Jono Hall

Jesus Follower, Husband, Father of Five, Brit in the US. Full Bio -

[Jono Hall @jonochall]

I wrote a fairly lengthy article over the past few months reflecting on church structure and how some good desires related to the Gospel can get muddled in our minds, which ultimately conflicts with the way of Jesus. These are some fairly existential ponderings, but I would appreciate any feedback:

https://t.co/OmzGv4pO0r

[Jono Hall @jonochall]

Does the “Thank you - My Pleasure” Call and Response dance at @ChickfilA encourage you to be grateful?

I THINK I would be saying thank you anyway - but it kind of has me mesmerized.

[Jono Hall @jonochall]

@alterofinquiry This makes sense I’m just saying the words of the public narrative is weird

[Jono Hall @jonochall]

@alterofinquiry My question is what is the real story behind this. I remember seeing Bob Hartley one day. He shouts out to someone “I have a prophetic word. You’re in sin. Repent” It was obviously a joke as it doesn’t take any kind of prophetic discernment to say that you see lust in them.

[Jono Hall @jonochall]

Serendipity. I was just writing about you Boz (just for my own therapy at the moment :)), and the journey of trying to find a truly independent third party in the IHOP situation.

I just wrote this which is probably pertinent in this situation:

"A binary was starting to form that I felt was very damaging to this situation, which I have since seen again and again in the current conversations about abuse in the context of the church. It is this, an assumption that leaders must choose sides: either protect the institution, and the divine mission and vision of the organization or capitulate to what some dismiss as politically-driven victim advocacy. This framing and false binary is not only theologically wrong; it is practically catastrophic. It forces leaders into defensive postures, silences survivors, and poisons the well for any genuine reform.

I had a growing feeling that we needed to start with a different posture. Spiritual and sexual abuse are widespread across the church, including in Spirit-filled, biblically-committed communities. Acknowledging that reality is not a political act. It is a pastoral one. The church has always needed godly shepherds who hold truth and grace together, who name sin clearly and pursue justice without abandoning mercy."

[Jono Hall @jonochall]

@realprophetguy I feel like you are highlighting how badly dressed I am (which is fair) - it was a crazy snowy day when I did that

[Jono Hall @jonochall]

@MikeWingerii Brits generally prefer Two Corinthians to Second Corinthians…. I guess we’re all shallow

[Jono Hall @jonochall]

I taught a Church History college class for many years. In the introductory class, I talked about both the inspirational and instructive nature of church history, with a hopeful final outcome in learning from it being "faithfulness".

However, I recall a student approaching me halfway through one course. He was dejected. He said he had thought the class would be more inspirational, but instead, he was learning the real stories of failure of all those he had thought were his heroes.

I did not personally know A W Tozer. He was a great writer for sure and has positively impacted many, probably millions of believers. He also seems to have acted out of the models that were given to him related to what true ministry to Jesus looked like within the context of his age.

I think, as we look back at those who have come before, it is our responsibility to assess how those models stack up against the New Testament witness. I do think there is often a conflation of loving God = doing ministry activity and "building a ministry," and that is probably one of the fundamental lessons to learn here.

Loving our brother (and our wife and kids) has often been sacrificed on the altar of ministry building. Rather than criticize the widow and children or even AW himself, I would prefer to look inward and see where my own priorities lie.

[Jono Hall @jonochall]

“I have never been happier in my life. Aiden loved Jesus Christ, but Leonard Odam loves me.”

— Ada Tozer after remarrying about her first and second husband.

Their son Lowell said his mother was essentially “a single parent” while raising all 7 kids alone. A W Tozer poured himself into ministry and prayer but left his wife and children largely on their own.

Sobering

[Jono Hall @jonochall]

@Sergeyk_88 Bro just read the book which seems to have plenty of evidence (more than 2-3 witnesses) rather than breaking your own rule and bringing accusations without 2-3 witnesses

[Jono Hall @jonochall]

“I have never been happier in my life. Aiden loved Jesus Christ, but Leonard Odam loves me.”

— Ada Tozer after remarrying about her first and second husband.

Their son Lowell said his mother was essentially “a single parent” while raising all 7 kids alone. A W Tozer poured himself into ministry and prayer but left his wife and children largely on their own.

Sobering

[Jono Hall @jonochall]

@Sergeyk_88 https://t.co/V6rHLJmKd1

[Jono Hall @jonochall]

One might also suggest that abandoning one’s family is contrary to the apostolic witness and contrary to following Jesus and therefore disqualifies someone as an overseer.

1 Timothy 5:8
Ephesians 5:25-29
Colossians 3:19
Ephesians 6:4
Colossians 3:21
Ephesians 6:1-3
Exodus 20:12
1 Timothy 5:4
1 Timothy 3:4-5
Titus 1:6

https://t.co/Ymox7h3qMO

[Jono Hall @jonochall]

It’s not clear that Tozer was disqualified, we very rarely disqualify anyone based on family life today, but here are the verses and how they might apply:

1 Tim 3:4-5 / Titus 1:6 — “Manage his own household well.” Tozer was often absent + emotionally distant; his wife basically raised 7 kids alone.

1 Tim 5:8 — Provide for his own household. He gave away much of his pay and left the family financially stretched.

Eph 5:25-29 — Love your wife as Christ loved the church. Ada’s testimony was striking: “Tozer loved Jesus, but my second husband loved me.”Sobering to wrestle with.

I'm just replying to the evidence in the book and thinking through the standard honestly.

[Jono Hall @jonochall]

@Sergeyk_88 "Making people happy" and obeying New Testament requirements for family obligations are two wildly different things

[Jono Hall @jonochall]

@JCStatsBoi To take serious the New Testament requirements that pertain to loving your wife and looking after your family, both generally and as it pertains to requirements for overseers

[Jono Hall @jonochall]

It's first-hand accounts from his family published in a book in 2008 - doesn't seem like there is any serious push back from friendly Tozer scholars. Someone on here suggested it was False Testimony, and if that is the case it is wrong - but if his family is the one giving the testimony it probably should be at least considered no matter how much you have gleaned from his teaching

[Jono Hall @jonochall]

I think this failing has not been uncommon. One could look at the stories of Bob Pierce (Samaritans Purse, World Vision), William Carey, Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley.

The question of whether we still reference teaching is a thorny one. Outside of the “This person has been established as a false teacher therefore we need to burn his books” approach. I see two main issues - Firstly the person may have taught wisdom and complete orthodoxy AND been a complete hypocrite - Secondly the persons teaching itself contained the seeds of deception…. I think we deal with these situations slightly differently.

[Jono Hall @jonochall]

@AMalteseSailor False witness is indeed an important consideration - are you saying that book paints an false portrait and should be withdrawn

[Jono Hall @jonochall]

One might also suggest that abandoning one’s family is contrary to the apostolic witness and contrary to following Jesus and therefore disqualifies someone as an overseer.

1 Timothy 5:8
Ephesians 5:25-29
Colossians 3:19
Ephesians 6:4
Colossians 3:21
Ephesians 6:1-3
Exodus 20:12
1 Timothy 5:4
1 Timothy 3:4-5
Titus 1:6

https://t.co/Ymox7h3qMO

[Jono Hall @jonochall]

I think this was 2023

The day before this I wrote him this text - in light of what happened subsequent to this I think I would have said a number of things differently

Dr Brown - I am glad that you are speaking at IHOP tomorrow. I wrote a little script to put out a video this afternoon as so many good people are floundering and taking sides. I was going to put this out, but I would honestly prefer not to put my head over the parapet and undoubtedly lose a ton of friends and I am following your advice not to speak until you have acted… But I did want to send you my statement as it may be helpful… I am heartbroken but am also completely done with a culture of cover up.

These past two weeks have been perhaps some of the hardest of my life. I attended the Grace Training Center in Kansas City led by Mike Bickle and Sam Storms as a 19-year-old in 1996 and then between 2003 and 2018, I held various positions on staff at IHOPKC, principally as Media Director and COO. Helping Mike lead the Executive Leadership Team clearly gives me a unique perspective. I helped build IHOPKC for many years. I did not leave IHOPKC “bitter” or “offended”, my intention was to leave as a friend. I have continued in relationships with many of the staff and leadership including Mike, have returned many times, and even have been a financial donor until this month.

I have not been part of the individuals and then the group that gathered and brought the allegations to the attention of the current leadership team although I am friends and esteem all of them. Nearly all of the individuals who are bringing the various accounts forward have nothing to gain and everything to lose by bringing forward these allegations. Yet as I have read and talked to several who are bringing allegations I have become heartbroken. The allegations are entirely unsettling and even a few of them would be enough to demand an investigation. I said to my wife recently I wish that they were simply allegations of simple infidelity where the parties get emotionally connected and cross physical boundaries. I want to be clear, the allegations are of an entirely different magnitude - I am hopeful for the sake of all that it is good and proper that the details do not have to be shared with the world.

I did not see any of the egregious behavior mentioned in the allegations during my time at IHOPKC. However, it was in part a supporting culture of cover-up that led to an issue of conscience for myself in relation to the widely reported case of Brad Tebbutt that was the last straw that led me to leave. At the time I thought it was simply a different ministry perspective. Mike is merciful and wants to “cover” people’s sin, I reasoned. I on the other hand wanted to follow a proper biblical process, where if a person is unresponsive within a community the person’s sin is known by a wider and wider circle so that a a redemptive process of healing can happen or the person rejects and leaves the community - I also wanted to act with righteousness in regards to being merciful to ALL members of the community by not supporting shepherds that had disqualified themselves. I sadly was blind to the fact that far from just covering this had become a cover-up culture of silence in relationship to sin. Such silence means that true healing and redemption can actually never be possible.

Now - could all the allegations of MANY witnesses be all lies? It’s possible…but sadly not probable. Especially when Mike refuses to meet with senior credible outside leaders within the Body of Christ. With these kind of allegations there really is only one course of action. An external independent investigation that specialises in this type of work and is agreed between the parties. As with any safeguarding process of this nature, this is the only safe environment to determine whether this is true and to invite other individuals who will undoubtedly be scared to come forward.

I have challenged the current executive team that I am open to come in and help and that offer remains. I do not think they will take me up on the offer as I challenged the public narrative that they have only found out about these issues in the past week. The truth is that it has been months.

Obviously hearing such news is again heartbreaking, but it is my immediate presumption that those who say they are following Jesus are wanting to see righteousness and redemption versus a cover up. Unfortunately, after reframing certain events from my time at IHOPKC and contacting the leadership team there, that I have certain email chains that might be helpful in uncovering certain things, I wake up the next morning to find my email has been deactivated along with many other leaders who have left IHOPKC

It has now been almost three weeks since the members of the group, met with members of the IHOPKC leadership team and nothing has been done. Perhaps an investigation has been called as has been stated from public platform, but this has not been communicated to those who have had the boldness to come forward or even some members of the current executive team and in the absence of information, one can only conclude it is a law firm that has been tasked with mitigating the risk for the organization. Followed by a small mea culpa, followed by the smearing of the individuals who have brought accusations that they were bitter and they simply wanted to either bring down IHOPKC or enact some kind of coup d’etat. All of these accusations as far from the truth than is possible. I apologize if this is not the case, but the actions of the IHOPKC leadership have been far from trustworthy and transparent and it appears that this ugly situation is about to get more ugly. I pray to God that is not the case and appeal to the leadership of IHOP to do the righteous thing and to the staff of IHOP to ask their leaders to do the right thing.

[Jono Hall @jonochall]

@jack https://t.co/Odvo3CGCkH

[Jono Hall @jonochall]

https://t.co/n32j3BBq4e