Spiritual warfare: Battling evil with perpetual prayer

It is, perhaps, more an interest of Lou Engle, a senior leader at IHOP and a fiery figure in the battle against abortion and same-sex marriage. On Nov. 11, Engle plans to lead a prayer rally — "The Call" — in Detroit. One goal is to persuade Muslims to convert to Christianity.

Bickle can often be found in a chair in the prayer room at IHOP, poring over a well-marked Bible, listening to the music and joining others in worship.

Around him are the mostly young people who make up his flock, people like Brittany Natasha Hyre, 22, who came here from Orlando, Fla.

"I thought it was crazy at first," she said of the church and its never-ending prayer. But, "this is legit. This is really genuine."

Before her, more than 100 people prayed, chatted, danced, texted, read and paced through the cavernous hall as the music played on.

"We are the beloved of God," the band was singing. The music built, in power and volume, the lyrics repetitive, hypnotic. "I wash my robes in the blood of the lamb, because I want to be like him. I wash my robes in the blood of the lamb."

It continued to build, reaching an almost ecstatic peak, and then ... continued. After a time, the set was over. One by one, the band members stopped playing and left the stage.

The next group had begun.

(c)2011 the Los Angeles Times