Leaders of the Kansas City International House of Prayer failed to take action when a minor boy was sexually harassed, abused and harassed at an Oklahoma youth shelter last fall, a new lawsuit alleges.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Jackson County Circuit Court by an adult on behalf of the minor, names as defendants IHOPKC and its umbrella organization, International House of Prayer-Forerunner Christian Fellowship. It is the first case filed by IHOPKC since a Sexual abuse scandal involving founder Mike Bickle erupted in October 2023.

The suit comes as a a third party investigation is ongoing in accusations of sexual misconduct at IHOPKC and the cover-up by its leaders.

“The same weekend that Mike Bickle’s abuse allegations came to light, our minor client attended a youth retreat hosted by IHOPKC,” said Boz Tchividjian, one of the attorneys representing the plaintiff. “While on retreat, our client was victimized by another student and immediately reported the abuse to church leaders.

“Tragically, church leaders failed to take action, allowing the same student to victimize his client a second time. This incident highlights IHOPKC’s systemic failures to prevent and address abuse, causing profound harm to untold numbers of victims while empowering countless perpetrators.”

IHOPKC leaders did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

According to the lawsuit, the minor, a resident of Missouri, attended a fall youth retreat sponsored by IHOPKC-Forerunner Christian Fellowship at Sky Ranch in Quapaw, Oklahoma between October 27 and October 29, 2023.

The retreat, the suit says, was promoted as “a weekend where our teens can have fun, meet the Lord, and connect with their friends and leaders.”

Upon retreat, the suit says, the minor was sexually harassed and abused by another minor who also attended the event. The perpetrator was said to:

tried several times to enter the bathroom stall while the applicant was using it

called the applicant’s name in a mocking tone whenever he saw the applicant and rubbed his hands together “while giving him a disturbing smile”

walked behind the applicant and gently stroked his arm, back and neck, making the applicant feel “incredibly uncomfortable”

while shirtless, lay on the complainant’s bed next to him and refused to leave despite repeated protests

announced to other minors in the dorm room that the applicant was “having wet dreams”, which “was both untrue and extremely embarrassing and humiliating” for the applicant

followed the claimant around the farm in a way that made him “very uncomfortable”

walked up behind plaintiff during a worship event and fondled her bottom, then “proceeded to put his finger between minor plaintiff’s cheeks through his pants,” causing plaintiff emotional distress.

“IHOPKC/FCF leaders were aware that the minor perpetrator had a history of sexual conduct and abuse of other minors prior to allowing the minor perpetrator to go on this trip,” the lawsuit says.

As the harassment and abuse “became more reckless and severe,” the suit alleges, the plaintiff repeatedly reported the supervisors.

“IHOPKC/FCF leaders witnessed multiple acts of aggression and abuse by the juvenile perpetrators toward the juvenile plaintiff and failed to intervene,” the suit says. “Despite repeatedly promising the minor complainant that they would address the matter, IHOPKC/FCF leaders failed (to) respond to the minor complainant’s repeated reports of intimidation and abuse by the minor perpetrator.”

As a direct result of the leaders’ lack of action, the suit says, the plaintiff “suffered and will continue to suffer significant diagnosable injuries and damages, including but not limited to emotional distress, pain and suffering, economic damages, loss of enjoyment . of life, loss of personal sense of security and other psychological and emotional injuries.”

The lawsuit is seeking a jury trial and unspecified damages. A case management conference is scheduled for March 10.

Allegations of sexual abuse against Bickle were made public last October, leading IHOPKC to “immediately, formally and permanently dissociate” from him and causing turmoil in the charismatic prayer movement. Bickle is accused of using prophets to groom, sexually abuse and manipulate women over decades, one starting at just 14 years old.

The Oklahoma youth retreat took place the same weekend IHOPKC leaders announced the charges against Bickle.

Bickle, 69, issued his only public statement on December 12, admitting that he had “sinned” and “my moral failings were real.” But he was vague about the details. In a lengthy note posted on X, Bickle said his “inappropriate behavior” occurred more than 20 years ago, but did not admit to engaging in sexual misconduct.