A FORMER Adelaide pastor who inspired hundreds of thousands of young Christians with his with his terminal cancer “battle” has been exposed as a fraud.
Michael Guglielmucci, whose parents established Edge Church International, an Assemblies of God church at O’Halloran Hill, is now seeking professional help.
Earlier this year, Mr Guglielmucci released a hit song The Healer which was featured on Sydney church Hillsong’s latest album. It debuted at No. 2 on the ARIA charts.
The song 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.
He’s ill all right, just not with stage 3 cancer. He told followers he had suffered 30 bone fractures because of his aggressive cancer and that doctors had told him he had 3 months to live. He used a wheelchair, and said he’d been healed in the UK in 2007.
Guglielmucci worked in a church planting movement, PlanetShakers. You Google him, and realize thousands of people were sucked in. Now it appears his own family didn’t know either. Healer, released on the 17th Hillsong CD hit the top 10 on iTunes.
He has been suspended from ministry.
He began the public fraud around mid October 2006 according to chat boards.
Update: Quote removed The comment from the forum has been deleted at the request of Mark Woodbridge one of the forum leaders at gush. He has asked:
“While we understand that this information is easily available on the internet, we’d appreciate for the sake of the users of our boards if the initial post was not quoted unless you have the direct permission of the poster. We’re happy for you to link the thread, along with the reference to the fact that it has temporariy been shut down pending official statements from the involved parties as opposed to a single article from a less than reputable news source in Australia.”
I think given the fame of of Michael Guglielmucci, the shock this will be to fans, and the need of Australians to check with sources mentioned in the piece, that is a reasonable, respectful request and has been done. BD
Malingering (faking illness for secondary gain) and hypochondria(people who believe they are ill) are different from Munchausen syndrome which is classified as an illness listed as factitious disorder (FD) (F68.1 in the ICD-10; 300.16 or 300.19 in the DSM-IV-TR.
Most Munchausen syndrome sufferers are young males, often there is an underlying personality disorder. The Syndrome is an illness which doctors are fooled by, they believe their patients. Family and close friends are also fooled. The Mayo Clinic: Munchausen syndrome
.
Yesterday, the gush fan thread had this:
This thread has been locked because of allegations that have surfaced recently in the media about Mike.
Until there is confirmation or denial about this matter from an official source, the thread will remain closed.
Update: The information has been posted by Mal Fletcher, Crosswalk Rhythms, UK:
This morning, I received a call telling me that a young minister friend of mine, a man who has influenced thousands of young people for good, has confessed to living a lie for the past two years.
Pastor Michael Guglielmucci had claimed to be battling a deadly form of cancer. He has now confessed that these claims were untrue. Even his mother and father - close personal friends of my wife and I - were unaware of the truth of the situation.
I have known Michael since he was a little boy and have always loved him - I still do. Our hearts, of course, go out to those closest to him.
Update: The official statement from Australian Christian Churches, Assemblies of God in Australia.
Update: moving past spiritualizing and focus on the celebrity - excellent post
Published 4 months, 3 weeks ago18 Responses to “Australian pentecostal preacher faked terminal illness”
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Whoa… Are there official sources that confirm this?
It’s sad this has happened. even the facebook group praying for mike has been taken down. But more than ever mike needs alot of prayer, especially his family and friends and the hundreds of thousands of young people who have been affected by him
So has there been any confirmation of his “cancer” being real or not? So far I’m just reading about allegations… Did he himself say he was a fraud? I’m just a little confused about this… I actually have never heard of the guy, just want to see more sources.
Hi TravisM:
In the piece statements were made by:
Hillsong general manager George Aghajanian email quote via The Australian:
“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.
The Australian Christian Church vice president Alun Davies.
Michael Guglielmucci’s YouTube clip, facebook, webpage and MySpace weren’t accessible.
I just did a blog search I found it at Dr. Jim West’s blog in the US. He received the info from Mark Stevens. I think he is referring to a former Hillsong worship leader now at Abundant Life Church in Brantford England.
admin (at) alm.org.uk +44 (0) 1274 307233
You can check with Kim Wheatley at The Advertiser or the Australian.
Ches: Fair questions. You can email, fax or call Hillsong:
Hills Campus
PO Box 1195, Castle Hill NSW 1765, Australia
Email: hills@hillsong.com
Phone: 61 2 8853 5353
Fax: 61 2 9899 4591
City Campus
PO Box 797, Strawberry Hills NSW 2012, Australia
Email: city@hillsong.com
Phone: 61 2 8853 5353
Fax: 61 2 9310 7410
You can contact Alun Davies, Vice President of Australia Christian Churches (Assemblies of God)
I believe from his bio he is in Melbourne office:
Street Address:
9 Station Street
Mitcham VIC 3132
Postal Address:
PO Box 336
Mitcham VIC 3132
Phone: (03) 9837 2222
Fax: (03) 9872 4960
Email:
Anyone on the Hillsong email chain may be able to confirm.
If you need to contact his parents church, here is the contact page if there is a statement later today I don’t know if his parents, or himself and his wife will be making it.
Planetshakers church contact:
phone: 1300 88 33 21
03 9896 7999
fax: 03 9830 7683
Russell Evans
paulb@planetshakers.com
Sam Evans
lindyf@planetshakers.com
biancah@planetshakers.com
TravisM, Ches:
Is The Australian a more acceptable source?
http://tinyurl.com/5sogfu
Kim Wheatley also did The Australian story, she can be reached at:
Street Address 2 Holt Street, Surry Hills, NSW, 2010, Australia.
Postal Address GPO Box 4245, Sydney, NSW, 2001, Australia.
Work Telephone (02) 9288 3000
Fax (02) 9288 2250
letters@theaustralian.com.au
If these this report has factual errors please leave a comment, cite your source, and I’ll correct it.
official press release:
http://www.aog.org.au/Media/NationalExecutiveStatement/tabid/1413/language/en-AU/Default.aspx
Thank you Andrew:
“”Representatives of the National Executive recently met with Michael Guglielmucci. At this meeting he read a statement indicating that his claim to have cancer was untrue. His credential with the ACC was immediately suspended.
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.
We are very concerned for the many people who have been or will be hurt by Michael’s actions and we encourage all of our churches to pray for all those affected.
Yours sincerely,
Alun Davies
National Vice President
20 August 2008″
Thanks for keeping everyone in perspective.
Wow that is an incredibly sad story, not just said, but I feel angry too (and I never knew a thing, or heard of anyone, or even the music, until reading it here).
It seems we keep seeing more people trying to “help” God - he doesn’t need the help, I sure hope that these people (Tod Bentley, and similar folks) are truly humbled, it takes more than just “restoration groups” it takes honest friends, family, and an honest repentance of the heart, of which no one else but the subject at hand can do.
Hi Guys,
I first met Mike in March 2004 and he encouraged many that day in a very positive way. I have unfortunately not had contact with him since as I have been away from Australia.
Unfortunately I personally know of another pastor who I have looked upto since my growing days though not as famous as Mike who fell to moral issues. That hurt me a lot and more so many others he was ministering to.
It hurts me when things like this happen and this can make you disoriented and start questioning. But don’t be suprised. Jesus did say, the very chosen will fall. Pastors are to help direct others to Christ who never fails. I have learnt through that experience to firstly keep my eyes on Christ who never fails and asking Him to make me humble. Mike though a pastor is also human and is in no way perfect. We are all in the process. Mike is dealing with issues just like everyone of us however spiritual we might think we are. Let us be gracious and forgiving as Christ would be to Mike. We are to mimic Christ and not Mike. Please pray for him and others affected by this.
Remember, it is Christ who heals, it Christ who saves, it is Christ who died for our sins, it is Christ who is interceding for us and it is Christ who is the hope of glory and it is Christ who is coming again.
God Bless
Prad
This is a huge bit of new, and like Prad, I know many people who have been touched by Mike. He has failed us, and that hurts. But so have a lot of people in my life. My dad for one, and yet I know that there are many good things I have received from him, whilst he was living a lie. In fact he made me a person big enough to say to his face when the lie was revealed that what he did was wrong, but to forgive him as well.
I don’t know all the details about Mike, why he has done this. Did it start out as a prank and get out of control, does he have a mental illness, did he think it would be a good way to get people to turn to Jesus and justify his actions. I don’t know. It really doesn’t matter in the scheme of things, although I would like to know. What I do know is that I saw young people turn their lives around through his teaching, I was strengthened through my mother’s battle with cancer and my own health issues by his song Healer. I know God used him. I know God is bigger than one man’s lies. I know God is my healer, and who wrote the song has no power to make the truth proclaimed in that song any less.
Hannah
Shock, hurt, anger, questioning are normal responses. I’ve seen a lot of spiritualizing and I hope fans can support each other and work through their responses.
He was a PK (lot of pressure) creative, and grew up in a culture that sees behaviors as good/bad, sin/righteousness, mental illness is not something that is easily considered.
One of the major questions I’ve seen is how could he have fooled his family, friends and others for so long. The more important question is how could he have kept up a charade so long. It’s not that uncommon, we all can do it, but rarely this length of time and so elaborately.
I hope he gets a full physical work up and the time for expert individual and family therapy.
I’m sorry for your pain.
And people wondered why i left christianity. Not only is religion a tool of capitalism to enslave the masses by brainwashing but the so called leaders have this tendency to live a lie.
Danny Guglielmucci, founder of Edge Church (Michael’s father) statement to his congregation, Sunday August 24,2008
“Today is a very sad day for our family and church family.
For many years our son, Michael has suffered from unexplained illnesses. We have been worried as we have seen him suffer and spend periods of time in hospital.
Two years ago our lives were totally turned around by the sad news of our sons’ cancer diagnosis. The love and support shown by our local church and all of our many friends around the world helped us get through a very difficult situation.
During the last two years we have experienced the favor of God, his love and grace, and also the constant pain of the possibility of losing a son.
On Tuesday 12th of August we received a call to come and meet with Mike and Amanda but weren’t ready for what we were about to hear. Mike began to share how he has lived a lie for the last 16 years of his life because of addictive behavior he couldn’t break free from.
He loved God and would throw himself into prayer, worship, and serving God with full energy and enthusiasm but still couldn’t break free.
In September in 2006, Mike had an accident and went to hospital. It was at this time, because of his torment of living a double life, Mike thought he could escape the pain by creating a diversion from his addiction to adult pornography, so he created the cancer scenario.
The pain of this addiction was so deep that he started something he couldn’t stop and proceeded on a downward spiral that led to him experiencing pain and suffering that resulted in constant vomiting and many other symptoms of a genuine sufferer.
Sharonne and I witnessed these episodes and pained and wept over his suffering. Michael wrote the song Healer because he wanted God to set him free from his addiction but hid it behind the lie of a fabricated illness.
Once he had started down this track he felt he couldn’t stop so he continued to act out this sickness, feeling he had gone too deep into the lie.
I can’t begin to tell you how much this is hurting us on the inside. A few weeks ago Mike had a dream of Jesus on the cross looking down on him saying, ‘the truth will set you free’ and so he decided to confess and bring everything out into the open.
I immediately contacted our National Executive and submitted to their advice and council. Church, our family needs your prayers at this time. We are so, so sorry to bring you into this.
I have lead you with openness and integrity and declare that we have not lived a lie before you. We fully understand the questions, shock, disbelief and even anger you may feel over this announcement. Please pray for us and we will pray for you.
Michael is struggling with a different kind of illness and is receiving professional help and will do so as long as is needed. On the council and advice of our executive and board, after our up and coming Edge conference, we will take time to be with Mike and get him all the professional and spiritual help he needs to come to full recovery.
We have an amazing team. Thank you, executive, board, staff and church, for your love and support. We will do what is right before God and man and see this situation turned around for the glory of God. We love you. “
Blaming an addiction is like saying an anorexic doesn’t like food.
Being in an environment where people spiritualize everything doesn’t leave much room for a preacher’s kid to have a mental illness on top of his other problems.
Hillsong is re-mixing the CD.
The family will need extensive counselling, but given the environment where the son of a mega-church pastor can be credentialed when an addiction was known about, Michael Guglielmucci would be better off to see the money he’s conned out of people is returned, and the long term intensive treatment he is going to need proceeds away from a consumer church environment willing to be co-dependent.
His father spiritualizing his psychiatric and addiction problems isn’t helpful.
Michael Guglielmucci’s statement.
“It is with much pain and sadness that I make this statement today.
For over 16 years I have struggled with an addition to adult pornography as a result of this secret life of sin my body would often breakdown.
“I’d report the cause of my symptoms simply as illnesses and I’ve thrown my life into a ministry for many years trying to compensate for my sin. “I believe that I do love Jesus and I know that he loves me and it is this love along with the prayers of people around the world that bring me to this place of confession.
“Two years ago, I reported that I was suffering from cancer, the truth is that although I was ill I did not have cancer but was again using the misdiagnosis to hid the lie that I was living. “I know in my heart that it is the truth alone that will set me free and this is the reason for my confession.
“I’ve dishonoured God, my wife, my family and the church and I take full responsibility for my actions and would like to make it very clear that no-one else was in any way aware of my double life. “I’m fully commited to a process of discipline, recovery and restitution and will see this process through to what ever extent is necessary.
“I am deeply sorry and pray that you will find it in your hearts to forgive me. “Currently I am undergoing professional medical assessment and evaluation to help identify and begin to treat the real and much deeper issues. “Please continue to pray for my wife and I and my family as we have a long, hard road ahead of us but a road that I’m thankful to God that I’m finally walking.”
On a positive note, his cancer lies might put a end to the real cancer in Australia and that is the AOG church and all its offshoots.