Internationally renowned US pastor Francis Chan has distanced himself from disgraced evangelical leader Mike Bickle.
In a lengthy statement published on Saturday, Chan said his silence on his relationship with Bickle might appear as though he doesn’t condemn the actions of the founder of the International House of Prayer-Kansas City (IHOPKC), but he said that couldn’t be further from the truth.
In September 2025, it was reported that Bickle “disqualified himself permanently from holding any such high and honourable office anywhere in the Body of Christ in his lifetime”. It came after the findings of an independent investigation in February 2025 revealed that he engaged in sexual misconduct with 17 women, including minors, over several decades.
The report by Firefly Independent Sexual Abuse Investigations details instances of abuse dating back to the mid-1970s, including allegations of rape. When the allegations came to light in 2023, he expressed how "deeply grieved" he is that his "past sins have led to so much pain, confusion, and division in the body of Christ", but said "I am not admitting to the more intense sexual activities that some are suggesting".
Chan said that while he had not publicly spoken against Bickle after the allegations emerged, he had already distanced himself from him privately.
He said he has taken the same approach with many fallen Christian leaders.
“For the sake of clarity, please know that of course I do not continue to endorse people like Mike Bickle who have been caught in unrepentant immorality,” he said.
“But if I were to make public statements every time I was wrong about someone I once trusted, sadly, it would be a very, very long list.
“I understand that some people see it as apathetic or irresponsible to refrain from commenting on these situations.
“But I would ask you to consider that after issues have been disclosed about someone, there may be some of us who remain silent, not because we don't care, but because we believe there is already too much focus and discussion about these people.”
He made clear that he believes in the importance of scandals being exposed publicly, but said “I just don't see a biblical mandate for everyone to weigh in on them”.
Chan also apologised for “the heartbreak experienced by the Body [of Christ] due to endorsements of leaders who have later been exposed for sin”.
He expressed repentance for saying in the past that people were “so foolish” for believing something negative about Bickle because of something they heard from a friend. He said he was referring to theological critiques some had against Bickle and “unverified criticisms”.
“In light of everything that came out afterwards, I regret saying that, as I realize I could have discouraged people who had legitimate concerns or given the impression that silence is best when there is real abuse or unrepentant sin,” Chan said.
The network elders of We Are Church — the global network of house churches led by Chan — said in a statement on Saturday that he has also distanced himself from South Carolina pastor Chris Reed, who claimed to have many prophetic dreams.
The statement explained that Chan and the elders first met Reed in 2021 at an IHOPKC event and noticed that his prophecies were extremely specific, but they put that down to a supernatural gifting and relied on IHOPKC’s endorsement of him.
Chan has been accused of endorsing Reed at that event after he said “because you don’t believe in the gifts you distance yourself from him [Reed], and I tell you, you’re crazy”.
Referring to that moment, the statement said: “We recognize that public words carry weight, and we understand how those comments could be perceived as a broader affirmation than intended, however. For that reason, we want to be clear: We do not endorse Chris Reed and have never intended to do so.”
According to The Roys Report (TRR), in 2024, “Reed admitted to sexual misconduct while training to be president of MorningStar Ministries, a prophetic ministry based in Fort Mill, South Carolina.”
In January, TRR also reported that there had been several criticisms from Reed’s former friends about his prophecies. Reed also admitted to using an addictive herbal drug called kratom, but said in a video statement that he is now clean.
We Are Church elders said that in 2023, when Bickle’s allegations were made public, “Francis got on a plane to confront Mike in person with Sam [A close friend of Bickle's]. Mike refused that meeting. It was Chris Reed who stopped them at the door.”
Their statement later shared the lessons that have been learned from situations like Bickle’s and Reed’s, saying that there is a need to have “clearer boundaries regarding endorsement”.
It also informed people of the organisation’s structure, which is set up to “strengthen accountability”. It finally highlighted that Chan is a godly and sincere man, but not without weakness and imperfections. They maintained that they have “not seen duplicity in Francis' life” and encouraged people to fix their eyes on Jesus.
