Western New Yorkers visit house of prayer
in Kansas City

by Rustie Dimitriadis
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, April 22, 2005

The name “IHOP” undoubtedly brings thoughts of pancakes into many people's minds. But to a group of Western New Yorkers, the acronym has an entirely different meaning. Recently, six members of a Grand Island Bible study group traveled to the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Missouri for a Christian conference.

IHOP-KC is part of a “missions base” established back in September of 1999 and is home to a 24-hour-a-day prayer and worship movement in the spirit of the Old Testament tabernacle of David.

Mike and Anne Rizzo of Lockport first visited IHOP back in February 2004. Their teenage son, Justin, was a participant in the “One Thing” internship for young adults seeking to prioritize their lives around pursuing one thing: God.

“We fell in love with IHOP on our first visit,” says Mike. “It’s inspiring to think that they’ve been praying 24/7 for over five years.”

What would prompt others to make the 1,000 mile trek to Kansas City? Jan Popielski of South Buffalo was drawn to IHOP because she saw it as “a community of believers with a dedicated purpose of seeking God’s heart in intimacy.”

“We read in the local papers of all the destruction caused by young people,” Popielski observed. “It’s really refreshing to see what God is doing in the younger generation. It’s amazing to see a group of young people who are free to be who they are in Christ.”

The house of prayer was the longtime vision of former pastor Mike Bickle, who was instrumental in establishing the IHOP Missions Base. Bickle, who had always felt called as an intercessor, resigned as pastor of his 3,000-member Kansas City church in order to direct IHOP.

The missions base is committed to prayer, fasting, evangelism, and preparing the Church as a bride for the end times. At the heart of IHOP’s training and outreach ministries is the “prayer room.” In this large room resembling a church sanctuary, trained teams of musicians, singers, and prayer leaders lead 84 two-hour prayer meetings weekly.

Every two hours, day and night, seven days a week, there is a nearly seamless transition of worship teams. Worship sets have various emphases, from intercession for the nation of Israel to worshiping God with Scripture. Those who come to the prayer room are free to dance, sing, read, meditate, and pray. Some sets feature an open mic, allowing for spontaneous prayer from those in attendance, while other sets are quieter devotional times.

Currently, there are over 400 on full-time staff at IHOP-KC. Of these, a majority are young people like Justin, who raises his own monthly support as a full-time intercessory missionary. Upon graduation from his internship, Justin was offered a work scholarship, which eventually led to a worship leader position.

Aside from administrative duties, Justin's unconventional job description includes spending a minimum of 20-30 hours a week in the prayer room. In addition to singing and playing guitar, piano, and drums on several different worship teams, Justin finds himself spending a vast majority of his time in the prayer room seeking God in worship and intercession.

As well as overseeing daily operations, Bickle also directs IHOP’s Forerunner School of Ministry, a full-time Bible school offering various programs designed to train and equip students for specialized ministry. The school recently began offering classes online. For more information on FSM or IHOP-KC, visit www.ihop.org.

The missions base also runs a bookstore and coffee shop, in addition to hosting monthly teaching conferences. The Children’s Equipping Center at IHOP seeks to integrate children into active ministry involvement. The Simeon Company Program attracts those 50 and over who are mature in their faith and looking for ways to cultivate deeper intimacy with God and develop their ministry gifts.

The impact on those who recently attended the house of prayer is undeniable. “It’s impacted me to know that God truly likes me,” said Popielski. “My relationship with Him does not come out of a religious obligation. I’m in love with Him! Because of that, I can partner with Him for what’s on His heart for the region of Western New York.”