For 17 years, Shelley Hundley devoted her life to prayer and worship at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City (IHOPKC). At the time, she believed IHOPKC Founder Mike Bickle was healing her of deep wounds caused by the sexual abuse of her missionary father. But today, she believes Bickle was grooming her so he could sexually abuse her friends.
In this gripping podcast, Hundley—who roomed with Deborah Perkins, one of Bickle’s abuse victims, and Misty Edwards, a prominent IHOPKC worship leader— shares her story for the first time.
She reveals how Bickle normalized extremely concerning behavior, like regularly visiting her house and hanging out in her housemates’ bedrooms.
She also explains how Bickle encouraged people in the 24/7 prayer community to crave his attention and affirmation, and how he cultivated an inner circle, creating a culture of secrecy and protection.
Hundley reveals how the scales finally fell from her eyes when she witnessed Bickle’s dark side. And she shares her epiphany years later, when some of her friends told her about their abuse.
But perhaps the most heartbreaking part of this podcast is when Hundley describes meeting with former IHOPKC friends she highly suspects are victims of Bickle’s abuse. Despite overwhelming evidence Bickle is a serial sexual predator, she says these women refuse to admit the truth or to escape his cult-like control.
Through her testimony, Hundley calls church leaders to stand for righteousness, justice, and transparency—first steps to finding healing and freedom.
Shelley Hundley
Shelley Hundley experienced a deep conversion from atheism during her Sophomore year in college and began her journey of healing from childhood sexual abuse. In 1996, she moved to Kansas City, Missouri, to join Mike Bickle’s church. In 1999, she was among the initial group of interns, and later staff, who assisted Bickle in founding the International House of Prayer Kansas City (IHOPKC).
She left her IHOPKC staff leadership role in 2013 to pursue marriage and motherhood. Today, Shelley is a graduate student focused on Biblical languages and the cultural history of the Bible. She also helps women who are struggling through their own sexual abuse stories. Shelley and her husband love raising their two young boys. Find her on Instagram at @shelleyhundley
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One Response
What a beautiful and strong individual you are Shelley.
God our Father has made you strong in spirit and a testimony of his enduring love.
All that we endure in life either makes us draw closer to the Lord or is breaks us and causes us to fall in defeat.
I am 75 and have made many ignorant choices and have found such a love from our Father, such a depth of care and forgiveness that no man can truly understand in this life.
My dad, a hard working farmer, passed away when I was 11, so my search for a fathers love took years before I began to understand the true love of God.
We grow as we read the word and draw close to him in communion -Psalm 91, dwelling in the secret place of the most high God.
Thank you, and thank you Julie for following the Lord to expose the wicked tactics of the devil through individuals who are following the lusts of their flesh and not the Holy Spirit.
In Christ,
Georgia Howard
Marion, SC