South African Satanic Church co-founder steps down after experiencing the love of Christ

Riaan Swiegelaar, now a former “pastor” at the South African Satanic Church, took to social media this past weekend to share that the overwhelming love of Jesus recently inspired him to step away from Satanism.

“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 on July 4.

The video now has almost 200,000 views.

“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.”

Swiegelaar penned a long letter that he thought to post, but he opted to speak from the heart 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.

Swiegelaar, a professing homosexual who hinted that he was once involved in Christian ministry over 20 years ago, shared that he was drawn to Satanism four years ago amid great brokenness.

At the time, he was an atheist, and the commonality of despair from those in Satanism is what drew him to that community.

“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.”

While overwhelmed with emotion, Swiegelaar said he began to have a few experiences with Christians who, without judgment, showed him unconditional love.