Mike Bickle’s “calculated actions created an environment of control and exploitation, where the victims were coerced into compliance and silence,” stated the report. “This deliberate grooming process not only inflicted deep psychological and emotional trauma but also eroded [the victims’] sense of self-worth and trust.”
IHOPKC leaders caused the victims further harm by downplaying reports by victims and witnesses, the report continued. Staff members who came forward about abuse “often faced retaliation,” according to the report, with whistleblowers “frequently disciplined by being transferred to different positions or having their work hours reduced.”
Interviewees also described “Matthew 18 Meetings” that Bickle and IHOPKC used to “conceal, minimize, and silence victims of sexual abuse within the church.” That biblical passage refers to a conflict resolution process for churches to follow.
Report Finds ‘Code of Silence’ and ‘Systemic’ Failure at IHOPKC
Abuse survivors told investigators that IHOPKC staff members forced them to meet with and apologize to their abusers, while telling them not to file police reports. Olivia Bauman-Pousseur, who said she was sexually assaulted as an 18-year-old intern at IHOPKC, alleged that David Sliker, former president of IHOP University, said her account of abuse was “all a considerable misinterpretation.”
Bauman-Pousseur said Sliker told her the abuser had repented and she shouldn’t tell her parents or police what had happened. “Jesus doesn’t go spreading all of our sins, so we shouldn’t share the sins of others,” Sliker allegedly said.
The report also cited leadership team member Lenny LaGuardia, a former police chaplain, for failing to report to authorities suspicions of abuse against minors. After one IHOPKC official was accused of raping a teen boy, LaGuardia allegedly told a witness, “No one could be banned” from the ministry.
When contacted by the Kansas City Star, neither Sliker nor LaGuardia provided comment.
Numerous victims described a “code of silence” at IHOPKC, saying they often heard the statement, “You are holy if you don’t talk. If you talk, you are toxic.” The report called out former IHOPKC Executive Director Stuart Greaves for interrogating and trying to silence victims. It also quoted one witness as saying that Kurt Fuller, chairman of IHOPKC’s board, said the sexual behavior was “consensual” and the whistleblowers were “liars.”
One survivor, who said she was raped by a staff member of IHOPKC’s Nightwatch program, said church officials asked her to retract her story and apologize to the offender. They also told her that “rape” was too strong of a word to describe the incident. Another survivor said church leaders told her that “assault” wasn’t an accurate description of what she had experienced.
By shielding perpetrators and discrediting victims, the report said, IHOPKC leadership showed “systemic” failure. These behavior patterns were “embedded within the organizational structures.”
Next Steps and Reactions to the IHOPKC Report
In an update on its website, Tikkun Global explained that a Pastoral Recommendation Team—including three psychologists and four pastors—will now meet to discuss the Firefly report. Team members, who have no connections to IHOPKC, will make recommendations for next steps at the ministry. Although the recommendations will be made public, they are not binding.
Tikkun, a Messianic Jewish network, said the recommendations will be “a potentially significant contribution to a dialogue that can help bring a measure of healing to all impacted by this situation.” Tikkun is also financing a Firefly investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against Dr. Michael L. Brown.
Reactions to this week’s IHOPKC report range from relief to grief. Tammy Woods, who said Bickle began sexually abusing her when she was 14, said she’s grateful for the survivors who went public and the time and effort that went into the investigation.
“That said, I’m left wanting so much more,” said Woods. “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.”
Gracia Nope, an IHOPKC abuse survivor and whistleblower, expressed disappointment about the report. “Survivors deserved accurate representation and decisive action,” she posted, “but instead, many stories had errors, and the gavel of justice felt gently set down rather than slammed.”
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When asked to elaborate, Nope added, “The suggested actions felt disconnected from the gravity of the stories that had just been reported above. #IHOPKC’s issue isn’t needing more background checks. Their issue is they are still open.”
