Redmans speak out on abuse they experienced at Soul Survivor
Matt and Beth Redman, Grammy-winning worship leaders, have publicly discussed the abuse they endured from Soul Survivor founder Mike Pilavachi. Matt Redman revealed that Pilavachi, whom he met at 13, engaged in inappropriate physical contact under the guise of discussing Redman's past sexual abuse as a child, often in secluded spaces. The Church of England's National Safeguarding Team found Pilavachi guilty of coercive and controlling behaviour, including wrestling youths and massaging young male interns. In their documentary ‘Let There Be Light’, the Redmans describe psychological and emotional abuse at Soul Survivor church, with Pilavachi alternating between inclusion and exclusion over minor issues. Matt emphasised the need for accountability over mere forgiveness, seeing these revelations as part of Jesus' cleansing of the Church. Beth expressed hope for healing from past wounds and a safer future for the Church. Further details on the allegations against Soul Survivor and Pilavachi are available in Premier's ‘Soul Survivors’ podcast. See
March busiest month for A&Es - 2.35 million attendees
March marked the busiest month on record for A&E departments in England, with 2.35 million attendances. This surpasses the previous high, in December 2022. The total for the year up to March was also a record at 26.2 million. While there were slight improvements in waiting times, cancer response, and ambulance response times, these often fell short of NHS targets. Only 74.2% of patients were seen within four hours, missing the interim target of 76%. The number of patients waiting over 12 hours decreased from February, but remains high. For urgent cancer referrals, 75% of cases were diagnosed or ruled out within 28 days, yet the wait for first treatment after a cancer referral increased. Healthcare professionals are overstretched, highlighting the need for a comprehensive cancer strategy. Ambulance response times improved slightly but still exceeded the target times. The data coincide with a period of strikes and increased scrutiny of NHS performance. Research revealed that nearly half of NHS staff are considering work outside the health service; stress and workload are key factors.
Russia: worst flooding in decades causes mass evacuations
The southern Orenburg region in Russia is facing its worst flooding in decades, with 55 cities and towns affected and thousands evacuated. Entire neighbourhoods have been submerged, with volunteers and emergency workers rescuing trapped individuals and animals. The crisis, which caught authorities off-guard, is likely to worsen, as the Ural River is expected to rise even higher. A state of emergency has been declared; the damage to houses is severe, with estimates exceeding 21 billion rubles (£178 million). The flooding, triggered by snowmelt and rainfall, breached protective dams, leading to thousands of evacuations. There are claims that the authorities knew the likelihood of flooding in advance, but took no preventative action. Some promises of compensation and dam reconstruction have been made, but locals remain disillusioned, demanding accountability for the crisis.
France: security beefed up as Olympics approach
With the Olympic Games due to begin in Paris in just over a hundred days, France faces the challenge of balancing security preparations with public reassurance. While concerns about potential threats from groups like IS persist, some argue against giving too much attention to them, as it plays into the terrorists' hands. Interior minister Gérald Darmanin said his forces had foiled two attacks since the start of the year and arrested five individuals in three different cases in the past fortnight. France, which has experienced several Islamist attacks in recent years, has deployed Operation Sentinelle, involving 20,000 soldiers and 40,000 police, to ensure security. One army commander had this message for visitors: ‘We are well prepared for this mission, and ready to protect the population during the Olympics.’
