In a deeply honest and emotional conversation on Green Room, a podcast hosted by Sydney and Chloe—both pastor’s kids raised inside the International House of Prayer in Kansas City (IHOPKC)—guest Jedidiah Hartley shared his firsthand experiences growing up in the orbit of Mike Bickle’s ministry.
What followed was a raw, eye-opening reflection on spiritual manipulation, childhood trauma, and the struggle to reclaim identity, family, and faith after years inside a high-control religious environment.
Jedidiah Hartley: A Childhood Intertwined with the Kansas City Prophetic Movement
Jed’s connection to IHOPKC runs deep. His mother was groomed by Mike Bickle at age 15, years before the ministry officially began. His father, Bob Hartley, became a known prophetic figure tied to the early Kansas City Fellowship—before IHOPKC launched in 1999.
Born in 1991, Jed was immersed in this world from infancy. Homeschooled and often in the trailers that housed the early prayer room, he remembers the now-haunting carpet humps, a staple gun in hand, and the eerie nostalgia of a place that shaped so much of his early life.
“My identity was fastened to the prophetic stories told by my father and Mike Bickle. That’s the version of Christianity I was given.”
Prophecy, Performance, and the Pressure to Save the World
As the conversation unfolded, Jed explained how the intense spiritual atmosphere consumed his family’s daily life. His mother was a prayer leader. His father traveled, speaking prophetically across the country. Inside IHOPKC’s culture, spiritual fervor wasn’t optional—it was expected.
“We weren’t just living our faith on Sundays. It was every day. It was our school, our social life, our reality.”
Jed described growing up with an inner anguish that IHOP encouraged—agonizing prayers, spiritual warfare, and pressure to be the generation that would usher in Jesus’ return. But behind the scenes, things weren’t lining up. Healing prophecies didn’t come true. People stayed sick. Some died. No one talked about it.
The Awakening and Aftermath, Jedidiah Hartley Explains
Reflecting on the 2010 IHOPKC “Awakening,” the hosts and Jed shared stories of over-hyped revivalism, emotional manipulation, and the post-revival crash that left many disillusioned and broken.
“We were told to move mountains with our prayers… but nothing changed. We were exhausted and empty.”
In the wake of revival came scandal. Young women were paraded on stage to share trauma testimonies, retraumatized repeatedly in the name of “ministry.” There was no real pastoral care—just pressure to perform.
Exposing the Fraud: Jedidiah Hartley Relationship with His Father Bob Hartley
One of the most heartbreaking parts of Jed’s story is his eventual realization that his father’s prophetic ministry was built on lies.
“He told stories about our childhood that never happened. He cried on stage about fictional moments.”
It wasn’t until age 27 that Jed fully grasped the extent of the deception. His father had used Jed’s saved Google passwords—left on an old computer—to access his emails, bank accounts, and schoolwork. Then he weaponized that private information as “prophetic insight.”
“That’s when I realized—he’s not just stretching the truth. He’s lying. And he’s not well.”
Today, Jed has no meaningful relationship with his father, who continues bouncing between Kansas City and Redding, CA. Despite multiple interventions, Jed says his father clings to the illusion of his prophetic identity—helped by those who benefit from his name.
A Fractured Faith, Not a Forgotten One
When asked how this journey has shaped his faith Jedidiah Hartley shared something profound:
“People always say, ‘Don’t let this define your faith.’ But it does. It will define my understanding of God and Christianity forever. I can’t separate the two.”
He no longer identifies as a Christian, though he still holds deep values of compassion and love rooted in the parables he once believed. “I didn’t worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,” he said. “I worshipped the God of Bob Hartley, Mike Bickle, and Bob Jones.”
Still, Jed speaks up—not to destroy, but to expose the truth and protect others from similar harm.
“There’s so much accountability expected from the abused, and none from the abusers. People say I’m bitter. Yeah, maybe. But I’m also telling the truth.”
Closing Thoughts: Let Survivors Speak
Jedidiah Hartley’s story is one of loss, clarity, and courage. For anyone questioning the power dynamics and spiritual abuse in charismatic spaces, this interview is a vital piece of the puzzle.
You can listen to the full episode on Green Room—a space where pastor’s kids peel back the curtain on their upbringing, faith, and the fallout.
If you or someone you know grew up in IHOPKC or a similar high-control ministry and is struggling to make sense of it all, you are not alone.
Truth-telling is the first step toward healing.
For more related articles visit our blog or homepage to learn more about what’s been covered up for decades. Definitely check out Green Room Podcast on Youtube for more IHOPKC related content.
