Poor reporting on Soul Survivor is damaging for everyone - alleged victims included

Media coverage of Mike Pilavachi and Soul Survivor has lumped serious safeguarding allegations together with vague and nonsensical claims about the festival in general. It distracts from the allegations and does any potential victims no favours, says Tim Wyatt

The news that the founder of Soul Survivor, Mike Pilavachi, is being investigated over safeguarding concerns has detonated like a bomb among evangelical Christians in Britain. The possibility that one of the most admired and influential church leaders in this country abused his position, and the young people he served, has understandably caused huge anguish and soul-searching.

The allegations which have leaked out into the public domain via media reports are hugely concerning. Reports of semi-naked massages or prolonged wrestling matches with young adults involved in Soul Survivor’s gap year internship programme must be fully and independently investigated.