Lawsuit alleges IHOPKC failed to act when minor was sexually harassed, bullied at retreat
Leaders of the International House of Prayer-Kansas City failed to take action when a minor boy was sexually harassed, abused and bullied at a youth retreat in Oklahoma last fall, a new lawsuit alleges.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Jackson County Circuit Court by an adult on behalf of the minor, names as defendants IHOPKC and its umbrella organization, the International House of Prayer-Forerunner Christian Fellowship. It’s the first case filed against IHOPKC since a sex abuse scandal involving founder Mike Bickle erupted in October 2023.
The suit comes as a third-party investigation is underway into allegations of sexual misconduct at IHOPKC and coverup by its leaders.
“During the same weekend when allegations of Mike Bickle’s abuses were coming to light, our minor client attended a youth retreat hosted by IHOPKC,” said Boz Tchividjian, one of the attorneys representing the plaintiff. “While at the retreat, our client was victimized by another student and immediately reported the abuse to church leaders.
“Tragically, the church leaders failed to take action, allowing the same student to victimize our client a second time. This incident highlights IHOPKC’s systemic failures in preventing and addressing abuse, causing profound harm to untold numbers of victims while empowering untold numbers of offenders.”
IHOPKC leaders did not immediately respond Wednesday to a request for comment.
According to the lawsuit, the minor, a Missouri resident, attended a fall youth retreat sponsored by IHOPKC-Forerunner Christian Fellowship at Sky Ranch in Quapaw, Oklahoma, between Oct. 27 and Oct. 29, 2023.
The retreat, the suit says, was advertised as “a weekend where our teens can have fun, encounter the Lord, and connect with their friends and leaders.”
At the retreat, the lawsuit says, the minor was subjected to sexual harassment and abuse by another minor who also was attending the event. It said the perpetrator:
▪ tried multiple times to enter the bathroom stall while the plaintiff was using it
▪ yelled the plaintiff’s name in a taunting tone whenever he saw the plaintiff and rubbed his hands together “while giving a disturbing smile”
▪ walked up behind the plaintiff and gently stroked his arm, back and neck, making the plaintiff feel “incredibly uncomfortable”
▪ while shirtless, laid on plaintiff’s bed next to him and refused to leave despite repeated protests
▪ announced to other minors in the dorm room that plaintiff was “having wet dreams,” which “was both untrue and extremely embarrassing and humiliating” for plaintiff
▪ stalked plaintiff around the ranch in a manner that made him “very uncomfortable”
▪ walked up behind plaintiff during a worship event and caressed his buttocks, then “proceeded to stick his finger in between Minor Plaintiff’s butt cheeks through his pants,” causing plaintiff emotional distress
“IHOPKC/FCF leaders were aware that Minor Perpetrator had a history of concerning sexual and abusing behavior towards other minors prior to allowing Minor Perpetrator to go on this trip,” the lawsuit says.
As the bullying and abuse “grew more brazen and severe,” the suit alleges, the plaintiff repeatedly reported the conduct to the leaders.
“IHOPKC/FCF leaders witnessed several Minor Perpetrator’s acts of bullying and abuse towards Minor Plaintiff and did not intervene,” the lawsuit says. “Though repeatedly promising Minor Plaintiff that they would address the matter, IHOPKC/FCF leaders failed (to) respond to Minor Plaintiff’s repeated reports of bullying and abuse from Minor Perpetrator.”
As a direct result of the leaders’ failure to act, the lawsuit says, the plaintiff “has suffered and will continue to suffer significant diagnosable injuries and damages including, but not limited to emotional distress, pain and suffering, economic damages, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of his personal sense of security, and other psychological and emotional injuries.”
The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and unspecified damages. A case management conference is scheduled for March 10.
The sexual abuse allegations against Bickle were made public last October, leading IHOPKC to “immediately, formally and permanently separate” from him and causing upheaval in the charismatic prayer movement. Bickle is accused of using prophecies to groom, sexually abuse and manipulate women over multiple decades, one starting when she was just 14.
The youth retreat in Oklahoma was held the same weekend that IHOPKC leaders announced the allegations against Bickle.
Bickle, 69, issued his only public statement on Dec. 12, admitting that he had “sinned” and “my moral failures were real.” But he was vague on details. In a lengthy note posted on X, Bickle said his “inappropriate behavior” occurred more than 20 years ago, but he did not admit to engaging in any sexual misconduct.
