Inspiring Body of Christ Church

The Inspiring Body of Christ Church (IBOC) is a non-denominational megachurch in Dallas, Texas, USA. The pastor is Rickie G. Rush.[1] A survey by Outreach Magazine in 2008 ranked the church 87th in the USA based on weekly attendance of 7,500.[2] The church describes itself as a "high praising, high worship, Bible believing church".[3]

Inspiring Body of Christ Church
LocationDallas, Texas
CountryUnited States
DenominationNon-denominational
Weekly attendance7,500 (2008)
Websitehttp://www.ibocchurch.org/
History
Founded1990
Clergy
Senior pastor(s)Rickie G. Rush

History

The church was founded and organized by Pastor Rickie G. Rush and nine others in the summer of 1990, with the first services held in October 1990. Membership grew quickly and in 1991 the church bought its first building, formerly the former Southern Bible Institute. In November 2009 the church was able to move to its present location, a 176,000-square-foot (16,400 m2) facility on a 36-acre (150,000 m2) campus.[1] The new location has unique architectural features including a wall made up of acrylic fish tanks pierced by archways for pedestrians, with the motto "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men".[4]

A radio ministry was implemented in 1995. In January 2000 the church opened the IBOC Children's College for pre-schoolers, and in August 2001 opened the IBOC Christian Academy for grades 1 – 4.[1]

Abuse Allegations

In September 2020 The Dallas Morning News published an investigative article into Pastor Rush. The article (taken mainly from the personal accounts of half-sisters Donna Fields and Renee Phillips, and Donna's son Marcus Bell Jr.) alleges that Rush sexually assaulted Donna and attempted to do likewise to Renee, and repeatedly beat Marcus severely with a paddle (in one account it was "the size of a boat oar"). The article alleges other instances of physical abuse against females, and also that Rush lied about the death of his mother when he was 10.[5][6]

See also

References
  1. "About Us". Inspiring Body of Christ Church. Archived from the original on May 15, 2009. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  2. "Top 100 Largest Churches". Outreach Magazine. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  3. "Inspiring Body of Christ Church". USA Churches. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  4. "Featured Projects". Acrylic Tank Manufacturing. Archived from the original on September 17, 2010. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  5. In his 2014 book, The Pendulum: Come Out Swinging Through the Difficult Times, Rush states that he saw his mother's body after was murdered by teenage boys after coming home from an errand; the News investigation revealed that Rush's mother died in her bed from liver disease.
  6. " ' Don't let the devil steal your joy' ", The Dallas Morning News, September 20, 2020.


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