Victims of Christian youth festival founder speak out to reveal ‘cult-like’ behaviour
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- čas přidán 30. 04. 2023
- Victims of a Christian youth festival founder have spoken out for the first time claiming he ran “a cult” in which young men were encouraged to receive full-body massages on his bed and engage in wrestling matches.
An exclusive investigation by Gabriella Swerling, The Telegraph's social and religious affairs editor.
The Rev Canon Mike Pilavachi, a 65-year-old charismatic evangelist, founded the Soul Survivor Watford church and its annual summer festivals, which ran from 1993 to 2019, and had an average attendance of 30,000 teenagers from around the world each summer.
At the beginning of April 2023, it emerged that he was stepping back from Church of England ministry amid an ongoing internal investigation and following allegations revealed by The Telegraph detailing how he formed inappropriate intimate relationships with young people.
Now, speaking exclusively to The Telegraph, his alleged victims and former Soul Survivor staff members have come forward to speak out for the first time about how he has “left a trail of broken, young male adults scattered all around the world”.
Furthermore, they claim that Rev Canon Pilavachi’s “toxic behaviour” and “horrible cruelty and obsession” with certain young men was an “open secret” within the organisation, but that nothing was done.
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#SoulSuvivor #Pilavachi #Cult
“He has stated in interviews and seminars that the "gift of celibacy" enables him to do certain work which he would not be able to with a family” **harry hill style glance at camera 3**
This news is very concerning but I am deeply concerned there is truth in the allegations. Having attended soul survivor my self I wasn't really sure about Mike and the way he was idolised. If individuals were abused by him I hope they will find the strength and courage to report their experiences. But I know how challenging this will be and may have a devastating impact on their life for a whole host of reasons.
I sincerely hope the truth will emerge and those who have been damaged will find peace.
What about how devastating it is to Mike . Wrestling and massage isn't a crime and it all sounds like someone has a grudge to bare to me
I go to soul survivor. This news came as a shock to all of us. I was there when it was announced in April 2nd.
Really? Sadly not shocked at all. The man created a community of idolatry around himself, publicly mocked team members, gas lit them, ghosted them and worst of all the abuse, which is yet to all unravel.
So sorry mate. I went to SS right back at the start of things - '96. Never even a whiff of anything like this. It's so gutting to hear. I feel angry too.
I hope this isn't true, if so it's awful for the victims and is deeply disappointing. I went to Soul Survivor for many of my teenage years and it saddens me to hear this news
It’s not true, in the last days there will be an attack on the church, and this is definitely an attack from a place that is not good.
I’m a strong Christian that grew up with parents that were very active in youth ministry, in fact they know Mike Pilavachi quite well. I’ve been to soul survivor, the energy felt off to me. All my friends were having the best time but I couldn’t help but feel super uncomfortable. I have no proof but I’m inclined to believe the victims 100%
I feel the same. I enjoyed my time at soul, but I just felt something off about Mike. He just felt kinda weird to me
Me too, I went there in 98 and felt it all really weird. It's taken me a long time to find who I am in many respects and not feel guilty about not being into such events. I used to think there was something wrong with me but just never felt comfortable in such environments.
@@jontypiper9881 yes me too! I felt like a ‘bad’ Christian for not ‘feeling the holy spirit’ and falling around on the floor or suddenly bursting out in tongues. I feel more comfortable now in my faith journey, I’m not doing it the way that’s ‘expected’. Faith is very personal and there is no right or wrong way to believe 💜
@@Potato_3851 amen to that!
Yea your a very strong Christian 😂I can see that
This is odd and bizarre the whole Mike Pilavachi scandal I almost don't believe it apart from the fact that Andy Croft has spoken out about being deeply impacted by Mike's abuse. So there must be some truth in it somewhere sadly.
I've watched SS online a few times and he is a great speaker. No allegations of touching or anything like this then? So what accusations has this man been dragged over hot coals for? I take it wrestling matches would have been in public in front of others? I find this hard to believe, there's nothing concrete here
I used to go there, but since being born again recently I’ve seen how demonic it is! It’s so deeply sad
I'm gutted to read this. I heard Mike speak at clan gathering in Scotland in the early noughties. He was such a gifted communicator. I pray the victims pull through this, find forgiveness in their hearts and end up in an even stronger relationship with the living God. As for MP - I hope and pray he finds a path to righteousness through the forgiving power of Christ. Matthew 19:26 says - But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
if this is true very sad - if its lies then hope the truth comes out
Why does nearly everyone here instantly believe all rumors from a news channel? Just asking...
Because it's true
This guy really did open the fridge door...
Damn I know this is a serious matter but that made me laugh way harder than it should've 😂
Always thought there was something odd with him
so gutted
50 seconds 😂 where is that from??
This is a loaf of rubbish called victim he was with me at times an never hurt me.
He has a great sense of humour
very surprised to hear it. I went to NewWine and heard his preaching there. Comparing to other preachers, I didnt feel he was idolised himself. Seeing so many negative comments here, I wonder if it is fair for the man to speak up as well as all the allegators
The crocodiles are just as bad
I have never been to Soul Survivor. And if it shuts - good. Pseudo Christian life is not a substitute for Christ himself.
Why aren’t the police involved ? Or is it antagonistic, misunderstanding and others attempting to whip up an accusation?
Pilavachi will fix it. Operating in plain view, having celebrity status, access to young adults, same old story.
Why ask former staff who had issues with him why not current workers????
Nobody is going to stop the power of Jesus Christ. I love soul survivor and they will be always in my heart. God is a forgiving person and he forgives his people. The lord is here and God will bless them through this season and for ever more.
I have asked that Mr Martin Cooper (CEO), Assistant Safeguarding Advisor Lucy Grimsey and Mr Julian Hodgson (Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham and Mr David Bowden (Assistant Safeguarding Advisor) in the Diocese of Derby step down from with immediate effect from any safeguarding roles in the Church of England, refer themselves to the disclosure and barring services and, to social work England, for inappropriate behaviour towards me, but refuse to do so, this will be one of the next biggest scandals to hit the news regarding poor practice in safeguarding in the Church of England.
Luke 8:17
For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.
It took a long time!
This dude always had something off about him. Yeah yeah, I know everyone comes out and says that after the fact, but for all my years at SS he always gave me the creeps. Ministry for young men creep vibes. Oil drenched massages wouldn’t surprise me, nor would ‘wrestling matches’.
Sinners use religion to disguise themselves and to prey on gullible people
Sin does not exist good and evil does because God created them Isaiah 45v7 and Jesus did not end what God created . This man is an evil deceiver
@@ricdavid7476 Sin does exist lol
what a surprise, NOT a drag queen, again!!
When will he be prosecuted?
For what?
@@guff9567 for being a deceiver and a liar
@@ricdavid7476 what did he lie about?
@@guff9567 He should be arrested for molesting young men.
@@Dark_Bandon Surely a massage is THE OPPOSITE of being molester , and most likely, those complaining, are just annoyed the reverend did not give them the raping they were hoping for.
I went to the christian glastonbury
I went to Soul Survivor on 2012 and my church went for years before that and after the no one saw AnyThing like that at all. There was also momentum and bothering like that happened at all I am not a biggest fan( his jokes are quiet mean sometimes) of his but he is not a pervert like they are describing
I bet he actually really is. Lot of groomers and grifters in Christianity.
then why have lots of people that have worked with him making these claims?
He obviously is. This news has tainted soul survivor for me. Also I used to like MP but now even thinking about him makes my skin crawl.
@@naomi5893 I am not even a fan of him but what is obvious this is a sham of a report. Claims of people MP at Soul Survivor never met with boys from churches and most of his employees are people who still work with him. All of this has no direct threats or accusations. Just generalalites of words that can be misconstrued
@rachzainhass But people who worked with him have spoken out and told victims to come forward. There are more news articles from Christian news websites that are also saying the same thing. I don't know, we shall see what happens I guess.
He andy an Mike got me to know the truth in life.
Mike did nothing wrong nor Andy.
Andy hung with me an other people with grace truth.They treated me so well an harm none at all.
Ffs
The Vatican shares a schadenfreude moment 👊🏻
I went to soul survivor many times. Probably 15-20 times in total over the summers in my youth. Often attending multiple weeks per summer. Mike was for sure a head figure, well respected. He was a larger than life type of guy. I believed in Jesus and all the stories told at the time. This was 10-15 years ago for me now. I have since come to my senses after years of personal research and concluded that all Christianity is false, all religions are false. I have no knowledge of these reported incidents, but it seems whenever something like this happens in the Church, all the fellow leaders throw the accuser under the bus in an effort to clean themselves of him. I think that's sad that instantly all his allies have dropped him, I would guess they do that more to keep their own image than because of the facts of the accusations but hard to be sure. The irony!!! the absolute irony!! of calling this "CULT LIKE" behaviour. I'm sorry but the Church is the biggest Cult going, its all cult like behaviour now, not just Mike, its the lot of it. The entire Church and any organised religions literally are cults that just grew and have lasted for years, but they are non the less all cults to me now
Rubbish. Most churches are not cults at all. I have attended a number of churches and haven't agreed with everything but have not been brainwashed and have always been free to leave. The Bible is full of appeals to reason and common sense, a great deal more than this Western culture that has rejected Christianity.
Spot on! (I went to Soul Survivor Watford too, 2005-2007)
Is this christianity?
No
yes
I've heard this guy on TBN. He preaches the right message. Instead of massages and wrestling, he should just follow the example of Christ and wash their feet instead. I would've just done that.
So many grifters in Christianity.
The whole religion is.
@William Cho It's not though
@@mehrijuanaaasmartest anti Christian
Its Disgusting….God will give him what he deserves.
This is not true
he is a god father as well seen this man at catalyst
There aren't any criminal allegations. This seems to be slightly intense and unwise behaviour that more sensitive people may have been effected by but to report it in this way, seems to be deliberately sensationalising what isn't really much of a news story.
It's abuse
Cult
Religion is
😊😊😊
Thats a sect