Mike Pilavachi

Mike Pilavachi speaking at Soul Survivor 2009 Week C

Mike Pilavachi (born 7 March 1958) is a British charismatic Christian evangelist and author of Greek Cypriot descent. He is the co-founder and leader of the Soul Survivor charity based in Watford, United Kingdom.^[1] He is also the Senior Pastor of the Soul Survivor Watford church, based in North Watford, which he set up in 1993 along with worship leader Matt Redman.^[2] A former accountant, he became a youth worker at St Andrew's C of E church in Chorleywood, Hertfordshire. It was here that two ministers at St Andrew's, David Pytches and Barry Kissell launched the New Wine Christian Family Conferences.^[3] Pilavachi has written a number of books on Christianity including Soul Survivor (with Nicky Gumbel, 2004), Live the Life (with Craig Borlaise, 2001) and, most recently, Storylines;Tracing the Threads of the Bible. Pilavachi is celibate and encourages celibacy to those outside of marriage.^[4] He has stated in interviews and seminars that the "gift of celibacy" enables him to do certain work which he would not be able to with a family.^[3]

Pilavachi helped run the international evangelistic event, Soul in the City, London in 2004 and Soul in the City Durban in 2009. He was also one of the founders of the Hope 08 project,^[5] an initiative of the churches of Britain and Ireland which is helping to demonstrate Christian faith in action.

Soul Survivor

Pilavachi launched Soul Survivor in the Summer of 1993. The event is a 5 day long charismatic Christian festival aimed at youth and the initial Soul Survivor attracted 1896 delegates. Under the guidance of Pilavachi, the event has grown to accommodate around 30,000 people over three weeks along with the fourth week, being Momentum (aimed at those in their twenties and thirties). Matt Redman, who had attended Pilavachi's youth club at St Andrew's church, was a worship leader at early Soul Survivor camps. Matt Redman returned as a worship leader in 2011.

See also

• Soul Survivor (charity)

References

1. ^ Hope Together, accessed 27 July 2011
2. ^ Soul Survivor Watford - Church Staff, accessed 27 July 2011
3. ^ ^{a b} Jesus Army Magazine - Talking To Mike Pilavachi, taken from Jesus Life magazine first published in January 2005
4. ^ Sex and Celibacy - Mike Pilavachi, YouTube, uploaded by 777agapelive777 on 6 May 2009, excerpt from Principles of Leadership
5. ^ Donovan, Kevin (15 March 2007). "'Hope08 Reveals Signs of Change' in UK Mission". Christian Today. http://www.christiantoday.com/article/hope08.reveals.signs.of.change.in.uk.mission/9946.htm. Retrieved 2 June 2010. 

External links

• Soul Survivor UK Website
• Storylines Mike Pilavachi
• Pilavachi talking to Jesus Army about his life

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Name	Pilavachi, Mike
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Date of birth	1958
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