Sharing Their Stories

This weekend I was able to read and respond to some of the emails I have received over the course of the last four weeks.  The Bethany Deaton case being linked to my novel, House of Lies, has driven many to share their stories.

I have to be honest and say that a lot of these letters are hard to read because they either cause me to feel saddened or angry; and sometimes a mixture of both.  These negative emotions are often difficult for me to shake.  Thus, I have to force myself to step away from them for a while and focus on all of the wonderful things in the world.

I want to share excerpts from a couple of emails that deeply touched me.

 

Email #1

“I pray for your protection and strength each and every day so that our Lord would continue to give you the determination to expose the truth about IHOP and that He may use you and your writing to shed His light on their ways of deceit.”

 

Email #2

“After coming out of IHOP, I vowed never to believe in anything prophetic again but, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, I believe your novel was prophetic and is being used as an instrument of truth against the dangers I know are ever present in IHOP.  I pray for your diligence and stamina in this fight as you battle the enemy.”

 

Email #3

“I came out of IHOPU last year and I’ve been struggling to find my way.  It was like every part of me was stripped down and there was nothing left but darkness.  I’ve been so afraid to speak up, I’ve had no confidence and when I read your blog and some of the other blogs like yours and saw your book, I felt like I wasn’t alone anymore, like you and others understand and know the truth and there’s light in the darkness now.  Thank you.”

 

Email #4

“You book doesn’t show IHOP perfectly but it shows the demonic undertones realistically and it shows how brainwashed and deceived everyone inside truly is.  I was there for six years.  I know Mike Bickle personally and I can tell you he is no longer a man serving the Lord.  He serves himself now, his ego.  He’s made everything up, its all false, its all a money making scheme.  If we all come together we can expose the truth.  I’m praying for you.”

 

 

Usually, upon reading an email, I feel weighted down and I say a prayer for the sender; knowing they are hurting.  After reading these, I felt uplifted and for that, I am grateful. 

To everyone who has written to me…. Thank you.  I will respond to each email as quickly as I can.

As for my novel, Houseof Lies.  I can’t speak to the suggestions that it is somehow prophetic.  It is a fiction book.  However, if God uses fiction to expose the truth… so be it.

~

Another Broken Family in IHOP's Wake

I want to share an email I received from a woman named Julie.  She wrote:

Dear Susan,

I read your book House of Lies and I was in tears part way through because my son is in IHOP in Kansas City and I haven’t spoken with him in over a year.  He stopped returning my calls after telling me he was advised to ‘fast from his family.’ He believes that IHOP is his true family and that his life’s focus is to pray in the end of the world, to be in God’s end time army.  He’s left myself, my husband and his two little sisters behind, not to mention all of his friends.  I’ve gone to the IHOP campus and I’ve been in the prayer room.  The buildings aren’t as you described in your book, but the people are.  They speak in their own language and the aura of arrogance is more than troubling.  When my son first got involved, I went to pray in the prayer room often and it is exactly as you described it in the book.  The repetitive chanting and deep mantra meditation, the swaying and often twitching, it resembles videos I’ve seen of mass hypnosis, and I never thought I believed in demons until I saw what is happening there.  The last time I tried to see my son, (which was last March) he waved to me from down the hall but refused to talk with me.  I was then asked to leave by a man I can only presume to be one of the leaders.  Because my son has cast us aside voluntarily and he is over 18 years, I have no legal recourse.  Mine and my husband’s hearts are broken.  But at least my son is still alive, which is more than what Bethany Deaton’s family has to hold onto.  I pray for them every day and mourn their loss from one mother’s heart to another.  Let no one tell you IHOP is not a cult, it is.  Anyone who speaks otherwise is deceived.  As I read your book I related to the character of Sally and of the McCulley’s, both with children trapped inside, both willing to do anything to get them out.  Maybe your book is prophetic.  Maybe someone will have the strength to blow up the place and save all of our children.  I pray it would be so.  God bless you and thank you for writing House of Lies.  I know it’s fiction, but for me, it affirmed my heart and told me that others see IHOP for what it really is.  Like you wrote, it’s a spiritual heroin. Your book made me realize I’m not alone and when others are ready to stand up and fight against this, my family will join in the battle. 

In HIS love,

Julie

 

There are many cult groups in our world and, though they all have their own agendas, there is one thread of commonality.  They destroy relationships, kill friendships and leave families utterly broken.  These things are not of God. 

Sadly, Julie’s letter is not the first I’ve received that has expressed these things.  She is one of many who are suffering because of IHOP and other cult-like organizations. 

Please, study every group from the foundation up before getting involved.  Just because something looks good and feels good doesn’t mean it is good for you.   ~