In 1999, Bickle was fired from the church that he was pastoring, Metro Christian Fellowship, then a megachurch of over three thousand members, in order to start the International House of Prayer (also known by its acronym IHOPKC).
He was pastoring then a megachurch of over three thousand members. This was to start the International House of Prayer (also known by its acronym IHOPKC). Bickle was fired from the church this. This was in 1999. Metro Christian Fellowship was pastoring.