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AFTER Mike Pilavachi, above, former associate pastor at Soul Survivor Church in Watform, resigned in disgrace earlier this year, global evangelical leaders sent him messages of praise and support.
An investigation by The Telegraph revealed how Pilavachi allegedly encouraged a “conveyor belt” of young, attractive men—many of whom were vulnerable and had difficult childhoods—to receive full-body oil massages in their underwear in his bedroom.
In the wake of his exposure a Church of England probe concluded this week that Pilavachi used his spiritual authority to control people, and that his coercive and controlling behaviour:
Led to inappropriate relationships, the physical wrestling of youths and massaging of young male interns.
Image via YouTube
Among those who offered support to Pilavachi after he announced his resignation was Terry Virgo, above, British founder of Newfrontiers, a global movement and family of neo-charismatic evangelical churches with a presence in over 2,000 churches and 80 nations.
He said:
Continuing to pray for you Mike, deeply grateful for the massive blessing you’ve been in countless Newfrontiers settings.
Image via YouTube
J. John, above, an evangelical minister and author, added
Mike you are one of my dearest friends and I love, respect and honour you.
Virgo, 83, has since apologised for his comments after they sparked a backlash online, while J. John has reportedly remained silent.
Responding to the evangelical leaders supporting Pilavachi, one victim, who spoke on condition of anonymity described Virgo’s initial “apparent ignorance” of the allegations as “incredibly concerning given his position.”
Furthermore, he said that, in voicing his support for Pilavachi public, J. John:
Has created more pain, further divide and engaged in a trial by media of those who have stepped forward to reveal the truth of their experiences. What was veiled as a holier than thou act of support was, in fact, an unnecessary and pitiful dig at the wounded—shame on him.
Image via YouTube
Paul Martin, above, a preacher who started a branch of Sole Survivor in Los Angeles and beyond after meeting Pilavachi, said in this video that he noticed that the evangelist:
Was always travelling with young men. They were quite handsome and quite fit.
Before the preacher was exposed the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, was reported in this Telegraph video as having:
Honoured Pilavachi’s outstanding contribution to evangelism and decipleship among young people in the U.K.
Image via YouTube
Later, in May, Welby, above, described the investigation into Pilavachi as “profoundly painful” and assured people that it was being conducted with the “utmost care and sensitivity.”
The founder of Soul Survivor Watford stepped back from ministry in April while the Church of England’s National Safeguarding Team (NST) and the Diocese of St Albans began a non-criminal investigation into potential safeguarding failures by the pastor.
As a result of the allegations made against him, Pilavachi was suspended from Soul Survivor Watford in May, while the Church of England’s National Safeguarding Team and the Diocese of St Albans carried out an internal investigation which has repeatedly been criticised for its lack of independence.
Hat tip: BarrieJohn
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