The fact that Soul Survivor is thriving at the moment shows that it was never about Mike Pilavachi but always about the love of Jesus Christ and the work of The Holy Spirit in people's lives. God bless you Soul Survivor.
I went to the Soul Survivor conferences from about 2010 to 2014. I enjoyed it the first time. I'd never gone to anything like it really, but all the very Charismatic, hyper-evangelical stuff never sat right with me after that. I think hyper-emotional worship can be highly manipulative. I don't believe it when anyone who says they can feel 'the spirit' moving, especially when the "holy synth pads" are alternating between C and F over speaking in tongues and a never ending prayer. There's always a hip, down with the kids preacher who says that God doesn’t show up in the way we expect, yet the "Spirit" always "shows up" in exactly the same way in the same time during the service. I don't think it can quite be called a cult though. As far as I could tell, there was no financial manipulation, there's no attempt to get you to join the specific 'sect'. There's not enough that's close enough to the definition of cult to give it that label IMHO. Not to mention that there was no attempt to split from the Anglican Church as a body, which you would expect from a cult. Obviously the CofE wasn't giving enough oversight, but still... I don't think it fits the classification. I can't speak for any other churches, but certainly from groups that went to Soul Survivor conferences, very few stayed in the church and the faith at all. Those that did stay only did because they either had a big familial connection in the church, or because they were already solid in their faith before Soul Survivor. I had only grown up in charismatic, hyper-evangelical churches up that point. Honestly, it has been a joy to discover a more traditional, theologically rich and consistent churches over the last decade.
Thanks for your comment. If you look at earlier videos I made, I speak about the wrestling (and massage) I experienced with Mike Pilavachi in his flat. Many others experienced far worse and more protracted.
These are the aspects along with the ongoing cover up and lack of responsibility taken is what I'm inadvertently referring to when likening SS to a cult.
@ Would you say the cult-like elements are more readily found the higher up you go in SS? I'm sorry that you went through that. I'm glad we're getting your first-hand story of it though, the news articles about Mike don't really give any indication of exactly the degree of severity and inappropriateness of his actions if you know what I mean. So thank you for speaking out about it!
And if what Im claiming makes you angry this just shows that you’re starting a journey of realising that chiid sex abuse carried out in the name of Jesus is the real moral outrage here.
I thought this and your longer video with Robert about the state of the Church of England were really interesting and insightful conversations. My position on sexuality and marriage is a conservative one, and while I disagree with Robert on this I was impressed with his fair representation of both sides of the argument.
Thanks for your comment - needing 'a position' is pretty damning, whether it's to maintain the status quo of the religion we take identity in, or it challenges the environment we've built around us. This language gives insight to how we see others, I really value your part in the conversation - we have a long way to go!
From a Biblical perspective, Soul Survivor was a success because many people became Christians and saw God at work through the organisation - despite it's flaws. And that is the gospel, that Christ builds his kingdom despite our flaws and brokenness. That's what Mike preached. Safeguarding, money and leadership, important as they are, are not ways to measure the kingdom.
Mike preached humility on stage, but in his inner circle he would use emotional manipulation to make sure that people did as he wanted. If you watch the documentary by Matt and Beth Redman, they talk about the ways Mike controlled those around him.
Hi - thanks for your comment - 'people becoming Christian's' is something I'm not 100% sure of - it looks great to see loads of kids walking to the front to be prayed for, but what has happened to them since?
Our children went to SS and they saw it was all total con. They know the music just manipulated people to an emotional state and they saw through the so called "prophetic" words. When 10,000 young people are gathered and someone 'prophesies' that there is someone her with emotional problems they are basically calling out every other one there😂 Nothing prophetic at all. Our children enjoyed it for the music and companionship but spiritually it was empty.
That sounds positive. I loved the music and the socialisation, it was amazing to walk around a whole showground at 10 at night seeing loads of other young people who believed what you did. But I was far more optimistic about the spirituality... it's such a shame money, ego, power and religion took over.
Hey, thanks for your comment - if you have time, please watch my other videos, titled Soul Survivor or Mike Pilavachi. I personally experienced some of the physicality and mistreatment that he has been reported of doing over a 25 year period. Please subscribe!
Thanks for the thought. I guess I'm hoping people are following the videos I'm producing - please do watch the video about my experience with Mike Pilavachi - this provides most context for this video.
The fact that Soul Survivor is thriving at the moment shows that it was never about Mike Pilavachi but always about the love of Jesus Christ and the work of The Holy Spirit in people's lives. God bless you Soul Survivor.
I went to the Soul Survivor conferences from about 2010 to 2014.
I enjoyed it the first time. I'd never gone to anything like it really, but all the very Charismatic, hyper-evangelical stuff never sat right with me after that. I think hyper-emotional worship can be highly manipulative. I don't believe it when anyone who says they can feel 'the spirit' moving, especially when the "holy synth pads" are alternating between C and F over speaking in tongues and a never ending prayer.
There's always a hip, down with the kids preacher who says that God doesn’t show up in the way we expect, yet the "Spirit" always "shows up" in exactly the same way in the same time during the service.
I don't think it can quite be called a cult though. As far as I could tell, there was no financial manipulation, there's no attempt to get you to join the specific 'sect'. There's not enough that's close enough to the definition of cult to give it that label IMHO. Not to mention that there was no attempt to split from the Anglican Church as a body, which you would expect from a cult.
Obviously the CofE wasn't giving enough oversight, but still... I don't think it fits the classification.
I can't speak for any other churches, but certainly from groups that went to Soul Survivor conferences, very few stayed in the church and the faith at all. Those that did stay only did because they either had a big familial connection in the church, or because they were already solid in their faith before Soul Survivor.
I had only grown up in charismatic, hyper-evangelical churches up that point. Honestly, it has been a joy to discover a more traditional, theologically rich and consistent churches over the last decade.
Thanks for your comment. If you look at earlier videos I made, I speak about the wrestling (and massage) I experienced with Mike Pilavachi in his flat. Many others experienced far worse and more protracted.
These are the aspects along with the ongoing cover up and lack of responsibility taken is what I'm inadvertently referring to when likening SS to a cult.
@ Would you say the cult-like elements are more readily found the higher up you go in SS?
I'm sorry that you went through that. I'm glad we're getting your first-hand story of it though, the news articles about Mike don't really give any indication of exactly the degree of severity and inappropriateness of his actions if you know what I mean.
So thank you for speaking out about it!
How can someone/anyone who stands for what the Bible says, be for same sex relationships and call it biblical, it’s clearly NOT
Wasn’t Jesus gay though? Thinking of the passage in John’s gospel where he reclines with the disciple he loved most after the last supper.
@ 🙄 nice try troll
But why would you object to Jesus being gay?
@ prove your not t a troll and I’ll talk, otherwise I’m not wasting my time
And if what Im claiming makes you angry this just shows that you’re starting a journey of realising that chiid sex abuse carried out in the name of Jesus is the real moral outrage here.
Sam, thank you for all your work on this.
On a less serious note: do we need to set up a crowd-funder for some studio lights?
Thanks for subscribing - if you want to set up a crowdfunder to help oil the wheels of the channel - I'd be v happy. Cheers
I thought this and your longer video with Robert about the state of the Church of England were really interesting and insightful conversations. My position on sexuality and marriage is a conservative one, and while I disagree with Robert on this I was impressed with his fair representation of both sides of the argument.
Thanks for your comment - needing 'a position' is pretty damning, whether it's to maintain the status quo of the religion we take identity in, or it challenges the environment we've built around us. This language gives insight to how we see others, I really value your part in the conversation - we have a long way to go!
From a Biblical perspective, Soul Survivor was a success because many people became Christians and saw God at work through the organisation - despite it's flaws. And that is the gospel, that Christ builds his kingdom despite our flaws and brokenness. That's what Mike preached. Safeguarding, money and leadership, important as they are, are not ways to measure the kingdom.
Mike preached humility on stage, but in his inner circle he would use emotional manipulation to make sure that people did as he wanted. If you watch the documentary by Matt and Beth Redman, they talk about the ways Mike controlled those around him.
Hi - thanks for your comment - 'people becoming Christian's' is something I'm not 100% sure of - it looks great to see loads of kids walking to the front to be prayed for, but what has happened to them since?
Our children went to SS and they saw it was all total con. They know the music just manipulated people to an emotional state and they saw through the so called "prophetic" words.
When 10,000 young people are gathered and someone 'prophesies' that there is someone her with emotional problems they are basically calling out every other one there😂
Nothing prophetic at all.
Our children enjoyed it for the music and companionship but spiritually it was empty.
most things are.
That sounds positive. I loved the music and the socialisation, it was amazing to walk around a whole showground at 10 at night seeing loads of other young people who believed what you did. But I was far more optimistic about the spirituality... it's such a shame money, ego, power and religion took over.
Don’t understand where you are coming from. It seems very narrow minded and defensive.
Hey, thanks for your comment - if you have time, please watch my other videos, titled Soul Survivor or Mike Pilavachi. I personally experienced some of the physicality and mistreatment that he has been reported of doing over a 25 year period. Please subscribe!
Can I send you a DM- I commented in your earlier videos. I have some information that might be helpful
hi - if you look on my profile page you can find my website or reveal my email address- please send me an email. Thank you
Hit the nail on the head, autonomy from the Church and putting their senior leader before Jesus for which they supposedly existed to worship.
These talks are very insightful. However a brief introduction would also help.😊
Thanks for the thought. I guess I'm hoping people are following the videos I'm producing - please do watch the video about my experience with Mike Pilavachi - this provides most context for this video.