On May 7, 1999, the International House of Prayer of Kansas City (IHOPKC) was founded by Mike Bickle and twenty full-time “intercessory missionaries,” who cried out to God in prayer with worship for thirteen hours each day. Four months later, on September 19, 1999, prayer and worship extended to the full 24/7 schedule. The International House of Prayer is an evangelical missions organization that
is committed to praying for the release of the fullness of God’s power and purpose, as we actively win the lost, heal the sick, feed the poor, make disciples, and impact every sphere of society—family, education, government, economy, arts, media, religion, etc. Our vision is to work in relationship with the Body of Christ to serve the Great Commission, as we seek to walk out the two great commandments to love God and people. Who We Are
The Lord has called us to be a community of believers committed to God, each other, and to establishing and maintaining a 24/7 house of prayer in Kansas City—a perpetual solemn assembly gathering corporately to fast and pray, in the spirit of the tabernacle of David. We are committed to prayer, fasting, the Great Commission, and to living as forerunners, spiritually preparing for the unique dynamics of the end times. The work of our ministry includes equipping and sending out missionaries as dedicated intercessors and evangelists who work to see revival within the Church and a harvest among those searching for God. We take seriously the mandate to train believers to love Jesus and others wholeheartedly as together we go forth to preach the Word, heal the sick, serve the poor, plant houses of prayer, and proclaim the return of Jesus across the earth. Two figures from the Bible who inspire us in this are Anna, one of the first evangelists and intercessors in the New Testament, who prayed and fasted for over sixty years before Jesus’ first coming (Lk. 2:37), and King David who organized and paid 4,000 musicians and 288 singers to worship God night and day (1 Chr. 23:1–25:31). Intercessory Missionaries
We refer to our full-time staff at the International House of Prayer as “intercessory missionaries.” They raise their own support to work as full-time missionaries who reach out to others from a lifestyle of prayer and worship. Today, about 2,000 believers (staff, students, and interns) serve full-time, investing fifty hours per week, as they go from the prayer room to the classroom and then to ministry outreaches and works of service. Also, as those who are committed to the forerunner message, we are spiritually equipping ourselves to prepare others for the unique dynamics of the generation in which the Lord returns. Our vision is to prepare thousands of full-time intercessory missionaries who, like John the Baptist, live a lifestyle of discipline and devotion to God. As forerunner messengers, their lives and voices cry out, “Prepare the way of the Lord!” We invite you to visit the prayer room in person or join us online via the free live webstream. Join with us as we set our hearts to love God, worship Him alone, and dedicate our lives to serving Him without reservation; to demonstrate our love for others in works of service, justice, outreach, and compassion; and to proclaim the return of Jesus. Combining 24/7 Prayers for Justice with 24/7 Works of Justice
On September 19, 2009, while celebrating our ten-year anniversary together, we made a sober commitment before God to combine 24/7 prayers for justice with 24/7 works of justice until the Lord returns. Outreach has always been a vital part of our mission. However, at that time, we set our heart to significantly increase our outreach and ministry to others outside our missions base. Thus, we are developing many new outreach ministries that will continue 24/7 alongside our 24/7 prayer and worship. Outreach
Our ministries and outreaches include increasing our current inner-city outreach with on-site food distribution, discipleship programs, provision of food and clothing for our children’s outreaches, street clean-up, and a prayer room operating in the inner city several hours every day, working towards night-and-day prayer. Other outreaches include Children’s Justice Initiative to serve orphans and children at risk, and Exodus Cry helping victims of human trafficking. We are partnering with Women’s Life Center, a local crisis pregnancy center helping women who refuse abortion and choose life. In the future we plan to provide homes and restoration programs for victims of human trafficking and domestic violence, and prostitutes who respond to the gospel. We believe we are better equipped for ministry when our lives are rooted in prayer and worship and focused on intimacy with God, as we intercede for a breakthrough of the fullness of God’s power. The 24/7 Prayer Room
On September 19, 1999, a prayer meeting began which continues to this day; from dawn to dusk and through the watches of the night, by the grace of God, prayer and worship have continued twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The prayer room is the foundation of all ministry and outreach at the IHOPKC Missions Base. Scripture teaches that night-and-day prayer is deeply connected to the release of the fullness of God’s power and purpose (Lk. 18:7–8; Isa. 62:6–7). We are offering Jesus unremitting adoration and taking a stand in prayer for the manifestation of God’s justice in every realm of life. A History of the Prayer Movement
Around 1000 BC, King David established a tabernacle in Jerusalem and set a precedent of night and day worship before the Lord that continued at various times throughout Israel and Judah’s history. Each time this order of worship was reintroduced, spiritual breakthrough, deliverance and military victory followed. Likewise, throughout the centuries, groups in Ireland, Germany, South Korea, and elsewhere across the globe have established day and night centers of prayer and worship. Following in this tradition, in 1999 the International House of Prayer started a prayer and worship meeting in Kansas City. Community
The following documents are given as a help and encouragement to us all to live out a happy, healthy, and holy lifestyle. Community Life
Time Management
Health, Exercise, and Nutrition
Fasting Guidelines and Information
