Pastor Michael Guglielmucci spun gospel of lies

HE preached to thousands about his terminal illness and tugged at hearts with a hit song.

The problem is the pastor wasn’t dying at all

Michael Guglielmucci, who inspired hundreds of thousands of young Christians with his terminal cancer “battle”, has been exposed as a fraud.

Guglielmucci, whose parents established Edge Church International, an Assemblies of God church at O’Halloran Hill in Adelaide’s southern suburbs, now is seeking professional help.

Earlier this year, Mr Guglielmucci released a hit song, Healer , which was featured on Sydney church Hillsong’s latest album.

The song debuted at No. 2 on the ARIA charts.

It since has become an anthem of faith for believers, many of whom are suffering their own illness and were praying for a miracle for Mr Guglielmucci, who has claimed for two years to be terminally ill.

In one church performance that has attracted 300,000 hits on YouTube, he performs his hit song with an oxygen tube in his nose.

It appears Mr Guglielmucci, who was a pastor with one of Australia’s biggest youth churches, Planetshakers, may even have deceived his own family.

“This news has come as a great shock to everyone including, it seems, his own wife and family,” Hillsong general manager George Aghajanian said in an email to his congregation yesterday.

“Michael has confirmed that he is not suffering with a terminal illness and is seeking professional help in Adelaide with the support of his family. We are asking our church to pray for the Guglielmucci family during this difficult time.”

The Advertiser was told last night Mr Guglielmucci may release a statement on the situation.

The Australian Christian Church said Mr Guglielmucci’s credentials immediately were suspended once he told the national executive that his cancer claims were “untrue”.

“The national executive is taking this matter very seriously and is awaiting the results of medical tests before determining the full extent of the discipline that will be imposed upon him,” vice president Alun Davies said.

“We are very concerned for the many people who have been or will be hurt by Michael’s actions.

“We encourage all of our churches to pray for all those affected.”

My Thoughts:

I cringed everytime something like this happens. First of all, it just gives “non-christians” another reason why they shouldn’t be a christian.  And secondly, it just shows that no matter who we are, we are very vulnerable to sin.

As Christians we are under attack on a daily basis. As a pastor, I know that Satan will use any device possible to destroy a pastor and his reputation.

We need to be on constant “defense” guarding our eyes, heart, and body from any form of temptation. Hebrews 12:14 states: “Make every effort… to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

We need to make an effort to live a holy life, which simply means we have been “set apart” through Jesus Christ and should strive to live a pure life.

Are you making an effort to create a deeper purity in your life?