Where Worship Never Pauses

[groovedaddy]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The worship music, throbbing soft-rock appeals performed by live bands, has continued here without pause, day and night, since May 1999. Voices calling to Jesus or pleading with God to help tornado victims or make Congress ban abortion resound in an auditorium that is the physical and spiritual heart of the International House of Prayer, a Christian ministry rapidly blossoming into a movement.

Founded 12 years ago by Mike Bickle, a self-trained evangelical pastor, with a group of 20, the International House of Prayer, in a former strip mall, now draws tens of thousands of worshipers to its revival meetings. A wholly devoted cadre of 1,000 staff members, labeled missionaries, have given up careers to move here, living off donations and spending several hours a day in the prayer hall to revel in what they describe as direct communication with God. Another thousand students attend the adjacent Bible college, preparing to spread this fervent brand of Christianity.

The well-populated prayer room and the devout community growing up around it are at the epicenter of a little known but expanding national network: dozens of groups that are stressing perpetual prayer in a way seldom seen in modern America, said Marcus Yoars, the editor of Charisma, an evangelical magazine. Many of them were inspired by the operation here, though none have maintained such an elaborate 24-hour system of worship, seen around the world on a live webcast.

Mr. Bickle has won praise from many evangelicals, but he has also been criticized by some pastors for what they describe as unorthodox theology and a cultish atmosphere, charges that Mr. Bickle rejects. Some former students said they had been expelled for questioning the fascination with mystical healings, prophesies, angels and demons.

The ministry has also drawn fire for helping Gov. Rick Perry of Texas plan a day of prayer in Houston, which is scheduled for August and will be dominated by ardent opponents of abortion and gay rights.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/10/us/10prayer.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha23

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. Republicans taught me to HATE churches. They do nothing but damage our country nt

[RKP5637]

3. Agree a zillion percent. Religion has been one of the great evils inflicted

on mankind.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

5. Totally. I started out tolerant about churches. Now? Now I find them demonic. nt

[RKP5637]

7. Years ago I never had a problem with religion, I figured that was their

choice to believe what they wanted ... but now we have those wanting a theocracy for a gov. in the US. Wanting to force everyone to believe just the way they do.

It's no longer about religion, it's about politics and trying to take over the country.

Of course, religion always was all about politics, domination and control, and often forcing people physically and mentally to comply. All one needs do is listen to Bachmann for a few minutes. It's quite clear what the intent and goal is ...

[RKP5637]

2. Gee, maybe they should think about praying for all of the crime to end in KC, just

to validate their prayer efforts. No doubt all of this is tax free.

[dmallind]

4. No no all Christians are sophisticated theologians seeking only social justice

The only kind of church that could grow from 20 to tens of thousands and from one person to 1000 staff members in 12 yrs is one dedicated to universal hell-less salvation, inclusion and non-confrontation. Evangelical warriors focused on angels, demons and faith healings are a tiny minority who just give the majority a bad name. At least that's what DU believers assure me is the truth.

[trotsky]

6. Correct.

The "mainline" denominations are all about social justice, a liberal political agenda, and so forth.

Pay no attention to the endless surveys indicating that a majority of US Christians reject evolution, homosexuality, and the like. They are NOT MAINLINE, I tell you!

[dimbear]

8. The pagan temples of Imperial Rome burned eternal fires.

Lucky for us that sort of satanic nonsense is dead.

[rrneck]

9. Mo money! Mo money! nt