Send in the clowns... don't bother, they're here
and they're heading up podiums and meeting rooms from Kansas City to Strang Media
Most trained singers likely learned Stephen Sondheim’s simple song from A Little Night Music, “Send in the Clowns.” I remember singing it in voice lessons, and probably loved it because it wasn’t hard to hit all the notes. The meaning behind the song’s title is a circus reference. If some tragedy befell a circus performer, such as a death from a high-wire, they would send in the clowns for humor and distraction from the horrifying tragedy in front of the audience’s faces. The line has lived on in theatre—”send in the clowns,” we say, offhandedly, asking for brevity amidst bombing. The humor, fun, and jokes were supposed to help revive the dying show.
And over on Red Bridge Road, Kansas City, MO 64137, there are plenty of clowns trying to distract, so much so that it’s becoming more challenging to separate incidents in the never-ending drama that used to be called a house of prayer. It’s true that the scripts are poorly written, and that doesn’t help the show play to a sell-out, but the real problem is that the clowns are present because the entire performance resembles a child’s party more than it does a holy place where a contention for prayer was the highest of callings.
The General Said What?
Most people reading this Substack know the major incidents that take place each day, and this newsletter only attempts to analyze or investigate some of them. Recently the focus on “the General” (Kurt Fuller, acting executive director of IHOPKC) and his disrespectful, distasteful rhetoric has lit up headlines this, especially as he trumped his persona with another figurehead, the father of Charisma Media itself, Stephen Strang on “The Strang Report.” Marketed as “news,” the farce felt eerily complete.
The precipitating event for Fuller to appear on Strang’s show was Fuller’s lashing out from IHOPKC’s pulpit last week, accusing members of the Advocate Group “lying to [his] face” because they had released videos he didn’t know existed. Fuller did not explain why he should have knowledge of all existing media anyway, but he was steamed as a Mississippi boat.
Fuller’s outburst at respected former IHOPKC leaders brought a day I honestly never thought I would or could see: a day when IHOPKC’s pulpit would be used to wage a war of words, and especially words so accusatory and lacking in wisdom and understanding. Adding to the grievous nature of these attacks from the once pinnacle of Christian witnesses at the house of prayer is the utter lack in the leaders’ demonstration in the principles of the Sermon on the Mount, which is what that pulpit has been a vehicle to preach for many years now.
Today, the Sermon on the Mount has been cast into the sea of forgetfulness at IHOPKC; there is no low road being taken by a leader who is actively in place.
The Lashing
First, let’s have a refresher of Fuller’s tongue-lashing. If you missed it, you actually should watch his gall-fueled words come out of his mouth because his tone is half the message:
The most crucial lines revolve around his authoritarian tone, as if we were all bad children, and he is charged with calling us into account.
Some excerpts (emphasis added):
I'm the one person who has both the authority and responsibility to properly adjudicate this case and hold people accountable they haven't even given me a chance to do that.
I leave it to you to judge their motives for this.
In my role as a general officer in the US military I've negotiated with our nation's enemies with foreign officials at the highest levels of adversarial governments and even with my own government up to the cabinet level, my rules for these negotiations have always been the same: I work with truth and facts. Rumors and unsubstantiated claims have no place in these dealings.
The existence of these Advocate Group videos confirms to me that four members of The Advocate Group have looked me in the eye and lied to me.
This behavior completely undermines the trust and integrity that are fundamental to any honest discussion. I cannot and will not work with or concede to the demands of people who do not tell the truth to do so would compromise my own principles and our organizational sovereignty.
These words are the bulk of what he says in the video, though not all. And frankly, his rhetoric needs to go right back to the negotiating table of the military because, sir, the four members of the Advocate Group of whom you are speaking and asking for people to judge, are not liars, did not mislead you, did not produce a “documentary” just because you were unaware that some videos exist, and, above all, are not to ever be compared to an adversarial government comparable to your military negotiations.
Fuller’s comments are nothing short of disgraceful. They are an abhorrent reflection on what has become a shell of ministry that never would have resorted to tactics like these. In fact, they are a representative part of what has led me to the conclusions I have about IHOPKC—more in a moment there.
Fuller employs diction akin to inviting a tribunal, and expects that his audience should engage only the approved investigators that have been met with the approval of the Fuller-based IHOPKC-authoritarian leadership. This is patently incorrect and profoundly offensive. The former general is not engaged in military warfare; in fact, the nonstop parallels to spiritual warfare as an excuse for sexual sin and abuse are, likewise, offensive and ought to immediately cease. But in that regard, the new IHOPKC leader has help from an old “warfare buddy” of another type, Stephen Strang.
Before we visit Strang, let’s take a look at the “lying videos” that has Fuller wadded in knots.
The Advocate Group Videos
The videos that angered a former Army general so much he had a live temper tantrum were exactly what they look like right here:
That’s right. People sitting in a cozy room having a conversation. To hear Fuller and Strang narrate this troubling uprising, one might imagine the entire Advocate Group had launched a large-scale protest and recorded it at full volume in Times Square—as they marched with large and insulting signs.
The YouTube, with a channel name called The Advocate Group, came from Jono Hall, who works with media, video, and similar endeavors. Hall, a mild-mannered convivial British man, is shown in the videos conducting the conversational-type interviews with various former IHOPKC leaders, providing insight into the background of the allegations and how the events began. Hall stated in a post that he had hoped they wouldn’t even need to release the videos, and it was clear this was not some broad plot, but rather another touchpoint for insight. In fact, a criticism that had arisen recently had been that the “Advocate Group” housed a mysterious number of people, and no one was sure who they were or why they were part of it. These videos did a job of clarifying this and giving us insight into the unfolding of tragic events.
The fact that Fuller is terribly miffed he did not know they existed is terribly baffling. Many videos likely exist that he does not know about. His absolute lack of comprehension and ability in differentiating between a documentary and a basic video of people talking is both stunning and disturbing. Hall is a professional media producer, and, therefore, understands the nuances quite well.
Hall issued a rebuttal to Fuller’s accusations, which can be read in full here. In part, Hall notes:
Likewise, Allen Hood, who also was wrongfully accused of lying, released a statement, which reflected a grief those familiar with Hood’s heart know to be sincere. The entire statement can be accessed here. A portion says:
“Spin City: How We Twist the Truth to Buy our Freedom.”
There’s much to evaluate when looking critically at the behavior of the mega-ministry that pretended the Sermon on the Mount was the Christian’s highest calling. I needn’t rehash with you all the events, but let me highlight some obvious discrepancies as I approach what led to the former Army General’s temper-tantrum edict and decision to go on a video show of someone who may be one of the most disrespected and discredited US journalists. Their meeting turned into a manipulative twist of rhetoric designed to cruelly disarm anyone speaking against IHOPKC, Mike Bickle, or basically anything either man disagreed with related to either topic. The Strang Report appearance could have been entitled IHOPKC-The Dystopia. I have seen secular gossip shows uphold better values of integrity.
Listen up: A lot of good and upright people are reading this post, and I apologize in advance if you want me to be softer and gentler, but I get paid money in my day job to analyze rhetoric, and when I see it manipulated and twisted this way to hurt people, I get angry. I am not claiming to represent the voice of anyone else here. I’m honestly not even claiming to be a pure voice of Christianity here.
It would be wrong of me not to link this abhorrent Strang report, so here is the direct link, if you must. It is filled with Kurt Fuller using the “I” word a whole lot, declaring that since he knows best, it is what it is. This is countered with Strang praising Mike Bickle, Kurt Fuller’s war tactics, and IHOPKC (and himself) at every chance he gets—because IHOPKC is Charisma’s cash cow and has been for years. Do not be fooled. This was not news. This was not a “report.” And Fuller saying he knows in his heart that an investigation is independent doesn’t make it so.
Fuller’s comments on Strang’s show echoed his speech the night before, and were disturbing because they were incredibly inwardly-focused. He muses that they have been in some “negotiations” with the Advocate Group for three months, and they are basically fed up. This is untrue. But look carefully at his words, with my emphasis:
My statement last night was just to say I've had enough negotiating. I know in my heart that this investigator is absolutely independent. She's a professional she's got decades of experience doing these kinds of in investigations. She's trauma-informed, and she understands abuse in the context of a ministry setting, so I don't believe there's any reason for another investigation… or an investigator that is picked by The Advocate Group or their attorney, and that's the statement I made last night. We're going to press ahead with the person we've already hired, and we still urge everyone anyone who has any relevant information to provide it to our investigator Rosalee McNamara and her report will be out very soon, and I'm certain it's going to show that we had no influence over her during the course of her investigation.
The inward-focus here, the “we’re doing it our way, and we know we have it right and don’t care that victims of abuse do not feel safe” statement is, in itself, traumatic.
Fuller does not get to declare it independent because he “believes” something to be so. Now he is revealing when the report will come and what it will show. This man would have us believe that he ascended the ranks of the United States military, yet cannot grasp the concept that a hired, high-dollar lawyer is not the same as an independent third-party investigator? It’s unclear whether arrogance, anger, or authoritarianism is driving this, but it is shocking rhetoric.
Strang’s Mooing Cash Cows
Then in response to this, the publisher of what has become the worst carrier pigeon for bird cage lining in the nation, Charisma Magazine, Stephen Strang, joins the self-gratification, and enters a satisfaction and praise party with Fuller and toward everything that keeps his cash cows mooing and milking.
Strang, once upon a time was a journalist, the real kind, I mean. This fascinating profile in the New York Times on his MAGA focus of Donald Trump-ville certainly is not Strang’s best light. It shows the downfall of journalism in its darkest hours, but reminds us that people sometimes start with the right goals. Over the years, Strang turned his brand and his name into something that makes the supermarket tabloids attractive sources of reliable news. A peek into even his Charisma web pages often looks like a tabloid bled all its ink. It’s Charles Nelson Darby’s Zionism (bless to get blessings NOW and all spiritual warfare is related to Israel—especially against Mike Bickle), mixed with cut-and-paste prophecies as fast as they can be written (you might note the parallels in the Times 2021 story to stories this week, including “prophecies” by Jeremiah Johnson, showing that the more things change, the more they stay the same). Charisma is where you find a demon under a bush, and a blessing for every dollar donated “in faith.”
It was over a decade ago when Charisma had a real journalist at the helm and he did a cover story on IHOPKC and Mike Bickle. Unfortunately, it was almost too good and solidified the bond between the organizations. The connection between Charisma and IHOPKC is as close as two can be. Strang eagerly sought IHOPKC names to publish books with Charisma House. The reason I know this is that I sat in a conference call with Strang, Lou Engle, and some others, discussing this very topic. Strang barely acknowledged my presence, since I was not a “name,” and only writing talent. The meeting was insufferable, but insightful. I typed the endorsement that is in the book of one IHOPKC author, also. (That’s for another post—something I know I say too much.) I know Strang wouldn’t know me from anyone (something that doesn’t hurt my feelings one smidge), but I will never forget that conference call. We were in Kansas City in the Conference Room at IHOPKC and Lou Engle told him so, yet he kept telling us, “Down in Kansas City at IHOP, Mike Bickle is…” Repeatedly, Strang told us what was happening in the prayer room we could, literally, hear as we were on the phone. The fan-boy vibe was real, as the young people say.
It still is.
Strang wanted IHOPKC authors on his book covers. They didn’t need to write the books. After all, ghostwriting is big business—and it may be perfectly legal, but that can of worms is partly why Strang needs Bickle back in the driver’s seat:
So when Strang continued with his Fuller report, his words, while inappropriate, certainly did not shock me. Strang said, “I had actually planned to opine on [Fuller’s speech] not knowing that I would be able to get you live to comment on it. I will opine some later because I believe there's some bigger issues in the body of Christ…” and then he opines himself into his obvious opinion that whatever may have happened, it was clearly so long ago that Mike Bickle should just saunter his booty back into the pulpit. Strang says:
Whatever it comes up with Mike Bickle he's going to have to stand on what he did or didn't do. Personally, I wonder how long someone is… I don't even know how to say it, but it happened 24 years ago, so how long does that disqualify someone, especially when he has obviously repented and moved on. But also there's some issues about people who attack ministries…
Strang’s thinly-veiled attack of the victims of abuse continues, with him then reducing the multiple, repeated, credible sexual and spiritual abuse charges to an “old-fashioned church fight,” saying he knows many who stopped living for the Lord because of how they grew offended from the way those church fights happened.
He then insists this is “cancel culture” of Christianity and ministries, apparently negating the reality that the people against whom he is speaking are deeply-committed Christians with track records of integrity (by the way, as with Jeremiah Johnson and the Times article, you can also find this reference in the Times article. Strang is nothing is not redundant. If he doesn’t like what’s being said, it’s simply “cancel culture of Christianity,” it seems.)
The take-away Strang’s manipulative and cruel rhetoric is intended to subtly provide is as crystal clear as the Florida water he lives near: those accusing IHOPKC are guilty of driving people from the Lord and should stop talking now.
Dr. Dénouement Says…
Look, General Fuller and Mr. Strang, Dr. Dénouement over here has been sick for the past week or so, and I don’t know about you two, but when I am sick, I get a bit short on patience. So let’s cut to the chase. I already said it on X:
This is not the IHOPKC any of us knew. Period. I return you gentlemen to the Sermon on the Mount, since maybe you were absent the 52 weeks each year when that was taught. IHOPKC was the place that preached truth without compromise; it elevated a Sermon on the Mount lifestyle, which meant we heard phrases such as “go low,” and “meekness is power under restraint,” ad nauseum. It was actually irritating at times, when you wanted to debate or argue, and you heard a phrase like “go low” reverberating as it did.
Take the low road, defer to others, take the seat at the end of the table. That was always what we were advised to do instead of fight back, accuse, or debate. Thus, seeing only fighting, accusing, and debating, now, proves shocking.
It doesn’t matter if your book sales rise, Mr. Strang.
It doesn’t matter if McNamara’s report is a glowing star of commendation that would make the Army proud, Gen. Fuller.
No matter what happens, you have lost the heartbeat of heaven, the spirit of truth.
You have become like the world; you called innocent victims names to save yourselves.
I can only assume this is about money, pride, or both. Because nothing is new under the sun.
Hey look!
They’re here.
PS We still see the tragedy and sorrow.