(CP) Kansas Metropolis's Worldwide Home of Prayer continues to unravel amid founder Mike Bickle's intercourse scandal as his Forerunner Church held a closing service Sunday for a congregation of about 1,000, leaving some in tears.
The newest service, streamed on YouTube, follows the ministry's announcement to The Christian Submit in April that it will shut some points of operations this 12 months, together with its college of ministry.
“Right this moment, as we have a good time the closing of Forerunner Church, that is nothing we anticipated,” Senior Pastor Isaac Bennett informed the congregation. “It's not one thing we deliberate a 12 months in the past, like, 'Hey, we acquired this wild thought, let's shut down the Forerunner Church.'
Bennett insisted that whereas they’d no plans to shut the church, “we consider it has to occur.”
“It has to occur in order that we are able to transfer ahead with a brand new starting. And that may imply a brand new starting for a lot of people and many alternative areas of our group. Some will collect right here once more, others the Lord goes to reassign to completely different communities and ministries, and we need to to know that we bless you,” Bennett mentioned.
Bennett clarified that IHOPKC's flagship service, the 24/7 prayer room, will proceed to function by the summer time.
“And those that actually really feel that the Lord is drawing them, transferring them to a different state or to a different nation, we wish you to know that we bless you and ship you with the grace and love of this home and we ask the Lord to prosper you,” he added to thunderous applause.
Citing a leaked recording from executives at an inside IHOP College employees assembly and an electronic mail from IHOP College President Matt Candler, The Roys Report reported in April that IHOPKC was within the strategy of closing completely because of the monetary impression of the Bickle sexual abuse scandal.
IHOPKC completely reduce ties with Bickle final December.
In his assertion to the IHOPKC CP, he insisted that the ministry intends to proceed, however will regularly abolish some components of the ministry.
“We aren’t closing the 24/7 prayer room; it stays the mainstay of our existence. We intend to evaluation the performance of the assorted working areas and sure consolidate a number of. We now have additionally determined to stop operations of IHOPU, our ministry college, after this 12 months's commencement,” it mentioned ministry.
Division officers additionally seem to disclaim claims that they’re attempting to flee duty for sexual abuse allegations in opposition to Bickle.
“We now have supported and can proceed to help all victims of abuse, sexual or in any other case, whether or not right here inside IHOPKC or anyplace locally. To be clear, no lawsuits have been filed in opposition to IHOPKC; allegations of prior misconduct have been in opposition to people, not on our group,” the ministry mentioned.
“As we attempt to create a 'higher' model of IHOPKC, we might shut some home windows of our mission and open others, however once more, IHOPKC is NOT CLOSING,” officers added.
In leaked tapes cited by The Roys Report, IHOPKC leaders, together with Candler, revealed that the division was shedding $500,000 a month due to the Bickle scandal.
“The IHOPKC as a corporation is beginning to retreat,” Candler mentioned. “We are going to preserve our prayer corridor and ultimately begin a brand new group.”
Bennett mentioned on the assembly that lawsuits by victims alleging sexual abuse and misconduct by Bickle put the division beneath “important liabilities.”
“We're people who find themselves going to sue one another on the finish of the day,” he mentioned. “That creates important liabilities.”
Boz Tchividjian, grandson of Billy Graham, an legal professional and longtime advocate for victims of sexual abuse who represents one in all Bickle's alleged victims, mentioned that if IHOPKC leaders consider they will simply shut down the ministry, then re-emerge as a rebranded group to flee accountability, they’re dwelling within the “realm of fantasy”.
© The Christian Submit
