At the 11:00 a.m. CST service on Sunday, Nov. 4, Executive Director of International House of Prayer-Kansas City Stuart Greaves announced the path forward for IHOPKC and its congregants.
During this trying time for the church and organization, 24-hour prayer and worship will continue unabated as IHOPKC continues to carry out the Great Commission.
Greaves assured all listening that it is IHOPKC’s goal to look after the people first, not the organization.
“The thing that is on my mind in terms of working through this process with our leadership team, is you as a people,” Greaves solemnly told the congregation.
“We’re not mostly thinking about the organization,” he continued. “Jesus didn’t die for an organization, Jesus died for living stones, for living souls, for human beings.”
Greaves laid out for members of the congregation—which is enduring much pain, fear and confusion amid the sexual abuse allegations made against its founding leader, Mike Bickle—what lies ahead for them in the coming days.
Dr. Michael L. Brown was on hand to deliver the sermon, and Greaves said Brown will also advise the leadership team at IHOPKC.
Bickle and the IHOPKC leadership agreed that while the investigation is continuing, he will be on a social media blackout and an indefinite leave of absence from the ministry.
Greaves and the leadership explained that they will take the time necessary and allow the proper steps to be taken to arrive at the truth, while ensuring care and consideration for the women who have come forward with these allegations.
“We are committed to walking this out in patience, and the deliberations,” he explained. “Not based on pressure, but based upon the fear of the Lord and patience and deliberation. At the end of the day, as shepherds, that is who we answer before; we answer before the Lord.”
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In addition, Greaves explained that they have received “a mix of artificial deadlines and ultimatums” that have not helped in the search for the truth of the matter.
In response to the allegations themselves, Greaves said there is one allegation from 26 years ago that has “some credibility.” Greaves added that there are several other allegations about which the truth is extremely difficult to ascertain, due to how long ago some of them are alleged to have happened, the fact that others were made anonymously and others were made via third parties.
Several women have come forward and publicly refuted the allegations, saying they never gave permission for their names to be used by the accusing group of former leaders and instead denounced the group that made these allegations in their name.
In their journey to see truth and justice come to light, and take these matters as seriously as an organization is capable of, Greaves announced the hiring of an outside law firm, Stinson LLP, to conduct an in-depth investigation.
“We are starting first with this step to help initially assess the situations, but plan to continue to pursue the truth with integrity, guided by care for the alleged victims, the IHOPKC family and the Bickle family,” Greaves said.
In the meantime, IHOPKC leadership asks for prayer and patience during this difficult time for its extended family and those directly affected by these allegations. {eoa}
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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
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