How a Christian college ministry glorified a sex offender and enabled him to keep abusing students

This article is part of “Pastors and Prey,” a series investigating sex abuse allegations in the Assemblies of God. Limited time: Save 25% on NBC News subscription Get exclusive reporting, live Q&As and ad-free reading. HOUSTON — Daniel Savala leans back in a cloth armchair, raises his right hand and swears before God that what he’s about to say is the truth.

AI Summary

Main Idea: NBC News reports that Christian college ministry Chi Alpha and the Assemblies of God kept supporting Daniel Savala, a convicted sex offender, even after warnings, allowing him to keep abusing students for years.

Key Points:

Savala admitted in a recorded video that he used religion to gain trust and sexually abuse young men.
Former students say he taught twisted sexual ideas, including nudity and group masturbation, as part of his spiritual lessons.
Chi Alpha leaders defended Savala after a 2012 Alaska sex abuse case and later let him keep hosting students at his home.
NBC says the Assemblies of God was warned many times but did not stop his influence until abuse allegations surfaced again in 2023.

Impact on the People

Negative Impact

The report says Church leaders let a known sex offender keep access to students, which could put young people at risk and weaken trust in campus ministries and other groups.

Positive Impact

The scandal may push churches and schools to improve screening, reporting, and outside oversight to better protect students and families.

How did each entity affect people?

Rate how each entity in this article affected the American people.

Primary:
Assemblies of Godnonprofit / NGO
Primary:
Chi Alphanonprofit / NGO
Primary:
Daniel Savalaperson

Candidate Entities4 candidates · 5 weighted vote min · 70% decision

Assemblies of Godnonprofit / NGOPrimaryEvaluated
Parent denomination central to the reporting; leaders’ warnings and response to abuse allegations are a major focus.
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Chi Alphanonprofit / NGOPrimaryEvaluated
Core ministry organization in the story, described as the campus group that elevated Savala and failed to stop.
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Daniel SavalapersonPrimaryEvaluated
Central figure accused of abusing students; the article focuses on his actions, confession, and alleged misconduct.
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Joseph ClevelandpersonMajorAI selected
Named alleged victim whose account illustrates the abuse and grooming described in the article.
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