Mike Bickle (minister)

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Mike Bickle
File:Mike Bickle.jpg
Bickle in 2011
Born Michael Leroy Bickle
(1955-07-17) July 17, 1955 (age 69)
Occupation Pastor, International House of Prayer

Michael Leroy "Mike" Bickle[1] (born July 17, 1955)[2][3] is an American Evangelical Christian leader best known for his leadership of the International House of Prayer (IHOPKC). As the leader of IHOPKC Bickle oversees several ministries and a Bible school. Bickle has written a number of books and served as the pastor of multiple churches.[4]

Ministry

Mike Bickle became an evangelical Christian when he was fifteen when his football coach paid his way to a Fellowship of Christian Athletes student conference in Estes Park, Colorado. After listening to Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach speak of his "personal relationship with Jesus," Bickle committed himself to become an evangelical Christian.[5]

After serving as a pastor in several evangelical churches in St. Louis, Bickle moved to Kansas City to start the Kansas City Fellowship (now known as Metro Christian Fellowship) in November 1982. Eventually, Metro Christian Fellowship joined the Association of Vineyard Churches led by John Wimber in 1990 and remained a part of that association of churches until 1996. During his tenure as the pastor of Metro Christian Fellowship, Bickle pastored a group known to both detractors and supporters as the Kansas City Prophets that, by some accounts, included Bob Jones, Paul Cain, John Paul Jackson, and others. Bickle asserted no formal group known as the Kansas City Prophets ever existed, but that the term "clustered a whole bunch of personalities into one group and one stereotype." The movement is described by Ernie Gruen in the Aberant Practices of the Kansas City Fellowship.[6] In 1993, Bickle and Gruen released a joint statement in which they stated the confict to be resolved. [7]

During his ministry, Bickle claims to have had several encounters with God, including hearing the audible voice of God and being taken to heaven twice.[8]

In 1999, Bickle left the church that he was pastoring, Metro Christian Fellowship, then a megachurch of over three thousand members, in order to start the International House of Prayer (also known by its acronym IHOPKC).[9] IHOPKC is most well known for its daily prayer meetings based on its "harp and bowl" worship model that are held 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year since September 19, 1999. IHOPKC also established a Bible college, known as the International House of Prayer University and several internships for young adults. In addition to these training programs, IHOPKC also organizes various evangelism and charitable programs locally and internationally. The ministry currently consists of approximately 2,500 full-time staff members, students, and interns.[10][11]

IHOPKC organizes the annual Onething conference at the Kansas City Convention Center. In 2010, the event saw over 25,000 young adults attend. The conference focuses on worship music and sermons on prayer, evangelism, and Christian eschatology.[12][13]

Bickle is known for dressing casually while preaching and for his avoidance of "charismatic self-referentiality".[14][15]

Bickle endorsed Ted Cruz for president in 2016.[16][17]

Theology

Bickle's teachings have primarily focused on prayer, worship, fasting, the Great Commandment, with his own Trinitarian interpretation, the Great Commission, spiritual gifts, and the Bible with a particular focus on passion for Jesus, the first commandment, and preparing people spiritually by understanding what Jesus said about the end times.[18]

In 1988 Bickle began studying the Song of Songs, a book that he had dismissed in the past as being only for women. He interprets the Song of Songs as an allegory of the relationship between the body of believers (= the church) and God. After studying this book for several years, he began to focus his ministry primarily on the Great Commandment.[4]

Bickle teaches extensively on prayer. Bickle began teaching on the Tabernacle of David in 1983 after an experience in which he claims to have heard the audible voice of God.[19] He encourages churches and Christian ministries to develop a "culture of prayer" by developing continuous worship and prayer.[4][20]

Bickle has focused some of his teaching on God's spiritual purposes for Israel. He believes that it is important for Christians to pray for the spiritual salvation of the Jews.[21]

Reception

There has been criticism of aspects of Bickle's theology and ministry practices. Aspects of his ministry which have been particularly controversial include his view of the prophetic ministry today.[22] Most of the criticism involving Bickle's ministry, however, focuses on the sexual activities of some of the ministers that were closely connected with his ministry in the 80s and 90s, including Bob Jones[23][24] and Paul Cain though neither has been involved with Bickle's ministry for several years as a result.[25][26][24]

In 1990 Kansas City pastor Ernie Gruen published a report entitled "Documentation of the Aberrant Practices and Teaching of the Kansas City Fellowship (Grace Ministries)". After the publication of this document, Bickle announced that he was submitting to John Wimber's oversight and joined the Association of Vineyard Churches in part to address the issues raised by his critics.[27][28][29][30] Bickle later noted that "We were tempted to say that the attacks were all of the devil. In retrospect, we see that God’s hand in all of this - even using the things that came from Satan’s hand as well. Some of the criticisms were valid (especially concerning our pride) others were not."[31][32]

Bickle's ministry has since been endorsed by several American "Charismatic" leaders, including Dr. Jack W. Hayford, Bill Bright, Loren Cunningham, Jack Deere, and C. Peter Wagner.[33][34]

Bickle came under fire from the Anti-Defamation League for his controversial statements.[16][17]

Books

References

  1. ↑ http://www.intelius.com/results.php?ReportType=1&formname=name&qf=Michael&qmi=&qn=Bickle&qcs=Kansas+City%2C+MO&focusfirst=1
  2. ↑ Family Search ID No. 981162
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. "In the May 1983 Solemn Assembly (corporate 21 days of fasting), the Lord spoke audibly commissioning us, saying: 'I will release 24-hour prayer in the spirit of the Tabernacle of David'.”
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. "Several cult-watching groups have expressed apprehension, and a few, condemnation. Even some Vineyard churches have expressed grave concerns about the direction the prophets are taking them."
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Background info on Bob Jones
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found."Vineyard leaders took strong steps recently to discipline well-known "prophet" Bob Jones after Jones admitted to "Sexual misconduct (not adultery)" with two women." "Vineyard leadership also is supporting the Joneses through regular counseling, visits by the Kansas City Metro Vineyard leadership, and monetary contributions."
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Archived June 12, 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Gibson notes "To Bickle, apparently, the Trinity is one of those "lesser doctrines" around which a true prophet may be misinformed."
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. "Gruen says he first became troubled about some of KCF's doctrines after a disagreement with Bickle during a pastor's retreat in 1984." and "In a surprise announcement, he [Wimber] said that Bickle and his associates had agreed to submit themselves to his oversight and become part of Wimber's Vineyard Ministries. The KCF network of fellowships would become Vineyard churches."
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. "Despite the accusations of 'false prophecy and misconduct' directed at Bickle, Wimber stood by the Kansas City prophets and encouraged Bickle to bring his church into the AVC."
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. "To cap it all off, Mike Bickle received public correction (from Wimber) for exaggerating some prophecies, for allowing too much latitude with some prophetic ministers, and for unnecessarily provoking other Kansas City churches for making unwise statements about the role of KCF."
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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