Mike Bickle
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Mike Bickle is the director of the International House of Prayer of Kansas City, one of the most visible organizations of the 24-7 Prayer Movement. The Prayer Room has continued without stopping in intercession and worship since September 19, 1999. Currently, over 400 people serve on the full-time IHOP-KC staff. This prayer room can now be accessed on the internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for a charge of $10 per month. There are also some times of the week when free broadcasts are available. These are on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings and evenings.
According to publicly available IRS Form 990 documents, IHOP had revenues exceeding 2.4 million in 2004. Bickle is closely associated with The Joseph Company[1], whose goals include "plundering the wealth of the world for their Lord."
Bickle was formerly pastor of Kansas City Fellowship (now the Metro Christian Fellowship). Bickle's teaching emphasizes how to grow in passion for Jesus through intimacy with God. He is closely associated with the Kansas City Prophets.
Mike has authored and co-authored six books, including Passion for Jesus, Growing in the Prophetic, The Pleasures of Loving God, After God's Own Heart, The Rewards of Fasting: Experiencing the Emotions and Power of God, and The Seven Longings of the Human Heart. In addition, numerous audio teachings of Mike's have been marketed.
The primary focus of his teachings is to prepare the body of Christ for the last stage of human history. The basis for his teachings revolve around the books of the Bible, Song of Solomon and Revelation.
His ministry has historically been very controversial, even within the charismatic movement. His involvement in the Latter Rain movement, his promotion of the Manifest Sons of God doctrine and Kingdom Now theology, his promotion of the ministry of William Branham (who founded the Latter Rain movement and Kingdom Now theology, and also previously held to several positions traditionally considered heretical, such as modalism and adoptionism). He has been criticized for issues such as structural defects, elitism, alleged cultlike tendencies, doctrinal error, false prophecies, various unethical practices, and numerous other issues. This controversy was heightened when charismatic paster Ernie Gruen released a report in 1990 documenting what he considered to be many aberrant practices in Kansas City. See the Ernie Gruen Report. Others, such as Hank Hanegraaff and John MacArthur, have been very critical of his ministry.
