24/7 Prayer International CEO suspended

The board of 24-7 Prayer International has suspended CEO Mike Andrea following "serious allegations of historic misconduct".

The allegations have come from former members of Global Generation Church in Thanet, Kent, which has also suspended Mr Andrea from his leadership role.

The board met on November 16, the day after a former member of the church posted allegations online.

"We unanimously agreed to suspend Mike Andrea immediately in order to conduct an investigation with the benefit of professional, independent counsel," the 24-7 trustees said in a statement.

They said the allegations "relate to events prior to 2011, before Mike's appointment as CEO of 24-7 Prayer in 2019".

The board indicated that before their decision to suspend Mr Andrea, they had been made aware of other allegations "from several other former church members over recent weeks, which have become the subject of an ongoing investigation by the elders and trustees of Global Generation Church".

"We take all such allegations as matters of the gravest concern," the trustees said.

They added: "At the present time there have been no allegations of impropriety relating to Mike Andrea's role as operational head of 24-7 Prayer International."

Global Generation Church's board of elders and trustees also issued a statement saying, "Yesterday allegations were posted online, against Mike and Stella Andrea, leaders of Global International Church in Thanet. The allegations have been made by a former member of the church and relate to events prior to 2011."

The board said it had suspended Mr and Mrs Andrea "immediately", and that it was committed to "an independent and thorough process".

The statement confirmed: "We have been made aware over the last few weeks of allegations against Mike Andrea from several former church members.

"These have been the subject of an ongoing investigation by the elders and trustees of Global Generation Church.

"This process has been in consultation with our external advisor from 24-7 Prayer International.

"This will be reviewed by an independent professional organisation specialising in this level of complaint. We will commit to an independent and thorough process."

Mike Andrea has been contacted for comment. 

News
Immigration fears shape views of Britishness and Christianity, report finds
Immigration fears shape views of Britishness and Christianity, report finds

Concerns about immigration and cultural change extend beyond those most attached to Britain’s Christian identity, a new report by Theos has found.

Christian teacher challenges dismissal after sharing pro-life views in class
Christian teacher challenges dismissal after sharing pro-life views in class

A Christian teacher is bringing a discrimination claim against a secondary school in Sunderland, alleging that she was dismissed after answering pupils’ questions about her pro-life beliefs and other personal views in class.

Who was the Ethiopian eunuch and what can we learn from him?
Who was the Ethiopian eunuch and what can we learn from him?

When we think about the history of Christianity in Africa, we may immediately think of European missionaries who travelled to the continent to spread the gospel. Yet Africa’s connection to Christianity stretches much further back, to the earliest days of the Church itself.

Christian campaign asks shoppers to reduce reliance on retail giant Amazon
Christian campaign asks shoppers to reduce reliance on retail giant Amazon

The Challenge Amazon campaign is encouraging Christians to support local businesses instead.