Episode 7: International House of Prayer Kansas City – a pseudo-church in scandal

Nikki G is back with us to talk about International House of Prayer, Kansas City—otherwise known as IHOPKC—and all the fallout of abuse that has been happening since Jo from @_bytheirfruit is also joining us as she’s been doing the work of educating about spiritual abuse in this community for a long time.

What has been going on at IHOPKC, and are there any red flags that might point to a cult-like environment? From love bombing to indoctrination to a gospel of fear, there is a lot to discuss. IHOP specifically reaches (targets?) young people who are passionate, but all too often, they exploit them. Jo shares her experience protesting at the prayer room.

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Nikki G. is a Life Coach and Advanced Certified Trauma Recovery Coach (in training) who helps survivors recover and thrive after Narcissistic Abuse, Religious Trauma/Spiritual Abuse & Cult involvement/High Demand Groups. She is also a survivor of multiple narcissistic relationships, religious trauma as well as a former member of multiple cultic communities.

Nikki is the CEO of Nikki G Speaks LLC, which exists to support survivors with individual coaching services, online courses, and other various forms of psychoeducation related to religious trauma, narcissistic abuse, and cult involvement. She educates and empowers survivors to reclaim their lives and embrace the journey to “come back home” to self.

Nikki is a co-host of the podcast “Surviving the Black Church” where she and co-hosts delve into conversations regarding religious trauma within the Black Church. She also sits on the board of directors for a non-profit organization called Tears of Eden (which supports survivors who have experienced abuse in the evangelical community). Nikki is a member of the IAOTRC (International Association of Trauma Recovery Coaching), where she co-facilitated a Religious Trauma Cohort Group for coaches. She is also a member of the ICSA (International Cultic Studies Association), where she keeps abreast of the latest information regarding spiritual abuse, cults, and how trauma and abuse affects survivors.

To connect with Nikki for individual coaching, online collective community, or future speaking engagements, you can find her at www.nikkigspeaks.com.

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Jo worked in Domestic Violence advocacy for ten years after earning a bachelors in Psychology, Minor in Biblical Studies and certificate of Urban Studies from Wheaton College in IL. She spent a total of six years at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City (IHOP-KC) where she earned a certificate of Musicianship at the unaccredited International House of Prayer University.

During her Bible and Music instruction at IHOPU, Jo was unable to name the unhealthy environment that surrounded her, but she knew something was amiss. Her work and training in domestic violence at a local nonprofit led her to an understanding of the coercive and spiritually abusive environment she’d encountered during her six years with the International House of Prayer.

She created the website bytheirfruit.org and Instagram page of the same name where she blogs and shares resources around Spiritual Abuse. Jo had been writing and raising awareness of the many wounded by IHOP-KC for two years when clergy abuse allegations by Mike Bickle were announced last fall. She advocates through continued coverage of the crisis and offers education and resources along with a platform for survivors of IHOP-KC to tell their stories with an upcoming podcast.

Website: bytheirfruit.org

Instagram: _bytheirfruit

Twitter/X: @_bytheirfruit

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/

TikTok: @ihopkcaccountable

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