Mike Pilavachi & Soul Survivor Experience

Mike Pilavachi and Soul Survivor experience.

We're making a documentary - please get in touch if you've been personally affected by Pilavachi.

[roopaalmeida]

What the hell are you trying to say? I don't get one word of what your saying

[Redhill]

Can I just say I’ve been listening to you a lot this last week. I probably know the prophet from Kansas… lol…. I’ve been through a year of completely reassessing what church looks like for me. I e had forty years of the American prophetic/charismatic movement and have seen the train wrecks it has provided for people. The damage has NOT been minimal for ordinary people who just love Jesus. The leadership is not pastoral and it is filled with bad theology and no regard for the damage they have done. I enjoy your videos because you are sharing many things I am thinking in my own head. I still love Jesus and His church(meaning the individuals who also love Him) but I have not been to church for a while now.
Please keep doing what you’re doing. It helps people process. It’s so important. Thank you!

[adrianthomas]

Yes - attending church in my teens and early 20s I had similar experiences. So much of the church experience was extraordinarily superficial with talk of spiritual milk for babes and meat for adults and never seeming to get to the meat. When we consider the years that clergy spend in seminary/university why is the message so often simplistic? It’s no wonder that so many no longer see institutional Christianity as a source of spiritual wisdom and enlightenment. The Church seems more interested in politics and social issues.

[SimonBullArt]

I’m not sure what you are saying here exactly. Are you suffering from ptsd from non sexual wrestling or not ending up going to Australia to plant a church?

[JoNaomiMusic]

From memory I don't think I've met this person in question personally, maybe in a group setting. But I was heavily involved in the CofE for the first 26 years of my life, then finally leaving the church (and faith) 3 years ago after speaking out about my vicar at the time and getting nowhere. I'm 29 now and very happy to talk about how great life is on the other side of church/religious culture!! I imagine this is going to bring to light a lot of stories, and hopefully healing for people.

[lizzyumoh]

The fact that when I attended SS festivals in the 90s as a 15 year old there was a significant minority of my peer group smoking drugs and getting together with boyfriends and girlfriends in their tents reflects badly on the leadership of the event. As an adult and parent now, I know that what happens on the ground in any organisation is a direct reflection of the leadership and their integrity and boundaries. The culture of "cool" was what dominated SS festivals back then. Mixing a music festival with Christianity just isn't appropriate. Music festivals are for the flesh, about emotionally charged music and hedonism. These things are at odds with the call to repentance of the gospel and the fruits of the Holy Spirit. I loved it at the time, but I didn't know any better.

[JBLFC]

Maybe one of these days someone will actually be able to tell us a genuine offence that occurred. Somehow the Telegraph have written a dozen articles about this, none of which have offered any further information. 100's of people experienced "abuse" but the only ones who've actually shown their faces have, at worst, said "he lied" and "he gaslighted". Hardly Ravi Zacharias-type stuff. This is getting REALLY boring now.

[RhythmicRambler]

I really hope you do make a documentary about it. Im a former christian myself working on writing a book about religious abuse, coercive control and manipulation from experinces I had through church life. Although not directly affected by mike myself i did attend soul survivor as a young person and when this news broke it didn't suprise me, but frustrated me as these kinds of things are far more prevalent than any of us know...

[jc]

I had a terrible experience and a huge trauma last year from my previous church. Today after watching these online, I finally got the courage to contact Safeguarding who deal with these things. I honestly didn't find it particularly helpful at all other than they kept trying to get me to fund more counselling sessions (after the church experience left me in small debts) which is where you just sit and continuously talk at someone with nobody at the other end interacting with you or helping you work through your hurt. The safeguarding member said "It sounds like you're getting your life together now. (Totally untrue as that trauma has effected me tremendously) and what we can do is maybe stop it from happening to people in the where does that leave ME ... As the victim?? If safeguarding aren't willing to make an effort to help, then the victims stand No chance at getting any kind of justice.
They can prevent it happening again (not for certain) and the victim feels like a guinea pig to their experiments who is then chewed out and spat out

[Mike.Cebert]

If you do another video, tell the cameraman to stop breathing so heavily or are you boring him that much he's fallen asleep...?

[MarthaEllen]

Thank you for speaking out. It is no less 'wrong' when others say the young men and yourself were over 18 and 'consenting'. These young men were, whether they felt it at the time or no, vulnerable young people in a hothouse intense cult like environment. There was a big power imbalance between Mike and the young person. Mike abused this power and his trust position. Not to mention the 'promises' and love bombing type tactics. Like many abusers, he groomed his victims and likely ensured they were over 18. This was co-ercive control and abuse of power. It was abuse. I'm not sure though this was spiritual abuse? Eg... censoring them because they 'hadn't heard the Lord correctly' or 'werent submitted to God and the Leadership properly' or accused them of 'struggling' with the Leadership when they should submit and not come with suggestions or criticisms because that is what the Bible teaches etc? Or accusing them of not repenting properly, or areas of their life not broken enough.. not obeying the leadership properly, or questioning things? Or any of a huge array of insidious spiritual abuse? A helpful book is 'the subtle power of spiritual abuse'. I admire what you are doing. A bright light is needed on the whole sub-culture.

[Rain-uhus]

saved or unsaved he should confess his crimes and accept the consequence that is his days in prison he was trusted with the youth. I myself am a born again Christian my story my life I have suffered at the hands of a Christian father there is so much to say I have chosen to forgive him. My heart is loving kind and genuinely want the best for him yes that is hard to understand but I do forgive him by the grace of god. None the less his crimes should mean prosecution his days in prison so many think well god forgives me yes he does but a true repentance would be admitting your disgusting crimes not trying to hide behind the name of Jesus no wonder God gets the blame when In reality it is man. If you or anyone would like to interview myself I would help in anyway I did see him preach once I felt to give my life story on abuse but felt inadequate never put off be bold enough to speak the truth in love God bless you

[AndyReadGuitar]

good for you, go for it – 'promises' ah yes I've had a few of those!

[alastairmaclachlan]

There has been talk of Mike Pilavachi being "pushed under a bus"(I feel sorry for the bus and anyone in it).Seriously though, the most important thing is that Soul Survivor itself is not pushed under bus, together with the opportunities for young people to know God through His Son Jesus Christ.I await the brickbats.

[Mike.Cebert]

If the wrestling was not of a sexual nature and in this short video you don't allude that it is, then is there wrong with this? Wrestling is a sport and can be a male bonding activity. That said, ok it is rather weird for a guy his age to be doing that with guys much younger than he is. But in and of itself...In any case only you, the other boys and MP know what went on and what the true intentions were.

Clearly though what is disturbing is the near naked massages. That's what should be the issue. Spiritual abuse or gaslighting, well come on, many are guilty of that.

[SuperSimi]

What the heck do wrestling matches and full body oil massages have to do with preaching the Good News? Why did he do such a thing?

[chalicotheremapping]

There has been a shift, probably due to many no longer fearing God, there is more pride

This includes Christian’s and atheists and all in between

[englephat]

Thanks for the video Sam.

I still havent quite worked out, was the wrestling done one on one, or in front of a group?

[PaulEddy-uiql]

Happy to help in any way google me to see how I help churches with media and PR. The way all the Ev elite has gone quiet as they don’t want to be tarnished with this is why it all happens. There needs to be a serious gathering of senior leaders to identify the issues and develop a code of practice and accountability for ministry the way we have them for finance

[angusager]

Thanks for posting Sam. Spiritual coercion and abuse is very prevelent where I am.