Hey Stephen. Thank you for writing this. I am so sorry for what your family went through. Scott was my friend. I felt his loss profoundly and remember him often. Thanks for talking about this stuff.
Stephen, we would have no idea of level of Paul’s demonic influence without your careful exposure. As a pastor’s wife I visited the first Vineyard conference where Paul was introduced. I remember going to your dad’s breakout sessions on Joel’s army. I saw your beautiful mother and being the same age, I was sad/jealous I could not be in the middle of “what God was doing” like your parents were. It seemed the most exciting things on the earth were happening around them and John. That was also my first introduction to Mike B. Again, blown away as a struggling church planter in Boston where it was dry as a desert, to be in such a “God infused” conference. May the Lord pour out mercy on all of us who came under Paul’s influence. I have grieved from afar the passing of your brother but never knew about the abuse. I am so sorry. I can see the Lord has used you in impacting and redemptive ways and still is. God bless you and your family.
Stephen, I knew your father briefly (and, very casually) in the early 90’s when he was on staff at Anaheim Vineyard.
Later, I was teaching Beginning Greek at Fuller Seminary while in the doctoral program there and while exegeting 1 Cor 14:3 for my class told them the story of a ‘prophet’ I knew who had prophesied to world leaders. Three days later Paul was exposed. It has always mystified me that someone known as ‘the Father of the Modern Prophetic’ (as he was known at Anaheim during the 90’s) has not been more exposed by the so-called ‘prophetic leadership’ of the church.
The teaching about false prophecy and false and carnal prophets has been almost non-existent in the prophetic church and voicing it has ensured that one goes nowhere in terms of influence. I’m glad to see that you and your father are changing that.
Thanks for this. I would love to hear what you and your father think of the some of the other “Kansas City Prophets’ at this point: Bob Jones, John Paul Jackson, Larry Randolph, etc. And the newer voices like Sadhu Selvaraj and Terry Bennett, as well.
I'm so sorry for your loss, Stephen. I can't imagine losing a brother like that, especially due to such tragic trauma. May the Lord cleanse His church and may the truth shine forth like the sun.
Stephen, thank you (and your family) so much for taking the risk to tell your story! I’m so sorry this man did these unspeakable things to your family.
Thanks for sharing this. I hope one day spirit filled scholars can get together and reassess everything from Azusa, latter days Rain, healing revival era, the Toronto, Brownsville, Jesus people movement.
Thank you for sharing this. I was a victim of abuse by my parents while attending Vineyard Anaheim from 1989 to 2005. Someone sent me this and my heart is broken for you and your family. I am so sorry for what your brother endured.
I have no idea what your angle is, John Enderby. Your comment is far too cryptic and even sounds threatening to me. I will tell you that this was written early on in the earthquake that accusations caused to shake IHOP to almost ruins. Personally, I have come a long way in my view of all of this.
I am always a seeker of the facts and the facts I discovered along the way only caused me to believe all the more that the accusations were false or forgiven and God was allowing it to bring all of the evil that is stored up in the hearts of His people to be exposed, so many could repent. I don't know what you think you see in what I wrote. I will tell you that the overwhelming flood of pressure on Christians to discard Mike Bickle and IHOP caused me to question less than a handful of times in the past, but every time in my heart I knew I was standing on the right side of this: on Mike Bickle & IHOPs confession, not the false accusers no matter how many there were. I continue to stand there today. I believe the time for accusers to repent is now and the time of God raising up Mike Bickle again with all the debris of accusation cleared away by God's hand.
My father was an associate pastor under Bickle. Unlike me, my father didn’t ask questions and was an avid follower of Bickle, Storms, Gustafson, Sullivan and the other associate pastors. A story’s details can be changed after the fact including to create propaganda and sensationalism in an effort to stir emotions and gain manipulative control. Paul Cain born as William Paul Cain after his father William Cain as can be verified in his TX birth certificate record. The traveling salesperson aka healing minister William Branham took William Paul Cain under his wing - it might have been difficult in the beginning to have 2 Williams’ selling the same oil.
Hi Stephen - I meet Scott in KC. Scott and I drove each other crazy but we loved each other. I remember vicerally getting the call from Aaron about his tragic dealth. I have thought of him through the years, but especially often in the last 7 months. Thank you for sharing his story. I am sorry for your great loss. Thank you for your work in this space.
These are people who did not know God and got mad when other people were not God to them! Just one accusation after another! Is that the character of Jesus? Do you know a "perfect" land where everyone is righteous all the time? NO!!! INCLUDING YOU!!! This is ALL a blame game, not seeking God or honoring Jesus! I have my own list of stories about some of your failings. Am I putting that out there? No, and I am not going to, because if you are peers, you see it all. You are just wanting to APPEAR better at others' expense! As the Bible says, Any story sounds true until you hear the other side. You are cowards because now Paul can't defend himself. If you are in ministry, you are supposed to know how to HELP people. And no one but God can do it all. You loved him for years and now you are a backstabber and he can't defend himself. Both of you have done good and both of you have done wrong. FIND JESUS! and then do what He would say. There is no perfect human but Him. No one said life is easy!
I was a superfan of your dad's books shortly before Paul Cain was outed in 2004. I had no clue that Paul had gone out of his way to harm the family that elevated his status so. I'm so sorry.
Tell your dad that his readers now see Paul for what he really was. Nothing can change the past and the hurt of a lost child is never healed, but we greive with him.
Thank you for your continued transparency about these men. By God's grace, may many in the Church be set free from their spell.
Hey Stephen. Thank you for writing this. I am so sorry for what your family went through. Scott was my friend. I felt his loss profoundly and remember him often. Thanks for talking about this stuff.
-Erin P
Stephen, this is an incredible piece. Thank you.
Stephen, we would have no idea of level of Paul’s demonic influence without your careful exposure. As a pastor’s wife I visited the first Vineyard conference where Paul was introduced. I remember going to your dad’s breakout sessions on Joel’s army. I saw your beautiful mother and being the same age, I was sad/jealous I could not be in the middle of “what God was doing” like your parents were. It seemed the most exciting things on the earth were happening around them and John. That was also my first introduction to Mike B. Again, blown away as a struggling church planter in Boston where it was dry as a desert, to be in such a “God infused” conference. May the Lord pour out mercy on all of us who came under Paul’s influence. I have grieved from afar the passing of your brother but never knew about the abuse. I am so sorry. I can see the Lord has used you in impacting and redemptive ways and still is. God bless you and your family.
Stephen, I knew your father briefly (and, very casually) in the early 90’s when he was on staff at Anaheim Vineyard.
Later, I was teaching Beginning Greek at Fuller Seminary while in the doctoral program there and while exegeting 1 Cor 14:3 for my class told them the story of a ‘prophet’ I knew who had prophesied to world leaders. Three days later Paul was exposed. It has always mystified me that someone known as ‘the Father of the Modern Prophetic’ (as he was known at Anaheim during the 90’s) has not been more exposed by the so-called ‘prophetic leadership’ of the church.
The teaching about false prophecy and false and carnal prophets has been almost non-existent in the prophetic church and voicing it has ensured that one goes nowhere in terms of influence. I’m glad to see that you and your father are changing that.
Thanks for this. I would love to hear what you and your father think of the some of the other “Kansas City Prophets’ at this point: Bob Jones, John Paul Jackson, Larry Randolph, etc. And the newer voices like Sadhu Selvaraj and Terry Bennett, as well.
Grieving with you reading this 😭… your family’s story, your brother’s story needs to be heard.
I'm so sorry for your loss, Stephen. I can't imagine losing a brother like that, especially due to such tragic trauma. May the Lord cleanse His church and may the truth shine forth like the sun.
Stephen, thank you (and your family) so much for taking the risk to tell your story! I’m so sorry this man did these unspeakable things to your family.
Thanks for sharing this. I hope one day spirit filled scholars can get together and reassess everything from Azusa, latter days Rain, healing revival era, the Toronto, Brownsville, Jesus people movement.
Thank you for sharing this. I was a victim of abuse by my parents while attending Vineyard Anaheim from 1989 to 2005. Someone sent me this and my heart is broken for you and your family. I am so sorry for what your brother endured.
I have no idea what your angle is, John Enderby. Your comment is far too cryptic and even sounds threatening to me. I will tell you that this was written early on in the earthquake that accusations caused to shake IHOP to almost ruins. Personally, I have come a long way in my view of all of this.
I am always a seeker of the facts and the facts I discovered along the way only caused me to believe all the more that the accusations were false or forgiven and God was allowing it to bring all of the evil that is stored up in the hearts of His people to be exposed, so many could repent. I don't know what you think you see in what I wrote. I will tell you that the overwhelming flood of pressure on Christians to discard Mike Bickle and IHOP caused me to question less than a handful of times in the past, but every time in my heart I knew I was standing on the right side of this: on Mike Bickle & IHOPs confession, not the false accusers no matter how many there were. I continue to stand there today. I believe the time for accusers to repent is now and the time of God raising up Mike Bickle again with all the debris of accusation cleared away by God's hand.
My father was an associate pastor under Bickle. Unlike me, my father didn’t ask questions and was an avid follower of Bickle, Storms, Gustafson, Sullivan and the other associate pastors. A story’s details can be changed after the fact including to create propaganda and sensationalism in an effort to stir emotions and gain manipulative control. Paul Cain born as William Paul Cain after his father William Cain as can be verified in his TX birth certificate record. The traveling salesperson aka healing minister William Branham took William Paul Cain under his wing - it might have been difficult in the beginning to have 2 Williams’ selling the same oil.
I am so sorry this happened to your brother and family. Thank you for revealing the story.
Hi Stephen - I meet Scott in KC. Scott and I drove each other crazy but we loved each other. I remember vicerally getting the call from Aaron about his tragic dealth. I have thought of him through the years, but especially often in the last 7 months. Thank you for sharing his story. I am sorry for your great loss. Thank you for your work in this space.
These are people who did not know God and got mad when other people were not God to them! Just one accusation after another! Is that the character of Jesus? Do you know a "perfect" land where everyone is righteous all the time? NO!!! INCLUDING YOU!!! This is ALL a blame game, not seeking God or honoring Jesus! I have my own list of stories about some of your failings. Am I putting that out there? No, and I am not going to, because if you are peers, you see it all. You are just wanting to APPEAR better at others' expense! As the Bible says, Any story sounds true until you hear the other side. You are cowards because now Paul can't defend himself. If you are in ministry, you are supposed to know how to HELP people. And no one but God can do it all. You loved him for years and now you are a backstabber and he can't defend himself. Both of you have done good and both of you have done wrong. FIND JESUS! and then do what He would say. There is no perfect human but Him. No one said life is easy!
Stephen,
I was a superfan of your dad's books shortly before Paul Cain was outed in 2004. I had no clue that Paul had gone out of his way to harm the family that elevated his status so. I'm so sorry.
Tell your dad that his readers now see Paul for what he really was. Nothing can change the past and the hurt of a lost child is never healed, but we greive with him.