
Mike Winger put out a video about this yesterday. These people have no shame, and no fear of the Lord.
Jeremiah 23:21-22 (NIV)
[21] I did not send these prophets,
yet they have run with their message;
I did not speak to them,
yet they have prophesied.
[22] But if they had stood in my council,
they would have proclaimed my words to my people
and would have turned them from their evil ways
and from their evil deeds.
Amen, you hit the nail on the head!
“The story and stories like it should never be investigated by the church. I have had people ask me, does it matter whether it’s true or not? It does not matter.”
A podcaster recently noted that in the charismatic world, if you don’t have a story, you don’t have anything. It’s all about the story. You need a story, because you are the story. The person with the greatest story is the greatest person.
You can build an entire persona on a story. William Branham did it, then Mike Bickle did it. Eventually someone stopped and said, “Wait a minute. How do we know if the story is true?”
“There has been a narrative that has surrounded Mike’s situation,” she said. “This narrative is a false narrative. The Lord is retrieving this narrative right now . . . Concerning Mike Bickle, this is the most integrous-filled, righteous man that we know.”
This is a very interesting comment because one of his targets (Tammy Woods, I believe), said she was advised by Bickle to tell the media if a reporter started asking questions, “Tell them I’m the most righteous man you know.”
Always a big big big red flag when someone constantly weaves themselves into anything and everything to the point that they would like to be the baby at evey christening, the bride at every wedding, and the corpse at every funeral. The SIN of self. 🤔
Anyway, would much prefer to hear, reflect and act on the ‘old old story of unseen things above, of Jesus and his glory, of Jesus and his love’.
Why? Because I need to be reminded of what I already know to be true . C S Lewis
If you have to tell everyone How Righteous You Are, YOU AIN’T.
As I have written in many places, anything that is built around the exalting of any one man or woman to the level of “the lead Prophet of our times”, (the Apostle over all of New England, God’s man of the hour with revelations that no one else is getting from God…) is idolatrous. These systems always tend toward hidden ongoing sins, because the exaltation of man is a root sin that opens the door to the “big 3” (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (pridefulness)) types of sin gaining access and being covered up/ called something other than sin… “After all what is Paul and what is Apollos?” servants who lead…accountable, open, fallible vessels for God’s grace and glory. Jesus Christ is THE exalted one and the Holy Spirit is the miracle worker and the all-wise guide in the Church age… not “superstar” individuals. (I have been a staff pastor for 43 years now, and I have seen MANY things blow through.)
As my writing partner (a burned-out country preacher) told me:
“If you encounter anyone who has titled himself ‘Apostle’ or ‘Prophet’, RUN!”
“….and stories like it should never be investigated in the church.”????????? Something is very, very, very wrong here.
“integrous-filled”? The only known use of the adjective “integrous” is in the mid 1600s. The word is obsolete.
Remember that Christianese is based on Kynge Jaymes Englyshe of the 1600s.
Ergo, Christians would still speak words and phrases from that period.
The only words I can think of are “What hubris” for Bickle’s sister to make comments like that.
The son of our pastor for many years went to IHOP seeking a deeper Spirit-empowered walk with Jesus. Over time he became deeply depressed, feeling inferior to others who seemed to manifest gifts of The Holy Spirit that he did not have. He did not measure up. Feeling his Christian walk was a failure, he left IHOP, came home, and over time healed and recovered, and is now a pastor. He speaks against what he calls the hyper-charismatic movement, but is not cessationist.
I couldn’t hate this any more if I tried.
Something must have happened, or will come out soon, for her to talk about this now. You don’t throw this kind of fire on a whim – I expect Lisa would know this. I expect she is trying to get in front of something/someone and is threatening to retaliate. She said as much toward the end of the message with the comment about “telling the whole story”.
She’s paving the way for him to return to public ministry. I’m assuming it has been carefully planned. The line about her threatening to tell the whole story is pure blackmail. It must really grieve the Lord…
Ron Cantor put out a YouTube video that is excellent in explaining her false teaching. Bickle should have been arrested! She is trying to help Joyner lay the ground work for Bickle’s return to the ministry. Bickle should get a job like working for Walmart or Home Depot.
Barbara Carrell: What you said, 200%. Can you imagine being a self-ordained prophet with a large organization and a huge following, but hidden affairs and sexual misconduct by you get exposed and you have to go hide in a gopher hole? Hopefully your faithful adherents put out the brush fires, the whole thing blows over and you can come back and pick right back up where you left off. We see this with Charismatics all the time. Mike has actually been absent for much longer that other Charismatics who had to take a forced sabbatical because of scandals. I’ll bet he is chomping at the bit to get back out there and start telling people about his trips to heaven again.
I don’t think I’d be comfortable if I had a teenage daughter and she was a colleague of Mike Bickle at Home Depot or Walmart. . .
IHOPKC was built upon the sexually revolting theology that Bickle invented with the repulsive Bob Jones. Moreover, he incubated “ministries” that can be found worldwide. And these “ministries” promote the same abominations Bickle taught in his incubator. Many unsuspecting Christians are ensnared.
Paul Ryan says,
I just wonder whether it was Mike Bickle himself who wrote what Lisa spoke about. The style of delivery is very much like Mike would have spoken. Mike is a false teacher and a false prophet and thus should not be allowed by the church to return to ministry and teaching.
My first job after college was at the corporate HQ of the better-known IHOP.
Their top management was nothing to brag about, either.
(For over ten years after leaving, I would not eat at any of their restaurants.)