Shamilka on faith rocked by the Soul Survivor scandal | Justice Worriers Episode 46

Justice Worriers podcast

Content warning: brief discussion of coercive control and inappropriate sexual behaviour.

Andy, Leah and Jörg talk to Shamilka about her faith journey, especially the importance of her experiences at the Soul Survivor festival, and the impact of finding out about the scandal surrounding its leader, Mike Pilavachi. She describes how as a teenager she longed for a sign of God's acceptance, and Soul Survivor provided some chance for that, and then how that was thrown into confusion when its integrity was destroyed.

Why do we look to hero figures to live our faith for us?

Can we take good things from youthful experiences, even when we have re-evaluated them later in life?

Obviously people who abuse their power should be stopped and held accountable. How do we construct churches and societies that prevent power from being concentrated in the first place? Do our ideas about God lead us towards lack of accountability and concentration of power?

Statements from the Church of England:

• https://www.churchofengland.org/media/press-releases/concerns-substantiated-mike-pilavachi-investigation
• https://www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding/safeguarding-news-releases/statement-complaint-against-mike-pilavachi

Report from The Times on allegations as early as 2004:

• https://www.thetimes.com/article/mike-pilavachi-soul-survivor-first-reported-2004-inappropriate-behaviour-5brvp6jsr

Let There Be Light documentary featuring Matt and Beth Redmond:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVZkgdt32u8

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