#5 The 68 Page Report

An Appeal for 21st Century Church Reform

21st Century Reformation

Five centuries ago, the Protestant Reformation commenced with Luther’s 95 Thesis. February 3, 2025 marked the beginning of a modern day Church Reformation with the release of a sixty-eight page report detailing CSA by world renowned leader, Mike Bickle. The curtain has already been pulled back on dysfunction in the Western Church, but this report reached a new climax. It details calculated steps of cover up concerning misconduct in IHOPKC. Luther’s 95 Thesis criticized the Roman Catholic Church for selling indulgences, giving believers a false sense of security and distracting them from true repentance. Interestingly, the Firefly investigation report exposes patterns of sin and cover up that demonstrate a lack of true repentance. The sixty-eight page report may not be a statement calling for change, but it sheds light on the need for major change in church leadership structures and accountability within the larger Body of Christ.

IHOPKC Investigation

This is from the introduction of the Firefly report: “The following report summarizes the information gathered throughout this investigation, including witness interviews and documentation. It is based on multiple interviews with witnesses, alleged offenders, and other individuals with direct knowledge of the events that occurred. FIREFLY has received two hundred twenty-four (224) intakes through various channels, including online survey responses, emails, and phone calls. Only three submissions were made anonymously through the survey. We have been able to identify and interview thirty-two (32) Interviewed Survivors (IS) who were sexually abused or experienced sexually abusive misconduct during their time at IHOPKC.

The credibility of this report is founded on the collective and corroborating testimony of the experiences of the victims and witnesses. It is not reliant on any single experience or victim, but rather on the consistent and overlapping accounts that paint a comprehensive picture of the systemic issues and misconduct within IHOPKC. This approach ensures that no single testimony is isolated, but instead, is part of a larger narrative that illustrates the extent and severity of the issues. This collective testimony strengthens the report's validity and highlights the urgent need to address the identified problems and implement changes to create a safer and more supportive environment. By considering the combined voices of multiple individuals, the report highlights patterns of abuse, cover-ups, and failures within the leadership. The corroborated accounts provide a powerful foundation for advocating for accountability, transparency, and meaningful reforms within IHOPKC.”

“Deconstruction”

The year 2024 commenced my journey into "deconstruction." Many assume this word only describes those who are leaving their faith in God. What does it actually mean? Here is a dictionary definition: "A method of critical analysis of philosophical and literary language which emphasizes the internal workings of language and conceptual systems, the relational quality of meaning, and the assumptions implicit in forms of expression." Concerning the Christian Church, it means taking a critical look at our understanding of the Church and its structure. Before the Firefly Report was released, I had already concluded that the Western Church, as we know it, is in need of reform.

Cancer in the Church

The Body of Christ is sick. People recognizing the illness is not the problem. It is actually the beginning of the solution. Considering scandal after scandal is not about gossip or slander. It is about diagnosing and identifying what is plaguing the Church. When an ailing patient has numerous symptoms, a doctor must investigate and perform tests to determine the cause. If the diagnosis is cancer, often the treatment involves surgery and procedures that make a person feel worse before they are able to improve. Many believers are "deconstructing" because they have discovered that the "image" of the Church is quite different than its reality. I am not a doctor, but it is apparent that the Body of Christ is suffering from a fatal disease, which must be cured. This was the case during Jesus’ earthly ministry, in Luther’s time, and now.

Church Exposure

I recently spoke with some friends with whom I had no contact for a decade. Prior to this separation, we had discussed our differences concerning the manifestation of spiritual gifts. They are cessationists. I am charismatic. We agreed to disagree.

I reached out to them after a year of deconstructing my views about the charismatic church. It turns out that we are more alike than we are different. Our conclusion concerning the state of institutionalized Christianity is similar. The Church structure seems to revolve more around money and reputation than it does true individual discipleship. A person can feel like they are following the Lord by checking the box of regular church attendance, and even regular participation in church activities and service, but still have no true sense of community. Their "pastor" may not know their name or even notice if they stop coming. Most "shepherds" would not leave the 99 to go after the one. If someone is causing any kind of problem or controversy that could damage the reputation of the ministry, they are discredited. This is not the case in every church, but it is more common than it is not. No wonder house churches are becoming more popular. My friends and I still do not agree on matters concerning the gifts of the spirit, but it was evident that they are faithfully training up their children according to the Scriptures. They agreed that my husband and I are doing likewise, and we ended the conversation praying for one another.

From my perspective, the Church had previously been a constant place of safety. Every leader had been a faithful shepherd. I had seen their shortcomings as well as my own, but they had proven trustworthy, nonetheless. My friends asked me what changed. Exposure. I began to see the true picture, which had been covered by a false narrative.

Sadly, instead of recognizing and treating the cancer, the Church has become obsessed with preserving its image. In many cases, the Church has failed its shepherds. Concerning individual discipleship, much takes place without proper boundaries. Too often a leader is elevated to a place of prominence without guidance about how to be accountable or deal with temptation and sin. When they stumble, they may never expose their failure for fear of losing their position. One sin leads to another until it remains hidden.

I believe that Satan has deceived many leaders into believing habitual sins do not need to be exposed or dealt with because they are "forgiven." Unfortunately, habitual sins can become addictive patterns. Big name leaders may need help but are not be able to get it because of their power and position. This leads them to justify, rationalize, control the narrative, and protect their name and ministry. Exposure in the Church is happening because sin has not been brought into the light. Jesus will have a pure and spotless Bride. He is turning over tables and confronting leaders in the Church because we must be holy as He is holy.

Intercessor Insights

The following post is of initial thoughts by a long standing IHOP-KC intercessor.

Jess Gjerstad, February 6

LONG POST alert: I began putting together thoughts on Feb. 4th but it takes time to cohesively put them together in such a heart breaking story.

Some initial thoughts: Having read through the 3rd party investigative report by Tikkun/firefly and listened to Deborah's testimony; I would have added to the report (perhaps in the summary or conclusions):

One reason why BICKLE was able to manipulate people so easily using the prophetic is because there was a history of specific prophetic words coming to pass on very specific timeframes in the 1980's-2000's that are external to BICKLE. (Giving documented examples.) Some Interviewed survivors (IS) directly witnessed these fulfillment events. Thus, the interviewed survivors of BICKLE were and are not easily "gullible" by 'prophetic words'. This unusual dynamic greatly aggravates this particular case of Clergy abuse. (Note: the initial firefly survey did not ask for documentation of specific incidents of prophetic words that came to pass on exact timeframes.)

Now some of my initial reactions:

1. I am so grateful to Tikkun international and firefly for serving the rest of the Body of Christ.

2. I am grateful and inspired by the courage of all Interviewed Survivors (IS) who came forward. Thank you also for the Advocate group (AG) for courage to confront Mike Bickle.

3. I am grieved over how some of IHOP-KC leaders I initially trusted with the BICKLE mess (specifically GREAVES, SLIKER, LAGUARDIA, FULLER as mentioned in report) did not give the full picture to the IHOPKC staff of the evidence the AG group had presented to them, forcing me to not directly address this (as I did not have eyewitness evidence to help with the investigation). Others who were eyewitnesses had done this.

4. I would like to apologize for any remarks or comments on Facebook or other places that were (or could be viewed as) insensitive to the pain survivors deal with as the result of Clergy S*xual Abuse (CSA) and abuse of spiritual authority.

5. CSA/ clear abuse of Spiritual authority puts any perpetrators (i.e. BICKLE and possibly others) in grave eternal danger based on Matthew 18:6; James 3:1; Ezekiel 34:1-10 without bearing the fruit of repentance even if they have an evangelical "confession of faith".

6. GREATLY aggravating this case of CSA/abuse of spiritual authority is that God entrusted supernatural encounters/manifest spiritual authority (specific prophetic words coming to pass in detail, other large-scale supernatural events) to BICKLE. There are specific biblical warnings that apply here: Deuteronomy 13:1-8; Matthew 7:15-23; Matthew 24:48-51; Luke 12:35-47; Hebrews 6:4-8; Hebrews 10: 26-31. In essence, these passages warn those who are given this type of authority and systematically abuse it are in grave eternal danger without bearing the fruit of repentance (even if they have an evangelical "confession of faith").

7. I am grieved over the "deliberate indifference" of ELT leaders GREAVES, SLIKER, LAGUARDIA, FULLER, (as named in the report) and others for allowing this to continue for so long at IHOP-KC, and thus, causing division and contributing to "a civil war of words" that has greatly defiled the whole body of Christ.

8. MIKE BICKLE's predatory behavior and egregious CSA points to a deeper systemic problem within the Pentecostal/Charismatic church concerning understanding of "the anointing", authority, and why abuse is tolerated. This needs to be addressed but is beyond the scope of initial reactions.

Karli’s Story

Cherie Nicholson, FB Post, February 5

Yesterday, after over a year of detangling the crisis of IHOPKC, a third party investigation report was released. It details behaviors and patterns that were absolutely unacceptable by a world renowned leader and married man in the Body of Christ. Some still dismiss the stories of at least 17 survivors who experienced trauma from spiritual abuse by Mike Bickle at IHOPKC. This abuse is not limited to 20-30 years ago. The same dangerous patterns have continued. Neither was spiritual abuse limited to Mike Bickle and females who he "discipled." Dozens of testimonies have emerged, many untold to the public. Most never shared. Some because of shame, others because of the belief that their story was unique. Many casualties have occurred for decades. Most have been discounted with the words "They're just offended and bitter." Regardless of how you feel about "Deborah Perkins" and her actions in sharing her story publicly, it was necessary in order to break open the dam of systemic abuse within IHOPKC and the larger body of Christ. Those who have suffered in silence are gaining their voices. Jesus is coming for a pure and spotless Bride. The exposure is from Him. He is shining HIS light in the dark areas that have been falsely covered in a cloak of "righteousness." When the Lord comes to make the wrong things right, it's messy!

Thank you, Karli Venable, for your voice:

"There is power and freedom when truth rings out in silence; when light shines on dark places. So many of us have been on a journey of finding our voice related to our experiences at ihopkc. In the wake of the report being released, I wanted to share some of my own story publicly for the first time."

You can read it on Substack using the link below.

He Groomed EVERYONE!

Here’s a breakdown of the report by “Preacher Boys” on YouTube:

Thank You, Tikkuun!

Cherie Nicholson, FB Post, February 5

Tikkuun Global, Thank you for your diligence to search out matters on Mike Bicke. There's still so much. The cover up started long before IHOPKC. There are more stories and survivors who need healing from abuse because of how ministries MB led did not handle sin appropriately. Of course, it goes well beyond the doors of these ministries. The entire western church is in need of reformation. Thank you for doing your part.

See Ron Cantor's explanation on his post.

Ron Cantor

Last October, two days after the horrific attacks in Israel, Mike Bickle was confronted by Deborah Perkin's (formally Jane Doe 1) husband regarding a multi-year affair that Bickle had manipulated through grooming in the '90s. It was only years later that Deborah understood that she had been a victim of clergy sexual abuse. You can hear her whole story.

Bickle denied, then later confessed to that one thing, then another thing, then he was accused by Tammy Woods, who was just 14 when he started molesting her. Then he just shut up.

In June, a group that became known as the "Advocate Group" asked Tikkun if we would oversee an investigation. We invited Ihopkc to endorse this investigation, but they refused. The results are in. Mike Bickle was a skilled, manipulative sexual abuser. 17 survivors came forward.

Jane Doe: Deborah Perkins

Watch both video interviews with Deborah:

Conclusion?

Abuse of any kind should never be tolerated or covered up by Church leaders. When something is discovered, even if it was decades ago, we cannot just sweep it under the rug and act like nothing happened. It is like an infection that will continue to fester. Patterns of abuse are not isolated events. They continue in present times. If untreated these infections in ministries can become deadly. There is a systemic problem in the foundations of the Church. Before we can rebuild, fatal cracks must be exposed. Some structures must even be demolished.

Be sure to go back and read previous posts to follow my journey of processing and detangling the IHOP-KC crisis.