International House of Prayer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Disambiguation: This article refers to a Christian prayer movement. For the IHOP pancake house, see, International House of Pancakes.
The International House of Prayer (IHOP) in Kansas City, Missouri, is one of the most visible Christian organizations of the 24-7 Prayer Movement. IHOP has been in operation since September 19th 1999, with a continuous prayer meeting offering harp and bowl worship and intercessory prayer twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The ministry is centered on prayer, contemplation, fasting, evangelism, and teaching and equipping believers for the end times, which they believe are quickly approaching.
IHOP functions as a missions base, with staff members raising their own support, independent of IHOP. The prayer room functions in two hour shifts, each led by full teams of musicians and singers. There is a daily schedule of different types of prayer meetings throughout the day. The base features a Bible college, the Forerunner School of Ministry, and the Forerunner Music Academy. In addition, there are several training and equipping intensives, such as the 3 month Fire in the Night and the 6 month Young Adult Internship.
IHOP is also associated with the Charismatic Movement by its affirmation of the Charismatic doctrine of subsequence as well as the continuation of Apostolic gifts of the Spirit in the modern era. In an IHOP statement of faith, IHOP says "Subsequent to conversion, the Spirit desires to fill, empower and anoint believers for ministry and witness. We also believe that signs and wonders, as well as all the gifts of the Spirit described in the New Testament, are operative today and are designed to testify to the presence of the Kingdom and to empower and edify the Church to fulfill its calling and mission."
IHOP was launched and continues to be led by its director, Mike Bickle, who is an author and pastor.
