Mike Pilavachi
Encyclopedia
Mike Pilavachi 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
. 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
. 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. 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. 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.
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, an initiative of the churches of Britain and Ireland which is helping to demonstrate Christian faith in action.
, 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.
Charismatic movement
The term charismatic movement is used in varying senses to describe 20th century developments in various Christian denominations. It describes an ongoing international, cross-denominational/non-denominational Christian movement in which individual, historically mainstream congregations adopt...
Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
evangelist
Evangelist
-Religion:*one of the Four Evangelists, the authors of the canonical Christian Gospels in the New Testament*a Christian who explains his or her beliefs to a non-Christian and thereby participates in Evangelism...
and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
of Greek Cypriot descent. He is the co-founder and leader of the Soul Survivor charity based in Watford
Watford
Watford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. 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
Matt Redman
Matt Redman is an English Christian worship leader, songwriter and author based in Brighton.He has worked with Newfrontiers, Passion Conferences, Hillsong London, Soul Survivor, is an artist for Sixstepsrecords and is a member of Compassionart a charity founded by Martin Smith.He appeared with...
. A former accountant, he became a youth worker at St Andrew's C of E church in Chorleywood
Chorleywood
Chorleywood is a village and civil parish in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom. It had a population of 6,814 people at the 2001 census. The parish of Chorleywood as a whole has a population of 10,775. The town lies in the far south west of Hertfordshire, on the...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. It was here that two ministers at St Andrew's, David Pytches
David Pytches
David Pytches is a bishop of the Anglican Communion and the former Bishop of Chile, Bolivia & Peru. Pytches was also vicar of St Andrew's, in Chorleywood England. He is the author of many books, including Come Holy Spirit and his autobiography, Living at the Edge...
and Barry Kissell launched the New Wine
New Wine
New Wine is the largest UK network of charismatic churches and Christians. It originated in 1989 as a Christian festival run by two Anglican clergy from St Andrew’s Church Chorleywood: Bishop David Pytches and the Rev. Barry Kissell...
Christian Family Conferences. Pilavachi has written a number of books on Christianity including Soul Survivor (with Nicky Gumbel
Nicky Gumbel
Nicholas Glyn Paul Gumbel is an ordained Anglican priest, vicar and author. He is most famous as the developer of the Alpha course, a basic introduction to Christianity supported by churches of many Christian traditions....
, 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. 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.
Pilavachi helped run the international evangelistic event, Soul in the City, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 2004 and Soul in the City Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
in 2009. He was also one of the founders of the Hope 08
Hope 08
Hope 08 was a united Christian social justice and evangelism campaign that planned to transform Great Britain during the year 2008.-Background:...
project, 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 RedmanMatt Redman
Matt Redman is an English Christian worship leader, songwriter and author based in Brighton.He has worked with Newfrontiers, Passion Conferences, Hillsong London, Soul Survivor, is an artist for Sixstepsrecords and is a member of Compassionart a charity founded by Martin Smith.He appeared with...
, 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.