(CP) Worldwide Home of Prayer Kansas Metropolis’s disgraced founder Mike Bickle used predatory techniques and non secular manipulation to sexually abuse a minimum of 17 females, together with minors, in accordance with the findings of an unbiased investigative report. One sufferer claims she was so gaslit by Bickle he made her learn Psalm 51 after sexual encounters.
The 68-page report, Investigation of Mike Bickle and the Worldwide Home of Prayer Kansas Metropolis, is the results of a complete investigation performed by unbiased sexual abuse investigation agency Firefly, and commissioned by Tikkun Worldwide, a Messianic Jewish umbrella group, on Sept. 5, 2024. It paints Bickle as a seductive predator who used his affect, items, cash and place as a non secular chief to bend significantly younger and susceptible girls to his will.
“All through the investigation, we now have recognized and interviewed seventeen (17) Survivors who have been both sexually abused or skilled sexually abusive misconduct, together with sexual abuse, rape, clergy abuse, and non secular abuse, perpetrated by Bickle starting to our data within the mid-Nineteen Seventies,” investigators wrote.
“These acts of abuse have had profound and lasting impacts on the lives of the victims, inflicting vital emotional, psychological, and non secular hurt. The survivors have proven immense braveness in coming ahead to share their experiences regardless of the worry and trauma related to these occasions.”
Amongst these survivors is Deborah Perkins, the primary of Bickle’s victims to go public together with her account of alleged abuse. She informed investigators that Bickle made her learn Scripture after their sexual encounters.
“Bickle’s actions in having Deborah Perkins pray Psalm 51 … after sexual encounters was one other layer of his manipulation. By invoking a prayer of repentance, he additional distorted her understanding of the state of affairs, making her really feel complicit within the abuse,” investigators wrote.
The report additionally highlights Bickle’s alleged abuse of Tammy Woods, a now 58-year-old mom and grandmother who claims she was groomed and sexually abused by the IHOPKC founder within the Nineteen Eighties when she was simply 14. Perkins, Woods, and one other interviewee informed investigators that on totally different events Bickle, who’s married, uncovered himself “in a state of undress, with an erection.”
“Every encounter seemed to be deliberate and focused in the direction of the ladies,” investigators wrote.
An interviewed witness additionally informed investigators that they questioned Bickle a few time when he offered Perkins with a lodge room and he admitted that his actions towards her have been “immoral.”
“After paying for the room, he and Deborah Perkins went inside. Bickle informed IW #12 that he was sweaty from all of the operating round and determined to bathe in the identical room as (IS) Deborah Perkins was in. IW #12 suggested he pressed Bickle, stating, ‘You walked out of the bathe bare with a full erection and uncovered your self to her,'” investigators mentioned.
The interviewed witness mentioned Bickle replied, “It was immoral, it was immoral, it was immoral.”
He additional acknowledged that Bickle additionally famous: “A person of God is not going to be humiliated if he humbles himself.”
When the interviewed witness requested Bickle if he “acquired dressed and left the room” after exposing himself to Perkins, he replied, “No, I stayed there for possibly one other 90 minutes.”
The Firefly report mentioned the 17 survivors linked to Bickle have been recognized from a evaluate of 224 submissions made to the agency from which they have been in a position to establish and interview 32 survivors “who have been sexually abused or skilled sexually abusive misconduct throughout their time at IHOPKC.”
Along with the allegations made in opposition to Bickle within the report, there’s a part that highlights “quite a few situations of sexual abuse and misconduct perpetrated by people related to IHOPKC.” These abuses embody allegations of the rape of each female and male minors by people linked to the ministry and identifies 16 accused workers members “implicated in sexual misconduct claims.”
The report seems to go deeper than a separate unbiased report launched to the general public on Jan. 31, 2024, that was ready by legal professional Rosalee McNamara. In that report, Bickle confessed to partaking in “consensual sexual contact” with a lady linked to the 24/7 prayer ministry along with a beforehand confessed relationship with a main Jane Doe who alleged she was his saved girl for a number of years.
That report got here after Bickle confessed in December 2023 to partaking in “inappropriate habits” however not “the extra intense sexual actions that some are suggesting” after a bunch of former IHOPKC leaders, referred to as the advocate group, levelled abuse allegations in opposition to him spanning a number of a long time.
“With a really heavy coronary heart I wish to categorical how deeply grieved I’m that my previous sins have led to a lot ache, confusion, and division within the physique of Christ on this hour. I sadly admit that 20+ years in the past, I sinned by partaking in inappropriate habits — my ethical failures have been actual,” Bickle mentioned in an announcement revealed on his Fb web page, including: “I’m not admitting to the extra intense sexual actions that some are suggesting.”
Bickle confessed after a lady, recognized as Jane Doe by The Roys Report, alleged that for roughly three years, from 1996 to 1999, earlier than he based IHOPKC, he paid for her residence, gave her a key to his workplace and engaged in each sexual act together with her besides copulation. She mentioned the IHOPKC founder wooed her with Scripture when she was simply 19, and he was 42, then made her a saved girl for a number of years as he established his now fashionable ministry.
On the time, IHOPKC leaders mentioned that they had solely recognized 5 of some eight girls who the advocate group mentioned have been Bickle’s victims however discovered the proof skinny. Three of the alleged victims known as the allegations “lies.'” One of many alleged victims refused to speak with an legal professional for the ministry.
“Bickle has been accused of partaking in egregious non secular, emotional, and sexual abuse over a long time. He allegedly groomed and fostered inappropriate relationships with girls, utilizing the idea of an ‘apostolic chariot-vision calling’ to create an intoxicating associate narrative,” Firefly investigators famous.
“Bickle’s capacity to exert energy and management was multifaceted. He used his authoritative place to create an atmosphere the place questioning his actions was seen as questioning divine will. This manipulation prolonged to isolating victims from their help networks, making them extra reliant on him. This manipulative habits was proven when Bickle expressed regret however then positioned blame on Tammy Woods after their encounter. In doing this, Bickle was making an attempt to shift accountability and create confusion. This emotional manipulation could make the sufferer really feel responsible and complicit within the abuse, additional entrenching their sense of powerlessness.”
The report additional highlights disturbing eyewitness experiences of questionable behaviour Bickle allegedly engaged in with females within the ministry together with some who have been married.
“Witnesses would usually see Bickle, throughout church providers and prayer conferences, seize women by their throats, kiss them on their faces, and ruffle their hair. This habits, masked as harmless affection, was a calculated tactic to desensitize his victims to bodily contact, regularly pushing boundaries till they have been normalized,” investigators famous. “By doing so, he created an atmosphere the place his actions have been much less more likely to be questioned or resisted, additional entrenching his management over his victims.”
Interviewed Survivor No. 9 informed investigators that Bickle as soon as positioned his hand on her naked leg, ran it as much as her thigh, and made the inappropriate remark, “Freshly shaved.”
One interviewed witness “noticed an grownup feminine together with her palms inside Bickle’s pants in his workplace.”
“IW #20, strolling into BICKLE’S workplace, noticed an grownup girl rubbing BICKLE’S legs as he sat in his chair and the lady on the ground. One night, IW #66 walked into BICKLE’S workplace and noticed an grownup feminine on her knees at BICKLE’S toes as he sat at his desk. IW #6 reported seeing BICKLE caress a workers particular person’s knee underneath a desk at a restaurant,” the report mentioned.
One male witness recalled how his spouse shared a whole bunch of secretive communications with Bickle over six years.
“He famous that his spouse would spend many hours alone with BICKLE in his workplace and different places, bringing him meals and offering private massages utilizing important oils on naked pores and skin,” the report mentioned.
“IW #95, on a number of events, would see meals being introduced in by IW #32’s spouse to Bickle. Moreover, IW #175 reported an incident the place, upon coming into BICKLE’S workplace, they noticed an inappropriate motion involving Bickle and IW 32’s spouse, together with her hand inside Bickle’s pants,” the report mentioned.
Regardless of reporting Bickle’s inappropriate behaviour to members of the ministry’s government management crew on the time together with Stuart Greaves and Lenny LaGuardia, no motion was taken in opposition to Bickle.
“These witnessed incidents, no matter if consensual, between Bickle and presumably a number of girls spotlight a sample of habits that isn’t solely unprofessional but additionally deeply troubling, because it creates an unsafe and uncomfortable atmosphere for these round him,” investigators mentioned. “These interactions have been inappropriate and demonstrated an entire lack of boundaries inside and out of doors his workplace.”
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