Have you or your kids been to Soul Survivor?

[Coffeeandcards]

You might want to read this if so:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/04/12/mike-pilavachi-soul-survivor-charity-watchdog/

Completely coincidentally and issue has blown up at my church. The details would be outing but in brief a congregant has been behaving very badly and I have little faith that the church leadership will take what I would regard as appropriate action. Essentially their view is that the compassion of Christ requires tolerating the bad behaviour. Perhaps this is genuine. If so I think it's is entirely misplaced and I can't stop thinking about how many people were made victims by attitudes like that. Or it's just a way for people to avoid confronting a problem. I am feeling physically sick as I type this.

I should add that as far as I know no one is in any imminent danger

Oh yes, I am on a greenbelt countdown.

It's my favourite place in the world.

Although it costs us a fortune!

https://ethicalcustard.blogspot.com/2023/08/who-paid-for-mike-pilavachi-interns.html

Thanks for highlighting this @Sameynamey. Has it been put in front of the Charity Commission do you know?

I am still trying to unpick it in my mind somewhat. Charities are under an obligation to spend money that has been given for a particular purpose on that purpose. However, money that has been given for more general purposes 'support the work of Charity X' can be used in a more general way. As to whether they were allowed to move money between charities, I just don't know.

The problem is that surely they should be upholding slightly higher standards than charities in general, given the supposed hotline to God.

@TomPinch
I am sorry to hear that. Is there a reporting or whistleblowing route in the hierarchy of the organisation?

If you have any doubts at all, please take it to the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub via your local authority website.

Me too. Have volunteered lots but am not this year...thank goodness for the pay installments system now 😀 would be nice to have sunshine too!

Cannot wait for Greenbelt!! It's what gets me through the year!

Never been to Greenbelt or Soul Survivor. I did go to Cross Rhythms festival and Faith Camp (Kingdom Faith, Colin Urquhart's ministry).

I had some friends when we were teenagers do soul survivor. I always enjoyed Matt Redman's music very much. Sad to hear about the Mike Pilavachi scandal. I feel sad for Matt Redman especially having been a survivor of child sexual abuse (as I am myself) and someone who looked up to MP, this must be really difficult for him. Much prayer needed all round and hoping the victims can find healing and peace.

It's going to need more than prayer. This sort of thing keeps happening. What's going to stop it?

Yep - "prayer" isn't going to cut it I'm afraid.

Literally bloody awful abuse... DH recently read 'Bleeding for Jesus', having realised that some of the boys at his (cathedral) school went to the 'bash camps'.

www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/21/bleeding-for-jesus-book-tells-story-of-qc-who-pitilessly-abused-young-men

That report is appalling.

@TomPinch I hope you are okay and there has been some positive progress on what is happening.

Yes Errol I dint think I could read the book but read several reviews and was properly horrified 😔.

I read it. I felt pretty sick afterwards.

I really like Andrew Graystone and have a lot of respect for him. He's still in the faith but supports so many who have had difficulties or issues.

He did a fantastic job with that book. I'm sure it's made him plenty of enemies as well, so he was brave to do it.

Anyone who became his enemy because of that book would surely be someone you wouldn't want as a friend.

Thanks - I'm currently making plans and will act shortly.

https://x.com/heyjames/status/1693210329956696066?s=46&t=oe6Lr-bMkSpnC5WBu8BQOw

some hefty salaries here, given they made the outreach worker for refugees redundant. Buildings manager on 70k Duncan layzell. Mike was on the same. Come on charity commission, this needs investigation.

It has gone very quiet - does anyone know what is going on now with Mike Pilivachi, Soul Survivor Watford and the Church of England?

I also wanted to share my thoughts on a couple of things:

Rev - Tom Hollander is an amazing actor, why didn't I know this before?! Some bits of the series are very close to the bone, especially the conflicts between Adam and Alex, his wife. I also think the series is quite honest on the jealousies and conflicts within the church. Nigel is an unlikeable character but there is a key moment towards the end of the series when you understand why he is jealous of Adam with his priesthood, stipend and relatively comfortable vicarage. - which is, after all, a detached house in inner London.

However, without giving spoilers, I think that Adam does attempt to support/forgive some characters and actions that probably shouldn't be supported or forgiven. Which perhaps alludes to some of the difficulties the church has had in tackling serious safeguarding problems, including child sexual abuse. Thought provoking and definitely worth a watch on iplayer.

I was a teenage fundamentalist - the context is all Australian pentecostal churches but I am finding it hugely entertaining and very helpful for understanding my family member's experiences.

I think the mainstream press have dropped it and I guess it will get swept under the carpet. The heyjames Twitter account seems to be the only person still plugging away at it. Mike is still on Twitter under at least two sock accounts defending himself. He has such distinctive way of writing, I feel quite embarrassed for him that he thinks anyone is being fooled.

Is it on iplayer?

Thanks

I had no idea that Mike Pilavachi was an accountant! Explains a lot of the financial murkiness and moving charity money around in a way that difficult to trace.

Rev is on iplayer; teenage fundamentalist is a podcast.