International House of Prayer

The International House of Prayer (IHOPKC), an organization in Kansas City established in 1999 by Mike Bickle, is a very influential part of the New Apostolic Reformation's (NAR) apostolic network. IHOPKC is known for its 24/7 prayer and worship services and its emphasis on prophetic and apostolic authority. The organization is frequently under fire for its lack of accountability, especially after former members began claiming that members of the leadership were grooming them for sex.[1] 

Rev. Paul Cain, a member of William Branham's "Message" cult of personality from 1951[2] until his death in 2019[3], claimed that an angel (later named "Emma" by Bob Jones) was leading the efforts of a group of men known as the "Kansas City Prophets" as the Kansas City Fellowship was established during the 1980s.[4] This was allegedly the same "angel" that William Branham used in his healing revivals. These ties to Branham continued as the formation of IHOPKC began. In 1983, Mike Bickle launched a series of revival campaigns that would later become known as "The Prophetic History" by members of his cult of personality. According to Bickle, the most significant date was May 7th, which he claimed to be spiritually linked to William Branham's alleged angelic visitation. It was during this May event that Bickle claimed to have received revelation for the 24/7 prayer system. Interestingly, Bickle also linked the event to Cairo Egypt.[5] William Branham claimed that the Great Pyramid of Khufu in Cairo was the "first Bible."[6]

Now William Branham. How many of you ever heard of William Branham? Had the great probably the greatest miracle ministry in the 20th century in terms of Revelation. The word of knowledge, a word of wisdom.  William Branham said that on May 7th, 1946, an angel appeared to him and he said "I'm going to anoint you with the gift of healing. The angel ministered that gift to him. He saw the Angel on May 7th, 1946[7]
- Mike Bickle

Through Cain, many of William Branham's Christian Identity doctrines were transferred into core IHOPKC theology. Cain claimed to have had a vision of seeing buildings and stadiums filled with banners declaring "Joel's Army in Training,"[8] a theme that emerged from the Christian Identity framework in the early years of Latter Rain.[9]  According to this theology, an elite group of Christians would emerge as "Manifest Sons of God."[10] Bickle continued the allegiance to Branham by using the "May the 7th" theme for the opening of IHOPKC. On May 7, 1999, the International House of Prayer was launched in mobile homes on Grandview Road in Kansas City.[11]