Approximately 3 years ago my son told me he was going to 'study to be in the ministry' (I was thrilled) and that he would be doing this in Kansas
City, MO. The International House of Prayer. I was so happy that my child wanted to become a minister. How many parents have gone through this? -The joy,
the thrill, the thumbs up attitude?
Well my husband told me that he had researching IHOP. He further went on to say that after researching International House of Prayer - IHOP - in Kansas City,
that it was his determination that IHOP was NOT a good thing. I was furious - not at IHOP but rather, my husband for even thinking that our son would ever
fall into something that wasn't Christ centered! I mean, our kid loved Jesus. He'd never fall for something that wasn't of God!
So I went to Google, typed in 'IHOP' and 'cult'. I was going to prove him wrong! After researching IHOP for the next three weeks I told him
that I was in a state of total disbelief. IHOP had all the ear marks of being a cult.
Well I was saddened by what I'd learned but I still knew my son and I just KNEW that he'd be interested in what I'd learned and would probably not
want to stay in it after he did his own research. So... I called him up and told him that I had been doing some research and that I had some serious
reservations about what I'd learned about IHOP. I also told him that I felt it looked like it may be a possible cult.
It was at this point in time that I noticed that he was no longer calling me. No longer e-mailing me. No longer returning phone messages or e-mails. It was
as if he'd fallen off the face of the planet. This went on for about 2 months. So... one Saturday morning I jumped my car and drove 3 hours to Kansas
City. To make a long story short, I hadn't been in his home for 5 minutes and he was yelling at me, saying "YOU JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND" at the
top of his lungs. It was at this point in time that he told me to leave his home. It was a long and sad drive home.
After some serious prayer, I contacted one of the people WAY HIGH at the top of the IHOP ladder asking them if they would please get my son to communicate with
me again. I explained the whole thing from the beginning. I promised that I would not say anything negative about IHOP or try to get my son to leave. I just
wanted to 'have a relationship with my son again'. This person wrote back saying he'd 'get with him'. I was glad I'd asked him to do
that...
A week went by and I received an e-mail from my son. He said he'd received 'older and wiser counsel' (at IHOP) and had decided that I was to
receive NO communication (no e-mails, letters or visits) for 'one year.. at least'. This was back in September. Next week will begin the fourth month
of silence.
My conclusion about IHOP at this time is this: that Christ centered ministries encourage their members to honor their parents and that Christ centered
ministries do not recommend their members cut off communication with those who love them. i.e. that IHOP is not behaving as a Christ centered ministry with
regards to how they've recommended my son cut off all ties.
I am praying God would lift the veil of deception off my son's eyes. Allow him to truly see the error in what he's hearing/learning. GOTW, Bridal
Pardigm, Harp and Bowl - error. No one is going to 'hasten' the return of our Lord Jesus. Not by any means. I could go on and on.
Lord! Please remove the veil of deception from his eyes!
p.s. IHOP has sessions noting 'signs and wonders'. My Bible says: An evil generation seeks after signs and wonders..
