Christian youth festival founder suspended over claims he gave inappropriate massages to young men
Christian youth festival founder, who once received an award from the Archbishop of Canterbury, has been suspended over allegations he gave young men inappropriate massages
- Mike Pilavachi, 65, has been suspended from the Anglican Church of Soul Survivor
- It comes after he withdrew from the ministry pending an investigation
A founder of a Christian youth festival who once received an award from the Archbishop of Canterbury has been suspended over allegations he gave young men full body massages.
Mike Pilavachi, 65, who founded Soul Survivor Anglican Church and a religious camping festival in 1995, was formally suspended from the organization last night over allegations that he wrestled young men and gave them “oil massages” while in their underwear.
It comes after he stepped down from ministry and resigned from all related charitable boards pending a church investigation into the allegations.
The Church of England national security team and the St Albans security team in Hertfordshire are investigating the claims.
Soul Survivor said, “Obviously this more decisive action should have been taken sooner and we have taken action to correct it now.”
Mike Pilavachi (pictured), 65, who founded Soul Survivor Anglican Church in 1995, has been suspended over allegations he wrestled young men and gave ‘oil massages’ in their underwear
The Church of England national security team and the St Albans security team in Hertfordshire are investigating the claims
The church was asked to explain why there had been a meeting between Mr. Pilavachi and Dan Goodwright, a musician and associate worship pastor and Soul Survivor.
The pair were seen near Mr Pilavachi’s home in Watford, Hertfordshire, when they were said to be apart during the investigation. There is no suggestion that Goodwright is involved in any of the allegations.
David Gate, a former Soul Survivor member who says he felt emotionally manipulated by Pilavachi, told The Sunday Times last week: ‘There is an ongoing investigation by the Church of England. But I have little faith in the process. The report does not need to be published.’
“Sometimes I wrestled with him before events, sometimes it was backstage, but always fully clothed in the company of others.
‘He did that a lot with young men. It was a sign that he liked you – you were one of “Mike’s boys”.
“There always seemed to be a favorite – usually athletic, always male teens or young men – no older than 23.
“If he won—and he was often a lot taller than us—he could be on top of you.
“Looking back, it must have seemed strange, a 45-year-old, well-built man wrestling on the floor with a 16-year-old boy.”