Riaan Swiegelaar, co-founder of the South Africa satanic church and pastor took to his social media page to share his experience of the overwhelming love of God towards him, which inspired him to step down as the pastor of the satanic church.
“I’m doing this live video because many, more than 100 people on WhatsApp and almost 200 on Facebook, are sending me messages wanting to know why did I leave the South African Satanic Church as well as why did I turn my back on Satanism,” Swiegelaar shared in a video he uploaded to Facebook.
“To be very honest, I initially thought I will slip out the back door quietly and I didn’t really think that people would be this interested in why I am doing what I’m doing. I’m going to talk from my experience. I’m going to talk about my choices.”
Riaan thought to share this news through a letter, but decided later to make the video instead.
“I actually feel it’s time more people just start talking, speaking their truth. So I’m certainly encouraging people to do that as well by doing this video,” he said.
Watch video below
Riaan Swiegelaar stated he had been in the ministry for over 20 years before going into the satanism and homosexuality.
“I got involved with Satanism because, at the time, it resonated with me, being very broken and sad without realizing it. I think the reason a lot of people resonate with Satanism is they come from a very broken place,” he said. “I have met thousands of Satanists over the last three years, and I’m not saying the intentions are bad. They are extremely broken and extremely hurt. … That’s the one thing we all have in common.”
Despite all he had been through and revealing he was ugly and was a monster, the former satanic pastor revealed he was overwhelmed by the unconditional love he was shown by Christians without condemnation and judgement.
“I’ve never known unconditional love in my whole life and up to today, there’s only four Christians in my whole life that have shown me what unconditional love is. I want to thank those four people. Words cannot express what you have done for me,” Swiegelaar continued.
“To show someone love is everything. It is not a simple thing. You have showed me everything. You have showed me the love of Christ. I have seen it in you,” he added.
In an interview where he was invited to speak on behalf of the satanic church with the CapeTalk Radio station, he said: “I don’t believe in Jesus and I don’t believe Jesus Christ exists.”
The interviewer from the station approached him after and hugged him regardless.
“She came to me after the interview, after I said that, and she hugged me, and she held me in a way that I’ve never been loved,” Swiegelaar gushed. “That’s all she did. She just said it was nice to meet me in person.”
“A week later, on WhatsApp, through her status, I saw this woman is a Christian. I’ve never had a Christian do that,” he described. “I’ve never experienced a Christian show that much love and acceptance unconditionally … after I said the things I said, she did that. That stayed with me.”
His turning point came about when he encountered who he believed to be Jesus while trying to observe his satanic rituals.
“I did this ritual, and I opened myself up, and Jesus appeared. And I was extremely cocky, and I said, If you are Jesus, you need to prove it. And He flooded me with the most beautiful love and energy. And I recognized it immediately because that woman at the radio station showed it to me. That’s how I recognized the love of Christ,” he testified.
Riaan Swiegelaar thought he was not worthy of the love of God because of how he was, but he soon realized that the love is for everyone and that the kingdom is open to everyone. He also stated he has had real conversations with God.
Swiegelaar assured everyone he was going to share his journey with Christ after he has learned about his new faith.
The Satanic Church of South Africa released a statement following Swiegelaar‘s resignation and thanked him for his service to the church.
“We, as the SASC Council, want to thank Swiegelaar for his contribution, both as the pastor and the co-founder of the SA Satanic Church. We wish him success in all his future endeavors.”
